Quote:
Originally Posted by habernac
Our good athletes need to be identified, funded and trained. They don't need to be working at Home Depot or any other such crap. They need to be able to focus on training. Period. Then we'll do better.
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Again, where's the individual effort from the people that want to see more success on the olympic stage? Hockey players get billeted. Why not olympic calibre athletes?
I'm just tired of hearing that the government needs to spend more money on stuff. This particular issue gets little sympathy from me because it does nothing to further the cause of the rest of the population. Sure it'd be great if we were an athletic powerhouse and we cleaned up at the olympics, but not when there are other, much more pressing issues at home. If people want better olympians, people should contribute directly. I'd be all for some kind of tax break for a family that sponsors an athlete, but the general idea of just giving money to people to play sports all day rubs me the wrong way.
From a purely selfish point of view, I basically think: why should he or she get paid to play games when I have to work or else go hungry?
And as long as we're talking about government sponsorship of talent, what's next? Money for musicians so that they can compete on American Idol? My sister was in band in high school and to compete in some competition in Spain, they had to sell chocolate bars all year to afford the trip. I just fail to see why athletes are so important.