Tokyo COVympics: July 23 to August 8

[LynahFan]

One of my MBA classmates was in competition for a roster spot on USA Team Handball (we suck, which you probably should have guessed since nobody has ever heard of it) in 2016. He was at the Air Force Academy and happened to run into people training at the US Olympic Center and picked up the sport in his 20s - and almost made the national team. THAT is how much we suck....

[Kepler]

One of my MBA classmates was in competition for a roster spot on USA Team Handball (we suck, which you probably should have guessed since nobody has ever heard of it) in 2016. He was at the Air Force Academy and happened to run into people training at the US Olympic Center and picked up the sport in his 20s - and almost made the national team. THAT is how much we suck....

Well don't I feel stupid saying mean things about MBAs all these years.

(I mean, not really. You have other gifts which I deem worthy.)

Yeah, it aint good if you can just pick up a sport and make nationals that year. I suspect when football is inevitable made illegal the SEC will just move their guys to soccer and displace the entire USMNT inside of 4 months.

We might finally win, too.

[Kepler]

It is a very fun watch.

If you ever get a chance, look up Futsal. It’s the indoor version of soccer and is similar to Team Handball.

Neat. I've only ever seen the 70s Indoor Soccer (a.k.a. Human Pinball) that Pete Rose used to own a squad.

I would think soccer on a basketball court would mean two entire rosters of broken ankles by halftime.

[The Sicatoka]

I suspect when football is inevitable made illegal the SEC will just move their guys to soccer ...

Nope.
I'd guess rugby or Aussie rules footy.

SEC SMASH!

[The Sicatoka]

A lot of Futsal played in golf domes around here. They'll set up three or four fields and run a weekend tourney in the winter.

[LynahFan]

Well don't I feel stupid saying mean things about MBAs all these years.

(I mean, not really. You have other gifts which I deem worthy.)

Meh - it's harder to beat them at their own game if you haven't studied the rules.

[Russell Jaslow]

I have never seen this sport and it's cool. Two teams, look like about 5 aside. Indoor hoops floor but smaller soccer-like nets. Small ball about half the radius of a basketball. They walk with it but only a couple steps, also dribble and pass, and throw to score.

The hell is this? It's really fun looking like I wanna play.

Are you taking about Team Handball? Its's been around for decades in the Olympics. They have showed it many times before. I even played it once in gym, and that was a loooong time ago. It's big in Europe.

[Kepler]

Meh - it's harder to beat them at their own game if you haven't studied the rules.

Consider my day job.

Can't be an insider threat unless you're an insider.

[MichVandal]

One of my MBA classmates was in competition for a roster spot on USA Team Handball (we suck, which you probably should have guessed since nobody has ever heard of it) in 2016. He was at the Air Force Academy and happened to run into people training at the US Olympic Center and picked up the sport in his 20s - and almost made the national team. THAT is how much we suck....

Just another in a long line of sports we could be good at. You would think that BB players who were just not tall enough would pick it up- but by them time they would, it would be too late in getting young kids to play it. Just like Football vs. Rugby- IMHO, seeing what they do- it would not take but a handful of former power 5 running backs and linebackers to have enough talent to dominate Rugby 7s based on just speed and agility. Normal rugby seems more nuanced than that, though. We wouldn't be Fiji good, but better than we are.

(that being said, Rugby 7's is a whole lot more popular in the US than Team Handball... there are college teams)

On the other hand, there are sports we are really good at, but are only seen every 4 years in the US- like volleyball. I know they are a college sport, and are pretty popular, but there are professional leagues in various countries... Heck, it's far more popular in Puerto Rico than it is in the US- but we have dominant teams.

Just seeing some of these sports makes the Olympics worth it.

[The Sicatoka]

.. it would not take but a handful of former power 5 running backs and linebackers to have enough talent to dominate Rugby 7s based on just speed and agility.

Throw in a couple guys who played strong safety just to be sure (on the open field tackling).

[Jimjamesak]

Surprisingly, the US isn’t that bad at Rugby 7s, they finished 2nd in the final rankings two years ago. They were pretty easily a quarterfinal team at this Olympics.

As for soccer, well the men, I’m confident in saying that they have a decent shot at winning in 2026.

[Slap Shot]

Are you guys sure Kepler is not describing Netball?

[LynahFan]

Are you guys sure Kepler is not describing Netball?

Yes.

1. Netball is not in the Olympics.
2. Kep said "soccer-like" goals. That's team handball, not netball.

[Kepler]

Yes.

1. Netball is not in the Olympics.
2. Kep said "soccer-like" goals. That's team handball, not netball.

This:

[Spartanforlife4]

Are you guys sure Kepler is not describing Netball?

I found out about netball this week. From the videos I watched it seems like originalist basketball, except you can’t play defense on the ball, so once you get it to someone down low it’s basically a free point.