DominatorJacques
Active member
Before you spout, listen to this entire video. Then, let's hear your thoughts.
Mad About Gu Me Tu What Say Yu
- Thread starter DominatorJacques
- Start date
memecork
Member
Bill Maher sounds like that one slightly drunk parent chaperone that takes everyone's kids to the neighboring USASA competition in his 2018 pearl beige metallic GMC Yukon, the one who hits the apres at 9am before the competition starts then proceeds to incessantly rant and scream from outside the starting tent, while some of what he's saying makes sense even considering it has no grounds for context, most of what he's saying is fully unrelated to the relevance of what actually is occurring but its enjoyable nonetheless to watch
DominatorJacques
Active member
14402293:memecork said:
Ha ha! I like your comment, so, what is actually occurring then?
I believe what he said is all relevant and connected together quite well.
IHatePedophiles
Member
I didn't watch it but I saw a ski racer in the thumbnail and I don't like ski racers so I'm gonna assume I won't like the video
memecork
Member
14402299:DominatorJacques said:
I don’t disagree at all that what he’s saying is incorrect, I just think it comes off sounding out of tune with the reality of freeskiing and the actual circumstances that probably led Eileen to make the decisions she made, in the grand scheme it seems to me that regardless of her decision to pursue her aspirations of competing at the Olympics at a time when qualifying for the US team definitely wasn’t fully plausible (as she made the decision years ago before she was even close dominating the girls scene), that nothing he’s mentioning is changed solely by Eileen competing for China or not, the same shit would still be occurring and as fucked up as it may be, Eileen competing for China or not would affect the agenda of it all little to none, I think the whole situation is being used as international drama amongst people who could give an actual fuck about understanding skiing at all, when in reality it’s just one girl who wanted to ski at the Olympics for her own personal agenda/ dream of accomplishment, and as she should, but plenty of athletes represent countries they weren’t actually raised in, the only difference is Eileen has a more targetable platform and a more controversial dual nationality
Deez_Mcskis
Member
She's seeming less and less hot by the day
DominatorJacques
Active member
14402308:memecork said:
I can understand when it's someone that knows they won't make the USA's team.
Are you saying she had no chance to make the USA team?
memecork
Member
14402341:DominatorJacques said:
I’m saying at the time she chose to compete for China, she probably wasn’t close or near as sure, and with the busy life she leads etc/ the seemingly methodical planning she puts into it, she probably wanted to secure a spot somehow and not take chances, that’s just my opinion knowing the decision was made quite a bit ago
memecork
Member
14402346:edai said:
Yea it was forever ago I know that, either way while we bicker about it she’s somewhere probably lounging in a jacuzzi with 3 olympic medals around her neck, hanging out with Madison Beer, probably drinking champagne thinking about where to travel next and model, so in the grand scheme who gives a fuck
DominatorJacques
Active member
14402345:memecork said:
IDK, but I think it was probably about the money. She can laugh all the way to the bank right now.
I know some folks do go to try out with other countries with those rights, and that's fine, but those people knew they had no chance to get into the USA's team at the time.
I find it hard to believe she really thought she couldn't cut the ladies' mustard with the USA.
DominatorJacques
Active member
14402346:edai said:
That is a good question.
I question how much money was she offered from the Chinese. Who knows?
memecork
Member
14402352:DominatorJacques said:
I remember talking with her around 2018-2019 right about when it became officially decided but I think it was already in fruition before. Regardless I know for a fact at the time she hadn’t podiumed in any world cups, didn’t have any dubs yet, and wasn’t competing near at the level she is now, so it’s not really that hard to believe for me, but power to her and I think she’s a fuckin sick skier with more dedication/ work ethic than 99.99% of people have
Monsieur_Patate
Active member
14402308:memecork said:
I call bs on that, she competed for the US on the World cup circuit in 18-19 and placed 1st and 2nd on the 2 events she entered, and the following year she got 2 gold medals at the youth Olympics. Granted she was not dominating yet because of her age, I'd argue she and her entourage were already fully aware of her potential, so I don't believe for a second she switched because she thought she wouldn't be able to qualify for the US team 3 years later.
I'm pretty sure China showed up with a few suitcases of $$$ to try and recruit as much talent as they could ahead of their home Olympics, and the offer was too good to pass up. I'm not judging her, I would have probably done the same, but she made her decision, and it comes with moral ramifications. It's only fair for people to be pointing it out.
