All Things Olympics

[Shell]

This can be our thread for all things Olympics that isn't hockey :)

We have our DVR cleared and ready to go!!

[nccanes]

TSN James Duthie has tweeted about a luger from Georgia (the country) that had a bad accident and was being adminstered CPR...he later tweeted the he saw the video and called it "horrific", said they flew right off the track and hit a pole at 140km/hr.

Sounds awful.

This morning I had the Universal Sports "preview" on and a US Luger (or skeleton, I can't remember) was talking about the track and how he didn't just have nerves at the start gate he had actual fear because of the track.

Hopefully the Georgian luger is okay and they can make the course safer!

[nccanes]

MSNBC is reporting that he died.

How awful.

He was 21 years old.

[SoCalcaniac]

OMG, really?

What a way to "kick off" the Games.

I'm incredibly excited for this Olympics. But my gosh, this is just horrifying.

[nccanes]

Yeah, I've been at home today working and MSNBC said that the have those video boards all over Vancouver so that people can watch the games and broadcasts no matter where they are and they kept showing the crash clip repeatedly and that people all over Vancouver were horrified.

To give MSNBC credit, they have NOT shown it - just some stills of them working on him (which are bad enough).

[KaniacFever]

I kept reading the tweets then the one that was reported he flew off the track at 104mph, my freakin jaw dropped. Its horrible.

[Captain Slack]

This is not a good way to start the Games. :cry:

[livinthedream]

It's now all over the internet including a bunch of "do not watch the video" warnings on Facebook.

So, I haven't read into it, but does the committee think the track is unsafe and in need of repair or just a freak accident?

So young and so tragic. You just don't ever know, do you?

:(

[nccanes]

Chris Jansen on MSNBC spoke to a US Luger (woman) and she said that she thought the track was not "unmanagable" and that the area in which he crashed is actually not the most dangerous. She said at that point the track has a very slight incline just before the finish. She said there's a turn they call the 50-50 because there is (jokingly) a 50% chance you get thru it w/o a crash.

She said the recent rain should have actually slowed the track.

On the other hand they said there were 12 "crashes" in practice thus far, but I have no clue how many is a lot or a little, but there has certainly been discussion about the fact that this track was the fastest in the world.

My guess is that every single "pole" on the course is going to have major padding added today. She also said they can control the speed of the ice by raising the temp of the ice via the refrigeration.

[SoCalcaniac]

I do not plan to watch any video. I did see a picture of the kid, and my gosh he looked so young. This is positively horrific. I'm just aghast.

MSNBC said that the have those video boards all over Vancouver so that people can watch the games and broadcasts no matter where they are and they kept showing the crash clip repeatedly and that people all over Vancouver were horrified.


Now why on earth would they continue to replay the crash on video boards all over the city? My LORD.

[livinthedream]

They just showed the entire video of the crash on NBC. Ugh.

[Alicia]

It was really horrific...jaw-dropping. :(

[SoCalcaniac]

Yeah. I awful. I was hoping they'd stick with the stills--- all of that blood on the guy trying to do CPR. Just horrifying.


and then they showed Jack Johnson with Dan Patrick-- talk about an opportunist. I really loathe that dude. He has that smug jack*** look about him that I just want to slap out of him.

[kermelbar]

On a totally different note, <3 the WalMart commercial with the little girl hockey player.

[livinthedream]

Man, British Columbia is a beautiful place.

[SoCalcaniac]

I LOVED the Walmart Hockey Girl.

LTD- BC is stunning & gorgeous. Mr. Socal has been rubbing in the fact that prior to our meeting 17 years ago, and he was still in the Navy and stationed in Washington State, it was normal for him to vacation and take long weekends in Vancouver, and he's been all over BC. Many parts of it remind me of San Diego and socal in general;but it's just so pretty in HD. ;)

I gots to go... It's about to start.

#99 lights the flame. It's gotta be The Great One Eh?

[kermelbar]

Sauna reference for Finland!!! :laugh::laugh:

[livinthedream]

LMAO at Matt Lauer talking about Finnish saunas!!!

:lol:

ETA: JINX

ETAA: Very nice and poignant touch for the arena to give the Georgian athletes a standing ovation. It must be difficult for them to go through the parade ceremony. You can see the shock in their faces.

[nccanes]

Ok, since when does the flame lighter get announced ahead of time? I don't like that one bit, lol.

I thought they said he wasn't earlier in the week.

I'm betting on Katrina LeMay Doan being in the final relay legs. I forget her relation to Shane, sister?

Y'all don't forget to look for Jack Johnson in the USA delegates!

[SoCalcaniac]

Already saw him getting interviewed earlier by Dan Patrick. I'm trying to avoid seeing him again if I can help it, lol.

Katrina LeMay Doan is Shane's sister in law I thought.

E, sorry to spoil the lighter thing- Elliotte Freidman and about 100 people tweeted it, when the IOC sent out a PRESS RELEASE. :crazy:

LMAO at the Finnish sauna reference- and then I see Ville Peltonen as the flag carrier. Takin' up Jussi's spot on the team. ;)

Is it me or does it make you chuckle when they refer to it as Ice Hockey?

Peter Forsberg will carry the flag for Sweden, Kevin Allen tweeted that earlier today.

[livinthedream]

Ville Peltonen was the flag bearer for the Finns.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l83/kellja00/LGC/DSC_7092_600.jpg

[nccanes]

I am SO distracted when those white clad ushers start dancing to this movie soundtrack-like muzac. And then they get a signal and totally stop. Weird.

[kermelbar]

Jagr carried for the Czech Republic, while wearing some LOUD pants.

[nccanes]

I am such a dumb american, I had no idea that Pakistan had 178 million people!

[SoCalcaniac]

Now a GIRLS HOCKEY commercial from McDonalds!

LOL @ E and Pakistan.

OK that's like how many countries with Flag Bearers that are hockey players!

[livinthedream]

For some reason I'm thinking Olympic athletes might be discouraged from eating a lot of Chicken McNuggets.

Just sayin.

[nccanes]

Sweden for the WIN with jeans making Forsberg the coolest flag bearer yet!

[SoCalcaniac]

Sweden for the WIN with jeans making Forsberg the coolest flag bearer yet!

Agreed! Plus Forsberg has that euro cool thing going on.

Our Team USA folks in head to toe Ralph Lauren including toques, knowing they're indoors, just make me feel like they were getting overheated. :lol:

Sorry the Nelly Furtado/Brian Adams duet was a little flat for me.

LOL @LTD, yeah let's hope athletes in general aren't eating chicken Mcnuggets, heehee.

[livinthedream]

Ralph Lauren for the win.

And I took pictures of Forsberg on the TV screen but I have no disk space on my laptop to download them.

[SoCalcaniac]

Lord girl, clear some space. :lol:

I do like the RL gear on the USA delegation, I just thought they looked 'warm' indoors in all of it. I saw one of the athletes on the Today show with a really cute sweater/vest combo-- I want that look since it's so dang cold, at least one can endeavor to look cute and stylish. grrrr....

[livinthedream]

Pffffft... I haven't even downloaded my pictures from today's practice yet. I'm glad after tomorrow I have a two-week break so I can do some file management.

