From: van@seurat.wustl.edu (Van Vo)
Subject: Re: TripleCast Update
Organization: Washington University, School of Engineering, St. Louis MO
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 21:16:49 GMT

I really wish people would stop harping about the US basketball team.
The reason I watch the olympics is to see the very best each country
has to offer.  I don't watch bobsledding to see Jamaica.  I don't watch
the prelims for most sports because they are absolutely atrocious.
People don't realize just how bad prelims can be.

Also, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being far and away better
than any other team?  Should we send our high school bobsledders to
the olympics so that Jamaica can be competitive?  And then, who would
want to watch?  When I destroy someone in table tennis, should I feel
guilty?  Should I never play them again because they are not good enough?
These complaints about the U.S. basketball team being too good are as
silly as the idea of amateur status.

A true amateur is either starving are rich.  Endorsements aren't allowed.
Government support isn't allowed.  To be a world-class athlete, training
time precludes making money.  Sure if you want to watch a lot of
anorexic athletes, then make it truly amateur.  However, if you allow
endorsements and/or government support, then you are no longer talking
amateur.  They are getting paid to be athletes.  Sorry, but you guys
just complain without offering a solution.  "Just make it amateur" is
not good enough.

Besides, you are so basketball centric.  This is the first year volleyball
pros are allowed and we haven't complained about the fact that Italy
has a professional volleyball league paying top players $500,000 U.S.
per season (about 6 months).  The U.S. has players on Italian teams
that are coming back for the Olympics, just like some European countries
have NBA players.

As for the TripleCast complaints and the argument that getting the TC is
a vote for rampant capitalism, you are missing simple capitalism.  You
don't have a RIGHT to get free TV.  Someone has to pay for a broadcast,
and I, as an advertising executive would not buy a second of advertising
for the middle of a marathon.  So if you want to watch the marathon, you
will simply have to pay for it.  If you love marathons enough, more than
x dollars, then you'll be willing to pay x dollars for it.  If you don't
like marathons that much, then DON'T BUY IT and DON'T COMPLAIN.

Also, for some reason, you guys seem to think that the reason anyone
would get the TripleCast is to see the US basketball team.  Here's
some news: I don't give a damn about the US basketball team.  I got
the TripleCast to see more than 70 hours of world class volleyball
in its entirety (not cut up by CBS/ESPN).  A steal for $125.  I will
also get a taste of real fencing as a fringe benefit.  (World class
table tennis is boring, and remember, I love table tennis)  I feel the
benefits justify the cost.  Everyone has their threshold, except those
stupid people who think they are following holy principles.  My
suggestion:  if you don't want it, don't get it, but don't take away
our option.

Ah, I feel much better.  I guess I'll have to unsubscribe to this
newsgroup :).

Van Vo