I have just now discovered that the winter games are happening this February, and that they are being held in Turin, Italy. I literally had no idea that either of these were the case. Granted, I'm not this huge sports enthusiast or anything - quite the opposite - but I used to be much more aware of the Olympics in the past. And I haven't been completely tuned out on the world either - the BBC news site is my homepage, and of course Hatrack is a wonderful news source as well.
So why did I not know about the winter Olympics? This is rather bewildering. Is it just me, or has the media been putting more emphasis on the summer games than on the winter?
Or I suppose what I'm really wondering is if any of you were likewise unaware....have I been living in a bubble after all?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Nell Gwyn, the Bubble Girl... This could make for an interesting story. Why is the girl in the bubble? Did she accidentally get trapped by a soap bubble? Or is it because of an immune system disorder? Oh, no, wait! It's a future society that has built a bubble to protect themselves from the toxic world outside, a la Logan's Run. There are possibilities here...
Um, sorry, what?
Posted by archon (Member # 8008) on :
I didn't realize it when the last Winter Olympics happened, but yeah, there's only a 2 year span between the Summer and Winter Olympics now. They changed it.
There's also much less media coverage too, for whatever reason. Maybe it brings in less ratings. Certainly there weren't Winter Olympics way back when it first got started.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
The Toronto Newspaper had a whole section praising what the Canadian athletes are going to wear and the colours and styles and things.
I thought, "well at least they're going to look good."
(Actually, we do tend to do fairy well at the Winter Games for obvious reason, but I did think this section was kind of ridiculous.)
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Nell, the winter Olympics are definitely not as "hot" as the summer ones.
I grew up in Lake Placid, so I am probably more winter-Olympics-focused than many people. I love them.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
I only have some awareness of them because the Sabres goaltender may be a member of Team USA, if he heals up in time.
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
I think I would have realized the timing of it if I'd actually thought about the year numbers. I was mostly surprised that I'd been so utterly oblivious to where it's being held - I was certainly aware of Salt Lake and Nagano and Lillehammer.
Hmm...maybe that was more due to me still living with my parents at the time. We used to follow figure skating fairly closely, but I haven't so much since I moved out.
And at quid. Yeah, after I reread it I almost wanted to add [cue sappy instrumental crescendo] at the end. Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I don't think figure skating has been on tv as much in the last few years, I used to love watching it, but it appears it's not on that much anymore.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Glad I could entertain, Nell. You provided me with such a good opening. How could I resist? Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Any true Winter Olympics afficionado will be able to answer this question:
Who is Dick Button????
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
I love watching some of the winter sports. I think the winter games are are mostly more true to the spirit of the olympics then the summer, and so I tend to enjoy them more.
I really like watching the speed skating, the downhill skiing, XC skiing. Bobsledding is very cool. Figure skating can be fun to watch, but i hate the judging, as almost everyone else does.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
So, Paul, Dick Button???
Posted by Cali-Angel-Cat (Member # 8799) on :
The reason for the change from every two years to every four for the winter games has to do with the cost of hosting. NBC has had the rights to the games for a long time after a major screw up by ABC during the last Games they covered.
The IOC made the decision to grant sole rights to NBC and a short time later chose to stagger the games because the finacial burden was too much.
quote:Who is Dick Button????
Dick Button was the 1948 Men's Figure Skating Olympic Champion. He was also the World Champion that same year. He Passed Away on February 1st of this year, so this will be the first Winter Ganes without him.
I remember Lake Placid. It's hard to forget when someone from your hometown was on the Hockey Team! I also have fond memories of 1984 in Sarajevo because of Torvil and Dean. I will also never forget Scott Hamilton's gold. Ohio went nuts that day.
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
I think the winter olympics are cool, with sports like the luge, bobsled, skiing (esp the ski jump one), etc.
And, most importantly, CURLING, only the best winter Olympic sport ever!
Posted by JenniK (Member # 3939) on :
Who is Dick Button?............................
Dick Button won 7 straight National Championships from 1946 to 1952, he also won 5 World Championships from 1948 to 1952... and 2 Olympic Gold Medals; in 1948 and 1952. In the '52 Games he became the first man to complete a triple jump in competition, and also completed a double axel (which he had only learned and actually landed for the first time a few days before the finals!).
I took skating lessons for years when I was a growing up, and I am a HUGE fan of skating, so I know my skating history. One of the reasons there is less skating on tv is that Michelle Kwan has not produced the way she was expected to at the Olympics ('98 and '02), and is not as popular as she was then. ( I still love her skating since she has that classic style, nice clean edges, and gorgeous spirals.) I will always love the skating of Peggy Flemming,Scott Hamilton, Torvil and Dean,Bestimyaniva and Bukin, Mishketunik and Dimitriev, Gordeeva and Grinkov, Brian Boitano,Paul Wylie, Todd Eldridge, and Victor Petrenko ( the '92 men's Olympic Champion [ though I truly believe that Paul Wylie actually earned the title, and always will since he skated a cleaner, more difficult program...same as Oksana Baiul vs. Nancy Kerrigan] is coaching the Italian National Ice Dance champions at the rink in the next town over from my home town), and I continue to watch it every chance I get...Kwea gets annoyed when I make comments before the commentators do though! Posted by Cali-Angel-Cat (Member # 8799) on :
You sound like me. Put a gymnastics meet on and I have comments on form and execution flying every which way.
My favorite sports are gymnastics and figure skating. Not counting the years I owned a parakeet who loved Tomba (sp?) and went insane every time I watched ski stuff!
Posted by dem (Member # 2512) on :
The move to go from holding Winter and Summer once every four years in the same year, to alternating every other two years was not about saving money. It was a misguided marketing ploy to get more TV money.
They thought that they could get more sponsorship revenue if the sponsors were not bidding for events that happened in the same year. The short term effect was that sponsorship did go up. The long term effect is that we (the public) have downgraded The Olympics from a must see event to "Is it already time for that again."
When it came only once every 4 years, then everyone knew it was an Olympic year. Now, no one knows or cares. The Olympic organizers threw away what made the event special. They killed the goose...
Posted by JenniK (Member # 3939) on :
I understand Cali-Angel-Cat, I usually watch gymnastics too....I grew up around Tim Daggett, one of the commentators for most of the gymnastics competitions including the Olympics.(He has a rather high pitched speaking voice.) He's quite annoying actually...and his wife is even worse. His son has been in school with my niece since pre-school, and his wife, the doctor, is an idiot! Tim was on the 1984 Olympic Team, and has a gold medal for the pommel horse as well as the team gold, but the only reason he has them is because the Soviet Union boycotted those Games. Alberto Tomba... "Tomba La Bomba" - that's an interesting parakeet you had.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Great answer for Dick Button! In my family, when you see someone you think is a celebrity, and it isn;t that celebrity, you say: "Aw, it was just Dick Button." (My aunt claimed to see Dick Button everywhere, and never actually saw him once)
Now, we will have to change it to Dick Button;s Ghost.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
Wow, I feel young. The Olympic games have been staggered as long as I've been alive. The winter ones are the only ones I care about though. I love watching the figure skating and ice dancing. I find the summer games completely boring.
Posted by Cali-Angel-Cat (Member # 8799) on :
The Male gymnast I actually loved to watch the most were Bart Connor and Peter Vidmar.
I read a story the other day that Roamnia may finally be facing the end of their woman's program because something like 4 of the Olympic squad were suspended!
My Home Ec teacher my freshman year in high school knew Scott Hamilton, who being from Bowling Green, only lived like 45 mins from me.
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
quote:Originally posted by blacwolve: Wow, I feel young. The Olympic games have been staggered as long as I've been alive. The winter ones are the only ones I care about though. I love watching the figure skating and ice dancing. I find the summer games completely boring.
I'm not that old (21), but I remember when they had one set, I believe the winter ones, two years after one other set so they could start the staggering. I think it was after the 92 games. Maybe?
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Sounds about right kobaju.
I just love the Olympics. I'm the most unathletic person you'll ever meet, but I adore the idea of an international get-together to root for your country, admire the accomplishments of others, and see what a miracle the human body is. Totally fun, I definitely plan on watching.
Incidentally Nell, I too have noticed the lack of hype for this year's games. I've never been able to say in November before the winter games "Where are they going to be this year?" and really mean it. This year I did that and it wasn't until this thread that I finally knew they were going to be in Italy. (I had been too lazy to look them up before.)
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
Anyone up for a field trip to Italy for the games?
Posted by Cali-Angel-Cat (Member # 8799) on :
I wish.
I did have an invite to Vancover for their Games...
The Summer games always get more hype. The day they stop the Artistic Gymnastics is the day the Games bottom out, because they are the hottest tickets along with the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Bump!
It's almost here people!
What do we think of Michelle Kwan getting a third shot at the medals?
And whatever happened to Sarah Hughes? She won the gold four years ago, then disappeared in 2003.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Better Michelle Kwan than Emily Hughes, I think. I'd rather have a seasoned veteran - provided she can demonstrate competitive ability to the panel (wait, did she? I haven't looked today) - than an internationally-untested newcomer. Because I care so much about it...
Actually, the most fun I've had at a non-football sporting event was when I went to see some sort of world championship Short Track Speed Skating meet at the Pettit in Milwaukee. It's absolutely amazing how fast these people go and how gifted they are. I also have a strange desire to try skeleton, because shooting headfirst down a tunnel of ice sounds like a good way to die. Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
lol. There's a new speed skating event, the team pursuit speed skate. No idea what it is, but it's new. Shiny!
In addition to Sarah Hughes, what happpened to Timothy Gables? Both medaled at Salt Lake City, and I don't see any sign of them now. It's a surprise, given we are fielding men who can't do quads, and Timothy won a bronze at SLC based on his quad. Doesn't look like a good year at all for men's figure skating medals. (At least not for America)
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Timothy, who recently dropped to second on my list of current fav US skaters, placed fifth at Nationals and thus will not be competing at the Olympics.
And when I saw part of the National Championships, the commentators were talking about how four years ago, people were landing multiple quads and now they're lucky if they can attempt one. Strange ole' world, eh?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
What the heck happened? Was 2002 a fluke?
Evgeni Plushenko can still land a quad regularly.
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
I've never really paid much attention to the winter Olympics. I just am not a fan of the winter sports.
When the Summer Olympics comes around I generally watch it every day. With the winter Olympics, I might catch a couple hours of the whole thing.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Summer or Winter, I'm the crazed Olympic fan who watches all five or six NBC stations that play the non stop coverage.
Nothing is quite so exciting as a 5am speed skating competition on CNBC3.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I hear there will be more coverage this year.
My favorite thing to watch is hockey, especially women's hockey, and there is never a game on unless it is the US. When I visted my grandmother in Lake Placid, I could watch Canadian tv. I love their Winter Olympics coverage.
Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :
I am very much looking forward to crashing on my couch and doing nothing but watching curling for days and days on ends. So long as it doesn't end like last time, that is. One inch, Martin!
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I dreamed that I went to the Torino (Turin) games last night. I was a volunteer helping to pass out water bottles and there was an extra seat in the opening ceremonies so they let me in. A lot of people I knew in college were there.
I did hear [in real life now] that they were having trouble getting all the tickets sold because there is a lot more anxiety about terrorism in Europe. But I think they will rock.