Here's Forsberg:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l83/kellja00/LGC/DSC_7108_600.jpg

[Kat]

Forsberg is a perfect Olympic hockey athlete, since that is about the avg number of games in a row that he can stay healthy for.

Love the girls hockey stuff.

Chicken McNuggets, surprisingly enough, are not even close to the worst restaurant/fast food meal that you could eat, from a fat/cal perspective.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Haven't read the thread...we just got home and started our DVR of the opening ceremony a little while ago.

Excited....but I hate the Olympics. It's basically 2 weeks in tears for me. :lol:


Absolutely freaking tragic about the luger. Why on earth were those supports not padded? :(




And can I say how disturbed I am that I have almost the same hair as Shawn White? :crazy:

Ugh....just got to Jack(ass) Johnson.:sick:

[kermelbar]

And can I say how disturbed I am that I have almost the same hair as Shawn White? :crazy:


Does it make Halloween '10 easier, though? :D

[SouthernHockeyChick]

LOL, maybe! :lol:


This 16 year old totally screwed up "O Canada" IMO.

[caneshockeychick]

Loved the opening ceremonies. Always do. Its always interesting to see which countries are participating in the Winter Olympics.

Beautiful show put on by Atkins(?). Definitely thought the little boy flying around the stage was absolutely freaking awesome. And a great song choice.

Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado? meh...

The "slam" poet was pretty dang cool. Loved him.

The opera singer about blew me away.

I missed O Canada :(

Loved seeing "The Great One's" face during the mechanical issues :lol: but hated that they had to have mechanical issues :(

And the Georgian athletes, wow! How awesome were they to come out and honor their fellow countryman. A sad moment for sure. The moment of silence gave me tears. :(

Let the games begin! :D

[puckin_A]

I thought it was awesome through out. Reading a Canadian board, they were freaking out about the fluke at the end. To me, they still pulled it off, so big deal. Now Gretzky going down the street in the back of the truck was a bit lame but so what.

JD Lang, what a voice. She sang one of my favorite songs. The whole production was so cool to me. Great job.

I don't know how I felt about the USA dress. When they took their jackets off, it was all beige/white. But it was dark....

[puckin_A]

LOL, maybe! :lol:


This 16 year old totally screwed up "O Canada" IMO.


yes, she needed to sing it like it should be sung instead of *making it her own*....

[nccanes]

I fell asleep during Jacque Rogge's speech and woke up during KD Lang's Hallalujah. That was pretty damn cool with the lights in the stands and the lights projected on the floor. Simple and impressive and KD Lang can still sing her ass off.

I did see an image of Ann Murray (or did I dream that?) but I guess Celine didn't get a gig?

Thought Nellie Furtado and Bryan Adams were awful, but mostly because the sound seemed off and we couldn't actually hear them and well, because the song seemed to blow too.

I hated to Laugh at Grezky but I haven't seen him looked that pained since he was behind the PHX bench. :lol: You could see the sweat from the get go and then it just kept increasing and increasing. And yeah, the truck and the people running along and then the outdoor lighting was a bit odd. You could hear someone yelling "get back" in the background. Just odd.

I thought some of the ceremony was really impressive, but I realized I like the simle big things that had big impact (like the Whales and the lighting while Lang sang) and not so much of the "intimate" stuff like the dancers and the red snowboarders and skiiers.

Sucks that the broadcast doesn't start til 2pm today??? (yeah I know - time difference)

[puckin_A]

a recap with music.

KD Lang singing Hallalujah.(one of my favorite songs) wow......what a voice.


http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=3494be84-88f1-4589-a88c-1babe3c63dd7.html?chrcontext=ceremonies#opening+ce remony+music

[nccanes]

Now - I dislike me some JJ, but I do admire him wanting to march in the Opening Ceremonies.

LA Times Helene Elliot Article (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-olympics-jack-johnson13-2010feb13,0,5791419.story)

To march with Team USA on Friday in the opening ceremony, Kings defenseman Jack Johnson awoke at 5 a.m. on a day between games, jumped on a charter flight from LAX to Bellingham, Wash., and hired a car and driver for the 50-mile trip to Vancouver.

Johnson wouldn't say what he paid to charter the six-seat plane for himself, his parents and his little brother. To him, the experience is priceless.

"I had to take extreme measures to get here, but it was worth every bit of it," said Johnson, the lone NHL player in the procession.

"To have the opportunity to walk alongside the Olympians from my country and walk in the opening ceremonies is something I will never forget, and there was no way I was going to let this opportunity slip by."

The thing I don't get is that none of the other King Olympians went with him? I mean, he had a charter jet going to the same place. Does that mean they didn't think it was appropriate to miss a day of practice? They didn't get invited? They got invited and didn't want to go? Inquiring minds want to know.

EDIT: okay - I missed the part about his parents, for some reason I was thinking it was just he and his brother. Sounds like it was probably a full plane. NEVERMIND. :D

[kermelbar]

I enjoy theatre, but I think the opening ceremony would be better if they trimmed about 45-60 minutes off of it. I love the parade of athletes and like that they got to go in for the show (which was not the case in the last summer?) and I thought the whales and the bit where the floor looked like ice breaking up was pretty damn cool, but otherwise? *yawns* Although KD sounded awesome.

[SoCalcaniac]

This 16 year old totally screwed up "O Canada" IMO.

I AGREE. That was easily the longest version of O Canada I've ever heard in this life. :crazy: It's the freakin' Olympics missy, not Canadian Idol. I was half expecting the cast of the New Mickey Mouse Club to come out and join her or something. HORRIBLE.

I am a KD Lang from back in the day. She has one of the most beautiful voices around, and Halleluja is one of my favorite songs. Amazing. The Duet of Furtado and Adams, ugh.

I personally loved seeing Bobby Orr carrying the flag with Anne Murray and all those other folks. Orr still looks like a young man. Or maybe he just has that very happy demeanor which add to his youthful charm. Or maybe it's because they still call him Bobby. :lol:;)

E, I was shocked that there was no Celine? I mean next to #99, wouldn't she be like one of the most famous Canadians?

I was mortified for #99 and that snafu.

I have no comment on the patriot Jack Johnson. Good for him to get all this pub for making this herculean effort for going.

I thought the ceremonies were understated and very elegant. I agree that there can be some stuff cut down in the interest of time; but that's the Olympics- this big ol grand spectacle. Nothing will ever top Bejing that was just off the charts-- but I thought this spoke to what Canada is- they're not showy people, they aren't rah-rah like we are, but they're proud of their country and heritage, and I thought they displayed that.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

We're just finishing watching it...just getting to the slam poet. LOVE it so far. It's amazing what this guy has done with projectors!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

OK, it has taken me entirely too long to figure out that the reason the applause sounds like a weird roar is that they all have drums. :lol:

[Alicia]

And the Georgian athletes, wow! How awesome were they to come out and honor their fellow countryman. A sad moment for sure. The moment of silence gave me tears. :(Thanks for the warning...we DVR'd but haven't watched yet. I've been unable to get that image out of my head. :(

[kermelbar]

OK, it has taken me entirely too long to figure out that the reason the applause sounds like a weird roar is that they all have drums. :lol:

It took me a while, too! I don't think I was focused on watching and I kept furrowing my eyebrows because it sounded a little like booing and I couldn't figure out why they were booing and then I finally caught a shot of the crowd (athletes?) and saw they had those drums.

