2024 Summer Olympics

#26      
The Galloping Ghost
What if you simply watched women's basketball? Not because of Caitlin Clark, but because now you know it's good? And guess what, it's been good for a long time. It's been worth your time for a long time. Frankly, it sucks it's taken you this long to realize. Maybe you should think about why that is for a bit. You might learn something about yourself.

But hey, I am truly glad Caitlin has gotten you all to finally realize just how entertaining the W is. But here's the thing, if you're actually watching now, you also are aware she's nowhere close to the best woman in the game. She's not the 12th-best American in the game. Don't worry, she will be soon enough, but she's not quite there. Instead, watch better women win the gold. It'll be a lot of fun.

Or, you know, go back to not watching. Whatever. No matter what, it's freaking dumb that those who have invested zero time and energy into this sport and have no knowledge about its history are the most vocal on this subject. And yeah, if you've never made it out to a WNBA game in 27 years, I definitely could not care less about your opinion.
 
#27      
Battle89
Fan Since '70 said:
Seems USA Olympic committee and I see team selection different than some of you. The committee thinks winning the Olympics is the primary objective and goal and that they chose the best 12, most experienced and most complete players to bring home the Gold and I concur. Promoting women's basketball and making selections based on maximizing publicity value and viewership, were not primary objectives. I also would rather see the team win than see Clark jack up logo 3's. This is the Olympics not a 3-ring circus (or even about WNBA survival) and thus promotion should take a backseat to fielding the best team and winning gold.
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I do understand this line of thinking, and most of the time would subscribe to it. Many years I would probably be saying "who does this kid think she (or he on the guys' side) is...just got into the league and waltzes onto the Olympic team?"

I just feel CC is a generational (or more) talent and for the long-term good of the women's game, for all the reasons said above about exposure and marketing, her inclusion out-weighed my usual thinking.

I can 100% tell you that I can right now name more women's college players and coaches than at any time in my life, and that is about 70% due to CC and 30% due to Shauna Green. I can truthfully name only one WNBA player and that is because of her marijuana arrest in Russia, not anything on the court.
 
#28      
ptgrd23
WNBA has been waiting for a star like Clark for 20 years. It would be foolish not to take advantage of her media draw to get more eyeballs on the USWNT (basketball). Look at attendance and TV ratings when Clark plays. The WBB powers that be are letting jealousy keep them small time. We are talking about the 12th player on the roster. WBB purists are forgeting professional basketball is business. The WNBA would shut down tomorrow without the NBA subsidy.
 
#30      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
Mr. Tibbs said:
yup

its all about TV.

with no CC, no one will watch
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Overly dramatic much? It's the Olympics. Those who want to watch it will watch it whether she's there or not. The only difference between these and other recent Olympic games is that the group stage games will air at a reasonable hour here in the states compared to what they have in the past couple cycles.
 
#32      
rbillini
We have any Olympians other than Jordan Poulter?

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#33      
JSpence
ptgrd23 said:
WNBA has been waiting for a star like Clark for 20 years. It would be foolish not to take advantage of her media draw to get more eyeballs on the USWNT (basketball). Look at attendance and TV ratings when Clark plays. The WBB powers that be are letting jealousy keep them small time. We are talking about the 12th player on the roster. WBB purists are forgeting professional basketball is business. The WNBA would shut down tomorrow without the NBA subsidy.
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It seems like a no-brainer, but I'm not sure it's completely foolish to avoid putting every last spotlight on a messianic young talent. Clark was a generational baller in college and drew tons of attention while delivering on the hype. How has WNBA viewership done with her in the league? Have the eyeballs carried over?

If she is going to be the savior of the sport, the Olympics will be a totally separate grab for viewership. What happens if she disappoints? And, being real, she probably would, because it wouldn't take much at all to disappoint people tuning in to see her. She would be expected to play, and a LOT. She would need to not just play well, but to stand out among elites. The games also need to be passably competitive, and if the team makes it look too easy, it won't leave most people wanting more.