I've been aware that they would be in Torino ever since the closing ceremonies of the last games. If you don't watch them, you don't watch them. I do really like the idea of the Olympics, and I did actually get to go to a dress rehearsal of the SLC opening ceremonies. I recognize there is some corruption and stuff, but the majority of people involved still think it's bad.
And while I'm on the subject of sport, I don't know if I ever mentioned that I went to see "Fever Pitch". I don't think I would have appreciated it the same without the education provided to me by the Red Sox fans of Hatrack. So thank you Paul, Mack, and the gang.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I'm looking forward to the Olympics because I spend so much of my day stuck on the couch now, it will be nice to have something new to watch.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I enjoy the Olympics. However, I am pissed that they will be replacing Law and Order for sixteen days.
I might die.
-pH
Posted by oolung (Member # 8995) on :
I'm going to BE in Torino at the time! Not to watch the Olympics, though... I love figure skating. And although everyone hates the judging, still being able to get mad at the judges is part of the fun, don't you think? (BTW, anyone remembers the one-and-only French skater Philippe Candeloro?)
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I love figure skating! I find the Winter Olympics so much more interesting than the Summer Olympics, I think.
But maybe that's because for the Summer Olympics, they had table tennis on Bravo for like four hours a day.
I did, however, enjoy the men's swimming. But um. For purely innocent reasons.
-pH
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
You don't need to do quads any more to win in mens figure skating. The new scoring system is a heck of a lot more forgiving. You can fall, rotate out of jumps, and pop singles instead of triples, but as long as you still do it with style, you can win. Whether or not that's a good thing is open for debate, and will probably be debated ad nauseam during the Olympics.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
Michael Phelps is an innocent reason, really I agree.
I like watching the winter better, but there's almost always someone from my home town (or at least IU) in the summer olympics.
Posted by amira tharani (Member # 182) on :
Candeloro, the one and only French skater?!!! Erm... Brian Joubert? Maria Anissina and Gwendel Peizerat? Okay, there haven't been many, but there have been some. And this Joubert guy is good!
I think the men's competition is going to be the most exciting of the figure skating competitions this year: Plushenko, Lambiel and Joubert are all realistic gold medal contenders, plus Jeffrey Buttle and probably a couple of Americans I've forgotten about. My heart wants Lambiel to win, but my head says Plushenko will probably win.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I didn't know about the scoring changes Bob, do you know what they are specifically?
I have a friend at U of M who has a class with Michael Phelps. He said Phelps is a really nice guy, unlike most of the atheletes he runs into who are jerks.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
It looks like USA network is where most of the hockey action is for US residents. Those of us on the border, as mentioned, can flip over to the Canadian stations if we're not getting our fill.
The problem with the Olympics is there's not much Us vs. Them any more with the Eastern European nations. That leaves the individual athletes as the main story at the Games, and really, how many of them do we KNOW? Some of us know the hockey players, some know a few of the figure skaters, but beyond that? We know Bode but that's because he can't stop putting his foot in his mouth. NBC will inundate us with sob stories of how this or that Biathlete used to have to hop around on one ski because he was sooooo poor and hope that gets us to watch more than just the few major events but it won't work. Not with a hundred other channels of content.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Hey, that one Snowboarder that went to Salt Lake won a medal just months after a liver transplant and recovering from a fatal liver disease. That's a solid sob story if I ever heard one.
I think I know more of the speed skaters names than the figure skaters names. But what do you expect? We hear about these people for three weeks every four years, and they are only around for three Olympics or so before new people take their place. Hockey players are around year round, every year (cept last year, ) and we all know their names. That's just how it is, and really how it has to be. Unless SI starts doing profiles on potential Olympians in the off years.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
quote:That leaves the individual athletes as the main story at the Games, and really, how many of them do we KNOW?
I never watch sports, ever, but I watch the Olympics religiously, and not because I know the names of the atheletes or because I want to see Canada beat Somebody Else. What I watch is the actual sport itself. For me, that is enough.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I believe the European figure skating championship is on tonight, which will give you a good look at some gold medal contenders.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
Teshi, you are the exception. And you live in Canada, a bit different than the US because the winter sports have even more importance up there. You know your winter athletes. Back in the day, everybody watched ABC's Wide World of Sports and saw those random sporting events like the Ski Jump and Super G and the like. When was the last time those were shown on a major network? And even so, there are still so many other options. Just for sports, I can flip through the stations and catch South American soccer, winter league baseball, college and pro hockey, curling, college and pro basketball, bowling, and not just one or two games for many of them.
I think most folks have an event or two they really like (say, figure skating or hockey) but we don't watch all the events to make sure we're beating the Soviets or East Germans or North Koreans.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
"Back in the day, everybody watched ABC's Wide World of Sports "
Exactly, Tick. Remember the ski jumper who tumbled down the hill every single Sunday?? Whatever happened to him?
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
When do the games actually start? Does anyone know? I always have a hard time remembering which sports are played at which Olympics. Like gymnastics, for instance. Are they happening this year, or is that the summer Olympics?
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Summer, Evie.
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
*sigh* oh well. Thanks Elizabeth. I always forget things like that. Well, they have ice skating, which I suppose is like the Winterized version of gymnastics. That's always fun.
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
As far as I've understood it, the winter games include all the sports that inherently involve ice and/or snow (or maybe just being cold), and the summer games are everything else. There might be exceptions to that rule, but that's how I remember which sports are when.
The opening ceremony is on February 10, and the closing ceremony is on the 26th.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
USA! USA! USA!
Chad Hedrick brings home Olympic gold in the Men's 5000M speed skating event!
Tomorrow is more speed skating, featuring Apollo Anton Ohno, Men's Halfpipe snowboarding, which the US Men swept in 2002, and downhill skiing, with much anticipated US skiers Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves.
Also US Women's ice hockey play Germany, a day after shutting out the Swiss 6-0.
Stay tuned tomorrow night for your daily Lyrhawn Olympic Update to learn the medal winners and the next day's events. If anyone wants to know more than just the US winners, let me know and I'll include information for whatever country you want in the update. Night all.
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
I caught Jennifer Heil win gold in the women's moguls, which I always enjoy watching. It reminds me of when I first tried going over moguls, and it was like a small bomb went off as skis and poles went rocketing off in different directions. Kari Traa had a solid run as well, with some tough jumps, but Heil was the cleaner of the two.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I love speed skating. A lot.
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
My biggest problem with the winter games is that there are fewer team sports. I don't have much experience with the sports that are named. I mean, I've never skied. Ever. I've only once been next to people with skies on.
I'm an old track athlete, so I like watching track. But I also like watching volleyball, basketball, water polo.
My second issue with winter sports is that participation in many of the events is prohibitively expensive, leading to an over-representation of Ivy League guys. I don't have a TV so I'll have to keep contact through the paper. I'll miss hockey and figure skating(a lot), and the special they'll have about curling. And the spectacle of Louge, skeleton and bobsled. My most vivid winter Olympic memory was '92 when there was a US Hockey goalie named LeBlanc who came up big. I don't know much about Hockey, but every time that guy took the Ice, I felt proud to be an American.
[ February 12, 2006, 12:49 AM: Message edited by: Irami Osei-Frimpong ]
Posted by Dante (Member # 1106) on :
I find it somewhat amusing that Irami is so enamored of someone named "LeBlanc."
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
The lack of team sports doesn't really bother me. The original olympics didn't have teams anyway, to my knowledge. It was all individuals in individual sports.
As far as the expense goes, ALL Olympic sports are expensive. I'd imagine the Olympic rowers in the Summer games aren't inner city kids. But that's beside the point. What sports are you referring to when you think that only Ivy League kids can do? Anyone living near a mountain in the north can ski, or ice skate, play hockey or snowboard.
I don't know, I guess I just don't see that marked a difference to where I can say that the Winter Olympics suffer soley from those deficiencies while the Summer Olympics are sporty, team efforted sports for the everyman.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
I've been skimming the Olympics all day. They keep mentioning someone who is the Harry Potter athlete or something. Who are they referring to, and why? I keep missing that part.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I don't know his name, but supposedly he looks exactly like Harry Potter, from what I've heard anyway.
Posted by cheiros do ender (Member # 8849) on :
Who else thinks this thread deserves a "Feature Topic" Marker for the extent of the WO?
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
I caught Team Canada vs. Team Italy women's hockey. I have to give the Italians respect for playing their hardest when they were that outclassed. Their goaltender was actually pretty good considering how many clean shots she was facing/how little help there was for her.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
What about Michele Kwan pulling out last minute and her alternate not being able to catch a flight out of NYC because of poor weather flight cancellations?
Kind of bugs me that she petitioned to even be able to go to the Olympics in the first place and then to just not compete last minute... Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
"But that's beside the point. What sports are you referring to when you think that only Ivy League kids can do? Anyone living near a mountain in the north can ski, or ice skate, play hockey or snowboard."
Nope, Irami has an excellent point. While the participants may not be Ivy League, you will not see many inner city kids who make it out to the slopes, or whose parents can afford the prohibitive cost of hockey. The equipment alone, even used, runs about 200-300 dollars. Skates themselves can run 300 dollars, and better skates are easier to skate faster on, as better skis make you ski faster. (when you are at that level of performance)
Children who grow up in climates where there is actually ice on ponds, such as Canada and Minnesota, might have a better chance of finding a league that is less expensive. An hour of ice time on the rink costs about 200 dollars, and this cost is spread out among the teammates.
Add to that, travel. When my dad was young and playing, they had team members in other towns who would adopt a player, and this was reciprocated when the other team came to your town. Now, it is all about hotel rooms, and restaurant food.
Skiing? If you live near a mountain you can ski?
Not unless you can fork over about a hundred dollars a person for lift tickets. Ski clubs are available, but again, travel, equipment, and other costs are prohibitive to many families.
Speed skating? Good luck finding a speed skating oval in the town nearest you.
Curling?
Ice time, again.
Figure skating?
Extremely expensive.
Cross country skiing is something anyone can do as long as there is snow, but you still need to have good coaches if you are good enough to compete, and travel is part of that as well.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
Female skating doesn't start till February 21. Don't scare me like that with untrue facts.
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
Pulled a muscle :/
Kinda sad; I hear she was really hoping for that gold this time.
--j_k
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
The Tick, Watch for this gal to be the next US Team hockey goalie. She is off to UNH next year.
Last year, she played for the Syracuse Stars. If she plays out your way, I will let you know.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Theaca, were you talking to me? What untrue facts?
I think it's too bad for the alternate to not be able to have the whole Olympic experience when Kwan knew she was injured (she couldn't compete at the trials) and realistically (IMO) couldn't really compete for the gold.
[ February 12, 2006, 01:51 PM: Message edited by: sweetbaboo ]
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
There is a little bit of me who considers the winter games the old money games. Its not a knock on the athletes as much as its a sad condition of the nature of the sports. The summer games has equestrian, where the costs are outstanding, it just seems that the winter games has a higher percentage of sports that are equestrian-like, and I think it's too bad.
I'm a classical musician, dealing with a similar problems. I, personally, think that the stakes are higher- and hence, the situation sadder- in music because we dealing with a more sacred art, than say, moguls.
