Russian Sports

dsvitak · 03-01-2022, 04:13 PM

Interesting article on what may happen due to the sports world recognizing the importance of sports to prop up Putin.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/knockin...011434392.html

Déjà Bru · 03-01-2022, 04:34 PM

With all due respect to Garry Kasparov, it is a huge leap from what he thinks and says, living as he does in New York City, to the man on the street in Moscow. Nobody is whisking Kasparov into a police bus as they are doing to demonstrators in Russia. Even so, Kasparov better watch his step.

Don't get me wrong; I admire him for speaking out. But we are dealing with an autocratic tyrant who is immune from public opinion. And from the economic sanctions that everybody is talking about; an autocracy can weather such storms much more easily than a democracy.

So I doubt the efficacy of shunning and banning Russian sports. Not that it shouldn't be done; just don't put much stock and faith in such measures.

Déjà Bru · 03-01-2022, 04:44 PM

Second thought upon reading this sentence: "Banking sanctions are one kind of check, but there is deep emotion in a ban from the world's largest arenas that will reach not just oligarchs but ordinary people as a statement of universally revolted sensibilities."

Stop reading at "oligarchs" and forget the rest of the sentence. Now you're talking. If these steps being taken against Russian sports costs any of those oligarchs substantial amounts of rubles, THAT may be effective. Especially when added to the other economic sanctions. Putin may end up quietly disappeared as a result.

Heh, I looked up the word "oligarchs" to make sure I had its exact meaning and was presented with an irony. No, there have been no recent updates to this program.

jumpSeat · 03-01-2022, 07:24 PM

He may still be top dog in Russia, (for now), but I suspect he'd have a hard time getting elected dog catcher anywhere else...

Russian President Vladimir Putin stripped of his Taekwondo black belt and honorary Judo title

The Judo crowd is usually pretty mellow and laid back. You know you done bad when you get these guys all riled up.

mytreds · 03-01-2022, 11:31 PM

You’re naive if you think Putin cares about oligarchs. Insert “I. AM. THE SENATE” meme here.

Déjà Bru · 03-02-2022, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mytreds

You’re naive if you think Putin cares about oligarchs. Insert “I. AM. THE SENATE” meme here.

No, not really. Not even a dictator is immune from other powerful men with enough money to bribe generals, admirals, heads of security and the like. That's how coups happen.

My point, though, is that to the extent sports bans add to the drain on their profits, they are welcome in that regard. I just don't buy the "public outcry" aspect. THAT is something Putin cares nothing about, and rightly so.

Déjà Bru · 03-05-2022, 10:48 AM

Message to American athletes: Don't be playing in Russia at this time, either.

dsvitak · 03-06-2022, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Message to American athletes: Don't be playing in Russia at this time, either.

You can still play in Russia, just don't have a bag of weed in your carry on.

Ten years in prison.

I went into the old Soviet Union, back in 1979, on an English Thomas Cook guided tour. I had just checked my mail on base before heading to the airport. My subscription from Time magazine had just come in...GREAT, reading material for the plane!

When I went through Moscow customs, I attracted a LOT of interest..I was active duty Air Force, and the cold war was still raging.

They saw my Time magazine, and ****. The cover? COMMUNISTS AT WAR, China vs. Vietnam.

This was confiscated immediately. I also had a James Michener novel, about the history of Poland. This they let me keep.

They also let me keep my portable chess set, and the three chess books I brought with me. Hell..I got smiles over that one.

Here's the cover:

http://img.timeinc.net/time/magazine...790305_400.jpg

Edit to add..I was the base weather station commander at RAF Woodbridge, UK, which had transitioned from F-4 Phantoms to the first NATO A-10 base the previous year. LOTS of stories about that.

Déjà Bru · 03-06-2022, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsvitak

They saw my Time magazine, and ****. The cover? COMMUNISTS AT WAR, China vs. Vietnam.

Ha ha! (now). What were you (not) thinking? I bet you were carrying this thing face up/out as you were walking through customs.

Westheim · 03-06-2022, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Ha ha! (now). What were you (not) thinking? I bet you were carrying this thing face up/out as you were walking through customs.

They just wanted to get info on the US Economy's upcoming slump

jumpSeat · 03-06-2022, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsvitak

Edit to add..I was the base weather station commander at RAF Woodbridge, UK, which had transitioned from F-4 Phantoms to the first NATO A-10 base the previous year. LOTS of stories about that.

