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Igorbastarge

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1980 Was Year American Eagle Afraid to Fly Into Russian Bear Den

by Igorbastarge
created August 23, 2008, last edited February 10, 2009
11
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Anyone else happy that these Olympic Games in China are almost over? Never in my life did I ever think that both Americans and Russians would cooperate and participate in such games. I do not think super powers such as USA, China or even old Soviet Union acting "super" as of late. All 3 take advantage of weaker countries these days. Americans are in Iraq even though world doesn't want them to be there. Same with China in Tibet. And I fear every night that war will become world event between Georgia and Russia. Putin is crazy. Georgia people are nice and I have friends there. What a time. Long time ago, no way would USA or Soviet Union be in China. Actually South African countries started boycott process in Montreal Games because of a rugby team visiting South african countries. So what? But real boycott process began by Jimmy Carter. Late 70s was a terrible time for Americans. Soviet paper Tass reported on American horrible economy and no gas at pumps. Even though they were our enemies, we felt bad that American families had such terrible politicians allowing this to happen. And then Carter would not let American team go to Moscow Games. In my opinion, Moscow Games were the greatest Olympics ever held. And half of the world wasn't there. No matter. All the best athletes still participated. Games were big success and Soviet Union as always got many gold medals and set many records. It was a very proud time to Soviet Union to have our athletes demonstrate such superior skill. Carter blamed Soviet Union for helping fight Taliban in Afghanastan. Makes no sense then and makes no sense now to me. Many of us thought Americans thought Moscow would be terrible to visit and were rude not to come. Maybe American team had no money to train against best in world at that time. I guess we will never really know the truth. It was big day for Soviet Union when Moscow was chosen over Los Angeles for these Olympics. It was a great decision by Olympics. United States was so upset that they don't come to games even when Soviet Union went to Lake Placid in the same year? Of course, Soviet Union got pay back by ignoring 1984 Games which were held in Los Angeles. These might have been even worse than Chinese Games. Athletes all over the world complained about Los Angeles pollution and hot air. Since Soviet Union had best athletes, there was no reason to go to Los Angeles and prove it. So Soviets treated USA like Americans treated Moscow and stayed home. Instead, Soviet Union and other very good countries had Friendship Games instead. Many sports experts consider Friendship Games better in talent than LA Olympics. Maybe if Soviet Union showed up to Los Angeles, we would know who was best at time for sure. Now we will never know. What a sad time back then. So many people in Soviet Union could not believe that American Eagle would not fly into our mighty Bear den. Maybe soon the Olympics will return to Russia. They would be great games and I hope all countries will compete then. Goodbye and thank you for reading my opinion.


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JB82Div-I Stud
442 days ago
Score 0+-
Such was the time that the US' rivalry with the Soviets made for great drama and equally great viewing on TV. Nowadays, with the USSR lost to history, it doesn't have the same ethos to it. Likewise sad, I wasn't around for most of it...
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Abdel Loves Red SoxLittle Leaguer
442 days ago
Score 0+-
The USA was not "afraid" of going to Moscow. Is this the kind of crap that was really spewed by Soviet wonks on the unsuspecting Russian population during the Cold War era? Jimmney crickets, get a clue! The free world - led by USA! USA! USA! was telling your beloved motherland "nyet" to forcing its will on Afghanistan by boycotting the Olympic Games in Moscow. And FYI - the American eagle would peck out the eyes of that stupid bear any day! USA! USA! USA!
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
442 days ago
Score 1+-
Yes, the 1984 Summer Olympics WERE awesome! And Bear-free... The Bears really do suck!
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Anonymous Fanatic #1
441 days ago
Score 0+-
igor, ah yes the good ol days of the communist party when you would wear smuggled in levis as you stood in line for a ticket so you could stand in line for meat or bread that might have run out before you got your quota. but the vodka helped kill the pain as sublets were always opening up as the gulags filed up. ah, the good days when the soviet draftees were being hazed to death prior to heading out to Afghanistan where the mujahdeen awaited with stingers and long knives. ah the good ol days when the refs would still cheat for the soviet union (third world unite!) and no one tested for steroids.

at least our lines were because our government screwed up, not because the gas did not exist. remember kruschev thought our supermarkets were potemkin villages since they had all that food and variety. my god, thirty kinds of toilet paper and none made up of pravda. all that milk and bread with multiple checkout lines with no wait. sorry for the rant, igor is probably a troll but the soviet union was an evil empire which only china could compare with in murdering its own citizens. guess i became one of those old cold war warriors.. still can't trust governments who killed tens of millions of their own people, why should they worry about us.

in light of that, the olympics were always a pale shadow of what was intended in 1896..
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Categories: Opinions | Opinions by User Igorbastarge | August 23, 2008 | August 2008

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