by Brian Brady
Commercial Real Estate Finance Expert
Structured Debt and Equity
Licensed Real Estate Broker in AL, CA, and FL
Henry Blodget reports that Chokepoint Charlie is upset:
We view the Olympics as a global sporting tradition and consider ourselves citizens of the world, so we don’t have much patience with country-specific broadcasting rights. Thus, we’re happy that we (and you) can watch the Olympics live right here on on SAI.
(Frankly, we wish we could watch the Olympics on NBCOlympics.com, because their feed is marvelously crisp, but of course NBC is doing everything it can to prevent that. Specifically, NBC is trying to make us watch tonight, on tape delay, when the opening cermonies will be as stale as yesterday’s bread. And when they do broadcast events on NBCOlympics.com, of course, they’re not about to let us embed them.)
NBC views the 2000+ year-old global Olympic tradition as its own personal entertainment show and is therefore doing everything it can to prevent you (and us) from watching them live. For example, check out these takedown notices on veetle.com:
You don’t have to take it. Watch the Olympics LIVE, from your computer, here .
Thomas Johnson says:
Thank you, Brian. I clicked over just in time to watch the Afghan Olympic team enter the stadium. Their numbers were few, but that free country with all the turmoil sent men and WOMEN to compete and represent their country.
This liberty and the right of these men and women to march into Olympic Stadium and compete as contestants and not enter the stadium as targets: courtesy of G.W. Bush and the USA.
August 8, 2008 — 7:35 am
Brian Brady says:
Didjya check out the home country’s “cheerleaders” lining the parade route, in short skirts and go-go boots? They’re out of step, can’t keep a beat, and making Paula Abdul’s head spin….BUT…they’re smiling and free to express themselves (for today).
What’s going to happen in two weeks when the Politburo tries to make them shove their feet into under-sized shoes and tells them to avert their eyes?
Freedom’s breakin’ out all over, TJ
August 8, 2008 — 7:54 am
Brian Brady says:
THE PRC just came in, Tom. Yao Ming, a Houstonian, is leading them.
August 8, 2008 — 8:10 am
Thomas Johnson says:
Even though I was watching in German, it was commercial free. I wonder if we will be able to see Team USA for all the logos plastered on the clothing. I am pretty disgusted with what the Olympics have become here in the USA.
August 8, 2008 — 8:13 am
Todd says:
I have been using the VLC Media Player and so far its been super double plus awesome. I get to watch all the obscure events that never get broadcast. Highly Recommended!
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
…and before Mr. Swann can ask, “yes” there is a Mac version, Linux too! 🙂
August 8, 2008 — 8:14 am
Brian Brady says:
“I wonder if we will be able to see Team USA for all the logos plastered on the clothing”
Oh, we’ll look like a NASCAR auto
August 8, 2008 — 8:18 am
Thomas Johnson says:
Boogity Boogity Boogity Let’s go Racin’, boys!
August 8, 2008 — 4:59 pm
Sean Purcell says:
I wonder if we will be able to see Team USA for all the logos plastered on the clothing
This sounds pejorative. Did you prefer it when “amateur status” meant white, male, landed elite? I prefer athletes from all backgrounds (just want to see the best) and I like it that they are paid. Advertising brands is one relatively unobtrusive way to do it.
BTW, I know this is probably heresy ’round these parts, but NBC paid a LOT of money for the right to bring the Olympics to tv in hopes of making money selling our eyeballs to advertisers. For many people in this nation and this world, broadcast tv is still the only way to even see the games. Let’s not take our love of information dissemination and a 2.0 world to an elitist level. 🙂
August 9, 2008 — 10:10 am
Late Night Austin Real Estate Blog says:
So this is my question. I understand that people like Phelps probably gets a decent amount of money in sponserships. But what about all the other people. Someone that is hoping for bronze in one event. How do they get money for training for 4 years. Who pays all the coaches. I now in countries like China its probably the government.
August 10, 2008 — 2:35 pm
guy from Birmingham says:
I think athletes do get paid for winning a medal. I believe in the range of $15k – $20k per medal. But for those who don’t win anything, I guess they just go home. Like they say, win big or go home. But 4 years in training, i am sure they get lots of benefits.
August 12, 2008 — 6:19 am
Sean Purcell says:
In the old days (by which I mean back in the 80s when I was competing) the way around amateur status was contracts with shoe companies. The athlete was “paid” as a consultant on shoe design. There were definitely bonuses based on your medal and it was under the table.
As I understand things now, we have more or less done away with amateur status as it was originally understood. All that means is we are on a level playing field with most other countries now. The Eastern bloc, for instance, continues to this day to provide everything the athlete needs: housing, food, training, coaching, transportation,etc. This is true in China and most other communist countries where athletic honor is strictly tied to the glory of the state. There are some middle eastern states that have taken this a bit further: so far as executing athletes that did not represent the motherland well. (Put that in your morally relativistic pipe and smoke it).
One of the best training programs for many of our athletes is located outside of San Diego. The ARCO Olympic Training Center houses the athletes and provides their training needs. Many athletes have their own coaches and these coaches are paid for with sponsorship.
For those athletes in the lesser known sports I imagine the training and living is little changed from the past when Olympic glory meant working part time and toiling anonymously. Some companies – Home Depot comes to mind – used to “hire” Olympic athletes and pay them for very light schedules. The athletes could train as needed and work when possible and have money to live. I hope that still goes on for the athletes that need it.
August 13, 2008 — 9:46 am