[livinthedream]

I'm with Kermie, I think there's way too much post-parade pageantry for my taste. KD Lang was awesome as always and her song was the highlight for me too. I guess the IOC couldn't afford Celine's booking fees (not a fan so I didn't miss her at all). I find the whole concept of the two cauldrons a little tedious. But some of the visuals as always were quite spectacular.

Oh, and I loved the snowboarder jumping through the rings.

And no surprise, I love the photo galleries. Just came across these:

Top Ten Opening Ceremony moments (http://www.nbcolympics.com/photos/galleryid=413520.html#top+olympic+opening+ceremony +moments)

Hockey players as flag-bearers (http://www.nbcolympics.com/photos/galleryid=413309.html#hockey+players+flag+bearers)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

OK, we just got to where Gretz et al have their torches at the ready and things are obviously going all wrong. Then, three of the four silver bars start finally going up.....and our recording stopped. Mr SHC didn't set it to record over. DAMN IT. :mad:

[puckin_A]

OK, it has taken me entirely too long to figure out that the reason the applause sounds like a weird roar is that they all have drums. :lol:

LOL....well they didn't really show that people in the stands had drums until the end......or did they? I didn't notice, but I am with you on that one. I kept thinking.....what is that noise? I LOVED the huge drum in the beginning.

[puckin_A]

OK, we just got to where Gretz et al have their torches at the ready and things are obviously going all wrong. Then, three of the four silver bars start finally going up.....and our recording stopped. Mr SHC didn't set it to record over. DAMN IT. :mad:

spoiler....the 4th one never made it.... but go over to this site and I think it might have what you are looking for.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/ it might.....

[puckin_A]

I think the reason other players didn't go (and JJ asked the Americans if they wanted to go with him) is the schedule. Pretty cool of JJ to charter that plane to be there.

[puckin_A]

Absolutely freaking tragic about the luger. Why on earth were those supports not padded? :


I have been watch everything Olympics all morning. I knew this would happen. There is a Universial Sports channel in HD that is nothing but interviews etc. It's great. But i am getting nothing done. Oh well.

One thing I have learned is that the guy was going 90 miles an hour coming around that corner. Pads on those polls would not have saved him. Here is what else I learned that kind of disturbs me. This track is the fastest track EVER! Athletes in the top 13 will probably love this. The rest of them probably do not have the experience with this kind of speed. Now get this. Canada would not let ANYONE but Canadians practice on this track. So athletes like this poor Luger was going into a very dangerous situtation and trying to do his best. Looks like he was over his head :(

[SoCalcaniac]

If it's true that the Canadians only allowed Canadians to practice, that's just unbelievable. That would mean they had no regard for any other players except their own. Several reports last night talked about this track being "the fastest ever" and to me, that means you have to take every precaution and allow for people to see what dangers were there. They said that this kid was 21 --- "very young for a luger" and he was ranked 44th worldwide;Of course the top 10-20 are going to have an advantage of some sort, but seriously, would safety not be the KEY here? What if this had happened to a Canadian? I'm disgusted if the whole, only Canadians could practice is true.

SHC- bummer that the ceremony ran long and the DVR ended. :sick: I've not checked that Olympic site; but I will say, NBC has plenty covered; I've got 3 apps loaded my iPod Touch for the Olympics alone. It's amazing- CTV, NBC/Universal and the Official Vancouver 2010 app. talk about INSANE. I believe there are several Apps for various smartphones, I just finished watching a video on the "Ice hockey" tournament on the CTV app. For everyone wanting to stay updated or check on scheds and all that, it's really awesome to have the option. I saw on Mashable, that most all of the Smartphones out there have some type of app for the Olympic experience. A ton of the athletes have Twitter accounts and they're tweeting experiences. NBC has it linked that each sport/event participant who is tweeting their twitterfeed is linked so you can read it. Pretty cool.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Well they must have felt something needed to be done with those steel supports because they're building a wooden barrier around them before anyone else uses the track.

[c-girl]

A ton of the athletes have Twitter accounts and they're tweeting experiences. NBC has it linked that each sport/event participant who is tweeting their twitterfeed is linked so you can read it. Pretty cool.

That's pretty cool. I did, however, have to unfollow PuckDaddy last night. The guy developed Twitterrhea from the opening ceremony.

[puckin_A]

Well they must have felt something needed to be done with those steel supports because they're building a wooden barrier around them before anyone else uses the track.

I thought I heard they were going to raise the wall......so I guess they are going with the wooden barrier then.

I read one luger say they call that corner 50/50 because you have a 50% chance of making it.

[puckin_A]

If it's true that the Canadians only allowed Canadians to practice, that's just unbelievable. That would mean they had no regard for any other players except their own. Several reports last night talked about this track being "the fastest ever" and to me, that means you have to take every precaution and allow for people to see what dangers were there. They said that this kid was 21 --- "very young for a luger" and he was ranked 44th worldwide;Of course the top 10-20 are going to have an advantage of some sort, but seriously, would safety not be the KEY here? What if this had happened to a Canadian? I'm disgusted if the whole, only Canadians could practice is true.
.


I just googled it and found this:

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/sports&id=7273968
below the video in this article

"The danger of the Whistler track has been talked about for months - particularly after several countries, including the U.S., were upset with restrictions over access to the facility by nations other than Canada, some noting it could lead to a safety issue.

Some sliders, especially those from small luge federations, saw the world's fastest track this week for the first time."

[puckin_A]

wow, yes this is satire, but I am shocked that they would put this article on CBC.ca

it's bad enough that the Canadians beat Slovakia in an embarrassing 18-0 hockey game but then rub it in their faces??

http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2010/02/14/spo-olympics-day-2-harrowing-win.html#socialcomments


from the comments of the Canadians below that, I was glad to see most agreed with me.

You know they ousted Women's baseball in the Summer Olympics because of no competition. As much as I would hate to see them do it to the Women's hockey, these games are really a joke.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I read one luger say they call that corner 50/50 because you have a 50% chance of making it.

There is a corner they call th 50/50.....but from the athlete interview we were seeing this weekend, it's not the corner he died on.

[StormChaserBH]

Anyone else having trouble watching the women's hockey game on USA? The video and audio breaks up every few seconds and it's pretty much unwatchable, though I've hung in there for almost 2 hours of this game now... Not a problem with my cable, as every other channel is fine.

[brindyfan]

I had the same problem & finally gave up.

[SoCalcaniac]

Hmmm- we watched that whole game USA/China- (we are DirecTV people) and I was marveling at how great the picture was. We had no breakups or sound issues, everything was outstanding.

We're watching FIN/RUS now- and the reason I came in to post, there was a woman, who looked like she could be a player's mom, wearing a tee that said "Sisu" :lol: It had a small FIN flag and some words underneath Sisu, but you could see it was not a home made shirt, it was a screen print type, like a tee you'd get from doing a 5K or something.

Finnish gals are up 2-1 with 7 min left in the 2nd.

