London Olympics: "We're pretty much ready..."

[jlb1705]

Never seen such a cocky athlete...... ever. I hope he breaks a femur and his wrist too as he is catching his fall.

Can you name a good reason why he shouldn't be cocky?

He's the fastest man in the world, the greatest sprinter of all-time and there's nobody else in his class. Like Muhammad Ali, he has the skill and accomplishments to back up his brashness. Meanwhile, I've seen more posing and preening out no-name NFL linebackers making a tackle on a six-yard gain.

 

[Honor&Glory]

Can you name a good reason why he shouldn't be cocky?

He's the fastest man in the world, the greatest sprinter of all-time and there's nobody else in his class. Like Muhammad Ali, he has the skill and accomplishments to back up his brashness. Meanwhile, I've seen more posing and preening out no-name NFL linebackers making a tackle on a six-yard gain.

THIS!

GPA

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Can you name a good reason why he shouldn't be cocky?

He's the fastest man in the world, the greatest sprinter of all-time and there's nobody else in his class. Like Muhammad Ali, he has the skill and accomplishments to back up his brashness. Meanwhile, I've seen more posing and preening out no-name NFL linebackers making a tackle on a six-yard gain.

But when you claim to be the best athlete ever, thats crossing the line. Hes a great sprinter but not even the greatest Olympian ever, not even in the top 3 all time.

He does great in one event, congrats but thats it.

 

[scott91575]

I never really had anything against Bolt until his recent response to Carl Lewis. Lewis made a simple statement. One that was made 4 freaking years ago. A statement that was very true in 2008 (that has since changed and lots of Jamaican runners have gotten caught doping). Now Bolt is running his mouth about Carl Lewis. Bolt is either a complete idiot, or is guilty of doping and still bothered by the fact Carl Lewis pointed out something that was very true.

 

[TooTall]

But when you claim to be the best athlete ever, thats crossing the line. Hes a great sprinter but not even the greatest Olympian ever, not even in the top 3 all time.

He does great in one event, congrats but thats it.

Is he even in the top 3 track athletes of all time? Very debatable.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Is he even in the top 3 track athletes of all time? Very debatable.

There is a BIG difference between the cateogory of "track athletes" and "athletes".

Id be willing to say that Ashton Eaton is a better ATHLETE than Bolt. Bolts a much better sprinter, but not a better athlete.

We do this a lot with the newest recruits that we see "OMG!! This kid is the next coming of Jim Brown". That is until next years top recruit. Same goes with Bolt and all previous track stars.

 

[TooTall]

There is a BIG difference between the cateogory of "track athletes" and "athletes".

Id be willing to say that Ashton Eaton is a better ATHLETE than Bolt. Bolts a much better sprinter, but not a better athlete.

We do this a lot with the newest recruits that we see "OMG!! This kid is the next coming of Jim Brown". That is until next years top recruit. Same goes with Bolt and all previous track stars.

I understand, I was just stating that it would even be debatable when discussing the top 3 track athletes (Olympians) of all time.

 

[ShowMeBuck]

I've seen more posing and preening out no-name NFL linebackers making a tackle on a six-yard gain.

You can't explain bad behavior by pointing to worse behavior. Bolt calling himself a legend over and over again in an Olympic sport where the whole world is watching and is supposed to be a showcase of the world's best athletes competing in an honorable manner is disgusting. The fact you can't see it simply because he can back it up is exactly why guys like him, NFL guys, etc. etc. keep up their antics. It's a joke. Look up the Olympic Oath:

The athlete, from the team of the organizing country, holds a corner of the Olympic Flag while reciting the oath :
In the name of all the competitors I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams.

I guess if you think Bolt has conducted himself in congruence with this then we simply disagree on the definitions of the words in the oath and intent therein.

 

[Bucknut24]

I like bolt and his antics..

BTW watch the vid of him stopping an interview while USA anthem. Playing

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

with regard to Mr Lewis and his accusations about doping, while he has been correct in the past, it rings a little hollow because this is the same guy that go popped 3 times before the 88 Olympics but had his positive test overturned by US Olympic committee to over turn it as inadvertent use.

Lets be honest if it wasn't for Bolt and his attitude/antics would we still be talking about track & field after the Olympics are over.

