The US did not ask the IOC to include profession players in the Olympics. That was done by FIBA, which is the world governing body. FIBA wanted this because other nations were making a mockery of the “amateur” status rules. Other countries were having “company” teams that were all but professional in name only. They…

Anyone that thinks England doesn’t still have a hooligan problem for overseas matches is just kidding themselves.

I worked in the region for about 10 months. I was doing a major construction project. It was utterly fucking terrifying on a regular basis. The local company, basically the government, illegally held my passport for 9 months to prevent me from leaving.

Pyongyang. If their mass games are any indication, they know how to put on a good show and keep the protests to an absolute minimum.

The Cold War was won without any fighting?

I cannot fathom spending $150k on a car...

You got to love a sport that allows for the exchange of head blows because something something...its too difficult to officiate illegal hits.

Yeah...THAT happened...

There are other downsides as well. The hours are different than the majority of society, its much more physically demanding than people realize, and not surprisingly, drug abuse in the service industry like bars and restaurants is pretty prevalent. With the hours, you end up just spending time around your coworkers…

Yup. I used to love the people that after a few drinks, became experts on law. I lost track how many times I was threatened with a lawsuit because I refused to serve someone without an ID or were heavily intoxicated.

Only time I ever got assaulted tending a bar, was by a pregnant woman. It was Charleston SC. Early on a lovely Saturday. We had been open maybe five minutes. Woman walked up the bar, demanded a beer. I told her no. She was slurring her words and I could smell the alcohol on her. Legally, I could not just keep feeding…

I am always fascinating how people will identify toxic behavior in their parents...and completely ignore the same behavior in themselves. Family dysfunction is often multi-generational, based learned behavior.

My polish coworkers were not happy with the match. They generally have a terrible view of the football fans back home. I took some of them to a local US sporting event when we were in the states and my one coworker asked me what they should say when they get asked which team they support. This went down a rabbit hole…

Yeah...as someone that has done port automation projects...the idea that longshoremen are worried about gentrification is hilarious. Fuckers made more an hour than I make in a week as an engineer.

Talladega is the racing equivalent of fighting in hockey.

The officers would have had to be insane to enter that water. They don’t have the right gear. They don’t know how the car has settled.

I work for a Japanese based company with an office in the US. When I am here with my fellow overseas workers, I try to go to US sporting events. Its very funny how reluctant many of my European colleagues are because they tend to assume that there is the same problem with casuals in the US as in Europe.

Ain’t that the truth.

Yup. I am willing to be his drug testing is a fucking joke, especially if he is working for a major chain like drug store company. Its not in their best interests to be losing people like pharmacists. Nor are they going to be paying for quality testing as on a national chain level, its too expensive.

As a former heroin addict and current engineer that works in the natural gas industry...that head shop shit you guys sell is bullshit woo. Any legit industry drug testing is not going to be faked out by the crap sold in head shops.