London Olympics: What sports should go, which should return? [video]

August 08, 2012|By Houston Mitchell

<p>There has been a lot of discussion during the London Olympics about the inclusion of some, um, questionable sports in the Games. Some say they should be eliminated, some say no. Some say certain sports should be added, some say no.</p></div></div><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-ctr-lt-in-top" class="mod-latarticlesadcpc mod-adcpc with-fourth-cpc"><script type="text/javascript"> var adSkipCounter = 0; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "sports chat video";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,9744208858,8321278795,8261105409"; google_ad_type="text"; google_image_size="300x250"; google_safe="high"; google_feedback="on"; google_max_num_ads="2"; google_skip="" + adSkipCounter + ""; google_adtest="off"; google_page_url=document.URL; function google_ad_request_done(ads) { if (ads.length == 0) { return; } // If no ads are returned then dont build the ad block if (ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") { adSkipCounter += ads.length; } // Increment ad skip counter when cpc google_ad_request_done_internal(ads, "", "", "true", "medium_rectangle", "", "", "pgtp=article&pi=34&ci=33104155&cat=sports&pe_id=33104155&tv=ap-LA12-G02&rna=pub-0227802054925200&rn=g&rnrci=5212128158&rnrcn=CMI-A-002&rncci=9744208858&rnccn=CMI-A-028&rnpci=&rnpcn=&rntci=&rntcn=&rnlci=8261105409&rnlcn=8261105409&rnp=c&rt=cpc&paidClick=1&placement_id=ctr-lt-in-top", "", "", "", "", "", "ap-LA12-G02", "Los Angeles Times Articles"); } //]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/google_ad_request.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para" class="mod-latarticlesarticletextwithadcpc mod-latarticlesarticletext mod-articletext"><p>Some of The Times' Olympic crew took on the topic Wednesday morning during our daily live chat. What? You haven't been watching our daily live chats on Google hangout? We have them every Monday to Friday at 8 a.m. PDT.</p><p>Adding and dropping sports wasn't the only topic at today's chat, but you can watch that part of it in the video above. Among the sports mentioned are modern pentathlon, trampoline, golf, softball, baseball, fencing, judo and taekwondo.</p><p>But what about professional wrestling? No one mentioned that. Just imagine if we had John Cena representing the U.S. in London.</p><p>The oddest choice to add might have been dog racing, with little monkeys riding the dogs. Then again, our crew has been in London awhile now, and all those fish and chips can have a debilitating effect on you.</p><p><strong>ALSO:</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/olympicsnow/la-sp-on-london-olympics-what-to-watch-for-wednesday-20120808,0,6305094.story">London Olympics: What to watch for on Thursday</a></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/olympicsnow/la-sp-on-german-diver-video-stephan-feck-20120808,0,2877241.story">German diver Stephan Feck backs into history [video]</a></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/olympicsnow/la-sp-on-fifa-soccer-london-olympics-20120807,0,1901374.story">FIFA will look at end of U.S.-Canada women's soccer match</a></p></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para-ad-cpc" class="mod-adcpc"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "sports chat video";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,9744208858,9488961041,8261105409"; google_ad_type="text"; google_image_size="600x125"; google_safe="high"; google_feedback="on"; google_max_num_ads="2"; google_skip="" + adSkipCounter + ""; google_adtest="off"; google_page_url=document.URL; function google_ad_request_done(ads) { if (ads.length == 0) { return; } // If no ads are returned then dont build the ad block if (ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") { adSkipCounter += ads.length; } // Increment ad skip counter when cpc google_ad_request_done_internal(ads, "", "", "true", "wide_rectangle", "", "", "pgtp=article&pi=34&ci=33104155&cat=sports&pe_id=33104155&tv=ap-LA12-G02&rna=pub-0227802054925200&rn=g&rnrci=5212128158&rnrcn=CMI-A-002&rncci=9744208858&rnccn=CMI-A-028&rnpci=&rnpcn=&rntci=&rntcn=&rnlci=8261105409&rnlcn=8261105409&rnp=c&rt=cpc&paidClick=1&placement_id=a-body-after-first-para-ad-cpc", "", "", "", "", "", "ap-LA12-G02", "Los Angeles Times Articles"); } //]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/google_ad_request.