[ February 12, 2006, 01:43 PM: Message edited by: Irami Osei-Frimpong ]
Posted by jh (Member # 7727) on :
I think you're wrong about Michelle Kwan; she truly believed that she could compete in the Olympics, and was approved to go by the US skating board to go. She didn't have to, and yet she gave the skating board the opportunity to reject her for the Olympic team if they found that she was not healthy enough. They did. It was in practice session that Kwan was re-injured, and it was a wonderful move on her part to withdraw so that Emily Hughes could go.
She is a wonderful skater, and I only feel sorry that she won't be able to realize her dreams of Olympic gold. She has done so much for the sport, and she will always remain a champion for me and many others.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
Oh, I thought your post was suggesting that Emily Hughes would not get there in time. Sorry.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
And keep in mind that we wouldn't have even been able to send three skaters had Michelle not competed at worlds and come in 4th. That secured our third USA spot. So, Emily still would not have been able to go had it not been for Michelle.
I actually admire her for making the decision now, when there is time to get Emily over here. Michelle is a wonderful skater, and has always struck me as having a lot of class.
There is no such thing as an inexpensive Olympic sport, summer or winter. Even track, which you might think isn't expensive because it's just running, requires money to get to the world-class level. You have to have access to a track, you have to have a coach, shoes, equipment - none of that is free.
Gymnastics isn't inexpensive, trust me I have first hand knowledge of how much it costs even at a local level. Swimming? You must have access to an Olympic sized pool, and coaching.
Maybe basketball. Places to play are readily available, the balls are cheap. To get to the Olympics you would have had to have had an excellent college career (and then made it to the pros now that we send professionals) and that doesn't require money it just requires a lot of talent - and getting recognized by college recruiters.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
"There is no such thing as an inexpensive Olympic sport, summer or winter. Even track, which you might think isn't expensive because it's just running, requires money to get to the world-class level. You have to have access to a track, you have to have a coach, shoes, equipment - none of that is free."
Well, I disagree with that, Belle, simply because track tends to be a high school sport at so many high schools. An athlete would have more of a chance of trying out in their regular sneakers, and getting noticed. No one is going to notice the potential downhill skiier. Do you know what I mean? I am not trying to be contentious.
But you are correct that it is all expensive when it gets to "that level."
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Belle, I didn't understand the part about why Emily wouldn't have been able to go if Michelle hadn't gone...perhaps I don't understand how the sport works.
I just kept hearing for years and years about how Kwan is "going for the elusive gold" and while I admire the determination, it seemed to me that she was blinded to her physical limitations in her desire to compete. (Understandably so--she's worked hard, there's no doubt there, I'm just sayin')
Posted by jh (Member # 7727) on :
Considering you don't know that much about figure skating or follow it outside the Olympics, I don't think you're in the position to judge Michelle Kwan's physical ability. The last two times she went to the Olympics, she went as the US National Champion. She's won 9 Nationals, and 5 Worlds, which means that she has been one of the best figure skaters in the world for the last decade. It is the pressure of the Olympics that leads to her making mistakes, and so she doesn't claim the gold medal.
The IOC determines how many ladies from each country gets to go the Olympics by how they have placed in the previous year's World Championships. Because Michelle Kwan has consistently placed very high, the US is able to send three. Otherwise, Emily Hughes, who placed third in Nationals, wouldn't get to go at all.
Posted by dcabrera35 (Member # 8574) on :
Gosh, some of these sports are extremely brutal.
The skiing yesterday with the many bumps (what was it called?) could easily break a few knees. Then today there was like an hour long ski race...
I have gained a ton of respect for all these athletes (er... except the big drunk skiier guy).
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
How many athletes you send is determined by how you finish at worlds. We did very well, with both Sasha Cohen and Michelle Kwan last year. That's what I meant that without Michelle, Emily still wouldn't have gone.
If Michelle Kwan had not competed at Worlds and finished where she did, we would have only been allowed to send 2 skaters to the Olympics. We were able to send three solely because of Kwan's 4th place finish.
If she thought she was able to compete at that level, then she deserved to go. She's a world class athlete and knows what her body can and cannot do. She thought she could skate competitively. Now she knows she cannot. So, pulling out was the right thing to do. But she didn't know that until she was injured in practice. She let the US team know as soon as she knew, and there is time to get Emily here. What Michelle did was classy, and consistent with her reputation as a true American champion.
Elizabeth, you may be right. My school didn't have enough money to field a track team, so I didn't consider track as a high school sport. Any sport that is subsidised by school money and community support is going to be easier to excel in from a monetary point of view. I guess I look at it as since track is considered a luxury for many schools, only the wealthier districts even have it. So, still we're looking at something many inner city kids will never have access to.
It may be different in other parts of the country. But in Alabama, if your school has a track team, it's most likely a school in a wealthy suburb, not an inner city school where poverty-stricken kids attend.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Belle, all extracurricular sports are going the way of the dinosaurs these days, one by one. It breaks my heart.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Except for football around here, and I'm sure basketball in the ACC part of the country and the midwest.
We can get plenty of money to build a new field house for our football team but not enough to buy books for the high school library. It's frustrating.
Nowadays it seems as if parents just expect they will have to foot the bill for their kids athletics themselves. Even cheerleading, which used to be just an adjunct to football, has private cheerleading clubs now and parents pay big bucks for their kids to attend. Gymnastics used to be offered at a lot of schools but is almost exclusively private clubs now.
I agree, it's sad. I think sports offers so much for children, but it's getting to where only the well-off can afford to let their kids' compete.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Thanks Belle, that made more sense.
jh, I realize I didn't say it in the post (I edited it so many times), I wasn't trying to judge Kwan's "ability" as a skater, I was merely commenting on her injuries and ability to discern, in the midst of that extreme desire to fulfill a dream, her own health as it appeared to me. I didn't mean to ruffle your feathers and sorry if I did so.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I agree that the winter sports are costly for younger people to start in and train in, I just fail to see how most summer sports are any cheaper. Basketball is made up entirely of NBA players, so unless you want to be in the NBA, there's no point in even trying anyway.
Swimming costs money for the trainer, coach, and olympic size pool time.
Track requires equipment, trainers, and coaching.
Tennis is played almost entirely by US Open contenders, those kind of players, and they require a full time devotion to the sport, money for court time, money for equipment, trainers, and coaching.
Shooting, rowing, sailing, canoeing all have high costs. And are more niche sports that say "Ivy League" to me than any of the winter sports do. To say nothing of Fencing and Equestrian. Which are also tagged, in my mind, as more Ivy League type sports. There's nowhere around my house to even casually learn these sports, let alone train to be an Olympic contender.
Boxing, you have to pay for gym time, training time, coaching time. And gym time is very expensive, and it's the same story for gymnastics. There are plenty of afterschool programs for gymnasts, but once you get above the 7th grade afterschool level, costs are incredible.
I just don't see the difference to the point where anyone can declare Winter Sports as more inaccesible for the everyman than Summer.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Anyway, here's your Olympic Report for February 12th.
The US picked up two more medals today, a gold and silver in snowboarding men's halfpipe. Shaun White and Danny Kass picked up the medals, with Mason Aguierre missing the bronze by a point and a half, which would have been yet another medal sweep for US Men's halfpipe.
Downhill Alpine didn't go as well for US men as they would have hoped. Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves both missed a medal, with Bode finishing in fifth, and Rahlves in 10th. A Frenchman, Antoine Deneriaz upset the Austrians and pulled out a stunning Gold Medal run.
US Women's hockey beat Germany 5-0 today, continuing their shutout win streak to 2-0. The Canadian women's team iced Russia 12-0, continuing their path of destruction for a second day.
Tony Benshoof just missed a bronze medal in the Men's Singles Luge.
In a stunning upset, Apollo Anton Ohno fell during his semi qualifying heat for the Men's 1500M Short Track race. He did not move on, and the race was eventually carried by two South Koreans. Ohno won the Gold Medal in Salt Lake City four years ago.
Tomorrow, look for the US Men's Curling team to play Norway, and Finland, while the Women also take on Norway.
Also look for the figure skating pairs Free Skate program. The United States' Rena Inoue and John Baldwin are currently in sixth place, after landing the first ever throw triple axle in international competition. Their chances of a medal are slim, but who doesn't love an underdog?
And the two big events of Monday night. The Women's Snowboarding halfpipe. The US Women's team also has a chance of sweeping the medals. Kelly Clark, the defending gold medalist, is a medal favorite, but even more so are Hannah Teter and Gretchen Bleiler. SLC Silver Medalist Doriane Vidal of France is a favorite to be in contention for a medal, and is perhaps the Europeans' best hope of stopping an American halfpipe triumvirate.
The other medal favorite event for America is the 500M speed skate race. FitzRandolph and Carpenter of the US both medaled (Gold and Bronze) in 2002 and are strong contenders this year. Joey Cheek is also a strong contender for a Bronze. But the Japanese are hot on their heels, and are also medal contenders.
Should be a great day of Olympic action!
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Alright, exciting day of Olympic action!
The US Men's curling team upset the defending gold medal Norweigan team! Great match. They lost to Finland though, just barely.
Rena Inoue and John Baldwin failed to land their throw triple axle, and in general John Baldwin was off his game and didn't match Rena very well. They ended up in sixth place, with the Russians carrying the gold.
The big events turned out well for the Americans. The US Women's team narrowly missed a sweep of the medals. Hannah Teter captured Olympic gold with an awesome run, and Gretchen Bleiler the silver. Kelly Clark missed a medal with a fall at the end of her second run. It was sad to see, she had some wicked air during the entire run, and had a HUGE 900 at the end but just couldn't hold the landing together. She might have gotten the gold away from Teter if she had landed it, but the Norweigan Kjersti Buaas got herself a bronze.
500M speed skating saw both FitzRandolph and Carpenter making minor slip ups and ending near the middle of the pack. But Joey Cheek (from Greensboro, NC btw), the favorite for gold in the 1000M, took gold in the 500M with some amazing speed.
Also, after two runs in women's singles luge, Courtney Zablocki is in contention for a bronze medal.
Lyndsay Kildow, America's greatest hope for a women's downhill medal suffered a major crash in practice today. As did the defending gold medalist, Carole Montillet-Carles, and a Canadian skier. Amazingly, Kildow still plans to ski Wednesday morning after suffering a severe contusion to the lower back in what looked like a very painful fall.
Tomorrow, look for Women's 500M speedskating. Four US women are competing, but none have medaled before in the 500M in international competition.
Men's combined downhill alpine skiing will show a talent packed day of skiing. Bode Miller will look for a medal in his second of five events. But the competition is very stiff, Austria and Norway could run the table if the Americans can pull a rabbit out of their collective ski hats.
Men's short program in singles figure skating is tomorrow night. Yevgeny Plushenko is still the man to beat in men's singles, but American Johnny Weir could give him a run for his money. Weir is practicing a quad-triple-triple toe combination in his warm ups, which Plushenko hasn't even attempted in competition. But it's shakey, and he may not attempt it in competition. America Evan Lysacek is committed to attempting a quad toe, but has been shakey in practices.
US women's hockey plays Finland. And look for the third and fourth runs of women's luge, to see if Courtney Zablocki can hold onto her bronze position.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Are there any men in skimpy clothing for me to ogle?
Seriously, I've been wondering something. How does an Olympic athlete maintain amateur status while still endorsing products like Visa and such? I don't understand the whole process.
