# US Athletes undergo Media Training to tone down Celebrations. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 19, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873 "2004-05-19T00:55:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/21 "2004-05-20T00:19:08Z")
This isn’t just about excessive celebration. There are going to be ugly displays directed at U.S. athletes and the resulting response (or lack of it) will be televised around the world. A show of class by American Olympians wouldn’t hurt at all. People really do pay attention to this stuff (or crap, if you prefer). > [@Frostillicus](#): > > Of course, you can thank George MF Bush for the fact that in just over 2 1/2 years **America has gone from being the most loved and respected nation on earth** to an almost universally despised one. Hoo! Hah! (experiences uncontrolled merriment, rolls on side, pounds the floor) Hee! (develops hiccups, is saved by the Heimlich maneuver). That’s a good one! ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/22 "2004-05-20T00:38:26Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > This is rather like telling your neighbor to be careful storing old paint thinner in the remains of his garage after his house has already burned down… If MY garage burned down, I’d probably be careful about storing old paint thinner in it when rebuilt, too. What kind of moron would recreate the same (or a more dangerous) situation than one which already led to disaster? I thought of one other thing, **Milum** … aren’t Christians supposed to be, like, humble? Or something? ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/23 "2004-05-21T00:04:42Z")
I remember a U.S. swimmer at the Olympics spitting in another swimmer’s lane, I remember a U.S. basketball (a professional at the time) player taunting and then making fun of a smaller African Olympian. Do I think these actions are incorrect. Yes, I do. Do I think maybe someone should possibly inform these representatives of the United States that the behavior should be modified? Yes, I do. There is nothing wrong with being proud, but, at least in my mind, that pride becomes a negative when it is at the cost of the self-respect of others. We should probably keep in mind that lately our celebrations have not come off too well. Remember certain guards celebrating at Abu Ghraib prison. TV ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/24 "2004-05-21T01:51:55Z")
**Milum** is obviously forgeting what the idea behind the Olympic Games is. An excerpt from [http://www.athens2004.com/:](http://www.athens2004.com/:) > [@](#): > > Participants came to compete from every corner of the Greek world aiming at the ultimate prize: an olive wreath and a “heroic” return to their city-states. But apart from the glorious victory, it was the Olympic values themselves which accorded special meaning to the Games: **noble competition and the effort to combine body, will, and mind in a balanced whole.** ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/25 "2004-05-21T02:08:31Z")
> [@Milum](#): > > The point is this! You who are americans are not Americans if you don’t elate in your country’s wins at games. That is not true. One can be an American and not give a whit about sporting events. More importantly, the USOC never said anything about not showing elation, it merely is providing training for amateur athletes to act respectfully while representing our nation. > [@Milum](#): > > Over two hundred years ago the people of the United States, armed with an unprecedented sense of Christian Love for his fellow men who meekly huddled about with him on this lonely bleak planet, began a God directed journey to free the all of mankind from the yoke of brutal tyranny. Christian Love had nothing to do with the founding of our nation. And it’s hard to conceive of a “God directed journey” when there is no evidence that there is such a being as “God”. > [@Milum](#): > > And today, may God help those on this planet if we fail. Again, there is no “God” to help anyone, and we are already failing horribly in terms of maintaining a good relationship with the rest of the world. BTW, that’s where the remarks about President Bush come from— he is single-handedly doing more to ruin our nation than anyone since Benedict Arnold. ---
**Author:** ![sinical\_brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@sinical\_brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinical_brit)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/26 "2004-05-21T13:08:35Z")
Maybe its the (juvenile and really quite '80s) ‘thumbs up’ sign which seems so popular in recent images, which the USOC is worried about. Personally i look forward to the American celebrations - most ammusing and not at all OTT. sin ---
**Author:** ![Milum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/27 "2004-05-21T18:32:53Z")
Hmmmm? It seems like the larger message is being missed here. The purpose of people banding together in national units is not to get along willy-nilly with other national units. The purpose of the banding is to support the collective fundamental beliefs of those with whom you band. When you reach the point where you no longer find bindings with the elementary tenents of your birth nation, migrate. Until then, support those who represent the core beliefs of your nation on world stages such as the Olympics. Or a battlefield, or in any dispute involving we _vs_ them. And until then, don’t apologize and cower in the face of less worthwhile governments for their exuberence and unabashed pride in their represention of a most worthy nation that rules with the rule of law under God’s most merciful blessings. What hypocrisy! What arrogance! Letting athletes of other nations celebrate as they please. While in your fear you ask your boys and girls to hide their enthusiam. Apologize. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/28 "2004-05-21T20:16:00Z")