With all of that said, I think it's riskier to assume that a tenth as many people are going to remember and care about Clark four years from now. Betting on Clark seems to be worth the gamble. The Olympics aren't going to be some make-or-break showcase of the best basketball in the world. Put your best announcers on the job to showcase your best players and let the chips fall where they may.
 
#34      
AZILL
Interesting take, I'm too lazy to search, But I'd bet the Womens NCAA Tourney drew more viewers than the WNBA playoffs did.... And 4 years from now is a long ways off, that's why I thought not selecting CC was a bad decision.... Get those eyeballs/fans NOW, while you can and while the sport is on everyones mind. Injuries happen, someone overseas may throw a lot more $$ her way and pull her outside the sphere of USA basketball.... As one of my fave posters, OF, once said years ago on IL, "Get pie while pie's passing!"
 
#37      
Fan Since '70
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/usa-ba...pic-team-for-marketing-reasons-181223728.html

USA Basketball: It would be 'irresponsible' to put Caitlin Clark on Olympic team for marketing reasons​

“Because it wasn’t the purview of our committee to decide how many people would watch or how many people would root for the U.S. It was our purview to create the best team we could for Cheryl [Reeve, head coach].” While marketing the WNBA is an admirable goal, as Jen Rizzotti said, it is in no way the goal of USA Basketball. Their goal is to put together the best team possible so they can win medals, trophies, and championships around the world. They may use WNBA players, but they are a separate organization from the WNBA.
 
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#38      
FlyNavy
#39      
bluemountain
FlyNavy said:
Illini alumni Thomas Detry and Adrien Dumont de Chassard officially qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics for Men's Golf. Both will represent Belgium. Congrats Gents!

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/golf/news/olympic-golf-teams-field-2024/e23913bf6ff1cbcf69ce1f2d


Also, the Track and Field qualifying begins on Friday and will take place over 10 days in Eugene, OR. Probably our next best chance of getting some Illini to Paris.
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Poulter already made in WBB, right?
 
#41      
FlyNavy
#42      
GrayGhost77
#43      
ptgrd23
Craig Virgin 10k
Robert Archibald basketball UK
Jens Kujawa basketball Germany
 
#44      
FlyNavy
GrayGhost77 said:
You forgot Rose Yesboah in women's high jump.
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Good catch. I was thinking of the U.S. Track & Field quals coming up - Rose will be competing for Ghana.

https://www.wcia.com/sports/your-il...mp-ncaa-champ-rose-yeboah-headed-to-olympics/

Any more?


Illini in the 2024 Summer Olympics (so far):

Jordyn Poulter - Women's Volleyball (USA)
Thomas Detry - Men's Golf (Belgium)
Adrien Dumont de Chassard - Men's Golf (Belgium)
Rose Yeboah - Track and Field - High Jump (Ghana)
 
#47      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
Bumping this thread with the soccer and rugby sevens matches set to start tomorrow.

The soccer matches will be played at venues in Paris and around France with the gold medal matches for both tournaments being played at Parc des Princes.

In men's soccer (which is U-23 with 3 senior team members), the U.S. is in a group with France, Guinea, and New Zealand. The 3 senior team members on the U.S. squad are Miles Robinson, Walker Zimmerman, and Djordje Mihailovic.

In women's soccer, the U.S. is in a group with Zambia, Germany, and Australia.

The U.S. men's soccer team opens up with France tomorrow at 2:00 PM CT on USA Network. The U.S. women's soccer team opens with Zambia on Thursday and coverage of that starts at 2:00 PM CT, also on USA Network.
 
#48      
whatahack
Just wondering what everyone thought about LeBron James being selected to carry the flag in the opening ceremony.
 
#50      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
whatahack said:
Just wondering what everyone thought about LeBron James being selected to carry the flag in the opening ceremony.
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I have no qualms with it. He's the first men's basketball player for the U.S. that has ever gotten the honor. Only other basketball players that ever have before are Sue Bird in Tokyo and Dawn Staley back in 2004 in Athens.
 
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