-pH
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I think - and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong - it has to do with earning money in the sport itself, not through other non-related means.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
But I seem to remember some years back that it was a big deal that someone or other decided to be on the Wheaties box because it meant she was no longer an amateur or something.
-pH
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
Yeah, I still don't understand that either, ph. But I do remember that one year they let a bunch of professional skaters go back into competition, didn't they? It was a huge deal. Maybe that's when they changed the rules?
Posted by signal (Member # 6828) on :
In regards to speed skating, does anyone know what happened to those nifty scissor skates they had last games? Did they get banned or something?
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
quote:Originally posted by quidscribis: I think - and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong - it has to do with earning money in the sport itself, not through other non-related means.
I seem to recall some of the members of the basketball "Dream Team" making a professional appearance somewhere. Perhaps the NBA?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Yeah, they seem to let an awful lot of pros in now. It kinda bothers me because I don't understand why.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Amateur status is no longer a requirement. It hasn't been for a while.
The reason the 1980 Miracle Hockey team was such a miracle was because it was a bunch of real amateurs(recent college grads) against the Russian Soviet team, who were really professionals, in the sense that it was their job to be hockey players under the Soviet regime.
So, when the Olympics went professional, it evened the playing field. Sort of.
I miss the old days.
And I am an old fart. Snowboarding is NOT an Olympic sport, darn it.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
signal, I think I heard them talking about the scissor skeat the other night. Are they the ones that separate when they turn or something?
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I don't think curling is a sport at all.
Rocks and brooms? ROCKS AND BROOMS?!
-pH
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Curling is so a great winter Olympic sport!
And I am wrong.
The amateur status is still required for some sport, but not for others. I am trying to find a list.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
It's not a sport! SWEEPING ICE is not a sport!
-pH
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Well, I am not wrong after all!
"In the 1980s, amateurism regulations were relaxed, and completely abolished in the 1990s. This switch was perhaps best exemplified by the American Dream Team, composed of well-paid NBA stars, which won the Olympic gold medal in basketball in 1992. As of 2004, the only sport in which no professionals compete is boxing; in men's football (soccer), the number of players over 23 years of age is limited to three per team.
Advertisement regulations are still very strict, at least on the actual playing field, although "Official Olympic Sponsors" are common. Athletes are only allowed to have the names of clothing and equipment manufacturers on their outfits. The sizes of these markings are limited."
Interestingly, the reason that pros were not allowed at first was not because they were better, but because they were not consideed "gentlemen."
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Hey all, here's your Olympic Report for February 14th.
Women's 500M speedskating didn't go well for the US. Russia took gold, with China snapping up both silver and bronze.
Men's alpine combined was a surprise for all. Bode Miller, a favorite to win the gold was first after the downhill element, but was disqualified in the first run of the slalom. Ted Ligety, 34th going into the first run of the slalom came back with a vengeance and took home the gold for America in a stunning upset.
The Men's short program in singles figure skating was notable mostly because of it's failures. Many of the medal favorites were unable to complete a smooth run. Evgeni Plushenko broke 90pts, a first in the new scoring system, and sailed into a 10pt lead in first place. American Johnny Weir is in second place with 80pts, but others are nipping at his heels. Matt Savoie is in contention in 8th place, but he'll need a lot of luck, both in his own skills and in the failings of others if he hopes to medal.
The US Women beat Finland 3-7 in hockey.
In women's singles luge, Courtney Zablocki finished fifth, as the German women swept the medals.
Tomorrow, look for the 500M final in women's short track. America has two possible medal contenders who finished well this year on the world cup circuit. Watch for Allison Baver and Halie Kim to shoot for a bronze or silver.
Men's hockey prelims start today. Here's where some of the real fun will be for the next couple days for hockey fans. Today's matchups aren't that great, but on Thursday, Russia vs. Sweden would provide a lot of entertainment for hockey fans.
Men's moguls will also start and finish today, and the US men's team has a strong chance at more than one medal. Jeremy Bloom won the World Cup last year, Travis Cabral won the World Cup in 2002-2003, Travis Mayer won the Silver medal at Salt Lake City, and Toby Dawson took the bronze at the World Championships in 2003. It's a strong quartet, and at least one medal isn't out of the question.
Perhaps the biggest event of the day is the start of Women's alpine skiing, with the downhill race starting the pack. The US has four skiers, and amazingly Lyndsay Kildow WILL race after the spectacular crash she suffered in training yesterday. She is the best hope for a medal for the US in women's alpine, and may race in all five alpine events. She was second on the World Cup tour to Dorfmeister of Austria.
US women's hockey plays Finland. And look for the third and fourth runs of women's luge, to see if Courtney Zablocki can hold onto her bronze position.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Isn't the Men's 1000M short track tomorrow as well? (By "tomorrow," I mean "after I wake up in a few hours") Or am I off by a day?
I need to say this again: I really love speed skating.
And skeleton seems like the best way to die. Ever. Who wouldn't want to dress up like a sperm and go shooting headfirst down an ice tube at speeds approaching 80 miles/hour? Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Not the finals no, just the quals, prelims, semis. Finals are on Thursday.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
I'm a terrible person. I'm tickled that Bode Miller didn't win gold and even MORE tickled that another American (whom I didn't really know existed because of all the Bode hype) won it. I don't know why Miller rubs me the wrong way; his pretentious Nike ads, the swaggar, all the smack he talks...it all just made me glad that someone else won.
I am a terrible person.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
Narnia, I was the family physician for Ted Ligety's grandfather for a couple years and they were constantly showing me his picture and telling me how he was doing. I was so happy he won the gold!! They kept showing his parents at the Olympics and I've met his mom several times. So cool.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
That's neat. He really did seem like a mature and down to earth guy. I'm glad he won too (especially since it was such an upset. Those are always fun).
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Olympic Report for February 15th.
Bit of a letdown in Men's Moguls, where a deep four man US team should and could have taken gold or more, but achieved only a bronze by Toby Dawson.
Women's alpine downhill left US favorites Lyndsay Kildow and Julie Mancuso in the top ten, but not with a medal in the event. Her injury during the training run was just too much to overcome during the actual race, but she will have a couple more chances at a medal.
Men's hockey Prelims:
Czech Republic vs. Germany: 4-1 Win for Czech Republic, but at a price, Dominic Hasek was injured, which, if a tear and not a pulled groin, will really hurt the Buffalo Sabres' chance for a cup. Slovakia vs. Russia: 5-3 Win for Slovakia, a bit of a surprise that Russia lost. Sweden vs. Kazakhstan: 7-2 Win for Sweden. Canada vs. Italy: 7-2 Win for Canada. Finland vs. Switzerland: 5-0 Win for Finland. United States vs. Latvia: Tie, surprisingly, this was supposed to be an easy win for the US team.
Short track relays saw the men's team advance to the next round, and US women failed to take a medal in the 500M.
Tomorrow
Men's long program in figure skating is tomorrow. Evgeni Plushenko is sitting on top with a 10 point lead, and barring a major mishap will take the gold. American national champion Johnny Weir is in position for a silver medal, but the space between him and the four or five people behind him is tight. He'll need a great skate to bring home the silver for America.
Tomorrow's feature hockey prelim game is Russia vs. Sweden. Several of the Swedes are players on the Detroit Red Wings, and Pavel Datsyuk is a star young Russian forward. See these team mates square off against each other in what should be an explosive matchup. I predict the Swedes win by two or three.
It is also the first of two nights of Skeleton. Tomorrow will be the women's skeleton.
Tomorrow's Feature Event for me though, is the debut of men's Snowboard Cross. Four boarders all race down a tough track at high speeds. It is marked by high jumps and some spectacular crashes. Scott Wescott is the reigning world champion, and fellow American Lindsey Jacobellis is the reigning women's world champion. Tomorrow is the start and end of the men's, with the women's to follow on Friday. Should be a lot of fun to watch!
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
psst - Hasek tends goal for the Senators, not the Sabres. He also claims it isn't his groin this time, it might be a hammy.
USA had better just be tired...Irbe was a good goalie ten years ago.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Senators, Sabres, whatever. After he abandoned the Wings we all stopped caring.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
It should HELP the Sabres. Mike Tyson facemask or not, Ray Emery is no Dominator. Though I will miss the opportunities to taunt Dom if he can't play.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Not like it really matters anyway since the Wings are going to win the cup. But hey, they can always be excited for second place.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
The Sabres' sweet spot is next year...but watching the way they played the Sens recently, I give them a fair shot against ANYONE in a seven game series.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Well, they won't get to game 6 against the RW, so...
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
An Australian got gold!
(Third ever Australian team member to get a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.)
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I still say that curling is not a sport. Why does USA devote entire days to it?
Bring on the SVU!
-pH
Posted by jennabean (Member # 8590) on :
I LIKE CURLING. Just because old ladies do it doesn't mean it's not a sport!!
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
It's just as much a sport as bowling is....and it's cooler because it's outside in the snow. Literally cooler. *hides head becasue of terrible pun*
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Curling is most awesome.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Curling is confusing. I've watched the coverage on USA, and I still don't think I have it figured out.
I don't like Jonny Weir's attitude at all. Is it a bad thing that I'd rather see Plushenko (sp?) win rather than the American?
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
I don't like it either Belle, but his skating was just so beautiful I couldn't help but cheer for him. I know, I'm terrible. I'm interested to watch how it goes tonight....
Posted by amira tharani (Member # 182) on :
Curling good... I think the Brits should make the semis in both men's and womens, which will be excellent! We now have our first medal of the Games! Shelley Rudman managed to take a silver medal in the skeleton bob - it was a very impressive slide. I'm also quite impressed with the whole idea of snowboard cross - that was cool to watch!
Posted by hugh57 (Member # 5527) on :
quote:Originally posted by pH: I still say that curling is not a sport. Why does USA devote entire days to it?
Bring on the SVU!
-pH
When you get right down to it, curling doesn't need to be a sport (though I believe it is). It only needs to be a game. These are the Olympic Winter Games.
As for why USA Network devotes so much time to it, I would imagine it's the same reason that ESPN covers a lot of poker - enough people want to watch it to make it worth their while.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Curling is a pretty crappy game, then.
I also was pissed when USA spent entire days covering ping pong- oh, excuse me, TABLE TENNIS.
Why, oh why should I care?
I think poker on television is stupid, too.
-pH
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
I grew up in Canada and part of the physical education curriculum invovled learning to play curling (*is that correct, "learning to curl", "learning to play curling"?). It is great fun and if anyone has an opportunity, I'd recommend doing it. (Of course, I don't remember much by way of rules but it's still fun to watch IMO)
Posted by hugh57 (Member # 5527) on :
quote:Originally posted by pH: Curling is a pretty crappy game, then.
As Dave Barry would say, it's all a matter of opinion, and yours is wrong. Posted by amira tharani (Member # 182) on :
Oh my stars, Plushenko was unbelievable tonight! What a skate! It seemed like by the end he was doing jumps for fun. Fabulous. I couldn't believe he's only 23, though I do remember him as a gawky 16-year-old so it shouldn't come as a surprise to me. I wonder if he'll carry on competing till Vancouver.
