Should the Olympics feature the best players or the most marketable players?

[18IsTheMan]

Couldn't help but see that Caitlyn Clark was left off the Olympic team, as my Twitter feed was filled with folks commenting on it, even the likes of Nikki Haley, which is where I initially saw it. There seem to be 2 camps as far I can tell:

Camp 1: The Olympics is not a popularity contest but is for the best players and Clark, as of right now, is not one of the 12 best players in the wNBA.

Camp 2: Clark is the most exciting women's player and if you're trying to grow the game and get eyeballs, she deserves to be on the team.

 

[Thunderstick]

In my opinion, if Clark is not one of the best at her position (of need) I wholeheartedly endorse "Camp 1."

 

[Sweetwatergolf]

Couldn't help but see that Caitlyn Clark was left off the Olympic team, as my Twitter feed was filled with folks commenting on it, even the likes of Nikki Haley, which is where I initially saw it. There seem to be 2 camps as far I can tell:

Camp 1: The Olympics is not a popularity contest but is for the best players and Clark, as of right now, is not one of the 12 best players in the wNBA.

Camp 2: Clark is the most exciting women's player and if you're trying to grow the game and get eyeballs, she deserves to be on the team.

Best players win medals.
If playing for Participation Medals, take your marketable players.

 

[18IsTheMan]

In my opinion, if Clark is not one of the best at her position (of need) I wholeheartedly endorse "Camp 1."

Best players win medals.
If playing for Participation Medals, take your marketable players.

It seems that some feel they should, in the interest of growing the women's game, take advantage of this opportunity and get Clark on the biggest stage, even if she's not one of the best at her position.

I can see the rationale, but the Olympics has, presumably, always been merit-based. You don't get selected to make you feel good about yourself. However, there will never be more buzz surrounding Clark than there is right now and it would be PR gold to see her on the Olympic stage getting swarmed by girls from another country.

 

[1Harleyhog]

USA should win wit or without Clark

 

[Irvin Snibbley]

Just got through watching Boys In The Boat on Prime.Thats the way it should be handled.Period.

 

[Prestonite53]

Couldn't help but see that Caitlyn Clark was left off the Olympic team, as my Twitter feed was filled with folks commenting on it, even the likes of Nikki Haley, which is where I initially saw it. There seem to be 2 camps as far I can tell:

Camp 1: The Olympics is not a popularity contest but is for the best players and Clark, as of right now, is not one of the 12 best players in the wNBA.

Camp 2: Clark is the most exciting women's player and if you're trying to grow the game and get eyeballs, she deserves to be on the team.

Depends on the objective
Camp 1: Win
Camp 2: Make money (Marketing)

 

[18IsTheMan]

Depends on the objective
Camp 1: Win
Camp 2: Make money (Marketing)

Right. So I guess it's really a matter of asking what the objective should be.

 

[Prestonite53]

Right. So I guess it's really a matter of asking what the objective should be.

I always thought the Gold Medal was the objective.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I always thought the Gold Medal was the objective.

As it should be and it appears that how the decision was made.

Some apparently feel Clark, as the biggest personality right now, deserved to go.

 

[Prestonite53]

As it should be and it appears that how the decision was made.

Some apparently feel Clark, as the biggest personality right now, deserved to go.

It's the Olympics, not America's Got Talent!

 

[CWW]

I hate how the Olympics has gone pro. I long for the amateur days…like the Kevin Joyce era.

 

[Prestonite53]

As it should be and it appears that how the decision was made.

Some apparently feel Clark, as the biggest personality right now, deserved to go.

To me it's a wise coaching decision because the objective is to build a winning team and Clark is not exactly a team player and her style can be disruptive to ''team play''.

 

[adcoop]

Couldn't help but see that Caitlyn Clark was left off the Olympic team, as my Twitter feed was filled with folks commenting on it, even the likes of Nikki Haley, which is where I initially saw it. There seem to be 2 camps as far I can tell:

Camp 1: The Olympics is not a popularity contest but is for the best players and Clark, as of right now, is not one of the 12 best players in the wNBA.

Camp 2: Clark is the most exciting women's player and if you're trying to grow the game and get eyeballs, she deserves to be on the team.

