I always cheer for the U.S. men and women in basketball, and the former is becoming a lot more competitive. However, there is definitely less interest in the pros just because we dominate the sport and have the best pros by far of any country. The odds are getting more and more equal and both the international rules and the lack of time playing together always make it not quite the domination that we see of our best against most basketball players from other countries (again, more in the past) in the NBA itself. But for me the Olympics are much more exciting for all the lesser known athletes who aren't much beyond amateurs. The NBA is already the best stage for the NBA players to shine and they have proven themselves many, many times there already.
Not hyper-patriotic but I pull for everyone with a USA on their uniform. That includes every athlete and team bashed here thus far. So yes, I'll be rooting for Biles, Richardson, McLaughlin, Hiltz, St.Pierre, Women's Soccer, Women's Basketball and Men's Basketball.
A few others besides USA athletes I'll pull for because I enjoy watching them run, Kerr, Bol and Kipchoge but wouldn't mind if they ran 2nd to a USA athlete.
I would love to see both Men’s and Women’s Basketball lose. I also would love to see Femke Bol win the 400hurdles.
Why do you think that is noteworthy? We all have favorites for different reasons and dislikes for various reasons. Although I generally cheer for the American teams at the Olympics, there could be circumstances when I would choose differently. And I'm much more flexible with individual events such as cycling, track, Marathon, and various Winter Oly events.
When it comes to T&F, I am all in on cheering for every American athlete even if they are in last position. Gymnastics: I am all in cheering for the American team because of Simone on the women side and because the men tend to be underdogs. I think I usually cheer for American athletes except for basketball and swimming. Basketball because of the overpaid, over indulged professional NBA participants. And swimming because of the commentators. To hear them, you would think that the USA swimmers are the best in every event. Then you get to the event and they don't even qualify for the finals. Then you find out that those who won, were the favourites going in. No balance in commentating whatsoever. So to stop my cheering against Americans in swimming, I have muted the sound.
I don't understand the Sydney haters. There literally isn't a better role model for anyone in our society. Works incredibly hard. Focused. Over the top humble. These are incredible attributes for her level of success. She has never been involved in any kind of drama. She certainly isn't the only member of team USA like this, but she is probably the most generational track athlete at the games. People should love her. If you can't behind that, then it's a 'you' issue.
It's that Femke is more loved because she's better in terms of personality, not that they hate Sydney
I dont pull for the US in basketball because the gold medal in basketball is not the top level of competition, or most prized title in basketball. It's just an asterisk placed after all the other accomplishments.
The Olympics is a time to let Olympic Sports (track, weight lifting, gymnastics, swimming,) shine, the NBA season 8 months long. I dont want to see them for awhile.
I find myself pulling for women from other countries because if we're honest, when it comes to women's competition world wide, there are huge areas of the world where women's sports simply do not exist. The playing field is very skewed towards the West.