Serena Williams

[vas930]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Serena Williams plays as beautifully as she is striking physically. She is one of a kind.

+1
she is the best ever.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Dottore

I know the US is farked on so many levels, but this somehow strikes me as unbelievably cynical. Taxing an athlete on their Olymipc medal?

Jesus H. Christ.

I dunno. A cash prize is certainly income. I have a problem with the US taxing worldwide income of its citizens. But I doubt our athletes have to pay taxes on all the freebies they get from the USOC - world travel, uniforms, accomodations, etc. I think Marco Rubio has a bill before the Senate to exempt US Olympians from such taxes. But that's just one more loophole in our crazy tax code that will benefit millionaries or soon-to-become millionaires. Is it really that crazy?

Bottom line is it costs huge money to support an athlete through years, even decades, of training. Plenty of them train more hours in a week than many of us work in our day jobs. How are they supposed to afford anything if they're not paid by sponsors and big-name endorsements?

[jyl]

Let's be accurate here.

1. The medal itself is not taxed. A "gold" medal is only worth about $600 in metal, and as a practical matter the IRS doesn't tax it, although in theory it could.
2. US athletes get $25K per gold medal as a bonus, this is paid by US sports organizations. This is taxable income, as any sports prizes and winnings are. If that was the athlete's only income, then his actual tax rate on $25K would be effectively nil. If the athlete is in the top tax bracket due making $ millions from his other earnings, then his actual tax rate on $25K of additional income would be around $9K, less whatever deductions and credits his accountant comes up with. Since in this scenario he's making millions, the $9K likely doesn't break him.

Quote de dennis in se pa

"Many of them still make many millions in endorsements" - Then they are not amateurs.

None of them are. Not one. Do you think any of them have day jobs and just do the sports thing nights and weekends? Michael Phelps was making millions a year before the 2008 games. Should he not be able to swim in the 2012 games because of his endorsements after he got super famous following the Beijing games? How else is he gonna pay the $175k in taxes on his 20 gold medals? There are no part-timers in the Olympics and they have to have plenty of income to support their training and lack of day jobs.



If you want only real amateurs to be allowed to compete, you'd have to scout from high school teams, maybe college. Though I'd consider a $100k worth of athletic scholarships to be plenty of income/sponsorship.

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Are you kidding? Cash prize of $25k per gold and the US taxes worldwide income of its citizens. Yes, quite true.

Originally Posted by Dottore

I know the US is farked on so many levels, but this somehow strikes me as unbelievably cynical. Taxing an athlete on their Olymipc medal?

Jesus H. Christ.

More than catnip, this latest conservative tax myth is like a designer drug for the Fox News set, tailored perfectly for maximum impact at a time when Americans are hungry for anything Olympics-related. The offense: According to Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist’s anti-tax outfit, President Obama’s IRS will tax Olympic winners up to $9,000 after they return home victorious from London. Conservative blogs are having a field day and Republican politicians are clamoring to capitalize on news. Darling Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida introduced a bill to exempt Olympians’ winnings from taxes and an adviser to Mitt Romney told reporters today, “He believes that there should be no taxation of the type you are describing.” They’re calling on Obama to support the plan.

Romney’s Olympic tax myth - Salon.com

Mark, is this article credible in your estimation?

[jyl]

It is also not accurate to say there are no part timers in the Olympics. E.g. I watched the US silver medalists in synchronized diving, one was a medical student. It depends on the sport. Basically professional sports like tennis, soccer, cycling, basketball, etc - of course the competitors are full time professional athletes. Track and field, weight lifting, swimming, gymnastics - not so much. Many of those are college kids.

[Rick Lee]

If you're a college kid, then you're also not earning a living yet. If you qualify for the Olympics as a student, you're able to do so because you're living at school (probably on an untaxed athletic scholarship) and have Olympic-level facilities at your disposal. Either way, these Olympians are not moonlighters.

It would be hard to call someone an amateur at something that pays them millions after they hit it big in the Olympics. Does that mean they shouldn't be able to compete in the Olympics ever again because of their big money endorsements? I don't think so.

[dennis in se pa]

"a designer drug for the Fox News set"

Now that's funny right there...I don't care who you are! ")

I thought they were all on drugs already. Their minds certainly are malfunctioning.

This "I am superior..I am the best" focus is part of the sickness, not in the world today, but which has always been. We could all learn a lesson from the Amish and Mennonites.

