You could regard the lottery as a kind of voluntary tax (I know that's nonsense).

State collaboration is obviously a massive factor - that's what the Nazis, the Soviets and to lesser extents the Americans and the Australians realised. We're just the latest to put it into effect.

As for not singing the anthem, there's plenty of social media / tabloid pressure. Maybe not everyone sees it or feels it, maybe that's just me.

Posted By: APB on August 18th 2016 at 10:28:28

Message Thread

Food for thought, or maybe not, depending. (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 09:04:19
- too many words (n/m) (Other Sports) - Jumbo1, Aug 18, 12:59:17
  - Doofus. (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 13:45:56
- meh (n/m) (Other Sports) - Charles21, Aug 18, 12:47:50
  - Nice. (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 12:52:03
    - ha (n/m) (Other Sports) - Charles21, Aug 18, 18:05:46
- Load of crap. To me they are heroes indeed. Giving up their (Other Sports) - Tony Martin, Aug 18, 12:41:39
  - lol! you think the whole of the Guardian's coverage is that one opinion piece? (Other Sports) - Ralf Scrampton, Aug 18, 13:12:36
    - Their coverage has been very good, I thought. (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 13:48:41
      - entut though, i mean i could do without them giving me a round-up for Oz and the Merkins (Other Sports) - Ralf Scrampton, Aug 18, 13:56:47
    - Obviously not. But yet again you like to try and troll. Well done div. (n/m) (Other Sports) - Tony Martin, Aug 18, 13:32:30
      - oh don't blub you ricockulous idiot (Other Sports) - Ralf Scrampton, Aug 18, 13:46:04
  - They're not being negative about the sport / athletes. (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 12:51:29
  - Ps that's the article not your post I'm calling crap. (n/m) (Other Sports) - Tony Martin, Aug 18, 12:43:38
- My views would mean I'm pissed on cider (Other Sports) - pants, Aug 18, 11:48:13
  - Reasonable points of view if you ask me. (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 12:35:20
  - What about the last World Cup? Genuinely interested in why you think that was different? (Other Sports) - Adster, Aug 18, 12:02:49
  - ^^^vmt^^^ (n/m) (Other Sports) - colincanary, Aug 18, 11:54:02
  - You'd think the locals would be grateful for the Olympics (Other Sports) - Ken Dodds Dads Dog, Aug 18, 11:53:22
- I honestly just feel that GREAT Britain is the best country (Other Sports) - MIKEWALKER, Aug 18, 11:24:32
  - I think you'll find it's called xenophobia. (Other Sports) - avenging canary, Aug 18, 11:26:57
    - Had that on the Amiga 500. (n/m) (Other Sports) - MIKEWALKER, Aug 18, 11:45:06
      - Was that by the Bitmap Bros? (n/m) (Other Sports) - Bungle, Aug 18, 12:18:15
        