I was a bit disappointed in Lambiel. He easily matched Plushenko for skating quality, and his interpretation and spins are better, but he didn't land the jumps and his last 30 seconds or so had just gone flat. I still love to watch him skate.
Someone explain to me why Jonny Weir was marked as low as he was?! I still don't get the new scoring system, but even then it didn't seem right to me.
I do like to watch Jeffrey Buttle, I think he's really enjoyable to watch and I like his character on the ice. I'm glad he got a medal, although I think he was lucky, as indeed he was at worlds last year.
Joubert was also a disappointment... as at worlds, he had a medal there for the taking and just couldn't do it. I loved his routine, it was just such a shame he couldn't nail the jumps.
Still, the whole evening was great to watch! Can't wait for the ladies and the ice dance still to come!
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
hugh Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
I don't know why I read that... skating doesn't even start here for over 2 hours and already I know more than I wanted to. That's my fault, though, for looking.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Me too Theaca. Drat.
Posted by amira tharani (Member # 182) on :
Argh, sorry guys. I thought you had it live. My bad Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Don't worry Amira, I have to avoid MSN and the news too because I'm on the west coast of the US. We get everything LAST! Posted by amira tharani (Member # 182) on :
I do want to know what you guys think of it when you do see it though.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Dick Button Lives!!!!!!!!
I thought someone in another thread said that Dick had died, and I felt bad making fun of him.
Now, I can get right back to it!
Wahoo!
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
Jonny Weir only completed 7 jumps, 2 of which were combinations. You're expected to do 8 jumps and 3 combinations. It was really clear to see him set up for a jump about 3/4 of the way through his program that he didn't wind up attempting, and that cost him the medal.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Olympic Summary for February 16th.
In what was a surprise to no one I'm sure, Evgeni Plushenko took the gold back to Russia in his last Olympic performance before retirement at the ripe old age of 23. Americans were close to medaling as well, but just couldn't seem to find a smooth program between then, despite the hype and early second place lead for Johnny Weir, and a strong free skate from Evan Lysacek.
USA women failed to take a medal in Skeleton, which again is a surprise to few given how the US skeleton team has been gutted in the past couple weeks.
Men's Prelim Hockey scores:
United States vs. Kazakhstan: 4-1 Win for USA. Latvia vs. Slovakia: 3-6 Loss for Latvia. Russia vs. Sweden: 5-0 Win for Russia (Boy was I ever wrong, but I certainly didn't envision a shutout for the Russians) Canada vs. Germany: 5-1 Win for Canada Switzerland vs. Czech Republic: 3-2 Win for Switzerland (Easily an upset victory for the Swiss, the Czechs are expected to go far) Italy vs. Finland: 0-6 Loss for Italy.
US Men's snowboarding cross came out strong at Turin. Seth Wescott, heavily favored to win the gold, lived up to the hype and took home the gold in this rip roaring winter game. It was a fun race to watch.
Tomorrow
Women's hockey semifinals start, with US women facing off against Sweden.
The women's combined (even won by US Ted Ligety) will feature Lindsay Kildow and Julie Mancuso, who both failed to medal in the downhill. The US women are still a deeply talented team, but against the Austrians, Germans, and the ever dangerous Janica Kostelic, who is possibly the best female skier in the world at the moment.
For those that like figure skating, the compulsory ice dancing will begin as well tomorrow.
Also look for men's skeleton, which will complete that event for the 2006 Olympics.
My Feature Event for the day however will be women's boardercross, to see if Jacobellis can make a gold medal sweep of the snowboarding events so far.
Posted by signal (Member # 6828) on :
<-- Wishes I learned curling in PE. I get into it every time the winter olympics comes around. And to whoever that said that only old ladies curl, have you SEEN the US women's team?! Very cute imo.
As for figure skating, I just can't watch it anymore. It's like the talent pool gets worse every time. Also, there really aren't any advancements in the sport. I agree with you, Belle, johnny weir's attitude is terrible. He comes off as such a jerk. I find myself rooting against people like that. I feel the same about Bode Miller. On the other hand, there are people like Seth Wescott who won the boarder cross event. He seems very down to earth.
Hockey is great this Olympics. I'd be surprised if the Canadian men's team doesn't take gold. From Group A, I expect Finland to be in medal contention as well, as they have dominated the competion thus far. Switzerland is capable of a medal if Aebischer keeps up his goal tending and they can improve their offense. From Group B, Russia and Sweden have a chance. Sweden wants it bad. They just need to pull together and bring their A game. The US also has a chance if they can focus their aggressive style and play even better than they did against Kasakhstan. I'll be rooting for Canada all the way, but will be happy for any team with Avs, Wings, and/or 'Canes players. [Is it legal to like both the Avs and Wings??]
Btw, thanks Lyrhawn for the daily updates. Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
It's legal to like the Avs and Wings now, as far as I'm concerned. The Avs aren't half the team they used to be during the height of the rivalry. And for that matter, their roster has changed so much since then, it's really not even the same team, especially with Sakic retiring soon.
I think the new rivalry will be the Wings and the Predators. They've improved immensely since last season, and make our division more competitive (lord knows the Blues and Blackhawns aren't doing anything to help in that situation). They're the only real roadblock to the playoffs for us now, the Avs don't even matter anymore.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I might add, about Curling, if that's an Olympic sport, then so is baseball and softball, and they should be added back in. I really fail to see why it doesn't count as a feasible Olympic game.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I think my current favourite figure skater (in all areas) is Evan Lysacek. He's just fun to watch.
I watched a bit of curling the other day and got really into it, even though I had no clue what was going on. Days later, I think it had something to do with angles and hitting stones, but that seems too much like pool - and I suck something awful at pool. Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Think of it as shuffleboard on ice. Or bocce ball on ice.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I am also not good at those games, though I tend to have lots of fun playing them. Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
quote:As for figure skating, I just can't watch it anymore. It's like the talent pool gets worse every time. Also, there really aren't any advancements in the sport.
No advancements? Have you watched old tapes of Dick and Peggy skating? How can you say there are no advancements? Every year there's something crazy and new that's more athletic, more demanding. The athletes up the ante from competition to competition!
Anyway, about last night's skating. I'm finally aware of how the new scoring system is a handicap to delightfully graceful skaters like Weir, Savoie and Stephane Lambiel who don't cram their programs full of jump after jump after jump. Personally, I thought Plushenko's non-program was ugly to look at. I don't buy into all of his arm gyrations. But he gets the points because he jumps and jumps and jumps and jumps. Grace was not required, neither was good choreography or even an intelligent musical selection. So he wins. According to the rules, he should have won.
Weir was definitely off his game last night. He seemed really tired. Even so, I loved his program and that of Stephane Lambiel. I'm glad he won the Silver, he looks good and is fun to watch out there. I was so proud of Lysacek as well. I'm glad that we had two of our US guys in the top 5.
[edited to stamp out and eradicate superfluous redundancy.]
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I agree - I did not like Plushenko's program, Savoie was much more entertaining.
If the scoring stay like this, we may as well just line them up and have them jump across the ice until someone falls and declare the last one standing the winner.
They either need to de-value some of the jumps or increase the value on the artistic side or figure skating is going to be nothing but jump-a-thons from now on.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I agree. With the focus on jumps, much of the show ends up looking exactly the same. There's no individuality or flare to each person's show, at least, that part of it isn't scored. It's all based on the same identical elements that they have to fit into their shows, and the parts around it don't matter so much.
The grace, the style, really the ballet on ice part of it, is more important than jump, jump, jump. They need to fix the scoring again.
Also, anyone see the women's boardercross? I don't want to spoil it for anyone waiting until tonight to watch it, but, huh, that was really something to see. A lot of people really have mixed opinions on it too.
Posted by signal (Member # 6828) on :
quote:Originally posted by Narnia: No advancements? Have you watched old tapes of Dick and Peggy skating? How can you say there are no advancements? Every year there's something crazy and new that's more athletic, more demanding. The athletes up the ante from competition to competition!
I'm sorry. I should have specified, as compared to the previous three or four Games. Its definitely a more artistic event and partly due to the new scoring system, they have made the artistry aspect worthless. Browning, Hamilton, Stoyko, Bayul, Yamaguchi, even early Kwan... there was character to their performances. Now they might as well save time and just have the skaters line up and do jumps sans the music and tiresome skating in between.
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
I liked it when Scott Hamilton said "I have never seen a man do a spiral like that." Highly amusing.
Also, I know I'm deaf and I use closed-captioning a lot. But apparently I'm blind and color dyslexic too.
How bad is it that I thought the last skater of the evening was Canadian? When whatshername said that he was only 19 and too look out for the Vancouver games in 4 years, I thought, "Cool, prime age and home field advantage." But at the end of the routine, when Scott Hamilton said something about what they were doing in Japan to have such talent and depth, it occurred to me that the guy was Japanese.
Hey, white flag with a red thing in the middle, red flag with a white thing in the middle. I can't tell them apart, I guess.
The only good thing I can think of is that even though the guy was obviously Asian, it never occurred to me that he might not be Canadian.
I am such a complete dork.
Posted by Rappin' Ronnie Reagan (Member # 5626) on :
quote:Anyway, about last night's skating. I'm finally aware of how the new scoring system is a handicap to delightfully graceful skaters like Weir, Savoie and Stephane Lambiel who don't cram their programs full of jump after jump after jump. Personally, I thought Plushenko's non-program was ugly to look at. I don't buy into all of his arm gyrations. But he gets the points because he jumps and jumps and jumps and jumps. Grace was not required, neither was good choreography or even an intelligent musical selection. So he wins. According to the rules, he should have won.
I watched quite a bit of the men's skating, and I remember the commentators saying over and over again how the new scoring system helped the skaters who were more like dancers and had great choreography.
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
You should get TiVo then. Cause it don't.
And I wish to God I could mute Dick Button. Just him. The other ones I can tolerate, but he drives me crazy.
Posted by Rappin' Ronnie Reagan (Member # 5626) on :
Maybe instead of just saying "it don't" you could explain why. I just searched for information on the scoring system, and here's an excerpt from a Yahoo article:
quote:The new scoring system has kept the sport from becoming a jumping contest, a growing fear before the Salt Lake City Olympics. The tough jumps are only worthwhile now if they're done well, and spins and footwork have been given added importance.
"The skill level will increase," choreographer Lori Nichol said. "We are entering an artistic age, kind of a revolution in that sense. You're seeing great skaters, even though they're missing jumps, they're still winning because of their artistic ways."
But skaters have to pack so much into their programs now to maximize their points that there's little room for originality. That wonderful moment in Alexei Yagudin's short program in 2002, when he appeared to pick up snow and toss it in the air? It might not happen now.
If spins and footwork are gaining in importance and skating is becoming more artistic, why is there "little room for originality"?
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
I think they were saying it is harder to be original but the best ones are managing it. At the Olympics and in January the commentators kept making remarks about how the skaters were picking the moves with higher points. So we are seeing more death spirals, more of spin X and combination Z and less of certain other things that are as risky but worth less points. I'm not good at remembering the actual names. I remember in January at Nationals there was some spin that practically every single skater did. The commentators were groaning everytime someone did it again.
I kind of wonder if they'll revise the rules a bit in a year or two to even out some of these risk versus points issue.
Posted by jh (Member # 7727) on :
Plushenko deserved the gold medal, but simply because almost everyone was horrible. His "program" lacked any semblance of choreography; it was jump jump jump jump, then a couple spins.