I have misgivings on these lopsided matchups with teams who still have a way to go. That 18-0 Canada thing UGH. I thought the fans in the stands were really great giving the Slovakians that ovation as they left the ice; but at the same time, it seems like it's an exercise in futility. There are only 4 'serious' countries here: Canada, US, FIN, SWE. So it's tough to see the blowouts. Reminds me of the World Juniors. I mean who wants to see the Latvian boys or Italy get killed by the Americans or Canada?

[StormChaserBH]

Mine was cable -- TWC ch. 25 ... Ironically, after I posted above, it seemed to get a lot better and didn't break up like before. About drove me crazy the first two periods though. And how sick was that Jocelyne Lamoureux goal?

The FIN-RUS game is on CNBC, ch. 37 and is fine video/audio also.

[cmw00]

If it's true that the Canadians only allowed Canadians to practice, that's just unbelievable. That would mean they had no regard for any other players except their own. Several reports last night talked about this track being "the fastest ever" and to me, that means you have to take every precaution and allow for people to see what dangers were there. They said that this kid was 21 --- "very young for a luger" and he was ranked 44th worldwide;Of course the top 10-20 are going to have an advantage of some sort, but seriously, would safety not be the KEY here? What if this had happened to a Canadian? I'm disgusted if the whole, only Canadians could practice is true.


This isn't entirely true. They've had over 5000 runs down this track. They've held other events there. The Luger that died had made over 20 runs down the track himself.

[nccanes]

What I heard discussed on "Meet the Olympic Press" (which is on Universal Sports everyday - pretty cool to have different people from the media sit down in a panel just like the regular Meet the Press) was that they did have specific events that allowed other countries to use the track, but it did sound like it was a small amount. The Word Cup (or World Championships - whatever they are called) were held their last year , as is typical for the host site of the Olympic to get the prior year's Worlds. This particular luger did not attend, but they didn't seem to know if he wasn't sent by his Federation or didn't qualify.

Outside of that, it seemed like there were "training weeks" but the feeling was that they were not frequent enough.

Later they spoke to the NBC Luge expert for his reaction to them deeming the accident not the fault of the track but rather the 'driver error', you could tell he (the "expert") just felt awful that they'd worded it that way. He actually covered his heart for a sec saying how he felt it was the speed. He said no other track in the world reached speeds of over 90 mph, most were around 80pm and some of the speeds on this one were 94?

And since they moved all the starts way down the hill, you have to think that supports the theory that the track was just too fast.

[KaniacFever]

For those who watched the women hockey, did you think the speed of the game was slow. I thought I had hit the slow mo button on my remote. I got half way through the 1st on the Swedan game and turned it off. I know these are women and not men and they aren't going to play the way men do, but jeez, it just didn't interest me at all.

I did get suckered in on that skiing race yesterday. At one point 2 Americans were sitting at 1 and 3, to which the Americans have never gotten a medal on this event. The American Johnny Spillane who was in 3rd ended up in 2nd. The other American ended up in 4th, bummed me out. The 3rd American started at the very back of the pack and he came all the way to get 6th, it was crazy and intense there at the end.

[cmw00]

I just can't get into womens hockey. I watched Finland and Russia last night. It was incredibly slow. Looked about as slow as the SPHL. Not to mention it seemed like any time there was more than a very slight brushing of contact one or both skaters would dive trying to get a penalty I guess.

I hope they have better annoucers for the Men's games also.

[nccanes]

I haven't been able to watch any yet, but I'm not surprised. I took in a few Women's college soccer games in the fall (including Duke and UNC) and walked away thinking I'd rather watch 2 random Wake county Cap7 or Tri9 high school boys teams go at it. I felt bad, but that's how I felt.

[SoCalcaniac]

I agree, women's hockey is very SLOW. But I find that I'm taken with just enjoying the event. The girls have a lot of passion for the game, and I think of course they'll never equal the guys, but I do enjoy the stories of how and why they play, and the Olympic spirit. I think in my own mind I know they're not "pros" and I try hard to separate my NHL cheering and the intensity that is NHL hockey, and put on my other hat and cheer them for what it is. I do think it's fun - but could definitely do without the blows like Canada/Slovakia and USA/China. It's really a four team tournament.

cmw- It'll be the NBC crew for the Men's games- Doc Emerick (who was calling the USA women's game), Ed Olyzck, etc. etc. I heard Jeremy Roenick is there- I guess he'll be an analyst of some sort but he's still a bit choppy for me. I don't know if Pierre Maguire is working for the Canadian broadcasters or what; Milbury is out there; We need Bill Clement and Gary Thorne mixed in there somewhere. I dunno if ESPN gives Thorne an ok to work the Olympics or not.

[Fernando da Silva]

Here the hockey narrator kept calling the puck "ball". It's ICE, not Field hockey

[puckin_A]

yes I saw Jeremy Roenick on the Universal Sports channel. Like E was saying, it's great for the interviews etc. If you get a chance (they keep showing it), watch Blood, Sweat and Cookies about the girls USA hockey team and their workouts. Gives you new respect for these girls. holy moly......

[SoCalcaniac]

We are DirecTV'ers and of all the flippin' channels they give you on the sports package, we have NO Universal Sports. :crazy:

I remember streaming the World Championships live during the lockout year, and they had all kinds of video, interviews and replays of games on the site; so I pulled it up, and sure enough, "Blood, Sweat & Cookies" is in the video vault. I think NBC/Universal has an iPhone App too, so I'm going to load it on my Touch -- I've got a couple of errands that will require me sitting in waiting rooms- so this will pass my time. :- Looks like fun too. Thanks for mentioning it puckin_A!

If you're like us and don't get Universal Sports- it's you can see all kinds of stuff here (http://www.universalsports.com/ice-hockey/index.html#) ; Looks like they also offer live streaming of certain events too.

[caniac97]

Am I the only one having hockey withdrawals!! Drawn strangely to Olympic Women's Hockey for my fix.

[kermelbar]

"Today" is interviewing Seth Wescott this morning and he might be kinda crushable -- pretty funny while reviewing his come-from-way-the-hell-behind gold medal win, he's well spoken and it's pretty awesome that the American flag he draped himself in is actually his grandfather's service flag. (His grandfather trained tropps for WWII.)

[nccanes]

Maybe we should have a thread separate for Hockey Results that contain SPOILERS since at least some of the games will take place during the day while people work.

This is more a general article so I'm putting it here.

U.S. goalies ordered to remove slogans (http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/news/newsid=421414.html)

Earlier Monday, Miller acknowledged knowing about the rules that prohibit corporate sponsorships at the Olympics, but went ahead and had "Miller Time" painted on the mask he designed for the Vancouver Games. Miller said he had been informed to get rid of the tag line because it's a slogan for a beer maker.

"Just having fun," Miller said with a wink.


EDIT: Here is the link to a thread I've created for Team USA Prelim Rounds: http://www.letsgocanes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11046 Clearly labeled with SPOILER.

[cmw00]

Is there any curling in NC? Its one of my favorite things to watch I must admit!

[StormChaserBH]

Is there any curling in NC? Its one of my favorite things to watch I must admit!

There's a club that meets at the Wake Forest rink:

http://www.trianglecurling.com/index.php

[KaniacFever]

So its now 7:40 and I still have women's curling on :mad:

NBC fails on so many freakin levels.

[livinthedream]

Me too. Not into anything that looks this much like housework.

