What Is Your Favorite Ancient Olympic Game?
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Bring it back (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Bring it back (Score:5, Funny)
For extra fun, put the horse in the carriage and use sportsmen to pull it around.
Re:Bring it back (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Bring it back (Score:2)
Oh and we need a archer on each chariot to snip the competitors.
Re:Bring it back (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Bring it back (Score:3)
I'm pretty sure the word was 'mohel [wikipedia.org]'
Re:Bring it back (Score:3)
Indeed, it can be the summer biathlon. Ride, snipe, ride on.
Re:Bring it back (Score:2)
I'll allow it.
Re:Bring it back (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Bring it back (Score:2)
Re:Bring it back (Score:3, Funny)
I'm still in mourning for the loss of that ancient olympic staple, the poetry contest. Seriously, look it up.
Unfortunately there were very few willing competitors trying out for the poetry event...
...Once they started releasing the lions on the losers, to please the crowds.
Re:Bring it back (Score:3)
Lions and tigers and ARRRRGGGHHHHH
Re:Bring it back (Score:4, Funny)
Lions and tigers and ARRRRGGGHHHHH
Re:Bring it back (Score:4, Interesting)
The modern Olympics used to have an art category [theatlantic.com] but most artists don't really go in for head to head competition. You can always start up an international poetry slam governance organization and petition for inclusion [olympic.org] in some future Olympics.
Re:Bring it back (Score:2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDO6bErncPk [youtube.com]
The problem with making art an Olympic sport is that Rolf Harris would always win.
Re:Bring it back (Score:2)
It can replace Dressage
Re:Bring it back (Score:2)
Why do they always show curling in slow motion?
Re:Bring it back (Score:2)
Why do they always show curling in slow motion?
Because nobody would believe they can sweep that fast...
Re:Bring it back (Score:3)
Well, they ruled out Formula 1 as an Olympic sport [ap.org] so I doubt chariot racing will fare any better...
Re:Bring it back (Score:2)
Well, your sentiment is right, but I sure don't want to watch women's weightlifting. The last thing I need to see is some woman's hairy balls.
Re:Bring it back (Score:2)
I think my husband subscribes to that channel, it's from Kink.com isn't it?
of course (Score:2)
it would be awesome. anything goes, save for biting and going for the eyes.
the match ends with either death or surrendering
Re: of course (Score:5, Funny)
it would be awesome. anything goes, save for biting and going for the eyes.
the match ends with either death or surrendering
Man, some people take Pong WAY too seriously...
Re: of course (Score:2)
Modern day Chariot Racing exists . . . (Score:5, Interesting)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_wagon_racing [wikipedia.org]
Y'all no never been up north, to the Calgary Stampede . . . ?
Modern day Chariot Racing exists... almost. (Score:2, Interesting)
That is not chariot racing. Chuckwagon racing stands to Chariot racing as Truck racing stands to Formula 1. It's got too many wheels, the vehicle is too heavy and/or not enough power.
I am not saying it's not impressive... it's just not the same thing.
Anyway, bring on the hydras.
Re:Modern day Chariot Racing exists... almost. (Score:3)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harness_Racing [wikipedia.org]
is a bit more like it.
of course - it's a totally balls removed version of it. no contact and all that shit.
Re:Modern day Chariot Racing exists... almost. (Score:2)
Chariot Link (Score:3)
Re:Modern day Chariot Racing exists . . . (Score:2)
Why, I have indeed been up to the world's largest rodeo... which just so happens to be in Canada (and not Texas).
Re:Modern day Chariot Racing exists . . . (Score:2)
But it has no spikes, whipping people, etc. :P
Javelin Catching! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Javelin Catching! (Score:2)
Re:Javelin Catching! (Score:2)
It's been played: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H0fpWepRVs [youtube.com]
Yebbut where's the Rule 34 for that?
Hydra Killing (Score:2)
Re:Hydra Killing (Score:2)
Re:Hydra Killing (Score:2)
Re:Hydra Killing (Score:2)
Re:Hydra Killing (Score:2)
Yeah, once they killed off all the giant hydra.
Re:Hydra Killing (Score:2)
Plus, they're the food gift that keeps on giving, thanks to Regeneration(tm) technology.