It was hardly up to the level of the past Olympic mens' gold medalists' programs, including Alexei Yagudin's and Ilia Kulik's. Yagudin's program in 2002 had everything - jumps, spins, actual choreography. I miss him so much!
I felt Evan Lysacek's program was very well done though, especially after his disastrous short program. His was actually inspiring, unlike Plushenko's. He couldn't even bring himself to smile when his anthem played during the medal ceremony!
Posted by ctm (Member # 6525) on :
quote:Originally posted by Rappin' Ronnie Reagan: I watched quite a bit of the men's skating, and I remember the commentators saying over and over again how the new scoring system helped the skaters who were more like dancers and had great choreography.
I'm sure I heard the commentators say several times that they get points for attempting the harder moves even if they mess up. So it's worth more to try the harder jumps and miss them than to do easier ones perfectly? How does that help artistically...? I guess I'm confused.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
"And I wish to God I could mute Dick Button. Just him. The other ones I can tolerate, but he drives me crazy."
But Kayla, listening to Dick Button is my favorite part! I think someone should develop a Bick Button drinking game, like there is for Bob Newhart Show and Hawaii Five-o.
Every time Dick is disgusted or comes out with some assinine comment, you have to take a swig.
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
Poor Jacobellis...she tried to hotdog that last jump and it cost her the gold. That would be harsh -- not only to mess up so spectacularly, but to have it pointed out to you over and over again in replay after replay. Hopefully she learned her lesson, and will be back in four years to get her gold.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I don't really think she cares that much to be honest. Most of the snowboarders have a more free spirited attitude, and medals, no matter the color, aren't as big a deal as the game itself.
When asked about what she did, she kinda shrugged and said "oh well." She still got the silver, she's still the best, the color of the medal doesn't matter to her.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Olympic Report for yesterday and update for today:
Sorry I didn't get to it last night, I had a lot going on and fell asleep before I got a chance to post it.
So, what happened yesterday?
The US picked up a silver medal in the women's boardercross snowboarding event. It could/should have been a gold, but Jacobellis tried to get a little fancy on her last jump at the end and fell, which game the Swiss rider enough time to sneak past her for the gold. Ironically, the Swiss rider who ended up with the gold is the girlfriend of American gold medalist Seth Wescott in the same event.
America missed any medals in the men's figure skating event. But in many ways it doesn't matter, that sport is a little screwy in the scoring department these days.
Other than that it was a bit of a letdown for America yesterday. Sweden beat America in the semifinal hockey game and they will play Canada in the gold medal match, as the USA will play Finland in the bronze medal match. The expected result is Canada, Sweden and the US on the medal podium.
Lyndsay Kildow is out of the combined Women's downhill after another fall, and the downhill portion of the event was cancelled due to weather. And as of midday today, the medals were handed out with no Americans on the podium.
The US men also failed to take a medal in the men's Super G.
Today starts the 2 man Bobsled run.
The US Men hockey play Slovakia, who previously defeated Russia.
Later today will be the Men's 1500M and women's 1000M in short track. And the men's 1000M in long track.
Apolo Anton Ohno is going for a gold in short track, while in long track, the US men are currently one, two, and six. With gold favorite Chad Hedrick in sixth, Shani Davis in first, and Joey Cheek in second.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Go Switzerland, go Switzerland, it's your birthday, go Switzerland!
Wow!
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Quick update. The Swiss upset the Canadians in men's hockey.
Shani Davis and Joey Cheek took first and second in the 1,000M men's long track speed skating.
Slovakia beat the USA in Men's hockey as well.
South Korea ruled in the women's 1500M short track, and the second run of the 1000M short track for men was cancelled. At the moment Apolo Anton Ohno is poised to take the bronze medal in that event, and Rusty Smith appears to be shut out.
I'll go ahead and do the lookout report for tomorrow's Olympic events as well:
Tomorrow Women's super G, with the same Americans as the previous two events, again the headline American is Lyndsey Kildow followed by Julia Mancuso. Kristen Clark also had a strong world cup showing. Julia Mancuso won the bronze at this event at the World Championships last year.
Tomorrow is also the third and fourth run of the two man bobsled. America has a slight chance of a bronze with Todd Hays and Pavle Jovanovic, but it'll depend on some slipups from better competitors.
The ice dancing original skate is tomorrow, with the Americans best hopes of it's first medal in this sport ever in sixth place.
The qualification round for Women's Aerials is tomorrow, with two American women competing. Emily Cook is the only real chance of a medal. She was a medal contender in 2002, but broke both her feet two weeks just before the SLC games.
Sweden plays the United States in men's prelim hockey. Nothing is really certain in this field anymore with so many upsets, but after the USA losing what should have been some easy games, and Sweden's brutal loss to Russia, either team could lose or win this game.
Finally, in Sunday's feature event speed skating long track the women will race for the 1000M medal. Chris Witty and Jennifer Rodriguez both medaled at this event in 2002, gold and bronze respectively. But Chris Witty has age working against her, and there's strong competition in the field. Should be an exciting matchup.
[ February 18, 2006, 04:38 PM: Message edited by: Lyrhawn ]
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: I don't really think she cares that much to be honest. Most of the snowboarders have a more free spirited attitude, and medals, no matter the color, aren't as big a deal as the game itself.
When asked about what she did, she kinda shrugged and said "oh well." She still got the silver, she's still the best, the color of the medal doesn't matter to her.
I don't believe that. Her 'free-spirited' attitude doesn't renig the tremendous work she's done in order to compete at that level. And while she might have put on a good face for the interview, after the race she was crying her eyes out.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
She should have been crying, she deserved to lose that gold and I'm glad she didn't get it.
This is the Olympics, not the X Games, and even if you are way in front you show some respect not only to your opponents but also to the venue and to the traditions of the games by not showboating.
What is with the attitudes on the American team this year? I'm positively ashamed by many of them.
Shani Davis is the worst. I could understand not wanting to race the team pursuit, but I cannot forgive the comment he made. He bascially said no one ever helped him get to where he was and he was skating for himself, no one else.
Excuse me? You are skating for the United States of America. And when you're at the level of international competition, you can't say no one helped you get there. Who paid for the uniform he's wearing, the skates, his travel, his lodging? The US Olympic Team. And who pays for that? We do - the people of the United States. How can he afford to train and travel the World Cup Circuit? Because of sponsors that make their money off of US consumers and TV ratings, again paid for by advertising revenues because of US consumers.
He was sent there to represent the USA and chose instead to selfishly represent himself and snub his teammates and every American. It's despicable. I never, ever rooted against an American as much as I did against him. And then when he won, he was downright ugly with the reporter interviewing him. What a terrible representative of our country. I hope he wins nothing else, and I hope his attitude costs him dearly. If I were a sponsor I'd drop him immediately. In fact, I think I'll try to find out who his sponsors are and write them to suggest they do just that.
When he has no sponsorship support, let's see how far he can really go "by himself."
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
That's funny, Belle, because he was very gracious to the Canadian reporter, thanking the staff at the rink he trains at in Calgary, giving huge credit to Jeremy Wotherspoon for being one of the best in the world, and he knew if he could keep pace with him and then outsprint him at the finish he'd have a good chance to win, etc. etc.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Then his anger is specifically directed at the US, that's pretty obvious. I already knew he trained in Canada, maybe he considers himself more Canadian.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Then let him race for Canada. I too am disgusted by his attitude. Chad Hedrick held his tongue rather well when they asked him about Shani. I think he has every right to be upset about his attitude.
Posted by ctm (Member # 6525) on :
Considering the hard time the American press gave Shani Davis over the past few days, I can't really blame him for not being enthusiastic in his interview. When people jump over and dissect everything you say, you tend not to say much after a while.
Am I the only one who thought Chad Hedrick was a bit if a whiner? He complains about Davis, the press picks up on it and runs with it, then he complains that the press is paying more attention to that than to his gold medal.
Besides, the American press always does that, pays more attnetion to the "favorites" in a given race. That's why we hear more about Jacobellis losing the gold than we do about... what was her name? The woman who won the gold? All I know is she's Seth Wescott's girlfriend .
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
Well, Jacobellis was the American, and the expected winner, after all. AND made a big mistake. And the winner basically lucked out in winning a gold, after everyone else fell down. I would expect the American commentators to be focusing far more on Jacobellis for all those reasons.
Don't commentators always focus more on the their home country athletes, if possible?
Posted by ctm (Member # 6525) on :
I wouldn't know personally, since I've only seen our US coverage. My siblings live in Vermont, and they usually watch the olympics on the Canadian stations and say the coverage is much more even-handed. Less annoying too, not so much blather.
I guess I personally enjoy watching good athletes no matter where they come from.
I do see your point about Jacobellis, though.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
Heh. Your sibs must not listen to much of Team Canada's hockey coverage.
Posted by ctm (Member # 6525) on :
quote:Originally posted by TheTick: Heh. Your sibs must not listen to much of Team Canada's hockey coverage.
lol... true, they probably don't.
But Canada and hockey, well, you know. What else ccan we expect?
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
Aller! GO CANADA OUR HOME AND NATIVE LAND!
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
quote:"On my website, there are a lot of derogatory remarks in the comments, wishing me to break my leg and fall down, using the N word, a lot of ignorance out there. But things happen to a lot of people. I'm one of a kind, the only black speedskater. We don't know what it's like to be a white guy in the NBA, or running the 200 meters in track and field. We just have to adjust."
This was Davis' best chance at an individual gold medal, and if he felt as if he couldn't be as competitive if he raced the relay, so be it. I'm not ecstatic about his decision, but I understand it. It would be a different issue entirely if the relay came after 1,000.
The guy has been in his own head for the last decade without his friends and most of his family understanding why he is doing what he is doing. One of the reasons he is as good as he is is because he is his own man. He isn't perfectly gracious or nice, but in his defense, he has spent the better part of his youth becoming one of the fastest men in the world, and he feels as if he has done it on his own, well, at least done it without the due support of his country.
I'm going to give him a moral pass on these Olympics and seen how he conducts himself in the next few years, as he gets his head together.
To be honest, this gold medal is probably going to change his future life and also throw his past into perspective. I think that jeopardizing his chance at it by racing the relay would have been noble, but I understand his decision. He went there to do a job. I'm sure he has been saying "No" to distractions for years, it's just too bad that the team relay became yet another distraction.
[ February 20, 2006, 12:17 AM: Message edited by: Irami Osei-Frimpong ]
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
What great hockey! I was on the edge of my seat the whole game. (US-Sweden)
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Canadian coverage is NOT more even handed. It's all about Canada. They cut out most of the heats of the snowboarding and speedskating that don't have Canadians in them. Which isn't to say American coverage is much better, it's not a whole lot better, but just that the Canadians aren't exactly doing impartial coverage. Same for luge and skeleton and any other sport, they focus on the Canadians. During all those falls in women's downhill, they only mainly showed coverage of the fallen Canadian skier, and barely mentioned Lyndsey Kildow and the Frenchwoman, even though their falls were a hundred times worse than the Canadian's.
Of course, to be fair, the coverage on American TV didn't even mention the fallen Canadian.
Home countries focus on their own atheletes, that's just how it is.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Quick update so far today:
US men fail to medal in the 2man bobsled.
