Simone Biles - American Icon

[Tommy Tainant]

Simone Biles returns to Olympics as the circus screams on around her

The VIPs have hooked themselves to the US star’s cultural celebrity, desperate to bathe in her reflected glory

www.theguardian.com

I caught this earlier today. Olympics is impossible to avoid. I didnt know she was appearing.

She must be Americas greatest sporting hero. You are very lucky.

 

[The Duke]

Simone Biles is a sweetheart and so good at what she does.

 

[Couchpotato]

Simone Biles returns to Olympics as the circus screams on around her

The VIPs have hooked themselves to the US star’s cultural celebrity, desperate to bathe in her reflected glory

www.theguardian.com

I caught this earlier today. Olympics is impossible to avoid. I didnt know she was appearing.

She must be Americas greatest sporting hero. You are very lucky.

I don’t think Biles is anywhere close to being the US’s greatest sports hero. I doubt she’s even top 20

 

[Couchpotato]

Harpy Eagle

Jordon
James
Magic
Kobe
Bird
Tiger
Brady
Montana
Mahomes
Serena
Mary Lou Rettan
Palmer
Brown
Phelps
Jenner
Spitz
Carl Lewis
Ali
Ruth
Jackie
Ted Williams
Mays
Jesse Ownes
Hank Aaron
Nicklaus
Kareem


Should I go on?

 

[tyroneweaver]

except her husband who left the Packers for the worthless bears

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Harpy Eagle

Jordon
James
Magic
Kobe
Bird
Tiger
Brady
Montana
Mahomes
Serena
Mary Lou Rettan
Palmer
Brown
Phelps
Jenner
Spitz
Carl Lewis
Ali
Ruth
Jackie
Ted Williams
Mays
Jesse Ownes
Hank Aaron
Nicklaus
Kareem


Should I go on?

how old are you?

 

[Couchpotato]

how old are you?

How does that factor into who the US’s greatest sports hero is?

 

[Harpy Eagle]

How does that factor into who the US’s greatest sports hero is?

Each generation tends to view such things differently.

Such things are also purely opinion based, as you prove by putting Mary Lou Retton on your list when her actual list of accomplishments is no where close to what of Biles. Retton's medal count was the result of the Soviet boycott of the 84 Olympics.

I look at your list and wonder why you left off Steve Scott or Mary Decker or Alberto Salazar? How about Bill Rodgers or Frank Shorter?

 

[Couchpotato]

Each generation tends to view such things differently.

Such things are also purely opinion based, as you prove by putting Mary Lou Retton on your list when her actual list of accomplishments is no where close to what of Biles. Retton's medal count was the result of the Soviet boycott of the 84 Olympics.

I look at your list and wonder why you left off Steve Scott or Mary Decker or Alberto Salazar? How about Bill Rodgers or Frank Shorter?

It’s not a comprehensive list. But thanks for adding names that would come before Biles and further proving my point?

 

[Harpy Eagle]

It’s not a comprehensive list. But thanks for adding names that would come before Biles and further proving my point?

Yes, I proved your point that the list is 100% subjective and not based upon any actual accomplishments.

Why do you hold such disdain for her? Did she kick your dog or something?

 

[Couchpotato]

Yes, I proved your point that the list is 100% subjective and not based upon any actual accomplishments.

Why do you hold such disdain for her? Did she kick your dog or something?

Why would I need to hold disdain for her in order to say she’s not the USs greatest sports hero? The list of people who don’t hold that title is rather long do you think I dislike them as well?

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Why would I need to hold disdain for her in order to say she’s not the USs greatest sports hero? The list of people who don’t hold that title is rather long do you think I dislike them as well?

Because by all objective measures she is miles above Retton.

Your list is based 100% on emotions, so one has to wonder what emotion has you leave Biles off your list.

 

[Couchpotato]

Because by all objective measures she is miles above Retton.

Your list is based 100% on emotions, so one has to wonder what emotion has you leave Biles off your list.

Ok so you’re pulling one name out of a list of over 20. The entire point I was making is that she’s not #1 and probably not top 20. You have issue with 1 name I’ve included ahead of Biles and 5 I didn’t. I know math is hard but…..

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Ok so you’re pulling one name out of a list of over 20. The entire point I was making is that she’s not #1 and probably not top 20. You have issue with 1 name I’ve included ahead of Biles and 5 I didn’t. I know math is hard but…..

and the point I am making is that this is "list" is just an opinion based upon nothing objective, thus you telling someone that Biles should not be on this list is like telling someone they are wrong when they list their favorite bands.

Can you explain to the class what makes Retton worthy of being on the list but not Biles who by all objective measures is light years ahead of Retton?

 

[Couchpotato]

and the point I am making is that this is "list" is just an opinion based upon nothing objective, thus you telling someone that Biles should not be on this list is like telling someone they are wrong when they list their favorite bands.

Can you make the case that Biles is the GREATEST US sports hero in history? WE both know you wont because you cant. No one is listing Motley Crue as the greatest US rock band in US history no matter how big a fan they are.

Can you explain to the class what makes Retton worthy of being on the list but not Biles who by all objective measures is light years ahead of Retton?

