IOC Votes Wrestling Out Of 2020 Core

((HT: IOC/USOC/ABC))

So, instead of something like modern pentathlon, tae-kwon-do and field hockey being taken out of the 25 core sports considered by the five-ringed circus, the International Olympic Committee decided to jettison wrestling (both the freestyle and greco-roman varieties) out of the 2020 games.

The sport could be voted back in, but it's not likely...

"This is a process of renewing and renovating the program for the Olympics," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. "In the view of the executive board, this was the best program for the Olympic Games in 2020. It's not a case of what's wrong with wrestling, it is what's right with the 25 core sports."

The group looked at factors such as TV ratings, ticket sales, doping issues, participation, and popularity- most of those factors are subjective and allow for emotional and political response... something the international committees are "never" known for...

Right...???

There's one opening for a sport in 2020. The winner comes from a group including baseball and softball, karate, squash, roller sports, sport climbing, wakeboarding and something called "wushu."

So, we now get to miss moments like this one...


And this one...


The Soviet Union and United States are one and two in the all-time medal list with 132 and 125, respectively...

Names like Blatnick, Sanderson, Gable, and Gardner now go to history books instead of continuing to add to it...

FoxSports In Focus: Dotsie Bausch

((HT: FoxSports))

Since the five-ringed circus is a few weeks away over in Great Britain, the HQ figured we'd share a feature or two before you're all enthralled about a town that will be stuck fighting the rain for three solid weeks...

If you don't know the story of cyclist Dotsie Bausch, you should...
FOSG Laura Okmin gets to spend a good eight minutes on it...
Huzzahs for that...


See...???
We told you it was a good eight minutes...

Olympic Champion Michael Johnson Says Black American And Caribbean Sprinters Have a "Superior Athletic Gene"

HT: Daily Mail.com (London)

Michael Johnson winning the 200 meters at the 1996 Olympics

Remember Michael Johnson?  The American sprinter who pulled off a rare double gold medal performance at the 1996 Olympic Games by winning the 200 meters and 400 meters.  Johnson is now a track and field commentator for the BBC and offers this analysis of the upcoming Olympic Games in London.

According to Johnson a "superior athletic gene" in the descendants of West African slaves means black American and Caribbean sprinters will command the sport at the London Games.

Johnson went on to say that… "It’s a fact that hasn’t been discussed openly before. It’s a taboo subject in the States but it is what it is. Why shouldn’t we discuss it?’

Well Michael we don’t discuss it here because it’s not news.  African-American sprinters have been winning the sprints since the 1930’s and I can recall Jesse Owens was a hero to “All” Americans by winning four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  I suggest you do some research as to why.

When I watch the great sprinters running I could care less about the color of their skin.  Maybe that makes me odd or different.  I just see a great athlete at peak performance.

This might be news across the pond but over here it’s a wonderful fact of life.

OSG DFW: The NPSFL's Dallas Defenders And A Five-Ringed Documentary

((HT: WFAA-TV Dallas))

Our friends at 8 News have two cool stories for your Monday...

The first has to do with the National Public Safety Football League and Dallas first responder's place in it...

Here's Ted Madden...


The other has to do with a new documentary, "The Other Dream Team." Dallas Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson coached the Lithuanian team in the 1992 for third-place in the five-ringed competition- and beat the Russians to do it...

Casey Norton caught up with Donnie...

Branding Police: Don't post from the 2012 Olympics or else

The place where the gathering will be/Please don't arrest me

((ht: deadspin.com))

Yikes! It's a good thing we have no interest what so ever in reporting anything Olympic (god I hope the secret police don't get me for typing that word), because according to the folks at the Guardian in Britain, you could get arrested for it.

Yes, that's right. If you go to the 2012 O-L-Y-M-P-I-C-S (crap, I just said it again) and tweet about it, or post a Facebook photo to show you were there, you are violating British law.

We were shocked to hear this too. We are pretty sure the Chinese, a group all about controlling the message weren't this over-the-top.

Apparently, in order to host the "Games that can't be mentioned unless you pay money to sponsor them", you have to agree to the IOC's demand that nobody outside of "PAYING" sponsors can use any derivative of the "Year, Word, Host City etc" in ANY combination.

No, really, we aren't delusional and we aren't making this up.

Oh...wait, it gets better (or worse). Apparently, you can't even use words that "MIGHT" be associated with the event either.

--Sigh--

Uh...there's more.

The punishment/flogging/death threats include the athletes. Particularly those represented or speaking of "NON PAYING BRANDS". If your favorite athlete is a Nike guy and has a Nike logo during the games....uh...you may never see him alive again. The "Gathering" is apparently sponsored by Addidas.

Really.

We are serious here.

Read the story from the GuardianUK RIGHT HERE

((**Editor Note**--Apparently pubs and other places can't even say "Come to our place to watch the _____ " either. Same rules apparently apply.))

This is the part where we go off on an uncontrolled rant about the sheer lunacy, madness and violation of not only free speech, but speech in any form.

Call us flabbergasted.

Yes, if you read the story, the "Business folks" and IOC representatives don't seem to think this is a problem. And you know what? Inside the venues and the Olympic (oh damn...I said it again) venue, they have a legitimate argument.

But not in the rest of the known universe.

We are pretty sure that in some way, shape or form this violates pretty much every free speech right in existence.

But...in today's universe, really it no longer does.

And you ask...Why?

It's because "Paid Sponsors" and "Big Corporations" can push through pretty much any legislation that they want.

Oh crap...I'm getting political again.

If they spend enough money or put the right pressure on the right politician...(finger snap!), you've got new legislation.

Don't believe me? Then spend your money, buy your ticket and go to unnamed city for the current years athletic gathering (insert sarcasm), take pictures and post them on Twitter or Facebook and use the city or events name.

Don't be surprised if you get hauled away to the Thought Police jail sometime in the middle of one of the next few nights.

**NOTE**--If you don't see a story from me in the next few days here on OSG Sports, send a search party. Or at least call ABC and have them send Ashley Judd because I'm Missing.  Also, please notify The Lovely Bride and give Happy Rosie the pup and Oliver the Cat my best.

Brings back memories of this...doesn't it?

OSG Five-Rings: Greece Suspends Track and Field Operations

Like, now...

With all of the austerity measures going on in a country that is living off emergency loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the country's sports governing sports body decided the following:

"The Board of Athletics Federation ... unanimously decided to suspend all domestic sporting activity until decisions to make unfair and selective cuts in funding are reviewed," a federation statement said.

The head of the Fed, Vassilis Sevastis, admitted that coaches and other related personnel haven't even been paid for up to 10 months. They will meet again in two weeks to determine of they're going to elevate the inactivity to international events- Track and Field championships and the like...

The budget has been cut by a third for the last two years...
Here's some Greek track and field history for you...
((HT: IAAF/IOC/youtube))

Jim Redmond Selected For Five-Ringed Torch Run

The HQ knows what you're thinking...

Who is Jim Redmond...???
This VISA ad will remind you...
((HT: VISA/youtube))


He has been chosen as one of the torch runners for the summer competition to be held in London this year... which is cool...

He has already said in interviews that he plans to be the slowest runner during the relay... which is perfectly fine with us...