And I'm off to open a Game Thread for Team Canada if no one else has already.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I mean yeah, I was annoyed that hockey was being played and all I had was curling but.....I really, really enjoy curling!

The problem is, by the end of the '06 Olympics I totally understood the rules.....and now that I haven't seen any in 4 years I completely forget!!:lol:

[livinthedream]

Is Johnny Weir wearing a bustier? :crazy:

[nccanes]

Curling is the PERFECT 'working from home' background TV viewing. I'm totally up on the rules now and we all kinda got into the USA/Japan ladies match at the end. We were each standing in front of the tv pointing to where we thought the should throw the stone.

I will also admit, that I didn't watch 1 second of the Canada hockey game. :beatup:

[cmw00]

Some of those shots the Germans made against the USA yesterday afternoon in their curling match were great shots. The US team looked waaaayyyy out matched against them. I missed the Mens evening match yesterday, anybody know what happened there?

[nccanes]

From the looks of this: http://www.nbcolympics.com/curling/resultsandschedules/match=CUM400908/index.html

It looks like Norway won in the 11th end.

What happens that results in no points in an end?

[cmw00]

I'm not as proficient as I thought, or I'd like to be. Could it be because there were no stones in the house?

[nccanes]

That's what I was thinking...

[StormChaserBH]

Yes, no stones in the house.

This can be a strategic play, that if you have the hammer (last stone), and the opponent has the only stone in the house, you can intentionally knockout the opponent's 1 and also not leave yours in the house either (or for some reason if there aren't any when you throw, you just intentionally miss) to "blank the end" but keep the hammer for the next end to try to get more than 1 point, because when you score any points, the other team goes last in the next end, so sometimes scoring 1 isn't worth giving that advantage up.

[cmw00]

I just saw a commercial, don't worry Bill O'Reilly and Dennis Miller are gonna get to the bottom of the "Miller Time" hockey mask conspiracy theory tonight! :lol:

[puckin_A]

anybody watching Finland/Belarus?

I just remembered Belarus went the Bronze medal game in Salt Lake. I don't remember how they did last Olympics, but not to be taken lightly.

[cmw00]

Yeah, we have a thread going in the international forum to help keeps spoilers out of this thread.

[nccanes]

I just saw a commercial, don't worry Bill O'Reilly and Dennis Miller are gonna get to the bottom of the "Miller Time" hockey mask conspiracy theory tonight! :lol:

:lol:

First Gayle King and the faux Rangers fan proposal and now O'Reilly/Miller on the goalie mask thing. :lol:

It's the Olympics....just do what they ask (and have spelled out in the rules) you to do. Did y'all notice the paint/bling on AO's skate blades?

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_nhl_experts__54/ept_sports_nhl_experts-258096823-1266426615.jpg?ym4bbsCDnEgTAkz2

Ick!

Call me old fashioned, but #1 hockey is a team sport and #2 the Olympics are a different animal, it should be about country and team first. Leave the personal mantras and baloney at home.

[cmw00]

Is this really the best men's Curling team they could come up with, or are they just choking? Doesn't seem like they can do anything right.

ETA:
Also, I don't understand putting "guards" so far out in front of the house and so far to the sides either.

[SoCalcaniac]

Did y'all notice the paint/bling on AO's skate blades?

Sorry, I'm tardy to the party; YES. This, was likely Milbury's boiling point with Roenick. Roenick, the flashy, crazy kook that he is, kinda fawned about AO's "personality" and they got a closeup of the skates and Milbury did all that he could to not blow a gasket. :laugh:

I personally hate the look. Especially the loopy 8 in the design. and are those Swarovksi crystals as trim along te blade? Good Gawd(y).

You know what I LOVE about the Olympics? Particularly the Winter games? I love that I get so wrapped up in Snowboard Cross, Alpine Skiing, etc.etc. rearrange my life schedule and stay up way late to watch all these sports, yet I rarely pay attention to them during their seasons. Although I do watch the X-Games when they come on. :lol: It must be the patriot gene in all of us. ;)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Is this really the best men's Curling team they could come up with, or are they just choking? Doesn't seem like they can do anything right.

ETA:
Also, I don't understand putting "guards" so far out in front of the house and so far to the sides either.

This bout against Switzerland has been pretty good.

I get the guards out front but, I don't get the far out to the side ones, either.

[StormChaserBH]

I'm with cmw00 -- this is our best?? Yuck. 0-3.

[cmw00]

They lost to Switzerland? I had to leave at the start of the 9th end. My GF didn't understand waiting to get dinner to watch Curling.

[SoCalcaniac]

Ok, I have to post this because it's just too hilarious- and I'm sure the Finn Fans can appreciate the humor.

So I'm watching the most fun event in the winter olympics, the half pipe. Shaun White is awesome- and he just did an amazing trick that got him an off the charts score on his first run. There's nothing funny about that, but what is funny is the group of very good FIN half pipe dudes- They are dubbed the Finnish Mafia. :laugh: They're good. Cool tricks. Who knew how technically sound and creative the Finns are in half pipe? :lol: Love it.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Shaun White is an effing god. That was amazing


Lindsey Vonn is amazing, too.

[kermelbar]

I went to see "The Princess Bride" (squeeeee!) at The Colony and got home just in time to see some of the snowboarding. White's height was reeeeediculous. And I thought it was pretty funny that they had to apologize for the language -- who wasn't expecting that from a bunch of excited young guys? LOL.

[SoCalcaniac]

I got home from the gym and Shaun was on the Today Show no sleep and giddy; He's so awesome--- and I LOL'd at the apology for the language; agree with SHC that Lindsay Vonn is pretty great too.

White was asked what he wanted to take in now that he's done; he says "I've never been to a hockey game, I wanna do that" Memo to USA Hockey--- Get the kid a ticket!

Those tricks were off the chains. That triple cork or whatever it's called- HOLY COW I swear he was going into the stratosphere; talk about amazing. He owns that half pipe. :- :usa::usa:

[puckin_A]

http://cache-thumb1.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/docserver/getimage.aspx?file=10002010021800000000001001&page=1&scale=41


:D

[KaniacFever]

I love the snowboarding. Shaun White is just damn awesome. USA had a good night last night :D

[nccanes]

I'm watching Univ Sports and the news/preview stuff hosted by Terry Gannon and guests Kristi Y and Peter Carruthers. I've been really struck by how the Figure Skating world has not seemed to produce any commentators since the 80s (and early 90s). We've got Kristi ('92), Carruthers ('84), Hamilton ('84) and Wylie ('94). Maybe it takes that long to produce someone comfortable/mature enough to take work in front of the camera, but interesting that no Lipinski, Kwan, Sara Hughes....

I guess the knee whack really did create the pinnacle of public interest, but a lot of these commentators were around before the knee whack.

I do wish we could send Sandra Bezic back to the Canadian broadcasts - not sure how she's scored a prime American gig for so long. :lol:

[livinthedream]

Well, I enjoyed Elvis Stojko a LOT when he competed, but I have to disagree with his assertion that Plushenko was robbed (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/figure_skating/news?slug=es-thoughts021810&prov=yhoo&type=lgns) in the men's free skate. I thought Plushenko's routine looked sloppy and cobbled together, and I though Lysacek skated a near perfect performance in terms of his precision and artistry. Even if his routine wasn't as difficult, it sure seemed difficult enough. I'm glad it wasn't all about "landing the quad" (although I can certainly understand how Elvis might be partial to it).