I don't have a problem with Eileen switching countries for $, but I don't have a problem with people calling her out for it either. Let's stop being naive, it was a propaganda move for China, and a financial move for Eileen, and both parties got exactly what they wanted out of the deal.
edai
Active member
14402355:DominatorJacques said:
Money is the easy answer but her mom worked in IB before working as a ski instructor in Tahoe and her dad is an American-born Harvard grad so I don't buy it. Getting really weird she grew up in Sea Cliff, SF. The only house for sale in that neighborhood is going for 8.8m today. If Eileen is anything like her mom it's not hard for me to believe she thought it was more impactful to compete for China (ignoring human rights abuses') because of the effect she could have on the community instead of just being another American athlete for an already thriving community of girl skiers here.
Why would her mom leave IB? Everybody I know left because it's fucking soulless. Ultimately leaving to make a real impact on the world because they're wildly gifted individuals, so she became a ski instructor (pretty fucking good one it appears eh?). If Eileen grew up learning the value of community China is the most opportunistic place to make that impact on the community. Women's freeskiing in China is in its absolute infancy, Gu can 10x that growth vs. 1x making a small splash for a few more girls in the US.
I love talking about what people "should" do, but I "should" do a lot of things I'm not going to. Really can't blame individual athletes as much as we may try, our efforts are better spent asking why she didn't want to compete for the US.
**This post was edited on Feb 22nd 2022 at 12:40:36am
**This post was edited on Feb 22nd 2022 at 12:42:28am
hunternay_10
Member
14402308:memecork said:
I don’t think he was concerned with the free skiing aspect of the decision
christianwearsch
Member
I think what Bill Maher is saying is clear: Money speaks louder than human rights. Eileen Gu, John Cena, Lebron. They can speak on human rights issues in the US but won’t say anything about it in China because they’re walking home with money. They make money by supporting human rights in America and make money ignoring human rights in China.
I don’t know how involved Eileen has been in the recent movements in America, but for example, if she claims to support BLM but then skis for China, you have to ask if she really cares about human rights of if she’s just chasing what will make her look best and make money.
I don’t know how involved Eileen has been in the recent movements in America, but for example, if she claims to support BLM but then skis for China, you have to ask if she really cares about human rights of if she’s just chasing what will make her look best and make money.
hunternay_10
Member
14402369:memecork said:
Absolutely agree
PimpChimpin
Active member
WHO cares about who Eileen chooses to represent. She has the capabilities to either represent U.S or China and she chose China. At the end of the day that’s her decision. If she wasn’t winning any medals none of y’all would care ?
Let the girl do her thang
Let the girl do her thang
Professor-Modelo
Member
Yan Gu linkden...
Before taking the job as a part time instructor, she was taking a 6 year leave of absence from her board seat and managing director role at a private equity firm... wild, wild stuff
Before taking the job as a part time instructor, she was taking a 6 year leave of absence from her board seat and managing director role at a private equity firm... wild, wild stuff
Professor-Modelo
Member
14402380:christianwearsch said:
"i will support human rights only in markets where it is financially advantageous for me"
DesertStix
Active member
Is it just me or did Olympic medals seem a LOT more important when I was a kid? As an adult now I honestly could not care less when athletes do this shit. Maybe I just don’t see the Olympics as the “pinnacle” of sports like the NHL players don’t even want to go anymore.
You want an 18 year old (younger when she made the decision) to be the guiding voice in the American journey towards understanding the plight of Uyghur people? I mean come on, you and Bill Maher are just looking for things to shake your fists at. I used to love the dude but it’s like listening to my uncle complain. Yeah dude I mostly agree with the content but you’re just being annoying as fuck now…
You want an 18 year old (younger when she made the decision) to be the guiding voice in the American journey towards understanding the plight of Uyghur people? I mean come on, you and Bill Maher are just looking for things to shake your fists at. I used to love the dude but it’s like listening to my uncle complain. Yeah dude I mostly agree with the content but you’re just being annoying as fuck now…
asparagus
Active member
I don’t care what people say, Eileen wouldn’t be making millions by staying in the US. Maybe after she won all the olympics, but China is helping her finances way more than the US would (whether that’s moral or not considering the timing of the olympics).
I don’t like the fact that she’s competing for China, but it sorta shows how shitty being a “pro” athlete can be in North America.
I don’t like the fact that she’s competing for China, but it sorta shows how shitty being a “pro” athlete can be in North America.
DesertStix
Active member
This is another extremely valid point. Maybe the US ski team should be blamed for fumbling the bag. China shows up with a briefcase? Cool, US ski team should big time them and offer her more. Idgaf if it’s even under the table my point is you can’t complain about losing athletes to other countries if you aren’t willing to match what resources they’re offering. Make your own team such a perfect fit they wouldn’t even consider skiing for another country.
14402472:asparagus said:
DominatorJacques
Active member
14402359:memecork said:
Thanks for the insider information. If all that being true, she thought she had no chance with her country of birth, then I can understand.
Then again, seems she had plenty of time prior to team qualifications, and if she worked so hard, seems she would realize that come time, she would be a shoo-in.
