Insulting Olympic Beach VB article:

[voleyqueen]

Article Via The Net Live FB page:

www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/beach-volleyball-brings-rousing-levity-to-the-olympics/article4459733/

My favorite highlights:
Playing on what used to be hallowed grounds...are we worthy?
Fans a bunch of rowdy drunks
Are Beach VB players Olympic-quality material?
It's easy- anyone can learn to play in a couple days - even shot putters
"Cute" athletes that slap each others bums

However, this is all coming from someone who loves rowing...

[Deleted]

Agreed. I emailed the Globe and Mail immediately after reading the article.

Brutal!

[owl]

what a load of crock

using that same rational shot putting must be way easier. it only takes a minute to learn-just throw that thing the farthest, no bumping, setting, digging, blocking, passing involved

[jagdpanther]

My guess is that he is one of those guys who has never covered sports before and does not like sports but had to do so because the Olympics are in town.

[ugopher]

The writer does seem to make fun of the game and his question about if the athletes are truly Olympic quality is insulting.

But, to be fair, does he not wrap up the atmosphere of beach? At least at this level and the pro level? Is not a big part of the attraction of beach the bikini clad participants (and some fans) and the party-like atmosphere?

[volleytology]

Didn't read "insulting" at all. Simply a layman's view of beach volleyball on first blush. He actually seems quite enthralled by the game within the article and finishes with the fact that he "hopes the sport endures at the Olympics". All his points were reasonable first impressions having never seen the sport before.

[redbeard2008]

The deeper sand in this particular venue does nullify athletic ability to some degree - thus the Czechs upsetting the Brazilians. That means, however, that experience, strategy, tactics, court awareness, and just plain aerobic fitness come much more into play. The shot putter would probably be flat on his face in the sand after three or four points.

[volleytology]

To the author's defense, the game does look easy to play at first glance, but I'm sure if the author went down into the sand and simply tried to walk in it, he'd change his tune immediately !Yes, the shotputter, wouldn't last long.

[Deleted]

But there isn't anything in the article to convey his inexperience or cheek. I think he wrote that knowing he'd insult a lot of fans.