> [@Milum](#): > > What hypocrisy! What arrogance! Letting athletes of other nations celebrate as they please. While in your fear you ask your boys and girls to hide their enthusiam. > > Apologize. “I don’t care _how_ the other boys and girls behave. I expect _you_ to be a graceful winner and display good sportsmanship like a true American!” Yeah, Mom sure was a fascist. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/29 "2004-05-22T15:40:38Z")
the key here is _good sportsmanship_ . Accepting defeat or victory, yours or someone else’s, with good grace, and not turning international sporting competition into ‘war without the violence’ which the media increasingly like to represent it as. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/30 "2004-05-22T16:19:43Z")
Lord help me, but I’m kinda with Milum on this one. It reminds me of the Olympic boycotts of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Geopolitics are NOT the athletes’ concern. Performing to the best of their ability agains their peers in the chosen set of events is. If the USOC has decorum at the top of its list, then the athletes they select should have a track record of representing the behavior they value. Example: Dream Team. Mr. Barkley has never been known to keep his negative opinions to himself in any forum whatsoever. The USOC should have known that a world stage would be irresistible to him. If representing Olympic values of sportsmanlike conduct was their goal, they should have said: “Sorry Charlie. Your skills are there, but you’re a loudmouth, and we can’t let you represent this nation.” But they sent him, because they knew he was among the best, and could stomp all over the other players. When he essentially said as much, suddenly they were all surprised nd dismayed. Yes, I think it’s shameful when American victors display a lack of graciousness. But if decorum is the main goal of the USOC, if the athlete can’t play nice, they should be let in to play at all. Chiding them afterwards is closing the barn door too late. Just another example of good old-fashioned American hypocrisy that we tell ourselves the rest of the world is too dumb to notice. ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/31 "2004-05-22T16:23:00Z")
Milum has obviously never heard the expression, “be the bigger man”… either that, or he has no clue what it means. Come to think of it, he probably thinks it means “beat them up and celebrate” ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/32 "2004-05-22T16:26:18Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > Yes, I think it’s shameful when American victors display a lack of graciousness. But if decorum is the main goal of the USOC, if the athlete can’t play nice, they should be let in to play at all. Chiding them afterwards is closing the barn door too late. This isn’t about chiding them afterwards - it is about warning and preparing them beforehand to prevent it from happening. A little education isn’t a bad thing - think of it as sensitivity training at the office. In addition to possibly preventing some issues, it also gives them an out, saying, “we tried.” ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/33 "2004-05-23T04:38:10Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Hoo! > Hah! (experiences uncontrolled merriment, rolls on side, pounds the floor) Hee! (develops hiccups, is saved by the Heimlich maneuver). That’s a good one! Do the math Einstein. 2 1/2 years ago would put us right after 9-11. And yes, for a brief shining moment, the US was the most loved and respected nation on Earth. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/34 "2004-05-24T06:18:39Z")
**Milum:** _While in your fear you ask your boys and girls to hide their enthusiam._ Really? Could we get some specific guidelines here on what kind of “excessive celebrations” are being discouraged? I don’t see anything wrong at all with requesting our athletes to be gracious winners and not insult other athletes or moon the audience or anything like that. I think that should be standard policy no matter **what** kind of PR shithole our political leaders have put us in. And I think it’s ridiculous to suggest that requiring good sportsmanship and good manners from American athletes somehow makes one un-American or anti-American. I agree with **rjung** , though, that the behavior of US Olympians is not likely to have much effect on extricating us from our current PR shithole, no matter what. Still, as **Jackmannii** points out, an American display of class and good sportsmanship (which are **not** incompatible with showing enthusiasm about your victory, your team, or your country) certainly wouldn’t hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/35 "2004-05-24T06:38:40Z")
I’m sure **Milum** knows that there’s a difference between “enthusiasm” and the [kind of behavior parodied in this SNL sketch](http://snltranscripts.jt.org/00/00adreamteam.phtml). ---
**Author:** ![whoisreadingthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b782af/32.png) [@whoisreadingthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whoisreadingthis)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873/36 "2004-05-24T06:54:25Z")
_stares into his crystal ball_ hmm… i see… a waste of time, money, and effort. turns out they still know we are American. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-undergo-media-training-to-tone-down-celebrations/245873.md?page=1)