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></div><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-second-para" class="mod-latarticlesarticletextwithadcpc mod-latarticlesarticletext mod-articletext"></div><div id="mod-sm-badge-bottom" class="mod-latarticlessocialmedia mod-socialmedia"><div id="mod-sm-badge-bottom-defer"><script type="text/javascript">/* Javascript deferred */</script></div><div id="fb-root"></div><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style" id="mod-sm-badge-bottom-defer_addthis" style="display:none;"><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_options = "digg, twitter, facebook, stumbleupon, delicious, friendfeed, buzz, slashdot, reddit, mixx, fark, linkedin, aim, google, myspace, newsvine, technorati, tumblr, typepad, wordpress, more";var addthis_exclude = "print";var addthis_pub = "archivedigger";</script><a class="pmPrint" title="Print" href="/print/2012/aug/08/sports/la-sp-on-london-olympics-video-20120808"><span class="pmPrintIcon"></span></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script></div></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.gigya.com/js/socialize.js?apiKey=2_COh26GgfZDptreu0iQ9aknzT_Ig861qYxOHZVxizrZMTn81vygTB-ptN33wgCtrj"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> function fixDoubleButtons() { if (jQuery('#mod-sm-badge-top .st_pm_button .stButton').size() == 0) { setTimeout('fixDoubleButtons();', 500); return; } var query = '#mod-sm-badge-top .shareThisEmailIcon .st_pm_button .stButton'; if (jQuery(query).size() == 2) jQuery(query + ':eq(1)').remove(); query = '#mod-sm-badge-top .shareThisShareThisCompact .st_pm_button .stButton'; if (jQuery(query).size() == 2) jQuery(query + ':eq(1)').remove(); query = '#mod-sm-badge-bottom .shareThisEmailIcon .st_pm_button .stButton'; if (jQuery(query).size() == 2) jQuery(query + ':eq(1)').remove(); query = '#mod-sm-badge-bottom .shareThisShareThisCompact .st_pm_button .stButton'; if (jQuery(query).size() == 2) jQuery(query + ':eq(1)').remove(); } </script> <script type='text/javascript'> function removeCommentsButton() { if (jQuery('.comments-container .comments-counter').size() == 0) { setTimeout('removeCommentsButton();', 500); return; } jQuery('.comments-container').empty(); jQuery('.comments-container').remove(); } removeCommentsButton(); </script><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-featured-title" class="mod-latarticlestext mod-text">FEATURED</div><div id="mod-article-image-lt" style="float:left;" class="mod-featuredimage tplmodulefeaturedimage mod-homepageimage mod-articleimage"><div class="photowrapper"><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles_image', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/08/sports/la-sp-on-london-olympics-video-20120808'); return false;" href="/2013/may/23/business/la-fi-calif-health-rates-20130524"><img src="http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2013-05/76039286.jpg" onerror="pm_imageFailedFeatured(this);" ></a></div><div class="text-area"><div class="title"><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles_image', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/08/sports/la-sp-on-london-olympics-video-20120808'); return false;" href="/2013/may/23/business/la-fi-calif-health-rates-20130524"><h2>New California health insurance rates unveiled</h2></a></div></div></div><div id="mod-article-image-ct" style="float:left;" class="mod-featuredimage tplmodulefeaturedimage mod-homepageimage mod-articleimage"><div class="photowrapper"><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles_image', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/08/sports/la-sp-on-london-olympics-video-20120808'); return false;" href="/2012/may/17/nation/la-na-nn-skechers-20120517"><img src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-4fb56bea/turbine/la-na-nn-skechers-20120517-001/600" onerror="pm_imageFailedFeatured(this);" ></a></div><div class="text-area"><div