I love watching most sports and have enjoyed the Winter Olympics. I wonder if I am the only one disturbed however by how important chance seems to be in many winter events. I am particularly thinking about short track skating and snowboard cross. The Olympics should be about being the best,not the luckiest.
Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com
How do you explain Koreans & Japanese love of baseball. That definitely shows that sprots are truly influneced by specific cultural experiences. Korea, like the Netherlands has many small streams that freeze duringthe winter. Those streams were used like highways for transportation.
No, I agree with that, but it doesn't necessarily mean they are going to dominate in those sports. Lots of Filipinos like to play basketball, but I still don't think their Olympic medal chances are good.
Interesting note about speed skating in Holland. Apparently it became poplular in the 19th century because of the "mini ice age" that occurred in that century. Canals often froze over then that rarely if ever do now (according to "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson).
Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com
How do you explain Koreans & Japanese love of baseball. That definitely shows that sprots are truly influneced by specific cultural experiences. Korea, like the Netherlands has many small streams that freeze duringthe winter. Those streams were used like highways for transportation.
No, I agree with that, but it doesn't necessarily mean they are going to dominate in those sports. Lots of Filipinos like to play basketball, but I still don't think their Olympic medal chances are good.
Interesting note about speed skating in Holland. Apparently it became poplular in the 19th century because of the "mini ice age" that occurred in that century. Canals often froze over then that rarely if ever do now (according to "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson).