ETA: LMAO this is already in Wikipedia if you look up "Quad":

From here on out, the ability to land quadruple jumps has become common among World and Olympic level skaters, to the point that not having one in a program was considered a handicap.[17] However, American figure skater Evan Lysacek won the gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics without attempting a quad.

[nccanes]

Wow - bitter much Stojko? He even threw a slam at Brian Boitano from 1988! (when he beat the Canadian Brian).

I guess it's no surprise that he, of salad chopper footwork fame and zero artistry, would hold that opinion. :lol:

[livinthedream]

he, of salad chopper footwork fame and zero artistry

Nice visual. :D

[SoCalcaniac]

LOL @ salad chopper footwork. :lol:

I'll admit I've gotten very FAR away from a rooting interest in the whole figure skating scene. I watch, but my fandom is dated- I'm a Yamaguchi/Scott Hamilton/Brian Boitano back in the days Olympic fan, heehee. These other kids that have come along--- Nice, but just never attached.

HOWEVER- I have throughly enjoyed Evan Lysacek. His performance was beautiful, and I thought he did out skate Pleshenko (sp?) and he put everything together. It was riveting to watch. I saw him on the Today Show this AM, (with a surprise visit from Hamilton with Evan's first costume that super hero get up in hand, lol) and you could see this guy is genuine and was really refreshing in how approached this whole thing.

Stoyko, who back in his time bothered me anyway- sounds like a sour grapes dude IMO.

I enjoyed the girls on the halfpipe last night. They all seem like they're friends and seemed really happy for that gal from Australia who won Gold.

For anyone who is home when Oprah's on at 4pm, or can DVR it-- Shaun White will be on live today, as well as Lindsay Vonn.

Get ready for all the Olympians to hit the talk show circuit!

[nccanes]

They just showed a photo of one of the Canadian Women Curlers.....she's 5 months pregnant. :lol:

[Kat]

I couldn't agree more about Lysacek.

Personally, I think the clean program should win out over slightly more difficult and sloppy, and Plushenko did not have a clean program. Stojko can say he "made no mistakes" but evidently he wasn't watching some of those jumps.

I also think that going around saying how the sport is ruined and such because YOU didn't win, is extremely unprofessional and the opposite of class and sportsmanship.

Then again, so was the two #1 fingers when he was done. If I were the judges, that would be points off for arrogance. Ovechkin teach you anything there, a$$hole?

[nccanes]

:lol:

Bad day for the Russians. Plushy lost and so did Ovie. ! :D


I hate to show my figure skating geekiness, but I think a similar thing happened between Kerrigan and Bauil in '94 (in reverse). Kerrigan was flawless but did not iirc have a triple-triple. Bauil effed up but did (or something like that). The old system simply had judges placing people in front or behind others (though there were supposed deductions defined, but it was much easier to game the system, especially on that artistic mark). Anyway - Bauil won and Kerrigan got the silver. Which is why Plushy's comments following were probably true, in the old system he may have won it.

An interesting discussion was on Meet the Olympic Press this morning. Paul Wylie suggested that if Plushenko had just added a double loop to some combo, it would have given him an extra point and he could have won. He pointed out that since he (Plushy) didn't really compete much under the new system, he didn't have that mental ability to think on the fly about what he needed, he probably just figured if he laid down the quad, the rest was gravy.

PS - while I loved Vera Wang's creations for Kerrigan and Kwan, I'm not really feeling Lysacek's......bejeweled snakes??? :lol:

edit: and can I just say I've now seen just about every NBC staffer ride that damn zip line. Willy Geist, the TODAY gang, Jim Cantori, and some other dude that I can't even remember, :lol:.

[puckin_A]

They just showed a photo of one of the Canadian Women Curlers.....she's 5 months pregnant. :lol:


yea Jimmy Kimmel said something the other night like "if you can play the sport five months pregnant, it does not belong in the Olympics"

LOL

[StormChaserBH]

Shuster is a healthy scratch for the US in tonight's men's match. (SOURCE) (http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/news/newsid=430878.html#skipped+over+top+curler+benched )

Bout time. That dude's looked like deer-in-the-headlights every time I watch 'em.

[puckin_A]

I am not a big skating geek but I am a big Olympic geek, and I do enjoy a really good skate. I was so happy for Evan last night. I thought Plushenko came in very arrogant making it known that you had to do the quad to win. I love it that someone that DIDN'T do the quad won! ...... guess he doesn't own it after all.

I actually thought Johnny Wier got robbed. He was awesome! I love the fact he is such a diva! :D

[nccanes]

My favorite non-event moment was when Colbert was on the NBC set with Costas and at the end he asked Costas if he could sit near the fire and proceeded to climb INSIDE the fireplace (since the "flames" are merely an image). Costas was dying laughing and Colbert was yelling about how NBC's coverage is great because it's so authentic. :lol:

[puckin_A]

http://www.nbcolympics.com/mm/photo/videos/general/42/76/47/427647_m05.jpg

and that fire looked so real on TV.......That was hilarious.

[puckin_A]

I saw Shaun White on Oprah today. The kid flew in just to be on her show, which was cool.

[kermelbar]

For a country whose reputation seems to be built on strong, stoic men, Russia sure seems to be putting out a lot of whining wussy men -- Ob*tchken, Plushy, etc.

[SoCalcaniac]

For a country whose reputation seems to be built on strong, stoic men, Russia sure seems to be putting out a lot of whining wussy men -- Ob*tchken, Plushy, etc.

Plus their PRESIDENT Vlad Putin, who goes out of his way to play manly man (i..e. riding horseback shirtless and chopping wood to show off his biceps :crazy:) sends Plushenko a "telegram" saying his "silver is Gold". OH, Ok, can we now hand our the orange slices and pat him on the head?

I was laying down watching the Colbert/Costas fireplace thing and I almost fell out of bed I was laughing so hard.

I think Evan handled the whole Plushenko dealio with grace.

E, I'm a huge Vera Wang fan - I still have two handbags from her line from years ago- and loved all the ladies costumes, but that get up for Lysacek, totally not feelin' it. They did a piece on the Today show of the whole process at her NYC studio, and I just thought she is such an amazing designer, and I've never hated any of her work---- but this was a Glamour Don't.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I love Bode Miller. :D

[puckin_A]

me too .......and Apollo Ohno....

so proud of our TEAM USA!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

SPOILER if you're DVR'ing other stuff during hockey, so I'm putting it in white.....

BODE MILLER WINS THE GOLD!!!! WOOOOOOOO!!!:spin:

[puckin_A]

wasn't that awesome! he really deserved it. Two more races coming up!

[cmw00]

I can't believe that these men and women were the best curlers in America? Women were just eliminated, but they were tied with China at the 10th end. The whole time they are debating their shot, the annoucers are saying what a bad idea the shot they are talking about is. They call a timeout and talk it over with the coach, and throw a stone almost right in the middle. All China had to do was throw a straight shot, and knock it out to win. Made no sense. Almost seemed they were saying "the heck with this lets get out of here".