Ive got no problem with him. He showed a lot of respect by stopping an interview while another countries national anthem was playing

 

[CentralMOBuck]

But when you claim to be the best athlete ever, thats crossing the line. Hes a great sprinter but not even the greatest Olympian ever, not even in the top 3 all time.

He does great in one event, congrats but thats it.

He's not even the best Olympian from this year. I'd vote for Michael Phelps every day of the week over Bolt.

I also do not like his overly cocky attitude, even though he has the talents to back his talk up.

 

[OH10]

He's not even the best Olympian from this year. I'd vote for Michael Phelps every day of the week over Bolt.

I also do not like his overly cocky attitude, even though he has the talents to back his talk up.

It's definitely better to be humble than cocky. One is a virtue and the other is not. I'm not that offended by it though because he backs it up. And he has shown (watch the video with the U.S. national anthem) that he has class. I think he's just a showman and other athletes (like Chad Johnson) have proven that style equals more $$ than substance. It's just that Bolt adds substance, a lot of it.

I also think Bolt has the chance to be the greatest Olympian ever with another sweep performance in Rio. With all due respect to Michael Phelps (who certainly deserves all of the accolades and then some), it is easier to win a ton of medals in swimming than in sprinting. In fact, 9 of Phelps' 22 career medals are in relay events, only 1 of which he ever anchored - and even then, he had a monsterous lead. If men's track and field added the 4x200 and the sprint medley, Bolt would be able to pad his medal count, much in the same way that Phelps has been able to do.

As it is Bolt has won 6 golds in 6 events in his Olympic career - all in premier events; in all of which he owns an almost unthinkable world record; in a sport that is far more inclusive socio-economically and globally than swimming. If he repeats the perfomance in four years, he deserves to be in the discussion. Without question. And any opinion related to his attitude is irrelevant to that debate.

EDIT: As far as his comments about Lewis, I wish he had kept it to himself. I understand being defensive about those types of accusations. And I don't think his reaction is indicative of guilt. (If he had remained silent on the topic, people would find a way to make that seem guilty as if he needs to respond). I just wish the two greatest track and field athletes of my lifetime didn't engage in a pissing contest. Lewis will always have that "four golds in the long jump" trump card. Both are transcendant sprinters. But Bolt is the best sprinter ever. In a sport this objective, the world record holder deserves to be acknowledged as the greatest 100m and 200m runner of all time. Until or unless that record ever gets broken.

 

[MaxBuck]

Give me LeBron, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Chris Paul and anyone else, and I'll play any other team for the championship of anywhere.

Oh, and I'm getting a bit tired of seeing Kobe-against-5. There's only one guy who is effective doing that, and he comes from Akron.

 

[Mike80]

He's in the discussion for best sprinter ever. He's only on the periphery of the discussion for best Olympian ever. And yes, Phelps still has him beat both from an athletic and Olympic standpoint. In my mind, Bolt needs to sweep in Rio AND needs to add something else in his repertoire.

That said, he has every right to be cocky. He has earned some leeway here. And just imagine what he's tearing through in the Olympic Village....

 

[jlb1705]

You can't explain bad behavior by pointing to worse behavior. Bolt calling himself a legend over and over again in an Olympic sport where the whole world is watching and is supposed to be a showcase of the world's best athletes competing in an honorable manner is disgusting. The fact you can't see it simply because he can back it up is exactly why guys like him, NFL guys, etc. etc. keep up their antics. It's a joke. Look up the Olympic Oath:

The athlete, from the team of the organizing country, holds a corner of the Olympic Flag while reciting the oath :
In the name of all the competitors I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams.

I guess if you think Bolt has conducted himself in congruence with this then we simply disagree on the definitions of the words in the oath and intent therein.

What is disgusting about a statement of fact? Is he not a legendary performer?

I'm not comparing bad behavior against worse behavior, I'm comparing a warranted opinion of one's self against unwarranted opinions of one's self. Other than calling himself the greatest "athlete" has he said anything about himself that isn't true or at least arguable?

I guess we do have a different opinion on honor and sportsmanship - either that, or you missed the parts of nearly every interview where he has been cordial and deferential - even cutting off a TV interview at one point to pay respect to OUR national anthem. He celebrates with his countrymen and teammates, he celebrates with other countries' competitors, and I have not heard a single public complaint from other sprinters about how he's acting or calling into question his integrity. I also bet he hasn't wished for anybody else to break their femur.