Zika.. A great scapegoat?

[ShooterMcGavin311]

So I keep seeing more people drop from Olympic consideration and I am starting to believe that there may be some underlying reasons why so many are dropping:

1. Compensation (Lack thereof)

2. PED Testing

3. Safety

4. Timing

 

Does anyone else think that ZIka is a convenient excuse for the top players to avoid flak for not participating? Not naming names but a certain someone from Colombia dropped out and now Colombia will not have a team. Does the strict anti-doping policy have anything to do with this? Am I being too much of a conspiracy theorist?

[2zlinks]

I think you are reading too much into it. I will agree that it is an easy excuse but you are talking about an individual sport and the timing really couldn't be worse. Unfortunate that a player couldn't just come out and say that they just didn't want to go without everyone ripping them apart.

[Christosterone]

Camillo Villegas does not take any PEDs!!!

 

Sincerely,

Lance Armstrong

[CAT GOLFER]

Perhaps, I would also blame the US media coverage as well, probably doesn't help that ESPN basically has a constant loop of "Rio has [insert anything] problems".

 

The water is dirty, the crime is prevalent, Zika, and the cherry on top is it is inconvenient.

 

Are many going to point to Zika and say it is a scapegoat, sure, but I wouldn't want to put my future family at risk. My guess is it will stick around for at least one more games, and by then the PGA an other world tours will know much better how to handle scheduling and for that sake the players will as well.

[ZBUCK]

I've had a feeling it's a timing issue too. But it seems like the players with families are the one's dropping out - obviously not exclusively. Plus it's the first Olympics with golf, most of the players who have dropped out will probably still have a chance to make it in 4-8 years.

[i*windows]

golf is not an Olympic sport, simple.

[Soloman1]

There's nothing wrong with the air...

 

 

[disco111]

Like my uncle once told me........."You don't tap dance in a mine field"........................... :swoon:

[SplashShot]

I'd understand and respect if they just came out and said, "I am not interested in going because I really don't care about the Olympics, and these other things are just the icing on the cake." I'm pretty sure at least one or two have that thought in their head.

[doubleagle2]

golf is not an Olympic sport, simple.

I agree not excited at all about it

[Hawkeye77]

Asked and answered on here X 100.

[JaNelson38]

These guys really aren't that interested in taking a two week detour from the most important stretch of golf of the season.

 

The Olympics matter much more in sports like swimming or track, where there are no pro leagues to speak of and the Olympic medal and the endorsements that come with it are the pinnacle of their career.

 

PGA tour players are playing for over $75 million in the next two months, and others are concerned about securing their cards for next season.

[I_HATE_SNOW]

I hate that all the majors got jammed into July. August is going to suck as Olympic golf is BS.

[Stillboard]

Think about Vijay's future family

[Roadking2003]

golf is not an Olympic sport, simple.

 

This is true. I love golf but it should never be in the Olympics.

[dmb3535]

I'm sure there are several, if not many, that are using for an excuse because of the stretch of golf they are about to play on the pga and the sponsors probably are not too excited to see their player in different clothing lines. But, I would not say all because I am just taking a vacation to Bahamas in couple of weeks and I am worried about the zica virus and there have not been any known reports where I am going. My wife is pregnant and we planned on going to South America (carribean) and I know that I was not willing to chance it. Now I am not a prominent athlete that everyone wants to see, but for these youngsters it's not worth the chance. But then again it's jmo.

[farmer]

Zika, security, awkward timing, standard format on an unknown course-these are all real issues. At least for the US players, I doubt money is an issue. Given that Zika has mutated as it has, if I was a young guy looking at my future, it would be a tough call. On the course, you can wear enough DEET to keep the mosquitoes at bay, after the round, at the opening ceremony, going to eat, it would be very easy to be a victim.

[upanddown52]

1. Timing (includes personal and professional reasons...family planning, scheduling, etc.)

2. The Geo-Politics of Brazil

3. PED is probably a reach and reactionary, but truth may be, depending on your sport, the Olympic list of banned subs could be different depending on the sport you compete in. (I researched this for 30 seconds on google and nothing jumped out)

4. Zika

 

Also, rewind for a few decades when the Olympic games captivated the world for a couple of weeks every four years in the Winter and Summer. I am 52 and began watching the Olympics in the 70's and the sports media world really focused on "The Games" and most Gold Medal winners became instant household names regardless of country.