Sweden rocked the US, which still stands a decent chance of advancing to the quarterfinals, but I don't really see where they have much hope to advance from there.
The original dance portion of the ice dance is ongoing at the moment. America has a chance at a medal here, as there's only about a point separating first place from sixth place Americans Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto.
Women's aerials have been postponed until tuesday due to weather, but the men will still face off tomorrow in the event.
The medals have been awarded for the women's 1000M, and can be found here but I don't know them yet, and want to watch when I get home from work tonight, so, I won't spoil anyone on that one .
I'll finish the report tonight with the result of the upcoming men's curling match against Britain and give the report for tomorrow, which is full of alpine, bobsled, aerials and women's hockey medals.
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
quote: Am I the only one who thought Chad Hedrick was a bit if a whiner? He complains about Davis, the press picks up on it and runs with it, then he complains that the press is paying more attention to that than to his gold medal.
They both strike me as immature and petty and in need of some serious diplomacy training. But being an olympian doesn't automatically make you a people person.
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
US gets bronze in Women's Ice Hockey-- Canada v. Sweden looks to be an intersting game.
I'm told Ice Dancing was pretty ugly last night.
--j_k
Posted by Sean (Member # 689) on :
quote:Canadian coverage is NOT more even handed.
It's definately very clear who they want to win, but my impression is they do a better job of at least showing what other countries are doing.
I think this is partly made easier by having less local athletes to cover (this is less pronouced in the winter), so we have to give more coverage to other countries to fill time.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Tanith Belbin is seriously gorgeous. So many of the ice dancing women have slicked back hair and extremely heavy makeup, and Tanith manages to be even more beautiful by looking more natural.
Those two, Tanith and Ben, really exemplified Olympic spirit. In the Kiss and Cry, before their marks came in, Tanith just grins and says "No matter what, that sure was fun!"
I love watching those two. I hope they do well tonight. Even if they don't win gold, if they skate well, I think they will both be happy.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Well they got the silver. Congratulations, Tanith and Ben. Best medal for an American ice dance team ever and the first medal in 30 years.
Plus, they are a very young team, and have the potential to attend at least two more Olympics. I think they'll be a favorite for gold in Vancouver if they stay together and stay healthy.
Wasn't she wonderful afterwards? Not only gracious about winning and thrilled to be there but expressing her concern for the injured dancer. She also admitted she made mistakes but didn't have regrets, saying she was glad they were able to hold it together and she never expected to come to the Olympics and skate three perfect programs.
One of our newest citizens, and a heckuva representative for the US.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Silver in ice dancing, ending a 30 year drought. Bronze for the women in ice hockey. We are now tied for most medals in winter games ever, and there is still a week to go.
Women's bobsledding could be a medal mine, with two American teams in contention for medals, with the final two runs to be tomorrow.
The US is set to play Canada the day after tomorrow in the curling semifinals.
Four US men qualified for the men's aerial finals which will take place on Thursday.
Tomorrow
Women's bobsled ends. Women's figure skating begins with the short program. Sasha Cohen is the US favorite for a medal. US men play Russia in hockey. Tomorrow's Feature Event is the men's 1500M speedskating event. Chad Hedrick, Joey Cheek, Derek Parra, and Shani Davis, gold medalists all of them, and all but Derek Parra are gold medalists in Turin. Should be a VERY exciting match.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sean:
quote:Canadian coverage is NOT more even handed.
It's definately very clear who they want to win, but my impression is they do a better job of at least showing what other countries are doing.
I think this is partly made easier by having less local athletes to cover (this is less pronouced in the winter), so we have to give more coverage to other countries to fill time.
I agree and disagree with that. When they are showing events, they do more or less the same job that US television does at showing the same amount of athelets, actually, US television probably even shows more. Trust me, I've been watching a LOT of CBET and NBC lately. The only plus I give to Canada is they show a much wider variety of events. More hockey and curling for them. Whereas other events with less Canadian players and popularity only get highlights, or they do half coverage and cut a lot of people out.
It's a trade off. But it's not better or worse.
Posted by Sean (Member # 689) on :
Alright then; I haven't really watched much NBC this year. All the complaints turned up by googling seem to be about past summer games, so maybe it just a wider coverage in summer because of how much we suck phenomenon. Like this.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Spoiler loaded Olympic report, so, if you plan to watch it tonight, skip what you're about to hear.
Women's two person bobsled saw a silver medal for US women Shauna Rohbock and Valerie Fleming. Vonetta Flowers and Jean Prahm were close by, but not good enough for a medal.
Silver and Bronze for the men in the 1500M speedskating race, for Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick respectively.
Hockey is more or less over for the day. The US limps into the quarterfinals where they will lose to Finland, ahem, I mean PLAY Finland. I really hope that American NHL players aren't allowed to play in four years, and we go back to amateurs.
Still to come today is the women's short program for figure skating. Kimmie Meisner of the US is in second place right now, and Emily Hughes is in fourth, but Sasha Cohen is still to come. Irina Slutskaya, the favorite for the gold, is in the lead, and is the first skater to crack 60 points thus far. But she pulled out of one of her jumps early, and that opens the door for Sasha or some other skater to take advantage. Especially for Sasha who has a fantastic spiral. I'm also happy to report that Sasha is only four months younger than me, and it is thus entirely appropriate for me to ogle her during her performance. I mean, geez, she'd model hot.
Tomorrow is the women's 1500M in speedskating. For the women's and men's aerials, only one American qualified for the final round, Jeret Peterson, the top US men's aerialist. He'll compete for gold on Thursday.
Also tomorrow is women's slalom.
Tomorrow's Feature Event is the semifinals in men's curling, where they will play Canada. Who will most likely win after beating us today 6-3. The US men are guaranteed a spot in the medal round, and tomorrow will decide if they play for gold or bronze. If I had to take a shot at guessing how it all plays out, I'd say Canada beats America tomorrow, and Finland takes out Britain, and if we do lose to Canada, that's the best situation for us. The bronze medal match against Britain then would be a good matchup, and I think the US would edge them.
Men's snowboarding Super G is also tomorrow, and whereas the US snowboarding team has thus far cleaned up in the medals, they aren't expected to fair nearly as well in the Super G. For the men, this is a Swiss dominated event. They hold the top four positions on the world cup tour, and if you go down the list, they hold six of the top nine positions on the world cup tour. Only one US man has a chance at a medal, and that's a slim chance at that for Tyler Jewell.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
If the US doesn't send NHL'ers, would that mean our amateurs would be playing Finnish and Russian and Canadian NHL players, or do you want to not have the pros altogether?
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Did anyone else watch the 4 x 10km relay in cross country skiing. (ski-ing?) I was hooked into it by the documentary they did on the 1994 race in Lillehammer where Italy beat Norway by .1 of a second. Norway has won the last two with Italy less than .5 seconds behind both times. I was all fired up to see what would happen this time. Italy was so inspiring. Not only did they cream Norway (it just isn't their year in cross country), but they created such a huge gap! It was fun to watch even though it wasn't close, and I found myself cheering mightily for the home team. I'm so glad they won, Italy has done a wonderful job as Olympic host this time around.
Ice dancing has been fun to watch too. I especially enjoyed the glare of death from Barbara Italian Lady when her partner dropped her. Her drama queen act went on so long that it ceased to be amusing and I just wanted her to get the heck off the ice. What a lame display of petty childishness. I'm so proud of Tanith and Ben. They just look bright-eyed and bushy tailed all the time and aside from their dynamite skating, their expression is better than anyone's. Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
Every time we win/lose the stanly cup there's a riot, if we win we riot, if we lose we riot.
Either way, we riot.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Tick -
Non NHLers from the US, NHLers from other countries can play if they want. The problem is it doesn't really matter, American NHL players are a relative minority compared to all the foreign players anyway, but that's not the point. They have two weeks to practice together then it's off to play as a team against teams that have for the most part been practicing together for longer. They need to put together a team that plays together for more than a week and a half or whatever.
I've always said, the Pistons would beat everyone if we played in the Olympics, but taking an All Star team over there lost in the last summer Olympics because the team doesn't have enough time together to form a team atmosphere.
The Miracle on Ice victory was against a lot of Russians who would have been in the NHL if Russians had been playing here back then, and who by the way beat the crap out of the NHL all stars in the same year, so it's not unreasonable to think we could win by doing the same thing agaon.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
I don't think it would be that simple. Look at a team like Finland...they have a ton of NHL players (17 on the final roster) so they dealt with the same issues. They just worked through them. Canada has too, in the past, as has the US. I feel like Team USA is just at an odd spot, with moldy old vets and some young guns. We need more young talent so we can put Chelios and the like out to pasture.
I view the Miracle on Ice as a singular event, requiring singular players and coaches and a good bit of luck...heck, why else do they call it a miracle? Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Might as well try it in four years, otherwise our NHLers will just get mopped up again.
Nothing to be lost in trying. Have them play the NHLers and see what happens.
You're right though, the coaching was a huge part of the Miracle on ice, and it was the fact that that team worked TOGETHER as a single unit for MANY weeks before facing the Russians. That makes a big difference.
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
I watched the women's figure skating tonight. I'm never disappointed when I watch it, it never fails to entertain me.
Anyway, I've seen Irina Slutskaya skate a few times since the 2002 olympics (and once or twice before that), so no surprise that she was excellent again tonight. I've never seen a performance by her that wasn't flawless (or close to it).
Sasha Cohen was amazing tonight, I thought. I was very impressed. The only other time I'd ever seen her was 2002. A very beautiful girl too.
I was also really impressed by the tiny little Japanese girl. I thought she deserved a better score than what she got, but I'm not qualified to make that sort of decision . Her timing with her music was impeccable, but I'm not sure how much that counts for.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I agree, Xavier, I liked her too.
Sasha's performance I thought was better than Irina's because it was better choreographed and her showmanship is better. I really think they shouldn't be as close in the scores as they are.
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
I agree, Belle. As much as I like Irina Slutskaya, I thought Sasha Cohen was considerably better tonight.
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
I thought there was just something special about Slutskaya's performance tonight. I have never seen her skate before (this is the first year I have ever watched the Olympics) but I was thoroughly impressed with how much I liked her show. I also have to give her credit for defying the norms by wearing pants instead of a skirt.
Yes, Cohen gave a flawless and what appeared to be an effortless program, I don't deny that. I'm just of the opinion that Slutskaya had some amazing spark and performed with passion that really appealed to me.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Xav, I have to agree with you about the last Japanese girl to skate. I thought she deserved better scores.
Sasha Cohen was magnificent.
I was surprised to see Slutskaya in a body suit, she has never done that before. I didn't think it was that flattering a style on her. The last skater I recall wearing a body suit was Debi Thomas (can't remember what year that was).
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
I forgot to mention how much I love Emily Hughes. I am the newest member of her fanclub. I saw one of her other performances and along with tonight's, she is now my favorite skater. That girl loves to skate and she makes sure the entire audience knows it. She makes me happy when I watch her perform.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Yes, Emily Hughes was a very nice performer. I liked her costume, too.
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
quote: I was surprised to see Slutskaya in a body suit, she has never done that before. I didn't think it was that flattering a style on her. The last skater I recall wearing a body suit was Debi Thomas (can't remember what year that was).
