caballo

Sat, Oct 3, 2009 : 3 p.m.

This whole charade is another good example of our national/mainstream media (liberal) hype. From the numbers, Chicago was never close to being a contender. The media ran away with a non-existent issue/con, like they did with pushing Husssein Obama's "qualifications" (or, lack of thereof).

PformerPfizer

Sat, Oct 3, 2009 : 11:57 a.m.

@jns131 - you honestly believe the Olympics were given to Rio over Chicago because of the innocent, video taped, honor student, death last week? More people have been killed in Rio and the surrounding slums in the time you took to watch Mr. Bomey's VLog than have been killed in Chicago in the past week! Rio = 2,373 people murdered per year (37.7/100,000) Chicago = 435 murders (16/100,000) I have no problem with Chi-town not getting the Olympics, but recent events in Chicago had nothing to do with it. Rio is a slum, it's a 3rd world location. There's no way they will get US$14.4 billion to pull off the olympics without major help from people just like the US in the final months before the games. Rio is also wrought with corruption, 3rd world style corruption, not Chicago corrpution. Honestly, I have serious doubts these games will happen. Mark my words and check back with me in a few years. Major foreign cash infusion and major failures for downsized or canceled games. PformerPfizer

jns131

Sat, Oct 3, 2009 : 11:02 a.m.

Chicago is a very violent city. Detroit, New York, LA and Chicago both have very hi crime rates. LA did clean up its act once it got the nod and bid for the Olympics years ago. But sadly LA has gone downhill very rapidly. After the gang related killing of an innocent youth? I am not surprised that the IOC declined its nod to Chicago. I do agree it would have been wonderful to have the Olympics so close to home, but I do agree that they need to prove that they can control the violence as well. China did and boy do they look good. Good luck to Chicago in the future. Detroit once had the nod? It never will again. Maybe when the Lions go to the superbowl? The IOC might give Detroit another look, but I doubt it. Good luck to Rio, I was rooting for Tokyo so we can go visit Japan. Been to Chicago, nice place to visit, but I really wouldn't want to live there. Americans need to wake up and realize we can't afford to host an Olympic venue here until we can control our spending. IOC is not going to bail us out of this out of control spending Americans now have.

Diagenes

Sat, Oct 3, 2009 : 10:06 a.m.

Thank you Olympic Committee! You have just saved the U.S. tax payers billions in cost over runs, graft, and security costs that will never be paid back with Olym[ic revenue.

David Briegel

Sat, Oct 3, 2009 : 7:18 a.m.

Come on geniuses,the Obamas and Oprah are not evil. If you had to choose between Rio and Chicago? Give the world a break! Brazil has great soccer, volleyball and basketball and will be wonderful hosts for the first South American Olympiad!

BobofA2

Fri, Oct 2, 2009 : 5:40 p.m.

When the World Cup was in Pontiac, there was talk about soccer in Michigan stadium, but it never happened because the field is too small and not expandable because the field was lowered and there is a brick wall around it. Maybe Nathan did some research and they solved the problems, but if it is just speculation than he can research what happened during the World Cup. Of course this is all moot since Rio won... Just keep fantasizing about high speed rail..

InsideTheHall

Fri, Oct 2, 2009 : 3:22 p.m.

The New Math: Obama + Oprah + Michelle = ZERO

Marvin Face

Fri, Oct 2, 2009 : 12:23 p.m.

The point is now moot. Olympics to Rio.

fjord

Fri, Oct 2, 2009 : 11:14 a.m.

It's a moot point now. Maybe in 2020?

Sven Gustafson

Fri, Oct 2, 2009 : 10:39 a.m.

Nathan Bomey, you're a Great American. Nice video column. But as a soccer fan, I have to say it's brutal to watch matches played on striped football fields. And I don't know that Michigan Stadium's field is wide enough. But I like your larger point about the advantages for a Detroit-to-Chicago high-speed rail link.

Nathan Bomey

Fri, Oct 2, 2009 : 9:04 a.m.

Marvin, thanks for your comment and the helpful information. Agreed -- the chances of Olympic soccer at Michigan Stadium are slim. The video focuses mostly on the possibility that the Olympics could boost Michigan's hopes for high-speed rail investment. A high-speed rail line from Ann Arbor to Chicago could turn the trip into a 2-hour ride, which could have economic development benefits for the region. It could also bring more Olympic visitors to Chicago. In addition, it would present Ann Arbor as a possible venue for Olympic events. Here's a recent piece I wrote about why Menlo Innovations CEO Rich Sheridan believes high-speed rail could boost Ann Arbor. http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/menlo-innovations-ceo-rich-sheridan-rail-investments-critical-to-business/

eyedoc

Fri, Oct 2, 2009 : 8:59 a.m.

U of M and Bill Martin will never allow soccer in THEIR FOOTBALL STADIUM

Marvin Face

Fri, Oct 2, 2009 : 8:39 a.m.

The video is blocked from my computer at work so I can't see what your explanation is. What I can tell you is that there are already signed agreements between the organizing committee and six venues to hold soccer games if the olympics is awarded to Chicago. Michigan Stadium is not one of those venues. They are TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota; the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.; the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J.; and stadiums in St. Louis, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The final call will be made by FIFA so I suppose there is a very small possibility.