class="title"><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles_image', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/08/sports/la-sp-on-london-olympics-video-20120808'); return false;" href="/2012/may/17/nation/la-na-nn-skechers-20120517"><h2>Skechers lawsuit: How to get your piece of the $40-million payout</h2></a></div></div></div><div id="mod-article-image-rt" style="float:left;" class="mod-featuredimage tplmodulefeaturedimage mod-homepageimage mod-articleimage"><div class="photowrapper"><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles_image', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/08/sports/la-sp-on-london-olympics-video-20120808'); return false;" href="/2012/jul/28/sports/la-sp-sn-nascar-danica-patrick-20120728"><img src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-50146761/turbine/la-sp-sn-nascar-danica-patrick-20120728-001/600" onerror="pm_imageFailedFeatured(this);" ></a></div><div class="text-area"><div class="title"><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles_image', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/08/sports/la-sp-on-london-olympics-video-20120808'); return false;" href="/2012/jul/28/sports/la-sp-sn-nascar-danica-patrick-20120728"><h2>Hard crash ends Danica Patrick's NASCAR race at Indianapolis</h2></a></div></div></div><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-featured-more" class="mod-latarticlestext mod-text">MORE:</div><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-hp-article-list" class="mod-latarticlesarticles mod-articles"><div class="article"><div class="title"><h2><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/08/sports/la-sp-on-london-olympics-video-20120808');return false;" title="Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi buy Montecito mansion" href="/2013/may/31/business/la-fi-hotprop-20130602">Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi buy Montecito mansion</a></h2></div></div><div class="article"><div class="title"><h2><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/08/sports/la-sp-on-london-olympics-video-20120808');return false;" title="Top 10 cars: best gas mileage, lowest sticker price" href="/2013/mar/12/autos/la-fi-hy-autos-edmunds-lowest-cost-mpg-cars-fuel-20130220">Top 10 cars: best gas mileage, lowest sticker price</a></h2></div></div><div class="article"><div class="title"><h2><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/08/sports/la-sp-on-london-olympics-video-20120808');return false;" title="The FDA warns against using quinine for leg cramps" href="/2010/jul/08/news/la-heb-fda-quinine-qualaquin-cramps-20100708">The FDA warns against using quinine for leg cramps</a></h2></div></div></div></div><div id="area-left" class="area"><div id="mod-left-sky" class="mod-latarticlesadcpc mod-adcpc with-fourth-cpc"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "sports chat video";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,9744208858,2508893692,8261105409"; google_ad_type="text,image,flash,html"; google_image_size="300x250"; google_safe="high"; google_feedback="on"; google_max_num_ads="4"; google_skip="" + adSkipCounter + ""; google_adtest="off"; google_page_url=document.URL; function google_ad_request_done(ads) { if (ads.length == 0) { return; } // If no ads are returned then dont build the ad block if (ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") { adSkipCounter += ads.length; } // Increment ad skip counter when cpc google_ad_request_done_internal(ads, "", "", "true", "medium_rectangle", "", "", "pgtp=article&pi=34&ci=33104155&cat=sports&pe_id=33104155&tv=ap-LA12-G02&rna=pub-0227802054925200&rn=g&rnrci=5212128158&rnrcn=CMI-A-002&rncci=9744208858&rnccn=CMI-A-028&rnpci=&rnpcn=&rntci=&rntcn=&rnlci=8261105409&rnlcn=8261105409&rnp=c&rt=cpc&paidClick=1&placement_id=left-sky", "", "", "", "", "", "ap-LA12-G02", "Los Angeles Times Articles"); } //]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/google_ad_request.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></div><div id="mod-ctr-lt" class="mod-latarticlesadopenx mod-adopenx mod-adblock"><div><div class="ad_header">Advertisement</div><div id="mod-ctr-lt-defer"> <iframe name="openxi-339767" src="about:blank" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="300" height="250">