August 5, 2008 3:42 PM
What if Liu Xiang Loses?
There are a few moments that this entire country seems to be looking forward to -- the USA-China basketball game on Aug. 10 and the Opening Ceremonies are two such dates -- but there are also 13 highly anticipated seconds set to take place on Aug. 21. On that day, Liu Xiang is expected to defend his gold medal in the finals of the 110 meter hurdles.Everything hasn't gone as planned, though. For one, Liu Xiang has not competed in a timed event since May, when Chinese sprinters ran in a test event at the Bird's Nest. At that race, he finished in 13.18 seconds, or three-tenths of a second slower than his personal best time. The other bad news for Liu Xiang: Cuban hurdler Dayron Robles has since set the world record mark at 12.87 seconds.
So here's a question that some Chinese citizens are asking: what happens if Liu Xiang doesn't win gold in Beijing?
One Chinese blog's asked that exact question, taken the answers in Chinese and translated them into English. Many responded with positive comments, saying that Liu Xiang is already a national hero no matter what happens during the Games. Others weren't so supportive. Here's a brief selection of the cynics:
There is always the ParaOlympics...
If Liu Xiang loses and I am lucky enough to meet him, I will still respect him as I would respect any average person.
Lose lose lose lose lose lose lose lose lose lose. Besides, he has already earned enough.
The world will still turn, people will still eat, prices will still go up!!!!!!!!
Wining is good, lose is good, as long as their minds do not degenerate Liu Xiang will still be Liu Xiang. But, I cannot deny that if he loses, a lot of people will be very disappointed and will curse him. From another angle, winning will give him a lot of honor and wealth, but if he cannot, he will lose his honor. This possibility should be something that every celebrity has considered before.
If he does not get the gold medal, then he will make one hundred million less a year. [Ed's note: in yuan, not dollars.] I think this would be the biggest part of his pressure.
I have a black heart, so I will feel extremely happy if he loses.
He will claim again that he hurt his foot, so he could not get first.
Liu's biggest competitor is Robles. If we can cause him some small problems, such as putting laxatives in his food, this way Liu's gold medal will be preserved! He he
Lose and get run out of China, automatically renounce your Chinese citizenship. China does not need your type of people losing face.
There is one comment I do agree with wholeheartedly: "After losing, let him make less advertisements." Amen to that.
August 13, 2008
2:05 PM
EL writes:
As an Chinese-American,
I totally stand by to give my best wish for Liu Xiang to reclaim his title. We have so many African descents in track and field. Who care if they lose, I wish they lose more.
What important is for other ethnic groups other than African descents to win areas they traditional not represent. For Dayron Robles, get loss. Don't try to threaten. We don't stand a cent.
August 13, 2008
2:05 PM
EL writes:
As an Chinese-American,
I totally stand by to give my best wish for Liu Xiang to reclaim his title. We have so many African descents in track and field. Who care if they lose, I wish they lose more.
What important is for other ethnic groups other than African descents to win areas they traditional not represent. For Dayron Robles, get loss. Don't try to threaten. We don't stand a cent.
September 27, 2010
12:48 PM
Taryn Tompsett writes:
Lindsay Lohan “I have certainly not abused prescription drugs. I never have – never in my life. I have no need. That’s not who I am,” She says. “I’ve admitted to the things that I’ve done – to, you understand, dabbling in a few things and trying things ’cause I started younger and interested and assumed it had been like, o . k ., ’cause the rest used to do it and folks put it opposite me. And I see what happened in my life considering of it.”