Re:Hydra Killing (Score:2)
They're delicious when deep fried in beer batter, with some Gigandes plaki and a nice retsina...
TFTFY.
(Uh... You were quoting the Hydra, weren't you?)
Re:Hydra Killing (Score:3)
They're delicious when deep fried in beer batter.
A fellow reader of the Order of the Stick [giantitp.com] webcomic, I assume :)
Re:Hydra Killing (Score:2)
At a few mm long, they're far too small to make a meal out of. Forgive me for my sentence, a preposition ending with.
What? No Wrestling? (Score:2)
Re:What? No Wrestling? (Score:2)
Re:What? No Wrestling? (Score:2)
That's why I voted for it.
Re:What? No Wrestling? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:What? No Wrestling? (Score:2)
Judging by his name, he also lost.
Re:What? No Wrestling? (Score:2)
I guess these are sports that aren't in the modern Olympic games. Wrestling is a part of the Olympics.
Old school MMA? (Score:2)
Currently there is boxing, wrestling, and judo, I say bring pankration back as it could incorporate all three.
Missing option (Score:5, Funny)
* Warning: "The Olympic Games" is being used here without any permission at all. Bring on the lawyers!
Re:Missing option (Score:2)
Race to avoid any and all mention of "The Olympic Games©®TM*".
It's OK. Some American nobody likes said it would be crap, so we want it to succeed now :)
Re:Missing option (Score:2)
Your joking notwithstanding (and the Olympics is of course an excellent example of brand protection going over the top), mentioning the Olympic Games and discussing it here is totally legal.
People are allowed to use brand names and trademarks when talking about a product. That's why we can freely discuss anything Microsoft, Windows, Apple, iPad, IBM, Xerox, etc here without lawyers knocking on Slashdot's door immediately (is Slashdot a registered trademark? I wouldn't be surprised if it is).
Re:Missing option (Score:2)
We've got a 504. Dispatch DHS, seize his assets, and bring in the lawyer hordes. Only terrorists encourage the use the O-word without a licensing agreement.
Re:Missing option (Score:2)
How about Minotaur Buggering? Definitely a missing option
Slashboxes not appearing (Score:2)
I've found for the past few months that polls don't appear on my front page. I then noticed that other items I have checked in my account are not appearing (user space is one). Despite toggling things on and off I see no difference. To get to the polls, I have to log off, get the url, then navigate back when logged in. Any thoughts on how to correct?
Re:Slashboxes not appearing (Score:2)
Um ... just a guess:
'Slashboxes' is off on the main 'Options' screen?
(which does *not* uncheck the 'Use Slashboxes' in the 'Slashboxes' pane of the 'Account' screen)
Re:Slashboxes not appearing (Score:2)
I looked at that as well. I've toggled it a few times with no noticeable effect on my main page.
Re:Slashboxes not appearing (Score:2)
Crisis over. After my third 'reset layout' exercise, things are back to normal.
Re:Slashboxes not appearing (Score:3)
Re:Slashboxes not appearing (Score:2)
Meh :) I was trying other options as well, and this pesky work thing was getting in the way...
Re:Slashboxes not appearing (Score:2)
enough already (Score:5, Informative)
I just wish the modern Olympic Games stop already. They've completely perverted the spirit of Pierre de Coubertin who said (in French): L’important dans ces Olympiades, c’est moins d’y gagner que d’y prendre part (the important thing is less winning than participating), especially with the rules that professional athlete can compete now (in case you didn't know, only amateurs were allowed to participate in the earlier days).
With all the palm greasing, the expense on hosting countries (Greece 2004 anyone?), and the double standards going on (like not giving a visa to the Syrian Olympic chief because they don't like the country's ruler), it's enough already.
Re:enough already (Score:5, Insightful)
I just wish the modern Olympic Games stop already. They've completely perverted the spirit of Pierre de Coubertin who said (in French): L’important dans ces Olympiades, c’est moins d’y gagner que d’y prendre part (the important thing is less winning than participating), especially with the rules that professional athlete can compete now (in case you didn't know, only amateurs were allowed to participate in the earlier days).