DominatorJacques
Active member
14402363:Monsieur_Patate said:
Juicy information. Thanks. I'm glad some folks here know some stuff.
DominatorJacques
Active member
14402380:christianwearsch said:
Yes, this is the point Maher was making. Thanks for the astute comment.
Monsieur_Patate
Active member
14402370:memecork said:
For sure. I think it'd be weird to switch back a this point, better stick to her decision imo. Also, assuming she didn't get a special treatment, she would have had to renounce her US citizenship in order to get her Chinese passport, making it tricky to come back under the US banner anyway.
14402395:PimpChimpin said:WHO cares about who Eileen chooses to represent. She has the capabilities to either represent U.S or China and she chose China. At the end of the day that’s her decision. If she wasn’t winning any medals none of y’all would care ?
14402472:asparagus said:
Eileen's situation is also different because athletes switching countries usually happens whey they have no shot at making the US team, they'd usually jump at the opportunity of competing for the US but they simply can't. Whereas Eileen decided not to, different situation. And I also think no one would have cared had she switched for a country like Finland. But because it's China, on top of the Olympics happening in China, there are moral and political questions that turned this into a much bigger story.
But I think all of us would be jumping at the opportunity to sing the Chinese national anthem for a $30m check. Easy to judge when you have nothing on the line, much harder when life-changing money is involved.
14402517:DominatorJacques said:
No insider info, her comp results are public record and the Chinese suitcases of money is just my personal guess. Athletes switch countries for one of two reasons 1. they can't qualify, or 2. more $$. I'm just being realistic about the most likely scenario given Eileen's circumstances. "I wanted to inspire Chinese girls" yeah lmao.
DominatorJacques
Active member
14402541:Monsieur_Patate said:
I'm sure there is much information out there, I'm just too lazy to look it all up.
Anyway, this seemed a good subject to get opinions and information from fellow Newschoolers'.
Thanks for the contributions.
Rosbif
Active member
I saw an article saying she's probably going to make about 40 million dollars this year from endorsements in China.
Regardless of what she says or does, China is going to do exactly what they want in Xinjiang anyway, so given she has no power in that sense, she may as well make bank the best way she can.
Regardless of what she says or does, China is going to do exactly what they want in Xinjiang anyway, so given she has no power in that sense, she may as well make bank the best way she can.
GrapeHunter
Active member
PimpChimpin
Active member
14402541:Monsieur_Patate said:
You’re telling me you wouldn’t take the extra money? Because I for sure would, the U.S isn’t better than 5 million dollars
Monsieur_Patate
Active member
14402612:PimpChimpin said:
No, I'm telling you the opposite, I said "I think all of us would be jumping at the opportunity to sing the Chinese national anthem for a $30m check. Easy to judge when you have nothing on the line, much harder when life-changing money is involved."
Professor-Modelo
Member
14402612:PimpChimpin said:
id say that you cant put a dollar amount on freedom of speech and expression
PimpChimpin
Active member
14402628:Professor-Modelo said:
Actually, it works out both ways for her. She’s enrolled in Stanford so she coming back either way?
? Get that check then go back to school. Sounds good to me
Professor-Modelo
Member
14402631:PimpChimpin said:Actually, it works out both ways for her. She’s enrolled in Stanford so she coming back either way?
that doesnt make her immune to the "responsibilities" of being the face of a sport in china. she is still a Chinese citizen in the spotlight and prohibited from saying things the CCP doesnt want her to, regardless of whose land shes standing on at any given time
corona
Active member
Interesting her nationality still hasn't been revealed. China does not allow dual citizenship so did she renounced her US citizenship?
I've gone from thinking about her as a bit of a traitor to the US to really not giving a shit any more. It's 100% because of money and nothing else and, honestly, I think a lot of people would do the same given the chance. Most people would also likely turn a blind eye to horrible human rights abuses in return for millions of dollars. Also let's not forget she's not that old yet, so likely had a ton of pressure from parents/coaches/whoever else will benefit immensely from her raking in $$$.
I've gone from thinking about her as a bit of a traitor to the US to really not giving a shit any more. It's 100% because of money and nothing else and, honestly, I think a lot of people would do the same given the chance. Most people would also likely turn a blind eye to horrible human rights abuses in return for millions of dollars. Also let's not forget she's not that old yet, so likely had a ton of pressure from parents/coaches/whoever else will benefit immensely from her raking in $$$.
DominatorJacques
Active member
14402662:corona said:
Good question. Maybe she should just go live in China for the rest of her life. I'm sure she would be just fine seeing all the connections her mom has there.
DominatorJacques
Active member
14402697:WoFlowz said:
Sorry, I had no idea there was 49 other threads.
After I saw Maher's piece on the subject, I felt compelled to share and get opinions.