        course it was. they loved pixellated metal and the future. (n/m) (Other Sports) - MIKEWALKER, Aug 18, 13:40:29
      - lol (n/m) (Other Sports) - pants, Aug 18, 11:51:44
      - Ha! Good work. (n/m) (Other Sports) - avenging canary, Aug 18, 11:46:12
  - *wipes tear from eye* (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 11:26:49
- Jingoism is indeed shit. (Other Sports) - Garry Brooke, Aug 18, 10:58:48
  - True fax. (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 11:04:42
- Jingoistic sports coverage has been the norm for years. It is the least of (Other Sports) - woody, Aug 18, 10:35:11
- British media. Moaning when the nation is failing at sport. Moaning when we are winning it (n/m) (Other Sports) - Ken Dodds Dads Dog, Aug 18, 10:33:23
  - Jenkins was moaning about London 2012 as well. (Other Sports) - Pit, Aug 18, 11:11:01
    - Haha. The guy is clearly a major buzzkill. (n/m) (Other Sports) - Ken Dodds Dads Dog, Aug 18, 12:07:19
- After years and years of British sporting failure, I love that we have invested in a (Other Sports) - StraightOuttaBacton, Aug 18, 10:29:39
  - on the 10 o'clock news bit, he could've switched over to ITV (Other Sports) - Ralf Scrampton, Aug 18, 10:53:53
  - It's great! (n/m) (Other Sports) - shoddy, Aug 18, 10:48:26
  - Couldn't agree more! (Other Sports) - berstreetsfinest, Aug 18, 10:38:35
  - VMT (n/m) (Other Sports) - Ken Dodds Dads Dog, Aug 18, 10:37:39
  - Yep, fair enough. That's what I said about the Australians. (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 10:33:49
    - I thought Luke Skywalker killed the rancour? (n/m) (Other Sports) - bird table, Aug 18, 10:52:26
    - Thought I read the other day... (Other Sports) - mr carra, Aug 18, 10:41:14
      - It certainly will be copied if it hasn't yet been. (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 11:05:52
      - their lottery company sponsors one of their pro cycling teams (Other Sports) - Ralf Scrampton, Aug 18, 10:56:08
    - You rancour. (n/m) (Other Sports) - Yellalee, Aug 18, 10:38:14
      - Ha ha. (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 11:05:06
  - Great points! (n/m) (Other Sports) - avenging canary, Aug 18, 10:30:31
- Moot article for me. (n/m) (Other Sports) - Pit, Aug 18, 10:27:46
- The French vaulter may have had a point? (Other Sports) - shoddy, Aug 18, 10:27:24
  - Flippant comment. (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 10:31:03
- I like the guardian but I disagree with a lot in that article. (Other Sports) - Bravo win or die, Aug 18, 10:09:08
  - Olympic success clearly does vindicate Brexit. (Other Sports) - Arizona Bay, Aug 18, 10:44:13
    - Ha ha! (n/m) (Other Sports) - Bravo win or die, Aug 18, 10:48:38
  - Wiggo pulled a face, dunno if anyone complained. He could get away with what Daley Thompso (Other Sports) - Ralf Scrampton, Aug 18, 10:28:43
  - You could regard the lottery as a kind of voluntary tax (I know that's nonsense). (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 10:28:28
    - Our olympians had years of pathetic under-funding. And yet we still had (Other Sports) - Pit, Aug 18, 10:31:51
      - If it promotes interest in taking part and not just watching. (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 10:42:26
        
        Running and Cycling are fairly accessible. And Athletics I would have thought. (Other Sports) - Pit, Aug 18, 10:47:36
        
        Didn't Sir Steve go to a comprehensive where they offered rowing as part of the pe (Other Sports) - Bravo win or die, Aug 18, 10:52:44
        
        Also, you *could* say there's a fine line between talent spotting and ... (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 11:32:49
        
        As you know, there are comprehensives and comprehensives. (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 11:08:16
        
        Gymnastics as well, my 5 year old will be starting that soon based on the limpics (n/m) (Other Sports) - megson, Aug 18, 10:51:36
        
        I really want my 8 year old to join a Gymnastics club but he's not keen (n/m) (Other Sports) - strap_on sally, Aug 18, 11:22:58
  - This was pretty awesome... (Other Sports) - woody, Aug 18, 10:12:32
    - Peter Norman is one of my all-time heroes. (Other Sports) - avenging canary, Aug 18, 10:27:10
      - i posted this link a little while ago, but seems a good time for a repost :-) (Other Sports) - Ralf Scrampton, Aug 18, 10:50:22
        
        Lovely. Beautiful picture of Smith and Carlos at Peter Norman's funeral. (Other Sports) - avenging canary, Aug 18, 11:10:37
        
        I read that then too, very interesting article (n/m) (Other Sports) - megson, Aug 18, 11:02:39
        
        I read that at the time - thank you for posting (n/m) (Other Sports) - Bravo win or die, Aug 18, 10:54:20
        