Can I choose a Camp 3 which is Caitlin is a rising star that hopefully will have a 15 year career in the WNBA. However, the buzz around her will fade if she doesn't win at her day job, the Indiana Fever. She has played a full collegiate season and gone into a WNBA season without a break. Her team has played the most games so far this season. I know the fans love Clark, but she is a person, not a machine. Bodies break down and her pace right now is where stress injuries pop up. The worst thing that could happen right now is for her to have a season-ending injury like Sabrina Ionescu did a few years back. Let Clark rest, get some chemistry with her team, specifically Aliyah Boston, and go into the second half of her season strong. They may be able to even win a few games down the stretch and squeak into the playoffs. Eight of the Twelve teams make it. Clark will probably be on the Olympic teams 3 or 4 more times after this. This is just a small bump in the road and sometimes what seems like a loss is really a win in the long run.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Can I choose a Camp 3 which is Caitlin is a rising star that hopefully will have a 15 year career in the WNBA. However, the buzz around her will fade if she doesn't win at her day job, the Indiana Fever. She has played a full collegiate season and gone into a WNBA season without a break. Her team has played the most games so far this season. I know the fans love Clark, but she is a person, not a machine. Bodies break down and her pace right now is where stress injuries pop up. The worst thing that could happen right now is for her to have a season-ending injury like Sabrina Ionescu did a few years back. Let Clark rest, get some chemistry with her team, specifically Aliyah Boston, and go into the second half of her season strong. They may be able to even win a few games down the stretch and squeak into the playoffs. Eight of the Twelve teams make it. Clark will probably be on the Olympic teams 3 or 4 more times after this. This is just a small bump in the road and sometimes what seems like a loss is really a win in the long run.

Sure, but that's not really germane to the discussion at hand.

 

[Blues man]

Not a fan of using pros but even so I'd rather see everyone go through a tryout rather than simply be picked. I dont care who you are.

 

[kidrobinski]

Sure, but that's not really germane to the discussion at hand.

Ah but it is very germane. I would posit that this is indicative of the Tiger Woods syndrome; 99% of the camp 1'ers on X and on here have no bloody idea who are the 'best' wnba players. They've drawn their opinions on the opinions of others who also have no bloody idea; they are for what ever reason tired of the hype, resentful of the hype, whatever. Eager to put CC in her place.

A previous poster said the USA will likely win with or without; with this I agree. Its my opinion that the wnba in particular and womens basketball in general needs as much help as they can get. CC is certainly no prize, but it would benefit the game greatly if so many of the players didn't look like someone you would expect Darryl Dixon to shoot in the head with a crossbow.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Ah but it is very germane. I would posit that this is indicative of the Tiger Woods syndrome; 99% of the camp 1'ers on X and on here have no bloody idea who are the 'best' wnba players. They've drawn their opinions on the opinions of others who also have no bloody idea; they are for what ever reason tired of the hype, resentful of the hype, whatever. Eager to put CC in her place.

A previous poster said the USA will likely win with or without; with this I agree. Its my opinion that the wnba in particular and womens basketball in general needs as much help as they can get. CC is certainly no prize, but it would benefit the game greatly if so many of the players didn't look like someone you would expect Darryl Dixon to shoot in the head with a crossbow.

Not really germane to the context of the OP at all. She was talking about Clark needing a rest and all that.

OP simply looking at whether she should make it based on star power alone or merit alone.

 

[adcoop]

Sure, but that's not really germane to the discussion at hand.

I was trying to be nice and let the Camp 2 supporters down easy. So, I guess I would have to be a Camp 1 guy then. If you put her WNBA profile up without a name (Team 3-9 record, 17 pts a game, 6 assists, but also 6 turnovers a game), you would have to say no. There is a marketing aspect to it so you could possibly give her a Christian Laettner type spot on the squad. However, from what I have seen, Clark supporters would not be pleased with Clark just being there and riding the bench. So, I would say no to 2024.

 

[Atlanta Cock]

Just got through watching Boys In The Boat on Prime.Thats the way it should be handled.Period.

Different world now. The virtue signalers have set their eyes on tearing down the meritocracy. Women's sports won't exist on the current trajectory.

 

[Whiterockcock69]

You boys need to go on the Indiana Fever website and “enjoy” the show. The corn people are tough. I mean really tough. I hope the get Aliyah the hell out of that place.

The losing is: Aliyah’s fault, the officials fault, the coach’s fault, and the coach better get her **** together because they’re going to get her fired. And all of the rest of the league has it in for her. Lovely folks. It’ll make you want to throw up. It’s really hard to believe the vitriol and hate. Seriously.

Oh. And it’s Dawn’s fault she didn’t make the Olympic team.

