Many of them spend so much time posting on Salon it is hard to imagine that they dedicate much time honing any talent other than bashing the freedom of expression.

I was waiting for this strawman to come up.

Since when does "freedom of expression" equate to "freedom from consequence"?

Did Miss Sey (and do you) actually believe that verbalizing an offensive, condescending, demeaning opinion is and should be free of the natural consequence of people being offended and reacting accordingly? I see her "freedom of expression" and I raise her my *own* "freedom of expression".

Wow, such venomous reactions to an honestly written article where Sey states UP FRONT that she's a 'beast 'and a 'condescending jerk'. That's a hint that you won't much like what she's about to write.

I can identify. I played basketball in high school and college but I was not a player. I was the best in the playground pick up games. I could hit fouls shots with my back to the rim which never came in handy during a real game.

I swam back and free in high school and college but I was not a swimmer. I was the best at the country club or the local JCC. In fact, if you even say 'stroke' around me now I will have one.

I progressed, or regressed depending on your pov, to coaching gymnastics. Them that can DO . . . and all that rot. I've been on a beam. I promptly got off. I've pounded down that vault run and around the vault because it wasn't moving and I wasn't going over it. I've hung bars. That made my back feel better. I sprained my skin trying a simple pullover. I've never chalked up but have eaten my share to combat heartburn late nights in the gym.

And guess what? I cannot stand to watch the Olympics with a novice who doesn't know the difference between heats, subdivisions and finals. I watch my sports all of the time. I don't want to spend MY time explaining to YOU why a pool is fast. I don't want to break down a routine and explain to you that, no, they aren't all doing the same thing.

I'm a condescending jerk without credentials to back it up. Shoot me.

Those of you who tune in every 4 years can just leave me the hell alone for the 2 weeks it takes to watch the Jim McKay Memorial Games.

Cheap shot of the year goes to:

The fact that you can do a perfect uneven bars routine when the entire world is watching is what inheres that act with significance.

But oh, yeah, you can't...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Oo7umomoxQ

-- atomicswerve

Sey broke her femur during that routine and changed forever the way gymnasts are spotted on bars by their coaches. The flyers you see on bars today can do what they do because of the sacrifice Sey made.

Jennifer Sey has a lot of balls to be so critical of amateur or former athletes when the majority of former and current olympians do absolutely nothing to improve the world Yes, they put on a good show however quickly forgotten. These olympians do it strictly for themselves, for the glory or maybe to please mom and/or dad. They are not well-educated. One can't practice 40 or more hours per week and devote sufficient time to studies. I don't even think Phelps went to college, though he may have. For example, Mark Spitz is a "motivational speaker" which usually translates into lots of money for little work. And he probably is still talking about his past olympic glory. The olympics don't bring peace or understanding to the world--it's competition not camaraderie. As the olympics progress Russia and Georgia are at war, the miserable Iraq situation persists, Darfur, etc, etc, etc. The olympics are just egomaniacal, feel-good, entertainment shows usually not as memorable as a good broadway show. When the olympics are over, the spectators may have had a pleasant time, but no one's life is altered. And the majority of olympic athletes will soon have to get some job training in order to make a real living. Get off your high horse Jennifer. Most people don't even remember who you are!

I don't understand why they are beating you up so badly. I "get" what you are trying to say and appreciate your candor. It seems most of these posts are written by people who are guilty of the very flaws they criticize you for having.

Many of them spend so much time posting on Salon it is hard to imagine that they dedicate much time honing any talent other than bashing the freedom of expression.

Keep writing!

- you're a bad person.

"It's hard to believe the level of intensity directed at Jennifer Sey--who is, after all, just expressing her opinion.

Why is it so difficult to just nod and say okay--that's her opinion, not mine."

Because Ms. Sey's "opinion" was rather intense and in some places derogatory. That's the reason for the reaction.

My best time in the marathon is just under four hours. Now, did I run the marathon or didn't I? How should I react to someone - anyone - who says I didn't, because my time was so slow?

"not really addressing the elephant in the room--the fact that the Chinese girls are really little girls"

If they are below the age limit, they should be disqualified. If not, what's the problem?

"that they train in the same arena where they won"

Home field advantage; happens in every competition. Correct me if I'm wrong, but when the US Olympic ice hockey team won the gold, it was at Lake Placid, in New York State. And when Joan Benoit won the first-ever women's Olympic marathon for the USA, it was in Los Angeles.

"Give Jennifer a break--read her book before you deign to know how she feels--she isn't saying you should feel like her--she is just telling you how she feels--get your own Salon blog if you want us to know how YOU feel."

She is doing a lot more than telling us how she feels. She is saying that she hates fans (even though sports as we know them would be very different without fans) and that those of us not at an "elite" level are not athletes at all. I and others take exception to that, book or no book.

And when someone posts an "opinion" in a public venue where responses are not only possible but encouraged, they have to be ready for opposing opinions.

It is good that Ms. Sey recognizes that she can act like "a horrible condescending jerk" when watching the Olympics with "armchair fans". But that does not make her words immune to comment.

I am reminded of the frequent poster to a group I used to read who would write lots of personal insults in his postings, but end them with an emoticon that was supposed to mean it was a joke. His argument was that it was OK for him to insult everyone else, since the smiley meant he really didn't mean it.