[Zamboni]

Lil' Zamboni is a curling fanatic now. He actually cried when the USA lost one on the last throw. :crazy: It's funny, because the closet our family is going to get to curling is bocci at the beach.

I'm glad that someone won without doing the quad. Who cares about the quad? I got tired of watching them trying it and wiping out all of the time, and then whoever landed it won by default. Pah!

[nccanes]

Does anyone know the deal with the area surrounding the outdoor Olympic flame? They had it surrounded with large chainlink fencing and then replaced a portion of the chainlink with plexiglass so that people could at least pose for photos with it in the background without having the ugly fence behind them. I just saw a clip of a journalist inside the fence and people outside the fence were being held back even further by barricades.

Surely the didn't intend to have to have it contained w/in chainlink but I guess there were some issue? Seems like they could/should have designed some more natural barriers cuz that looks so ugly.

[SoCalcaniac]

Yeah E, that's been some kind of source of "issues" with people and the complaint brigade that kinda surrounded the VANOC.

Brian Williams (the NBC Brian W. not Canada's) reported on it on Nightly News, but everyone was pointing the finger and still no real explanation (???) they interviewed alot of people who had traveled in for the games, and wanted to get a pic, (ex. A guy from Canada who went to ATL for the summer games) and were horrified with this chain link thing. I'm not getting it at all. Do they think someone will steal it? :crazy::lol:

[StormChaserBH]

Do they think someone will steal it? :crazy::lol:

probably afraid people will climb it. :D

[puckin_A]

it might have something to do with all those protesters breaking windows in stores etc. Maybe they thought they would try messing with it.

[SoCalcaniac]

OMG, that Speedy Peterson (ariels) just did The HURRICANE! OMG, that was friggin awesome!

I have been following his story/journey on The Today Show; and I'm so rooting for him. I think his mama is about to collapse, lol.

Oh and the US is 1-2 right now! GOOOOOO!

That was great.

[nccanes]

Ok - so I saw a tweet that mentioned that Canadian Hockey had to apologize for the 'celebration' after the gold medal and I thought it was referring to the stuff I saw - which was just pure joy, etc.

Then I see Willie Geist tweet about cigars and booze and figured he was joking since he's never serious.

But here's the photo. What were these gals thinking????

http://media.nj.com/olympics_main/photo/2010-vancouver-winter-olympics-25802c183d6ff7ad_large.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2010/02/27/sports/olympics/27rings-toast/27rings-toast-blogSpan.jpg


And so I'm not perceived as anti-Canadian, I thought it was poor form that the USA chick with the 2 kids brought them out before the medals were presented as well. I don't want to see your face painted kid with a Red/White/Blue Dr Seuss hat thanks. Seemed out of place. And since I'm a parent, I can judge. :lol:


http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0225/oly_g_potter1_sw_200.jpg

[livinthedream]

Yep, I was just reading this story myself, it pushed Mike Milbury off the front page of Yahoo.

IOC to investigate Canadian women's hockey team for celebration (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/IOC-to-investigate-Canadian-women-s-hockey-team-?urn=oly,224338)

The International Olympic Committee will investigate the actions of Canadian women's hockey players who celebrated their gold medal victory Thursday night by swigging beer and smoking cigars on the ice in Vancouver.

A number of players, including 18-year-old superstar Marie-Philip Poulin, were drinking alcohol on the ice following the team's 2-0 defeat of the United States. (The legal drinking age in British Columbia is 19.) Players lingered for more than 70 minutes after the awards ceremony reveling in the arena, which was empty except for media and arena staff. (Click here (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/slideshow/ss.124;_ylt=AvawVsdiPZJ7uWzOYc8DKtJotLV_) to view a slideshow of the celebration.)

Gilbert Felli, the IOC's executive director of the Olympic Games, said that drinking in public was "not what we want to see" from athletes at an Olympic venue. The organization will investigate the actions and will speak with the international hockey federation and Canadian Olympic Committee and ask them to "act accordingly."

Steve Keough, a spokesman for the Canadian Olympic Committee, told the Associated Press, “We condone celebrations. … We don’t condone actions of irresponsibility. I think Canadians understand it’s quite an emotional moment for our team. It was not our intention to go against any IOC protocols.”

[nccanes]

I'm not really a prude or anything, and I certainly think it's fair that they celebrate however they'd like...but on the field of play itself? On the olympic rings.

And I've never been accused of being a girly girl, but the cigars...not impressed, lol.

I guess I just feel like the the Olympics are special because they are....different. There's a certain amount of respect that go along with playing in the games. Swilling beer and smoking on the ice surface doesn't match *my* expectations.

What's next - a toboggan ride down the Half Pipe? :lol:

[c-girl]

Actually the only thing I have a problem with is the cigar smoking. Ugh. Nasty. Disgusting. Oh and that goes for men smoking them, too. My greatest pet peeve is cigar smoke - and believe me, I have a ton of pet peeves. :lol:

I don't consider their celebration to be really "in public" because the arena "was empty except for media and arena staff." It wasn't on TV and the fans had already left the building. Maybe it wasn't in good taste and maybe they didn't quite think it through sufficiently and maybe it was a bit stupid, but I don't see it deserves such a media hue and cry about it. I don't think it's quite as stupid as Duke or UNC students burning benches and jumping into the bonfires.

[nccanes]

I don't think it's quite as stupid as Duke or UNC students burning benches and jumping into the bonfires.

:lol::lol:

[livinthedream]

I'm not sure whether or not this is something to be proud of... but I once had furniture that became part of a campus bonfire. We North Carolinians do like to burn sh!t.

And I'm not saying it was in good taste nor the right thing to do nor do I condone the behavior, but to be honest, if I was on the women's Canadian hockey team I'd have probably been puffing a stogie and swilling a Molson myself.

I swear I have no business being a parent.

Mr. LTD's question... where were the coaches while all this was going on?

[KaniacFever]

As long as they didn't bring out the stogies and beer as soon as the buzzer sounded and in front of all the fans, go for it. I think if I won gold, I would be throwing down a beer, just sayin. Although, the stogies are just nasty :hurl:


So in 2002, we went to the Salt Lake Olympics. It was there that I deamed Apollo Ohno mine. Well, here in 2010, I'm deaming Johnny Spillane mine ;)

I saw the first silver Spillane won where he roped me in and I was on the edge of my seat. Last night during the nordic combine I tuned in when they had 1.5 laps to go. It was Bill Demong leading the way followed by Spillane and then the Austrian. During the last half of the lap, Spillane fell and dropped down to 3rd. Right before the final climb, both Demong and Spillane made their move and literally left the Austrian behind. Demong for Gold, Spillane for silver.

USA has NEVER won in the nordic combine and here they now have 1 gold and 2 silvers (spillane's first silver). Gotta love it.

[nccanes]

If anyone wearing a uniform with their country emblazened on it and a gold medal around their neck thinks they aren't "out in public" when they go back on the ice with photogs snapping away for an hour -- then they are pretty naive.

Unless you're in a locker room or team room where media is not allowed, you are out in public, period.