 

[KingWard]

Depends on the objective
Camp 1: Win
Camp 2: Make money (Marketing)

To this I have nothing to add.

 

[RoosterPrime]

Camp 1 all the way. Players work hard to achieve a spot on the Olympic roster all their lives. It's something that should be earned. Caitlin has done nothing to earn a spot. She is not even one of the top 25 players in the W. Arike Ogunbowale is one of the players that have a legit beef about being omitted. This is the Olympics. Billions will watch no matter who is on the roster.

 

[adcoop]

Camp 1 all the way. Players work hard to achieve a spot on the Olympic roster all their lives. It's something that should be earned. Caitlin has done nothing to earn a spot. She is not even one of the top 25 players in the W. Arike Ogunbowale is one of the players that have a legit beef about being omitted. This is the Olympics. Billions will watch no matter who is on the roster.

.....and they have done it to Ogunbowale twice. I remember when they left her off the last time and she cooked the Olympic team in the W's All-Star game. Nneka Ogumike is another glaring omission. How can a former MVP of the "W" never make an Olympic team.

 

[Uscg1984]

As for the "controversy" over Clark not making the Olympic team, it feels like a bunch of Americans who didn't know anything about women's basketball prior to Clark are upset to hear that she is not actually one of the 12 best current players in the game. She could end up being the best player ever, but she's not one of the 12 best right now.

Of course you put the best players on the floor. All of those new fans that Clark brought to the game can see that there are actually many great players and may give them even more reasons to watch in the future.

 

[adcoop]

I hate how the Olympics has gone pro. I long for the amateur days…like the Kevin Joyce era.

The only problem with that is we were the only ones truly using amateur players. Most of the European countries had been throwing their high-level teenage prospects onto professional club teams for decades prior to the 1992 Dream Team.

 

[Whiterockcock69]

This poor girl. Worked her *** off all her life to be settled with this crap. Hateful, jealous teammates and to say the least her own coach. She is totally against her. It is 100% plain to see. It’s just pathetic

 

[Blues man]

The only problem with that is we were the only ones truly using amateur players. Most of the European countries had been throwing their high-level teenage prospects onto professional club teams for decades prior to the 1992 Dream Team.

I get that's why the made the change but that doesn't make it right... just because others are doing it. It's a shame we took the ability to compete away from our college and HS kids and gave it to a bunch of professionals in the name of gold when those kids were competitive enough to make us all proud before the powers that be decided professionals are a better way go.

 

[KingWard]

I hate how the Olympics has gone pro. I long for the amateur days…like the Kevin Joyce era.

The West were the only countries sending true amateurs from the early Sixties on, maybe a little earlier. But I catch your point. There's no going back to amateurism as it once existed. Money ultimately corrupts everything where it gains a foothold.

 

[adcoop]

This poor girl. Worked her *** off all her life to be settled with this crap. Hateful, jealous teammates and to say the least her own coach. She is totally against her. It is 100% plain to see. It’s just pathetic

Welcome to being the #1 option in a competitive sport. Don't think players were jealous of Jordan? Lebron? #1 options get played physically, they get double-teamed. What makes players true #1 options is that they rise above it all. People need to sit back and let Clark grow into the #1 option she can become instead of propping her up and trying to make her something that she is not right away just because she has a lot of fans. This is a competitive sport, not the Taylor Swift concert.

 

[jasonscottinsc]

The goal is to win gold. If Clark isn't one of the best 12 to help USA do that, then fine, she can try again next time. The big question for those who really know women's hoops - if Clark should be on, who should be off the team?

On the other side of it - if USA feels like it will roll over everyone and win the gold using it's top 10 players and you indeed want to grow your sport, then you need to have Clark on there to get the "casual" fan interested in watching.

 

[gamecox4982]

I really never cared for WBB and still don’t. However, I tuned when Clark was featured shooting 3’s from half court. So every time they would be on tv I tuned in to see one of the best shooters I’ve ever seen. Whether you like her or not, the girl can flat out shoot. Maybe she should give the WNBA and take her show overseas.

 

[TN-Gamecock]

Is Chelsea Gray better than Caitlin Clark? Diana T has the same stats as Caitlin.

It will be interesting to see what becomes of all this. I said in another post, I hope Russia or China will offer Caitlin 10 million dollars to play there for one season. This might be a stretch, but I can see it happening for the publicity she would bring to these countries and international bb in general.