I can only imagine... Some things have to be experienced to be believed, and I suspect you've seen and heard things that may well fit that category.

dsvitak · 03-07-2022, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumpSeat

I can only imagine... Some things have to be experienced to be believed, and I suspect you've seen and heard things that may well fit that category.

While in Red Square, watching the changing of the guard at Lenin's Tomb, I was approached by either the KGB or GRU (Soviet military intelligence), and was asked detailed questions about the A-10. Number of planes on the base, maintenance down times, crew rests, loiter times, all manner of stuff.

It was ... interesting, and the US Air Force, in turn, was quite interested to hear about it when I came back to the base. I spent a quality hour with the AFOSI..or Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Good stuff.

Déjà Bru · 03-23-2022, 12:57 PM

Russian Olympians face backlash after attending Vladimir Putin rally

Russian Olympic athletes who participated in a rally supporting President Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine are facing a backlash, with one losing a sponsorship deal and facing a disciplinary investigation.

My reaction to this is "Bah." Reason: Does anybody really think that their attendance at that rally was voluntary?

jumpSeat · 03-23-2022, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

My reaction to this is "Bah." Reason: Does anybody really think that their attendance at that rally was voluntary?

Yeah, it just goes to show Olympic athletes are little more than propaganda tools for the Russian state. Truly a shame they're 'used' this way, but I suppose the totalitarian playbook really doesn't change much over the years.

03-01-2022, 04:13 PM	#1
dsvitak Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 5,393	Russian Sports Interesting article on what may happen due to the sports world recognizing the importance of sports to prop up Putin. https://www.yahoo.com/sports/knockin...011434392.html

03-01-2022, 04:34 PM	#2
Déjà Bru Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island Posts: 11,742	With all due respect to Garry Kasparov, it is a huge leap from what he thinks and says, living as he does in New York City, to the man on the street in Moscow. Nobody is whisking Kasparov into a police bus as they are doing to demonstrators in Russia. Even so, Kasparov better watch his step. Don't get me wrong; I admire him for speaking out. But we are dealing with an autocratic tyrant who is immune from public opinion. And from the economic sanctions that everybody is talking about; an autocracy can weather such storms much more easily than a democracy. So I doubt the efficacy of shunning and banning Russian sports. Not that it shouldn't be done; just don't put much stock and faith in such measures. __________________ - Bru

03-01-2022, 04:44 PM	#3
Déjà Bru Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island Posts: 11,742	Second thought upon reading this sentence: "Banking sanctions are one kind of check, but there is deep emotion in a ban from the world's largest arenas that will reach not just oligarchs but ordinary people as a statement of universally revolted sensibilities." Stop reading at "oligarchs" and forget the rest of the sentence. Now you're talking. If these steps being taken against Russian sports costs any of those oligarchs substantial amounts of rubles, THAT may be effective. Especially when added to the other economic sanctions. Putin may end up quietly disappeared as a result. Heh, I looked up the word "oligarchs" to make sure I had its exact meaning and was presented with an irony. No, there have been no recent updates to this program. Attached Images __________________ - Bru

03-01-2022, 11:31 PM	#5
mytreds All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 1,183	You’re naive if you think Putin cares about oligarchs. Insert “I. AM. THE SENATE” meme here. __________________ “Baseball isn’t statistics; it’s Joe DiMaggio rounding second.” “Once, centuries ago, it was the beloved national pastime of the Americas, Wesley. Abandoned by a society that prized fast food and faster games. Lost to impatience.” “ The term ‘WAR’ should be replaced by ‘WAG’. WAR isn’t an actual measurement; it’s just a wild-ass guess” -Bill James RIP National League 1876-2022 Floreat semper vel invita morte. I make custom ballparks.

03-05-2022, 10:48 AM	#7
Déjà Bru Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island Posts: 11,742	Message to American athletes: Don't be playing in Russia at this time, either. Attached Images __________________ - Bru

03-01-2022, 07:24 PM	#4
jumpSeat All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 862	He may still be top dog in Russia, (for now), but I suspect he'd have a hard time getting elected dog catcher anywhere else... Russian President Vladimir Putin stripped of his Taekwondo black belt and honorary Judo title The Judo crowd is usually pretty mellow and laid back. You know you done bad when you get these guys all riled up.

03-23-2022, 12:57 PM	#13
Déjà Bru Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island Posts: 11,742	Russian Olympians face backlash after attending Vladimir Putin rally Russian Olympic athletes who participated in a rally supporting President Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine are facing a backlash, with one losing a sponsorship deal and facing a disciplinary investigation. My reaction to this is "Bah." Reason: Does anybody really think that their attendance at that rally was voluntary? __________________ - Bru