 

I also vividly remember, in the 70's, how cool it was to get one more live baseball or football game when Monday Night Football and Baseball started because before then it was Saturday Game of the Week at 1:15 for baseball and a couple of NFL games on Sunday.

 

Now, the Olympics to some, are just another item on the menu of available sports to watch.

 

I happen to think the Olympics are great because you can route for your country or enjoy the sport/game itself without cluttering the match with individual personas quite as much. The RC is the obvious example in golf and is what makes it as great as it is.

 

The Olympics, and understandably so, does not mean as much to this generation, fans and participants alike.

[bscinstnct]

I imagine that

 

Kerri Strugg be like,

 

****ies ; )

 

 

[BMC]

Name a player who qualifies for their Olympic team that hasn't "secured his card" for next season.......

[JaNelson38]

Name a player who qualifies for their Olympic team that hasn't "secured his card" for next season.......

 

Camilo Villegas

Brendan De Jonge

Graham DeLaet

 

Just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others.

 

[BMC]

Name a player who qualifies for their Olympic team that hasn't "secured his card" for next season.......

 

Camilo Villegas

Brendan De Jonge

Graham DeLaet

 

Just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others.

 

Thanks. The Olympics won't be the same without those guys competing.

[JaNelson38]

Name a player who qualifies for their Olympic team that hasn't "secured his card" for next season.......

 

Camilo Villegas

Brendan De Jonge

Graham DeLaet

 

Just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others.

 

Thanks. The Olympics won't be the same without those guys competing.

 

Well, it might matter a bunch to those guys, who might never get the chance again to be in the Olympics but might have to skip because they need to secure their actual jobs for next year and play in the John Deere Classic.

 

But your indifference is duly noted.

 

It's easy for a guy like Rory or Day or DJ to say no, because they know they'll simply go in 4 years. It's not for a guy like the ones I listed.

[BMC]

Name a player who qualifies for their Olympic team that hasn't "secured his card" for next season.......

 

Camilo Villegas

Brendan De Jonge

Graham DeLaet

 

Just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others.

 

Thanks. The Olympics won't be the same without those guys competing.

 

Well, it might matter a bunch to those guys, who might never get the chance again to be in the Olympics but might have to skip because they need to secure their actual jobs for next year and play in the John Deere Classic.

 

But your indifference is duly noted.

 

It's easy for a guy like Rory or Day or DJ to say no, because they know they'll simply go in 4 years. It's not for a guy like the ones I listed.

 

You're right. My indifference about the Olympics is that most of these guys that will qualify play against each other every week anyway. So, it's not that special. And, if many of the very best players don't even compete, it's like the consolation tournament.

[2putttom]

golf is not an Olympic sport, simple.

well neither is running around in circles while wearing a unitard and flailing a stick with a ribbon on it.

[ssfranny]

Think about Vijay's future family

 

Deer Antler spray offsets side effects of Zika Virus.

[mjtoal]

I think Zika is a legitimate concern. We don't fully know the effects of it. But the most important issues are that many pros just don't care about an Olympic medal and it interferes with their prep for majors and WGC events. There is also a sponsor issue. Players don't want to wear official team outfits from another sponsor.

[vegas005]

Having been to Rio on business, and although it is an exciting city with a love for life and all things sexy, the place is a lawless hell hole of thieves, murder and mayhem. I would not visit under any circumstances. The virus is an unknown and may weigh in to the decision but it also offers an easy way to decline the invite without discussing the other potentially more dangerous issues.

[I_HATE_SNOW]

I think Zika is a legitimate concern. We don't fully know the effects of it. But the most important issues are that many pros just don't care about an Olympic medal and it interferes with their prep for majors and WGC events. There is also a sponsor issue. Players don't want to wear official team outfits from another sponsor.

Majors are done after this month, silly season is all that's left.

[Seedbe]

Simple: If i were young and planning a family.... Zika Answer- NO why would i put my family in that position. Also what of the players trying to keep their tour card? Miss events for that? AND, oh i forgot to mention the police in Rio are on strike. Can anybody spell security. Not to mention the recently found antibiotic resistant bacteria in the waters surrounding the games. Yeah to all of us armchair Olympian athletes... sure sign me up. NOT