Offside Chat Archives (2014-2021)

Nancy Sanchez31 said:The technique is actually pretty flawless. Ahonen had great form too, whereas Peterka looks kind of awkward when he's in flight. 😄

pure perfection 😉

By the way, I was watching this documentary about ski jumpers recently. Apparently, quite a few of them struggle with alcohol issues.

It’s actually pretty understandable.
I mean, try hitting that in-run at full speed while sober.
The jump doesn't even need the ramp to end at the bottom to be terrifying.
😲

You basically have to be drunk as a skunk just to show up for work.

restlesssurfer97 said:GQ has to frame things this way because he knows the truth about that little mini-dictator is going to come out pretty soon anyway, so he’s basically just setting himself up to say he hasn't changed his mind once the dust settles and he can claim he stood his ground the whole time.

Well, I don't know, I have my doubts. If he were actually getting worked up, maybe he would be running more often.

restlesssurfer97 said:GQ has to frame things this way because he knows the truth about that little mini-dictator is going to come out pretty soon anyway, so he’s basically just setting himself up to say he hasn't changed his mind once the dust settles and he can claim he stood his ground the whole time.

The only thing Leo is sticking into himself is a fountain pen needle, I guess.

restlesssurfer97 said:If you ask me what Bill would say about this whole situation, he’d probably just laugh and tell us to stop acting so shocked because let's be real, everyone is doing it these days and everyone knows it, but we've always been the absolute best at the whole doping game 🙏🙏

Well, I guess he's just telling it like it is, which is why Bill is who he is.

Jessica Gonzalez said:Well, I don't know, I have my doubts. If he were actually getting worked up, maybe he would be running more often.

🤣

I have such immense respect for Jan Ulrich—honestly, the guy just wouldn't hand back his Olympic medal.

Everyone was there for everything. ☕

Michael Flores8 said:True, very true 🤣
Nikkinen, Ari Pekka, Risto Laakkonen, and Puikkonen 😁
Later on, Nieminen and the others arrived.

When it comes to ski jumping, Eddie the Eagle is the ultimate icon.

Regarding following the NBA through newspaper clips or VHS tapes, that really only applies to the context of the 80s. By the late 80s or early 90s, you could actually follow the league pretty well. I remember Charles Barkley's final seasons with the Phile, which someone mentioned earlier; back then, Italian networks used to show highlights regularly. Soon after, ESPN started broadcasting too... they’d show one game live per day, and then have a recording the next day. Compared to what we had, it was great.

As for player quality or comparing eras, it's tough to make those comparisons. But regarding how interesting things were, I feel like the league only really got back to that level after Jordan left in just the last few years. It wasn't until this year, after the Warriors fell apart and talent started spreading across the league, that I thought, okay, now we're talking. Next year, if the Warriors get a pick or make a trade and have a healthy Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, maybe it'll reach that level again.

Look, every single elite athlete is playing with a stacked deck. It’s just that some of them have heavy hitters pulling strings behind the scenes to keep them on top, while others just aren't that lucky—or maybe they crossed the wrong person and ended up getting screwed over.

Track and field is absolutely crawling with this kind of stuff.

Elizabeth Mendoza said:Look, every single elite athlete is playing with a stacked deck. It’s just that some of them have heavy hitters pulling strings behind the scenes to keep them on top, while others just aren't that lucky—or maybe they crossed the wrong person and ended up getting screwed over.

Track and field is absolutely crawling with this kind of stuff.

The real issue is that nowadays, everyone seems to be taking things to a total extreme. For instance, there's this lesser-known saga involving mechanical doping in professional cycling.

For those who aren't in the loop:

brisktrucker52 said:When it comes to ski jumping, Eddie the Eagle is the ultimate icon.

Regarding following the NBA through newspaper clips or VHS tapes, that really only applies to the context of the 80s. By the late 80s or early 90s, you could actually follow the league pretty well. I remember Charles Barkley's final seasons with the Phile, which someone mentioned earlier; back then, Italian networks used to show highlights regularly. Soon after, ESPN started broadcasting too... they’d show one game live per day, and then have a recording the next day. Compared to what we had, it was great.