If I understand it correctly what the "amateurs only" rule really meant was that only Gentlemen could participate. The working class couldn't afford the time to train and participate nor the expenses and that kept the Gentlemen from having to associate with their inferiors as equals.
CMIIW
Re:enough already (Score:3)
There are still a few after effects of that rule.
Boxing is currently strictly amateur-only (though expected to change by the next event).
Football (soccer) is under-21s only (though three players may be older iirc) - and as a result Olympic football is all but ignored by the fans, just compare it's popularity to the world cup or even the European cup(s).
And besides of course there is the question of how to define amateur vs. professional.
Re:enough already (Score:2)
The Olympics still is the only thing that can bring people together from all around the world. Where else will you see Israelis and Palestinians, Indians and Pakistanis, etc., all competing in a friendly atmosphere? Sure, the commercialization aspect sucks, and outsiders always try to bring politics into it, and medal-counting misses the whole point, but those are just problems around the edges, not reasons to abandon the whole thing. For the athletes, and for viewers with the right attitude, it's an absolutely unique event, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Re:enough already (Score:2)
Not really the best example, given the track record.
Re:enough already (Score:3, Insightful)
Let's not forget, and I quote from the Current official 'Olympic Charter'
Section 2
Mission and Role of the IOC
'10. to oppose any political or commercial abuse of sport and athletes'
Ah, I see no commercial abuse of sport going on here at all, what's that? MacFatMeatProducts and CrappyFizzyDrinksco are official sponsors of the games?
DestroyerOfWorldschemicalscorps as well? umm, let's see, Olympic Charter, Section 2 again
'13. to encourage and support a responsible concern for environmental issues, to promote
sustainable development in sport and to require that the Olympic Games are held
accordingly;
How those words must ring hollow to people in places like Bhopal..
Re:enough already (Score:2)
A few days before the opening it was in the news that some torch bearer of this year's games had offered their torch for sale on ebay. Selling it at a very good price of course.
The comment of the Olympic organisation was in the lines of, "The torch and other items belong to the torch bearer, and they are free to do with it as they like. However we think this sale is not within the Olympic spirit".
Then I really started to wonder how hypocritical they have become. Nowadays the Olympic spirit is about money: the amount spent on getting the games to London, the amount spent organising it, the amount spent on TV broadcasting rights and the amounts collected in advertising money, the bonus amounts of athletes winning medals: it's all about the money.
So in that light, I'd say that selling your Olympic torch to the highest bidder is very much within the Olympic spirit!
Re:enough already (Score:5, Interesting)
What kills me is that NBC's coverage here in the US is so fucking heavy on family. Okay, I get it, the gymnast's mom supports him. I understand that the swimmer has a fiance, great.
I don't really fucking care about their families, I just want to watch them compete, and I want to watch everyone else compete, not just a 3 hour long condensing of the American athletes with those God Damned family stories peppered in for human interest.
I honestly believe that Proctor and Gamble are forcing the little stories, because everyone knows that they're a family company, or some other bullshit.
Either way, I agree with you. It's less about the competition among world-class amateur athletes, and the spirit of camaraderie through competition, and more of a dick swinging contest. Just like everything else, it's managed to become a competition that money and power can purchase. Fuck it.
Re:enough already (Score:3)
NBC's coverage is a joke. They've set a new standard for awful that will be hard for anybody to top.
Re:enough already (Score:2)
There are at least three other television networks that are now going "Challenge: accepted" now, I'm sure.
Hoplite race (Score:4, Interesting)
That is, guys done up in full bronze armor running as fast as they can.
More useful than you'd think, considering the amount of warfare between the ancient Greek city states.
Re:Hoplite race (Score:5, Informative)
Tug of War (Score:5, Interesting)
Not an ancient Olympic Game, but from 1900 until 1920 Tug of War was an official event. That seems like a fun event I'd like to see return.
Re:Tug of War (Score:2)
Nowadays we have beach volleyball instead. Also fun to watch but as a serious sport totally pointless.
Re:Tug of War (Score:3)
I would think that in most cases a "serious sport" is totally pointless. Most of the sports serve no purpose other than enjoyment (of the competitors and/or spectators). Some sports may involve skills transferable to more practical endeavours, fighting or generally tasks involving endurance, but even then the scope of their practical usefulness seems pretty limited.
