Why on earth do we suck so much at certain sports?

[shadetree]

Originally Posted by octothorp

In order to get those guys into world-class speed-skaters by their prime, how early would you need to get them out of hockey and into speedskating? Would any boy (and his parents) actually say, "okay, I've got a 1 in a 1000 shot of being an NHL player, I'm going to switch to this sport where this organization thinks that they can turn me into a world-class athlete." Hard to get anyone to give up on their dreams, though.

I doubt it. But I don't think they'd have to make the switch that early. Some of the speed skaters (long track) didn't become serious about it until they started university here and started training at the Oval.

Also, even a good skater who's a marginal hockey player will probably make more money as a journeyman in the AHL/Europe than a typical Olympic athlete.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by shadetree

I doubt it. But I don't think they'd have to make the switch that early. Some of the speed skaters (long track) didn't become serious about it until they started university here and started training at the Oval.

Also, even a good skater who's a marginal hockey player will probably make more money as a journeyman in the AHL/Europe than a typical Olympic athlete.

Never mind the financial aspect, people who follow the journeyman minor leaguer hockey route do so because they love the game. If they didn't have the same passion for speed skating they'd never be able to put in the commitment it takes to be a truly elite competitor.

[liamenator]

Yes, it's not enough that we bitch and moan about our professional hockey team day in, day out, we should all now resort to taking a collective dump all over our amateur athletes.

[Stanley]

holy crap we won gold in ice dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!

I take back everything I said....

[HOOT]

I hope by Feb 28th I'm eating crow on this topic!