Let's focus on "US" not "ME". But that does not fit into "THEIR" plan. Every generation goes a little further downhill. God bless my children and I hope I never have grandchildren. Such a mess the money oriented people have created. I guess it was inevitable.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by jyl

It is also not accurate to say there are no part timers in the Olympics. E.g. I watched the US silver medalists in synchronized diving, one was a medical student. It depends on the sport. Basically professional sports like tennis, soccer, cycling, basketball, etc - of course the competitors are full time professional athletes. Track and field, weight lifting, swimming, gymnastics - not so much. Many of those are college kids.

BZZT.

My friend down the street has 3 daughters. All gymnasts. The oldest is in HS gave up competition 2 years ago. Also marked the 1st time in her life that she has attended a public school.

The youngest, 10, has decided to switch to swimming, she is now in a regular school.

The middle daughter was a contender for this years US squad but missed out due to injury. She is currently being offered full rides to several colleges. She has never attended a regular school.

All 3 spent their entire days in the gym, were home schooled, lived, ate and slept gymnastics. They did nothing else.

You don't become an elite gymnast without sacrificing just about everything.

I would say they put more into earning a shot at the US squad than any multi million dollar a year ball player ever did.

They are by no means amateurs, unless your definition is that they didn't get paid.

[Baz]

[AFC-911]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

None of them are. Not one. Do you think any of them have day jobs and just do the sports thing nights and weekends?

The US Women's rowing team of 8 that just won gold. Some of those members are lawyers and accountants.

Some of them actually have day jobs.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by AFC-911

The US Women's rowing team of 8 that just won gold. Some of those members are lawyers and accountants.

Some of them actually have day jobs.

I'll have to read up on that. I find it very hard to believe. My sister rowed crew in HS and had to live at school (she was otherwise a day student at a boarding school) once she made the team because the practices began at 5am. I can't imagine anyone being able to get to an Olympic level with a real day job. Hell, I work from home and see my boss twice a year and I wouldn't have time for such an endeavor.

I saw Michael Phelps interviewed the other day and he said it took him 1.5 yrs. to get back into peak shape after taking three mos. off following the 08 games. Who can do that part time?

[AFC-911]

^ Matt Lauer said that on the Today show this morning when they had all 8 as guests.

Now, they may have taken time off work to train, but they certainly have day jobs. (they never specified, so it's plausible)

There was another rower who answered an ad on the paper (I can't recall what country she was from) and she medaled.

[dewolf]

You don't take Serena from behind, Serena takes YOU from behind



Not for me...

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Hydrocket

Serena played very well indeed. She was very sharp today.

I can't help but wonder if she would be even quicker and more dominant around the court if she lost some weight. She's quite chunky, especially her behind.

I like her chunkiness. If she lost weight she may be faster around the court but as I said earlier her record speaks for itself.
She's obviously doing something right and she's damn sexy.

----------------------

And as far as pros being in the Olympics... They always been there. Just look at China and the old days of the Soviets, East Germans etc. They didn't work and everything including a "Honey Pot" was state provided. They thought their athletes would do better if they werent involved in a relationship so sex with no strings was offered so the could focus on their event. Lets not mention free steroids and doctors who specialised in their use.

Taxes? We all pay taxes. Why should Olympians be exempt?

[jyl]

You can look up the athlete bios for the US rowing team, some list non-sporting occupations - research asst, receptionist, sports psychologist, are the first few I saw. Others list graduate degrees in engineering, finance, accounting, etc. so it seems likely they are employed in those fields.

A couple other links that talk about the non-sporting jobs that Olympic athletes have. (And how little they make, in many cases.)

Do Olympic Athletes Get Paid? Job Description of an Olympian

What 36 Olympic Athletes Do For A Living - Business Insider

Olympic athletes face financial hardship - Jul. 10, 2012

As for gymnasts, if you check the bios of the national teams, the men at least are mostly college students. The women, as they are like 16-18 y/o, I guess there really isn't the opportunity to be employed or in college anyway.

I'm not sure if Rick is saying that a college athlete is equivalent to a professional athlete. Not being paid would seem like a meaningful distinction . . .

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Serena Williams plays as beautifully as she is striking physically. She is one of a kind.

Indeed. She's the gun at the knife fight.

[JonT]

Difficult to debate best ever but I would put Serena up against any female in their prime in the history of tennis and pick her for the win. No one has ever matched her power, athleticism, and overall shot making ability. She might not have the longevity of some of the other greats but her peak ability is the greatest ever.

[Chocaholic]

The only one close...is her sister. Yes, I'd say she's easily the best ever.

Contrary to the previous (and dare I say "arrogant") comment about her being chunky...you are way, way off. That woman is solid muscle and more physically fit than anyone on the globe...as evidenced by her Olympic performance.

[stealthn]

Total roids....

Sorry she should be paying with the men

[Don Ro]

If you're into steatopygia, she do gots a butt-load of it.
.