Personally, I enjoy watching beach volley ball occasionally. I find that volleyball is more interesting and dramatic when there are only a few players on each side. I don't know how important the beach aspect is, though it certainly adds some difficulties and makes dives a more frequent occurrence.
Re:Tug of War (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Tug of War (Score:2)
Why is Pankration Doing so Poorly? (Score:3, Informative)
To quote Wikipedia: "Pankration was a martial art introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC and founded as a blend of boxing and wrestling but with almost no rules save disallowing biting and gouging the opponent's eyes out." Yes, killing the opponent is a valid way to win.
There is even a story of a competitor who was loosing badly, but in a last ditch effort jabbed his hand into the abdomen of his competitor and pulled out his competitor's intestines.
Re:Why is Pankration Doing so Poorly? (Score:2)
Probably because most people don't know what it is. It's not a well known sport.
Missing Option: Ancient Performance Drugs (Score:2)
The Truth in Advertising Games - Money is No Object, Athletes can use any and all drugs they like, And sponsors get to choose the winners.
That, and the inclusion of swamp buggy racing will get me tuned in.
Re:Missing Option: Ancient Performance Drugs (Score:2)
Out of curiosity, what performance enhancing drugs are the skeet and trap shooters using?
Re:Missing Option: Ancient Performance Drugs (Score:2)
Out of curiosity, what performance enhancing drugs are the skeet and trap shooters using?
Beta-blockers primarily. They reduce anxiety and your heart-rate making your aim a lot more steady. A lot of musicians also use it before auditions and the like for similar reasons.
Re:Missing Option: Ancient Performance Drugs (Score:2)
Out of curiosity, what performance enhancing drugs are the skeet and trap shooters using?
Hoppe's #9
Wrestling (Score:2)
Wrestling. Nude. With plenty of olive oil. :)
Re:Wrestling (Score:2)
I am pretty sure they mad a series of movies based on this premise. ;) If you know what I mean.
compete in the nude... (Score:3)
shouldn't athletes have to compete in the nude as they did back in the ancient times?
Traditional British events (Score:2)
The current olympics are being held in Britain. That reminds me of when I was a kid there used to be a Highland Games held in my home town every Easter.
Included caber tossing and dancing over crossed swords.
(This was about 20 thousand kilometres from Scotland.
If olympic games were held in the13th and 14th centuries the only sports allowed would be archery (for the middle class) and Jousting for the knights
For more variety, why don't they have Spring and Fall Olympics on the years between the summer and winter games
Hydra Killing (Score:2)
Instead of Hydra Killing we could substitute shutting down botnets.
Some similarities.
missing options (Score:3)
ughlympics!
How about slaying... (Score:3)
...patent trolls?
Re:Early results show... (Score:2)
I would tend to agree with the assessment. Not sure why you got down modded.
Re:Early results show... (Score:3)
Most modern people do not care about anything historical, and know even less than that. That is *why* history keeps repeating itself, most people think its irrelevant and meaningless. I expect most people think anything that happened before *they* were born as the Dark Ages.
Re:Early results show... (Score:2)
Re:Early results show... (Score:3)
Personally, my favourite events of the modern summer Olympics are gymnastics and diving - both of which are highly technical sports where an individual competitor is seeking to force their body into performing feats of strength, agility and precision.
Most of the traditional Olympic sports were most directly adversarial. So I choose hydra killing as a compromise.
Re:Early results show... (Score:2)
Or maybe they realize it's a silly question, and therefore gave a silly answer? I voted chariot racing, FWIW, because it's the only (real) one that I would actually watch. Wrestling is homoerotic enough without being nude.
Re:Early results show... (Score:2)
More likely in virtue of displaying a remarkable lack of anything resembling a sense of humour.
Nice try at starting a new meme, though.
Re:Pankration (Score:3)
The original hardcore version of today's Mixed Martial Arts. It's human combat in its purest form. To me, that is the ultimate human sport.
Parkour, the other martial art [imgur.com].
Re:None (Score:2)
This subthread you started is helping your cause! Or maybe not!