        No probs. (Other Sports) - Ralf Scrampton, Aug 18, 11:05:49
      - I see the glove bit is in the link... (n/m) (Other Sports) - avenging canary, Aug 18, 10:29:09
      - Yeah. (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 10:28:56
    - Wasn't it just? I love the fact that the Aussie also wore a badge in solidarity. (n/m) (Other Sports) - Bravo win or die, Aug 18, 10:17:20
- It seems very mean-spirited to me. Why shouldn't we celebrate and indulge success? (Other Sports) - avenging canary, Aug 18, 10:05:34
  - I don't think that's what he's saying. (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 10:11:12
    - but isn't that just South American culture though? (Other Sports) - mr carra, Aug 18, 10:35:48
    - I don't think investment and well planned training/research programmes (Other Sports) - avenging canary, Aug 18, 10:18:50
- I think there's a kernel of truth in some of his points, which is, however, entirely (Other Sports) - Arizona Bay, Aug 18, 09:56:05
  - ^^^ this is what i was thinking when i read it last night too (Other Sports) - Ralf Scrampton, Aug 18, 10:11:55
    - Sir Lolzalot (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 10:44:26
    - Arf! (n/m) (Other Sports) - yellowman, Aug 18, 10:21:44
  - Indeed. (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 09:57:00
- The most expensive smoke and mirrors show in the world. (n/m) (Other Sports) - yellowman, Aug 18, 09:49:33
- There may be an element of "distract the plebs" about this (Other Sports) - Bungle, Aug 18, 09:38:35
  - I don't think Cavendish' crash was deliberate, though. (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 09:44:38
    - and the reaction of the Danish bronze meadlist was 'shit happens' so probably not surprisi (Other Sports) - Ralf Scrampton, Aug 18, 10:18:38
    - He's a world class crash causer, that lad (n/m) (Other Sports) - MIKEWALKER, Aug 18, 09:52:44
  - No, it's not wrong to have success. The article is also wrong (a little) on Major. (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 09:43:35
- As far as doping goes, i wouldn't rule anyone out, and I mean anyone, (Other Sports) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Aug 18, 09:33:53
  - Possibly so. I do actually believe the British team are quite clean. (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 09:40:01
- Not read the article yet but your comments re the national anthem: Remember Daley (Other Sports) - Adster, Aug 18, 09:25:03
  - I thought it was funny/cool. (n/m) (Other Sports) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Aug 18, 09:34:45
  - Vaguely. I think as a kid I never bothered watching the ceremony, just the sport. (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 09:31:48
    - Imagine if this happened today... (Other Sports) - Adster, Aug 18, 09:49:30
      - Ha ha. And he quotes Derek and Clive. (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 09:54:45
        
        I never knew any of this, he's now jumped above Dave Phillips in my heroes pantheon (n/m) (Other Sports) - MIKEWALKER, Aug 18, 09:55:49
        
        Praise indeed. (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 10:00:46
- Overall GB medal haul table (Other Sports) - Jester, Aug 18, 09:22:35
  - yes. (n/m) (Other Sports) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Aug 18, 09:35:10
  - I don't think they should get an honour until their sporting career is over. (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 09:29:51
    - Agree. Even then only in exceptional circumstances. (n/m) (Other Sports) - avenging canary, Aug 18, 09:59:26
    - thats a fair comment (n/m) (Other Sports) - ghostof barry butler, Aug 18, 09:30:33
  - Vmt (Other Sports) - CauldRon, Aug 18, 09:25:52
    - honours are given for many reasons (Other Sports) - ghostof barry butler, Aug 18, 09:29:06
- Surely that arguement only really works if what we are doing is unique? (Other Sports) - megson, Aug 18, 09:16:45
  - I know. I wasn't necessarily agreeing with the article. (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 09:29:09
    - I think AB has it right up there when he talks about nuance ^^^^ (Other Sports) - megson, Aug 18, 10:50:31
    - The comments are all "Guardian hates us being successful". (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 09:37:41
- And the Daily Mail this morning (Other Sports) - ghostof barry butler, Aug 18, 09:16:35
  - Ah, the inevitable 'Daily Mail' link from your good self... (n/m) (Other Sports) - avenging canary, Aug 18, 10:31:48
- Ah, the Guardian's pet troll is at it again (n/m) (Other Sports) - Basil Wrathbone, Aug 18, 09:09:38
  - ? (n/m) (Other Sports) - APB, Aug 18, 09:12:19

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