As for player quality or comparing eras, it's tough to make those comparisons. But regarding how interesting things were, I feel like the league only really got back to that level after Jordan left in just the last few years. It wasn't until this year, after the Warriors fell apart and talent started spreading across the league, that I thought, okay, now we're talking. Next year, if the Warriors get a pick or make a trade and have a healthy Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, maybe it'll reach that level again.

I guess Eddie made a significant amount of money just by jumping 😁. Probably much more than most champions or medal winners
.

Who, in your estimation, holds the title of the greatest of all time in tennis? ☕

Dejan Lovren and Bill Gates 🙏

I guess it's weird that nobody here even mentioned this 🙏

restlesssurfer97 said:If you ask me what Bill would say about this whole situation, he’d probably just laugh and tell us to stop acting so shocked because let's be real, everyone is doing it these days and everyone knows it, but we've always been the absolute best at the whole doping game 🙏🙏

What a freaking legend.🙏

But that whole thing with Oprah...🤣

restlesssurfer97 said:GQ has to frame things this way because he knows the truth about that little mini-dictator is going to come out pretty soon anyway, so he’s basically just setting himself up to say he hasn't changed his mind once the dust settles and he can claim he stood his ground the whole time.

That scrawny Argentinian has been playing dirty since he was a kid. And nobody says a word.🙏

dustyridge3 said:Who, in your estimation, holds the title of the greatest of all time in tennis? ☕

Let me just check what the Guardian has to say about all this. ☕

dustyridge3 said:Who, in your estimation, holds the title of the greatest of all time in tennis? ☕

The Great Roger ☕
Roger Federer

Jesse Sullivan5 said:The real issue is that nowadays, everyone seems to be taking things to a total extreme. For instance, there's this lesser-known saga involving mechanical doping in professional cycling.

For those who aren't in the loop:

Personally, I can't stand that sport, but I had no clue about this part. 🙏

All those cyclists look gross to me. They're all sunburnt like roasted chickens, squeezed into those tight latex outfits, wearing those ridiculous little helmets. They're skin and bones. A few years back, I saw some nasty photos online of a cyclist's muscles after a race—I am definitely not Googling that again unless I want to gag.

And if I remember correctly, most of them end up with testicular cancer or at least have a significantly higher risk for it.

dustyridge3 said:Who, in your estimation, holds the title of the greatest of all time in tennis? ☕

Unless this is just trolling—the guy on my avatar. And honestly, he probably stays there because of what he means to the sport regardless of how his career goes, but I’m super subjective, so maybe take my take with a massive grain of salt.

Now, if we're talking about the absolute best (not even calling him the BOAT, though...)—that really comes down to the major trophies. And I guess all three of them have a legitimate shot at sitting at the very top by the time they retire.

Elizabeth Mendoza said:Personally, I can't stand that sport, but I had no clue about this part. 🙏

All those cyclists look gross to me. They're all sunburnt like roasted chickens, squeezed into those tight latex outfits, wearing those ridiculous little helmets. They're skin and bones. A few years back, I saw some nasty photos online of a cyclist's muscles after a race—I am definitely not Googling that again unless I want to gag.

And if I remember correctly, most of them end up with testicular cancer or at least have a significantly higher risk for it.

😂

steelharbor9 said:Man, you just don't get it; I mean, John Stockton, Shawn Kemp, and Scottie Pippen are the literal definition of charisma, which is something Curry just doesn't have at all.

Btw, I don't really agree with calling it "rightful" on one hand, but on the other, I honestly have no clue who else I'd give it to. For that specific Finals, realistically—it's just LeBron James.

Sure, his field goal percentage was under 40%, but the Lakers fans are definitely exaggerating that one. ☕

I honestly don't get how Stephen Curry didn't take it home.

restlesssurfer97 said:😂

Here you go. Try not to choke on it.