• New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.

Are athletes really getting better?

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
That was really good, though the comparative use of the 1904 marathon from St. Louis wasn't really relevant.

That race was run in late August and because the organization was so poor, started at noon in 90 degree heat and 90% humidity, with only one water station along the entire route. Half the people who raced dropped out after about 10 miles, and several very nearly died. The man who "won" was hallucinating and could no longer walk, so was carried over the finish line by spectators.
 
Upvote 0
The PEDs are available to mid-schoolers now. The knowledge of nutrition is much improved now. Training is more available to young players in all sports now. It all adds up to a better player.
 
Upvote 0
Mike80 said:
I think the base athleticism is the same. I think the knowledge about nutrition, training and conditioning and injury care are far superior and that's where the difference lies...
Click to expand...

Some of that is definitely the case, but he highlights how just changing the material the track is made of makes almost all the difference between Owens and Bolt. He makes this point again by showing the technology in bathing suits with Olympic swimmers.
The technology of equipment, facilities, etc. has exploded and enabled elite athletes to maximize their efforts.

The 2nd major area is the specialization of athletes that we now do. Back in 30s-50s, it was about being competitive at multiple sports/positions. An average body type. Today the elite athletes are selected and sorted based on ideal genetic makeups ... a WR could never be a LT in the NFL.
This was further shown with that crazy height statistic -- if you know a male in 20s-30s above a certain height in the US, they are practically guaranteed to be in the NBA right now. But height isn't the only thing NBA looks for, the average NBA player also shatters the conventional rules about limb:torso ratio. Da Vinci's human circle doesn't work for NBA players.
He made it again with the Kenyan runners - the most elite distance runners in the world are Kenyan, but even among Kenyans they come from just 1 tribe that has those crazy genetics of long limbs and short torsos.
It's the Horses of Courses principle applied to pro athletes.
 
Upvote 0
Maybe off track, butI feel this is the difference between the US and some other less "free" countries. Right now my 7 year old is off the charts in height, but not in the mutant way where she has no athleticism. We have her in soccer, bball, and swimming right now, but nothing too competitive. We just want her to enjoy the sports for now so she doesn't get burned out. If we were in China I have a feeling they would have already picked a sport for her and sent her to a training center. Her team got crushed by another soccer team on Saturday because the asshat coach has a travel team and ended up getting 4 of his travel girls on his rec league team. You could tell by their faces when they walked by they weren't there for fun, they were there to kick ass. IMO 7 years is too young to be pushing a kid that hard in a sport unless you want them to burn out by the time they make it to HS. Maybe I'm a bad example since I didn't really take football seriously until my junior year and still got a full ride. If feel it's best to get them involved in everything now and then see what sport suits them best when they grow up. i.e My daughter is most likely going to be in the 6' to 6'2" range when she grows up. If she's at the top end basketball might be her best sport especially if she gets my freakish wingspan. Lower end swimming or volleyball might be better.
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top