Australia and team Sports in Beijing?

Question

Why are all our teams choking? I mean Water Polo, we lost all our games in the last few seconds. Hockey, we lose to Spain after leading 2-0. Softball, all we need to do is keep Japan scoreless for 1 inning.

And now in Basketball, I can't even remember the last time Australia landed a Field Goal. It has been a disappointing Olympics as far as our team are concerned. I hate to say it, but the Opals were lucky to get out of the group stages playing like this, they aren't even scoring when they get a free shot away.

Answer 1

Hey Robbo....whine much? They fouled us. WAH. They shot better. WAH. The "umps" called it badly. WAH.

As I recall there were some pretty hard fouls given by the Aussies that were never called. Bodies were flying all over. And as far as "loading a team" with good players is concerned...isn't that what you are supposed to do? Send your best? Your team is loaded with players from the WNBA. What excuse do you have for this? And I love how you end it all with some well placed American Bashing. Good form.  

Answer 2

It happens. You win some, you lose some. You can't win all of them.

Hope that answers.

Answer 3

Yeah I really think the opals deserved to win a gold medal this time around. They did well, it is hard when everything drops for the US, they didn't miss a basket, just on fire. Not like they were in their earlier games.

I suspect that if it wasn't so rough under the basket and the ump called a few important calls the outcome might have been different. The US strategy to load a team of 30 good players and then foul as much as possible makes it hard to play your game. Evidence in 3 of their top players being fouled out. The roughness of the ball was shocking and very unsportsmanlike, especially if you have skills.

Don't know how the US can be proud when they win on such circumstances, the only country that rewards and is proud of people winning at all costs no matter what. Then claim to be good sportsman when the whole world know differently. I guess they live in their own world.

Answer 4

I can understand being frustrated when you hope for more- but really-

Instead of trying to turn Australia into a nation of whingers you might enjoy celebrating the team medals that we have won. Or even celebrating for the teams who performed well enough to defeat our superb teams. Sure it's great to hope and strive for better but we cant win them all. Teams learn from their experiences and we can't expect the people in them to be perfect every time.

Opals for example, still won Silver and only one lost match the whole Games- that's a remarkable achievement. And there will be another chance next time to get that allusive gold from the US.

And yes- I love an Aussie winner, but I can also appreciate the champs who don't clinch the gold or the battler who just does their best. They are all inspiring in their own ways.

For such a small nation, with relatively small financial backing for our athletes (for a developed country) we put on a remarkable show at the Olympics.  

Answer 5

I don't doubt the teams have not done great this time around but I don't think it is all about them.

As a long time follower of the Olympics I have noticed we Aussies continually talk up 'so and so' will get a gold medal but then we always end up with heaps of gold medals from unexpected sources. It happens at every Olympics. Steve Hooker for example...not even shown live on TV.

This is why I am a big fan of just supporting Aussies whatever sport they are doing. You never know what might happen :-)

Answer 6

I'm from China and am currently watching the Opals game on tv here as we speak. To be fair, while their performance tonight has not been particularly good, one must realise that you can only play as well as your opposition allows you to. As for choking, well, all I can say is, they're only humans- things like this happen.

Speaking of choking, look at what happened to our Chinese diver tonight when he was defeated by your diver Mitcham. It's disappointing, but can you do? You win some, you lose some. Unfortunately for us tonight, though our man choked, your diver deserved his gold medal and I congratulate Australia on that.

Answer 7

So sad to say the aussie synchronised swimming sucked as well. I didn't know wat they were doing..