As long as we're discussing public faux pas (which is how I'd classify the Canadian smokers/drinkers) - I think Julia Mancuso had one this week as well. And I chuckle at how she backtracked so fast after her initial public griping that seemed directed at Vonn (like she broke her finger and threw herself out of the race on purpose). I'm sure her PR people were like 'the LAST thing you want after not winning that medal is to come off like a big b!tch'. Suddenly overnight, she's very gracious. :lol:

Mancuso would have been better off if she'd directed it at the race organizers -- she said that she'd never seen someone flagged in a GS race. Presuming that's true, it's too bad they decided to do so for the first time in the Olys.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

^Mancuso (AND HER MOTHER) have walked around most of this tournament wearing a tiara and she has one painted on her helmet. What did you expect? :lol:

I mean, I love a nice tiara and generally wear one every year while decorating my Christmas tree but you don't leave the house with it on, for eff's sake.


And despite any tiara-wearing tendancies.....I can only assume you ladies have just never had a good cigar. We usually try to find a good shop and get a few to enjoy while we're on vacation. I enjoy them immensely. (but you can't smoke it inside)


So in 2002, we went to the Salt Lake Olympics. It was there that I deamed Apollo Ohno mine. Well, here in 2010, I'm deaming Johnny Spillane mine ;)



That'd be fine except I did that DAYS ago. :lol:

[SoCalcaniac]

So the Canadian girls went there. I am not about to deprive them of fun, but I agree that the Olympic rings/image should not be sullied with some stinky cigars. I have a pure hate on for smoke and cigars-- ewww. Sorry, as a girly-girl, I just can't approve. :lol: I don't drink, but I don't mind anyone who enjoys it, the thing that was offensive to me was the smokin'.

I do think it was just naive to believe that you could go on out and with media still around, someone wouldn't snap a pic. As I've been flipping around TV tonight, I saw that Inside Edition had the story :crazy: and showed pics of the underage Poulin (she's 18) chugging a beer. Then they had another gal on the Zamboni driving it, and a beer can next to the wheel. Those are the things that get taken 'the wrong way'.

So I got all caught up on the Nordic Combined. I love me some Johnny Spillane and Bill Demong. (sp?)VERRRRY CUTE. Anyway, Alot of the olympians/medalists were on the Today Show this AM; Demong got engaged after he won; his fiancee was around the campfire with the him and the Today show crew. Very nice.

[puckin_A]

so this is what I heard....now whether it was true or not.....the girls were in the locker room for about a half hour drinking heavily and the media asked them to come out so they could get some pictures....by then they were already drunk?? two sheets??? not sure.

meh.....they look like they were having fun......didn't really bother me.

doesn't compare to team USA(men) in Nagano(sp) throwing furniture out the window and destroying the place.

[puckin_A]

So in 2002, we went to the Salt Lake Olympics. It was there that I deamed Apollo Ohno mine. Well, here in 2010, I'm deaming Johnny Spillane mine ;)


I went to the Olympics at Salt Lake too! (Bronze and Gold Medal hockey games) so much fun. Everyone fell in love with Apollo that year.

[Kat]

Speaking of speed skating, I think falling your way across the finish line should disqualify you, rather than get you into a gold medal round.

[nccanes]

As long as you fall and sprawl faster that our slow-ass Americans then I think you deserve it. :lol:

Speaking of falling, I swear to god I think Apollo Ohno has some sort of voodoo doll that forces an opponent to fall in front of him , allowing him to advance and/or win half his races. I mean, we were rolling laughing at how many times it seems to happen. But I guess what goes around came around as he got (deservedly in our opinion) DQ'd on the gold medal final in the 500m. I am SO OVER short track and AAO specifically. Nice kid, but the whole sport is so stupid, imho. It's the same people racing and contending in ever single race it seems.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I've over Ohno too but, the Canadian who got the gold deserved to be DQ'd for pulling down (or touching, just like Ohno did) the Korean.

[Kat]

Just finished watching the Figure Skating Gala, had to DVR last night due to the game.

I think the two ice dancing champions from Canada are phenomenal. Loved their exhibition routine. I never liked ice dancing before this Olympics.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Gold medal hockey game aside.....I love Canada probably more than I love my own country in a LOT of ways. And had I been in Vancouver for the past two weeks I have no doubt that I'd just want to stay. But NBC is so far up their butts....is this normal? Is there usually this much falling all over ourselves to love on the host country going on on the US network? Watching this 7pm feature (we're behind on the recording) I'm occasionally wondering....were there actually any American athletes at these games? ;)

[SoCalcaniac]

I personally think they've been BRAINWASHED SHC.

I'm a fan of almost all things Canada too- I love that countr; love the humble people, etc. etc; it's great, but GOOD GRIEF. NBC is falling and fawning like crazzzy people and has been doing so in the last two weeks. Costas and Michaels seem like they've been programmed. They're saying things you'd hear on CBC or XM Home Ice etc. They're quick studies on "the only gold that matters" nonsense.

Brace yourself since you're behind SHC, there's more. :crazy: But, you'll see they talk up the US pretty soon. :-

[kermelbar]

Is it too early to dread the AO-ization of 2014? I just have a feeling that it's going to be awful. Well, that and the whiny but-he-didn't-do-a-quad! ice skater.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Nice to see AO there, though. There was evidently some doubt since he's been a bit AWOL through all of this. I'd love to condemn him for it but part of it makes me wonder if maybe he didn't want to take ALL the spotlight off his fellow Russian athletes. Someone can give me all the reasons to hate him for it any time now. :lol:

I guess those 4 (he, Plushy, Tretiak, and whoever the chick was) might be the 4 to take the flame?

[SoCalcaniac]

Is it too early to dread the AO-ization of 2014? I just have a feeling that it's going to be awful. Well, that and the whiny but-he-didn't-do-a-quad! ice skater.

HA! They must have heard you. AO was just in that horrid Sochi presentation. Toothless and all. :lol:

[SouthernHockeyChick]

HA! They must have heard you. AO was just in that horrid Sochi presentation. Toothless and all. :lol:
His D&G (I think) underwear sticking out the top of his jeans was my favorite part.

[puckin_A]

if this doesn't say a thousands words: (ok it's not a picture, but still)

The Media All-Star Team, selected by members of the accredited media at Canada Hockey Place, was announced at the end of the Men's Ice Hockey Gold medal game on Sunday.

All-Star Team


Goaltender: Ryan MILLER (USA)

Defenceman: Brian RAFALSKI (USA)

Defenceman: Shea WEBER (CAN)

Forward: Pavol DEMITRA (SVK)

Forward: Jonathan TOEWS (CAN)

Forward: Zach PARISE (USA)

Most valuable player: Ryan MILLER (USA)


Tournament Directorate Best Player Awards


Goaltender: Ryan MILLER (USA)

Defenceman: Brian RAFALSKI (USA)

Forward: Jonathan TOEWS (CAN)


http://www.ctvolympics.ca/hockey/news/newsid=54583.html?cid=rsstsn

[caneshockeychick]

Awww...poor little Russians... :lol:

Medvedev wants officials to resign over poor showing at Olympics (http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=capress-oly_russia_resignations_demanded-2506498&prov=capress&type=lgns)

[Fernando da Silva]

-Caniac Oath mode on-

That's because they didn't had Samsonov in the hockey team

-Caniac Oath mode off-