Again not sure why you are so focused on 1 name on a list of 26 where you think we should add at least 5 more and I could add probably 20 more before Biles would show up (she might not be the most well known gymnast right now). Part of (I would argue a large part of) whether someone is a sports hero especially for sports which dont hold our attention for long periods of time, is the moment. If you are Brady, Jordon, Serena or Ruth you are in the public eye for decades, any single "moment" isnt nearly as important. For sports like gymnastics it certainly is. Retton fair or not had a bigger moment. She just did. That's not saying she's a better gymnast, or accomplished more but her moment was bigger. That Olympics meant more. The entire country was focused on it. It was just a bigger deal. When did Biles compete in the Olympics? Last one? One before? You knew who Retton was and when she competed 40 years after it happened. Do you think anyone will really remember Biles in 40 years? Will they know which Olympics she competed in? Is Biles a better gymnast? Yes. Will she win more medals than Retton? Yep. Will her "moment" ever be bigger? Nope. But if it makes you feel better take Retton off the list, still puts Biles at least in the 30's and my point still stands. Class dismissed.

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Can you make the case that Biles is the GREATEST US sports hero in history?

Sure why not. By the time this Olympics is over she will have won more medals in gymnastics than any other American, she did it over the course of 3 Olympics which is an amazing feat in and of itself given the longevity of most gymnast. She has overcome adversity and mental illness to be once again at the top of the world for her event. She has inspired a whole generation of young women coming behind her. And she did it all for the glory of her country and not for millions upon millions of dollars.

. No one is listing Motley Crue as the greatest US rock band in US history no matter how big a fan they are.

I have a friend that would do just that, and has in fact.

Part of (I would argue a large part of) whether someone is a sports hero especially for sports which dont hold our attention for long periods of time, is the moment. If you are Brady, Jordon, Serena or Ruth you are in the public eye for decades, any single "moment" isnt nearly as important.

Yet you list Jenner and Spitz

You knew who Retton was and when she competed 40 years after it happened. Do you think anyone will really remember Biles in 40 years?

Yes, I knew who she was because I am 60, which is why I asked your age but you were too ballless to give it.

Do you think anyone under the age of 50 knows how Retton is or Spitz or even Jenner except to know that he is now a woman? I would bet my house if I asked my kids, ages 22 and 29 who any of those 3 were they could not tell you.

So, yes I think the people watching Biles today will remember her 40 years from now just like you and I remember the stars of our day.

Nope. But if it makes you feel better take Retton off the list, still puts Biles at least in the 30's and my point still stands. Class dismissed.

Yep, your point stands....the entire thing is purely opinion not based upon a single fact or data point

 

[Couchpotato]

Sure why not. By the time this Olympics is over she will have won more medals in gymnastics than any other American, she did it over the course of 3 Olympics which is an amazing feat in and of itself given the longevity of most gymnast. She has overcome adversity and mental illness to be once again at the top of the world for her event. She has inspired a whole generation of young women coming behind her. And she did it all for the glory of her country and not for millions upon millions of dollars.

So she's a bigger sports hero than Michael Jordan? Or Serena Williams? Im calling bullshit that you or anyone else actually believes that.

I have a friend that would do just that, and has in fact.

Miss the point more.

Yet you list Jenner and Spitz



Yes, I knew who she was because I am 60, which is why I asked your age but you were too ballless to give it.

It's just irrelevant. Does who the greatest sports hero in US history change if Im 100 vs 20?

Do you think anyone under the age of 50 knows how Retton is or Spitz or even Jenner except to know that he is now a woman? I would bet my house if I asked my kids, ages 22 and 29 who any of those 3 were they could not tell you.

Yes I do. What I know for sure is that far more people knew who Retton was in 84 than know who Biles is in 24. Biles might not be the most famous US gymnast right now.

So, yes I think the people watching Biles today will remember her 40 years from now just like you and I remember the stars of our day.

Few people (relatively) are watching her currently. Do you really think people care about this Olympics anywhere near as much as they cared about the ones in 84?

Yep, your point stands....the entire thing is purely opinion not based upon a single fact or data point

No the point stands that Biles isnt by any objective metric the greatest sports hero in US history, and it's not even close. She's not even the biggest US sports hero of this decade.

Woods
Serena
Phelps
James
Brady
Mahomes

 

[Harpy Eagle]

So she's a bigger sports hero than Michael Jordan? Or Serena Williams? Im calling bullshit that you or anyone else actually believes that.

That depends on how one defines a "hero".

It's just irrelevant. Does who the greatest sports hero in US history change if Im 100 vs 20?

Yes, they do. Ask a 20 year old that question and I bet only 5 or 6 people you put on the list shows up on theirs. Do you think most 20 years old know who 75% of those people are?

Few people (relatively) are watching her currently. Do you really think people care about this Olympics anywhere near as much as they cared about the ones in 84?

Yes, I do.

Yes I do. What I know for sure is that far more people knew who Retton was in 84 than know who Biles is in 24. Biles might not be the most famous US gymnast right now.

Oh horse shit

Woods
Serena
Phelps
James

what makes these people "heroes"?

 

[Couchpotato]

That depends on how one defines a "hero".

So you really think there is some significant number of people who would credibly put Biles above Michael Jordan, or Serena Williams as the greatest sports hero in US history? You are full of shit.

Yes, they do. Ask a 20 year old that question and I bet only 5 or 6 people you put on the list shows up on theirs. Do you think most 20 years old know who 75% of those people are?

No it really doesnt.

Yes, I do.

Then you are dumber than I thought which is saying something.

Oh horse shit

Retton was the most famous us gymnast in her time that's irrefutable. It's debatable if the same can be said of Biles.

what makes these people "heroes"?

 

[Harpy Eagle]

So you really think there is some significant number of people who would credibly put Biles above Michael Jordan, or Serena Williams as the greatest sports hero in US history? You are full of shit.

what makes one a "sports hero"?

Retton was the most famous us gymnast in her time that's irrefutable. It's debatable if the same can be said of Biles.

then which gymnast is more famous right now? Give me the list