[OT] Who won lacrosse gold medal in Athens Olympics?

Oh, wait, lacrosse is not a sport worthy of the Olympics. Synchronized diving, yes. Beach volleyball, yes. But not lacrosse. Sheesh.

How many countries play it?

According to the International Lacrosse Federation website < [www.intlaxfed.org] >

There sre 14 full member Nations: Australia; Canada; Czech Republic; England; Germany; Ireland; Iroquois Nationals; Japan; Korea; New Zealand; Scotland; Sweden; United States; and, Wales. The affiliate member Nations include: Argentina; Denmark; Hong Kong; Finland; Italy; and, Tonga.

Does any game or sport that is played anywhere in the world need to be an official Olympic sport? There are waaaaaaaay too many Olympic events as it is.

[Q]billhoward Wrote:

Oh, wait, lacrosse is not a sport worthy of the Olympics. Synchronized diving, yes. Beach volleyball, yes. But not lacrosse. Sheesh. [/q]
Ned's RPI lacrosse team was invited to the 1948 Olympics in London. I'm guessing it was an "exhibition" sport then.

[www.rpi.edu]

[Q]KeithK Wrote: Does any game or sport that is played anywhere in the world need to be an official Olympic sport? There are waaaaaaaay too many Olympic events as it is.[/q]

Lacrosse is a sport with a long history, played seriously by a dozen or more nations. It's fun to watch. It's not a marginalized sport like, oh, say, curling (so, prove me wrong). I think it belongs in. Most of the world probably thinks, "Oh, jeez, one more sport for the bloody Yanks to medal in." I wouldn't have a problem with cricket being an Olympic sport, either, although I don't know if they could play a game in just two weeks, let along a whole tournament.

At the same time, I have nothing against newly admitted sports that feature incredibly bronzed, glistening bodies jumping up and down on beach sand. I'm sure every male (or female) who tunes in for matches featuring the opposite sex is just watching the athletic grace and beauty. I'm sure no one who tuned in mid match to the USA-Brazil showdown ever commented on what the BRA logo stands for on the halter tops of the Brazilian team.

Unless beer is a banned substance, I don't think there'd be a doping scandal among lacrosse players.

It's Cornell's ongoing best chance for multiple golds at the summer games. Go, Red!

[q]I'm sure every male (or female) who tunes in for matches featuring the opposite sex is just watching the athletic grace and beauty.[/q]
Are you suggesting that the following comment seen on a blog showing beach volleyball pictures is off base? (http://www.balloon-juice.com/archives/004311.html)
"Why was I not told that this year's Olympics included gratuitous softcore lesbian scenes? Why were none of us told, in fact?"

BTW - something about team sports in the Olympics just rubs me the wrong way, whether it's baseball/hockey (sports I care deeply about) or soccer/basketball (which I don't care about). Don't know why. Somehow they just don't fit with what I think of as "olympic" type sports.
To clarify, I don't have a problem with relay races, or synchronized swimming (well, I do have a problem with that, but it's for different reasons ).
I think I'm just judgemental...

I remember the "pure Olympics comprise individual sports only" argument. That's deader than Avery Brundage, I thought.

Intersting photo essay on the volley-ballers. Not exactly an erudite discussion thread with it, although this scribe had a good point:

>>> I have to point out that two of the American players are named "Misty May" and "Holly McPeaks". You can't make stuff like that up.

Also:

>>> I believe Allah is watching this - with a cold beer.

[Q]billhoward Wrote:
I have to point out that two of the American players are named "Misty May" and "Holly McPeaks". You can't make stuff like that up.
[/q]


Actually, Holly McPeak...but I seem to remember hearing that she got implants prior to the 1996 Atlanta Games. Could be just a rumor though.

I don't think there is anything wrong with team sports in the Olympics; but team sports or other sports in which the teams or same individuals compete on a regular basis outside of the Olympics makes me uncomfortable. E.g. tennis -- it's the same touring pros who play week-to-week, many of whom are at the US Open this week. Calling the weekly tourney "The Olympics" doesn't make it special, in my book. The same for the cycling road race. For team sports, hoops and hockey are special because those teams don't play together day-in and day-out.

[Q]ben03 Wrote:
There sre 14 full member Nations: Australia; Canada; Czech Republic; England; Germany; Ireland; Iroquois Nationals; Japan; Korea; New Zealand; Scotland; Sweden; United States; and, Wales.[/q]
It should be pointed out that in olympic terms that's only 11 different countries. But still, that's more than take part in many olympic tournaments.

[Q]billhoward Wrote:
I wouldn't have a problem with cricket being an Olympic sport, either, although I don't know if they could play a game in just two weeks, let along a whole tournament.
[/q]
I've actually thought about this, and they could pull it off if they played limited-overs (one-day) cricket. Of course, there you'd have to deal with the "West Indies" teams being split over several olympic nations.

[q]Calling the weekly tourney "The Olympics" doesn't make it special, in my book. The same for the cycling road race.[/q]
I see your point, but doesn't that cover a lot of sports? Track and feild has lots of regular competitions too, doesn't it?

[Q]cornelldavy Wrote:

billhoward Wrote:
I have to point out that two of the American players are named "Misty May" and "Holly McPeaks". You can't make stuff like that up.
[/Q]
Actually, Holly McPeak...but I seem to remember hearing that she got implants prior to the 1996 Atlanta Games. Could be just a rumor though.[/q]

You guys left out swimmer Misty Hyman.