sportsmanship wrote:
Aren't we mature enough to appreciate it for that alone?
Uh, no.
This whole thing reminded me of Gary Hall Jr.'s contrived quote about "smashing the Australians like a guitar" during the 2000 games. Watching the Aussies celebrate and play the air guitar at Hall's expense was great theater.
The problem with great theater in sports is that it can come back to bite you as Hall came to find out. The Aussies also witnessed the US team coming back to trounce them in their own pool after that relay, maybe a little too much celebrating.
Now add the French as the latest casualties. I only hope more people step out into the sunshine and talk some smack because it does add to the excitement, especially at this level.
It was a great job USA and everyone else who made it possible, namely the French team.
Even though we may make fun of the French as often as possible we can never hate them. They possess one of the greatest cultures on Earth and where would we be without great wine, cheese, mustard, bike races, outrageous accents, et al?