2012 Olympics: Proud of the USA?
The Games of the XXX Olympiad end Sunday and the U.S. is on top of the medal standings.
American athletes have also conducted themselves well, with no controversies in an Olympics that included other athletes being banned for racial comments and drug use.
The biggest controversies involving Americans were more silly than serious, from comments about gymnast Gabby Douglas’s hair to track standout Lolo Jones’s appearance, to swimmer Ryan Lochte having an American flag on his teeth during a medal ceremony.
Are you proud of the skill and behavior of the American squad? Have these athletes represented the country well and made you proud to be an American?
Loading ...What has been your favorite Olympic moment? Was it Michael Phelps setting an all-time Olympic record for number of medals, or the U.S. women winning gold in soccer, or the men’s basketball team rolling undefeated into Sunday’s gold-medal game or something else, like watching amputee Oscar Pistorius of South Africa compete in track?
Lastly, looking back on the last two weeks, how has NBC’s decision to show most of the events taped in the evening affected you? Has that allowed you to see more? Or has it ruined the drama?
Please share your thoughts on the Games.
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66 comments Add your comment
JANICE
August 12th, 2012
7:18 am
Proud of them all, except for the behavior of McKayla when she lost gold, she acted like a spoiled brat. The US participants perfomred well for medals but their behaviro was fantastic!! PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN, Hope they STOP making them pay tax on their medals, that is a terrible thing. Have watched so much, will now have to get used to no Olympics .
Queen Noor
August 12th, 2012
7:22 am
There were two fantastic stories for me: 1. The triumph of Gabby; and 2. The big win for Misty & Kerri. As for the latter, I love that 2 BFF’s went all the way to win gold! I have always been proud to be an American and these events fill my heart with joy. The self expression of these athletes is fun. I am proud of them for not being bad citizens during the games.
I must say that all good things must come to an end with the Closing Ceremony and that’s fine because frankly, I need my rest! USA! USA! USA
(By the way, I did like watching to big events in prime time. I was annoyed with all the push alerts on my phone and Facebook, AJC cover photos (I know you have to be journalists & report the news as it happens), and radio news people. I turned you off!)
nelson
August 12th, 2012
7:22 am
I am glad you wanted my comment. This my 2 minutes of fame. The U.S. victors celebrate in a way that annoys all others. The other athletes celebrate in a manner that they appear humbled by the great honor. The U.S. carries on as if it were their right to win rather than the performance itself. And people wonder why other countries are put off by visitors from here. Also, when China was leading the medal count, the commentators would say that the Chinese start preparing for the Olympics in state run schools deicated to Olympic participation, as if we do not spend zillions on preperation for the Olympics. When East Germany dominated the Olympics, the commentators would say, they prepare 12 months a year and the women wern’t women, anything to disparage the victor from elsewhere.
woodrow
August 12th, 2012
7:27 am
Sports does not give me a National Pride fix. I do not believe in politicizing sports at all.
Todd - Lawrenceville
August 12th, 2012
7:38 am
Sparks, Had Serena Williams had no association with Compton, neither you nor the stupid media would have said any thing. I was watching and before it was mentioned, had no knowledge of a ‘Crip Dance’. It seemed to me tha he was excited about winning the Gold while representing her country. Wen the USA women won the beach volley ball gold medal, one of the players did a little dance; was that the KKK dance?
Sennera’s dance was not controversial; The media and individuals like you shed light on what some have named a crip dance. Certainly I do not believe the Crip gang own copyright to dance moves.
Quintricia Carpenter
August 12th, 2012
7:42 am
Even during a time like this where all Americans especially should be proud, some people have 2 throw politics n2 it. I just continue to shake my head N disbelief!! When will we all just let it go. If it isnt racist comments when it’s not appropriate, then it’s politics. What on earth does Michelle Obama & the Democrats have 2 do with the Olympics. GO USA IS ALL I HAVE LEFT 2 SAY!!!
Name (required)
August 12th, 2012
8:01 am
I’m happy for them, but why would I be “proud”? I didn’t do any of the work to get there. I didn’t earn those medals. It’s the same way I can’t figure out how I could be “proud to be American”. It’s not like I picked it. I was born here and I live here, so I’m an American. Am I happy I live here and hold an American passport? Hell yeah. But it’s nothing I worked at, so taking pride in it just seems silly. Isn’t pride one of the 7 deadly sins anyway?
Evangelio Gonzalez
August 12th, 2012
8:05 am
I am pretty sure our president will appology to the arab countries and the world for the american superiority shown in the london games. According to Obama we should all have the same outcome.
Jim8307
August 12th, 2012
8:14 am
Extremely proud of the US athletes, lots of hard work, sacrifice, and love of country demonstrated by all of the participants.
kendall meeks
August 12th, 2012
8:24 am
Yes we Democrats enjoyed watching the olympic this year the americans whip up on the other countries as the democrats will whip up on the republicans again this year. i see you spent your time C Tampa Ironworse going through your empty mind trying to find somethng to talk about uh? why dont get a life on my bad, yuo do have a life trying to fill that empty brain
BigRed
August 12th, 2012
8:26 am
Under the Obama plan, everyone would get a gold medal and pay a “rich folks” tax on it.
kendall meeks
August 12th, 2012
8:30 am
There always have to be comments about our !st Lady of the United States of America or about or about the way Serena Williams doing a dance, why do you the media and some Americans that call themselves proud Americans have to add fuel to something that no one except the writer themselves have nothing in common with anyone. Be proud of the way America athletes behave and won all the Gold
kendall meeks
August 12th, 2012
8:38 am
Gabby Douglas was the big scene for me winning Gold and becoming the 1st Black woman to win the all around event go Gabby !!!!!!!!!!! The US women winning the 4 x 100 relay was very exciting HOORAY HOORAY ladies. My bad was the spoil Mckayla not winning the gold the look on her face was a look of wheres my gold i want it back. i guess she declared it before she won it.
BA Blankenship
August 12th, 2012
8:56 pm
Lawrence Smith because in general Democrats are anti-American and are now the Democratic Socialist Marxism Communist Party USA with a liberal agenda to enslave all free think people like they did people of African decent.
BA Blankenship
August 12th, 2012
8:58 pm
And yes, under Barack Obama, the Olympic medals won are considered taxable income by the IRS because of their value. JUST D#MN!!!
southpaw
August 13th, 2012
12:20 pm
MM @9:18
Try this instead.
“C. Tampa: Yes, Democrats watch the Olympics.”
But only if you like taking the high road.