Apparently this was changed by the International Skating Union sometime within the last year.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
What was changed?
*confused*
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
The lady skaters can wear pants now, Ela. I guess that means trousers or tights. Men have to wear pants, not tights. That hasn't changed.
I found several sites on the internet saying they made the old rule after Katarina Witt wore a skimpy outfit in 1988. It was the Katarina Rule.
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
I'm surprised that a Google on Katarina Witt popped up so many nude images.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
So, we (Australia) qualified first in the women's aerial! Two in the top 12 isn't bad. It would be great if we could get the gold again.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
Is the Austrian ski team in a lot of trouble? It sure sounded like in from the one article I read, about drugs and cheating.
Yeah, I'm surprised that Katarina posed nude for playboy.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
quote:Originally posted by Theaca: The lady skaters can wear pants now, Ela. I guess that means trousers or tights. Men have to wear pants, not tights. That hasn't changed.
I found several sites on the internet saying they made the old rule after Katarina Witt wore a skimpy outfit in 1988. It was the Katarina Rule.
I had no idea that there was any change in rules. I seem to remember some woman skater, I think Debi Thomas, wearing a body suit similar to Slutskaya's at the Olympics, but that would have been the same year as the Witt incident you mention.
Posted by ctm (Member # 6525) on :
Well, I'm glad you all remember seeing someone in a bodysuit in the Olympics before because I do too... When they mentioned the rule change allowing them I was confused.
IIRC, Suraya Bonali wore them. I think she was French.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
So did Irina and Sasha really skate better than Emmy Meissner? I didn't stay up to watch them, but Emmy's performance (and her triple triple combo) were wonderful. Was it just a lack of showmanship or experience that put her behind those two in the scores? Otherwise, I thought her performance was lovely and I'm bummed that she's so far back now.
Posted by R. Ann Dryden (Member # 8186) on :
Well, no one even expected her to be a contender, so the fact that she is in fifth actually is pretty good. I wish she'd done better than fifth, personally, but it was her very first time. I have a feeling we'll see more of her in the future.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Okay, maybe it was Surya Bonaly, that could be it. Boy, she was a great skater, I loved watching her. Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
I missed the Emmy Meissner skate. I forgot to tape NBC before I left for a meeting last night.
Posted by hugh57 (Member # 5527) on :
I think that Kimmie Meissner suffered, in part, from the luck of the draw that made her only the second skater in the first group. According to Bob Costas last night, she'll be in the final group (4 groups of 6 each) to skate on Thursday night, skating second to last (Irina Slutskaya skates last; Sasha Cohen fifth to last - Emily Hughes will skate third in group 3 which means 10th to last).
Posted by ctm (Member # 6525) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ela: Okay, maybe it was Surya Bonaly, that could be it. Boy, she was a great skater, I loved watching her.
She was good. I remember her being a very athletic skater and being criticized for it. Guess she was ahead of her time...
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Right. Kimmie. That's who I meant.
Posted by Risuena (Member # 2924) on :
As far as I know, women have always had to wear a skirted costume at the Olympics and that has only just changed. I do vaguely remember Kristi Yamaguchi having a skirt put on one of her outfits when she was competing in the Olympics after having gone pro.
Otherwise, if you remember someone wearing a pantsuit at the Olympics it was probably in an exhibition skate - where anything goes.
Also, I think the Katarina Witt rule had something to do with extraneous items on a costume (like feathers) that could fall off and pose a hazard on the ice.
I really liked both Slutskaya's and Cohen's programs last night and I have no problem with them being essentially in a dead heat.
Posted by amira tharani (Member # 182) on :
I'm with Risuena on the skating. Should be a fabulous free programme tomorrow.
We lost in the curling, sadly . Played fantastically against top-ranked Finland - equal going into the last end, but then their skip played an incredible draw to win by one. It got very nerve-wracking.
Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :
Our women will be contending for bronze as well, amira. I am extremely glad that our men's curling team made it to the gold medal game though! Uusipaavalniemi is going to give us a run for it, definitely, but I think we have a chance. So long as we don't lose by one heartbreaking inch again.
Posted by Sean (Member # 689) on :
Gah.
So close to a great day for Canada.
Posted by Fitz (Member # 4803) on :
That was a really disappointing hockey game for Canada. All the announcers say that team Canada can't be accused of not putting forth enough of an effort, but I disagree. Their performance was pathetic. Shutout 3 times! Awful.
Go Russia!
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Alright, so, Sasha Cohen gets the Silver, but bravo to Kimmie and Emily for landing in the top seven. Strong showing this year from the women.
The Alpine team this year has been a dismal disappointment, with only Ted Ligety's surprise gold to show, when at least 10 medals were expected to be won. The women have been shut out, and though there are still two more events to go, tomorrow's women's giant slalom, and saturday's men's slalom, there is only a small hope for medals there. Many think that the hype and sponsorship behind Miller and Rahlves is partially to blame. The team isn't deep at all, with only two people to pin that much hope on for victory. As for the women, Mancuso underperformed, and Kildow was hurt, which knocked out all hope there too. They need to go back to the drawing board.
There's only three days of Olympic action left.
Tomorrow is the medal matches for curling. The US men will face off against Britain in a rematch, this time for the bronze. The US Men weren't supposed to win the first time they beat Britain, so this game is anybody's guess.
Also, the end of men's speedskating with the 10,000M. This is Chad Hedrick's last chance for another medal, and his chances aren't bad. Fellow American Charles Ryan Leveille Cox will skate with him in a rather small field of contenders.
As I said before, Alpine skiing continues with the giant slalom for the women, and the first two runs of the four man bobsled.
Things are really winding down. America sits second in the medal count behind Germany by four medals. They have a chance at a curling medal, maybe two speedskating/shorttrack medals, maybe a skiing medal, and possibly something in bobsled, but it's starting to really narrow out. Looks like America won't finish on top, but they've already had a fantastic showing at these Winter Olympics.
I'll update tomorrow and Saturday then do a closing report and summary on Sunday.
Posted by Nellie Bly (Member # 9129) on :
I'm glad Sasha managed to get her silver medal, but I can't believe she missed her two fist jumps. That cost her the gold.
Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
I can't believe she fell twice and still got the silver.
Posted by jh (Member # 7727) on :
Sasha may have fell twice, but she rebounded beautifully and had amazing choreography. She was rightly placed in front of Irina Slutskaya.
Shizuka deserved to win the gold medal and I am really happy for her, but her program was very uninspiring. Compared to the previous winners, it was not as technically difficult; I would have expected the winner to land more than 5 triples.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
More than five? Heck, not that many people even TRIED five triples, let alone landed them.
Posted by Dick Button (Member # 9197) on :
It don't mean a thing if you ain't got those triples.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Besides, the type of triple matters too. Someone can land three triple flips, and three double lutzes are worth just as much, that's how it works with the new point system. Everything has a value, and has more value in the latter half of the program. Doinge a double lutz double flip combination near the end of of the program is worth more than a triple flip triple toe combination at the very beginning.
But also, Sasha got a LOT of points for her artistry and her spiral sequences, which everyone pretty much agrees that she is the best in the world at.
Dick could probably explain it better than I could, being a commentator for NBC and all. Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
I can't count the times I've politely asked Dick to shut up in the last two weeks. He just doesn't listen.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
You need to tell him to button his lip.
Posted by jh (Member # 7727) on :
Basically, I expected more from the gold medalist. Tara Lipinski and Sarah Hughes both landed triple-triple combinations when they won in 1998 and 2002. Usually those winning championships where the field is deep and talented land 7 triples. And I already know how the new skating system works. I also think it's ridiculous that you get points for full rotation even when you fall. Falling ruins the flow and artistry of the program most of the time, and it's unfair to those who can stay on their feet.
Figure skating was so very dull this year - they were the best of the field for sure, but that doesn't say very much when everyone else falls or isn't mature enough presentation-wise. Shizuka was clean, but not inspiring. Plushenko's skate was not even a program, he just did everything he was supposed to do. Pairs was boring as well - I'm still bitter that Zhang and Zhang won the silver medal. They went way over the two minute time limit in continuing their skate; their win was based on sympathy, nothing else. The only bright spot was in ice dancing, which is sad because apparently it is the least watched out of figure skating disciplines. I loved Belbin and Agosto's original dance, and I hope they continue to do well on the world scene.
Posted by Dick Button (Member # 9197) on :
Hey, wait, jh, I'm Dick Button!
Let's not forget: Potential is potential is potential.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
at CT.
jh, I completely agree with you about everything you just said.
Word.
Posted by Dick Button (Member # 9197) on :
She's got charm and a kewpie doll face.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Big medal day for the US.
Pete Fenson led the American curling team to its first curling medal ever. Bronze for the US men's curling team, and bravo too, in beating the team from Britain, where the sport was first invented.
Chad Hedrick picked up a silver medal in the 10,000M speedskate, his last event, and the last of men's speedskating on the long track.
Julia Mancuso, in what many considered a surprise upset took GOLD in the women's giant slalom. Good for her. She had the potential to do great at these games, I guess it just took this long for her to loosen up.
Bobsled is in a dicey spot. The US men finished 5th and 6th in the first run, and then 6th and 7th in the second run. Runs three and four are tomorrow, but the field ahead of them is tough. Only two tenths of a second seperate the top 7 places in the first two runs (so I guess if you add both together as you should, it's four tenths of a second). Though that doesn't look like much, it's an eternity in bobsledding. Still, a screwup from one of the top contenders, and the run of their lives from one of the US sleds could still spell a medal for the team.
Tomorrow look for the third and fourth runs of bobsledding.
The 5000M women's speedskating event in long track. US women don't really stand a chance, but I'd put my money on Cindy Klassen of Canada for the top spot.
It's a wide open field tomorrow as well in men's slalom. Ted Ligety has a good shot, and I don't even think Bode Miller will be racing. Not that it would matter anyway with the flop of a showing he's made at these Olympics.
The Czech Republic will play Russia for the bronze medal in hockey tomorrow. Which will setup the Scandinavian showdown of Sweden versus Finland in the gold medal match on Sunday. Should be two sweet games.
Finally, short track ice skating gives Apolo Anton Ohno his last two chances for Olympic gold with the 500M and the men's relay. The US men had the fastest qualifying time in the relay, but in short track, time isn't everything, and anything can happen.
Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :
In other news, Canada won the gold medal in Men's curling yesterday. Hurrah!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Edited because I should have added the link before. Damn my laziness! Damn it!
[ February 25, 2006, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: quidscribis ]
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Second the hurrah and yay! Go Canada and curling!
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
"Julia Mancuso...had the potential to do great at these games, I guess it just took this long for her to loosen up."
Nope, she finally got to perform in her ski boots with her custom orthodics -- which somehow got lost on the way to the Olympics -- in time for her last medal race. In competitive skiing, maximum performance is highly dependent on a tight connection from the feet, ankles, and lower legs to the skis in order to minimize response time in weighting&unweighting the edges for turns, in weighting&unweighting the ski surfaces to maintain&shift balance. As it was, Mancuso's handicap in her previous endeavors was the equivalent of trying to win a track race while wearing flip-flops or clown shoes.
And frankly, I am thoroughly disgusted at how NBC commentators tried to fan competitive feelings into feuds between competitors, over and over again, as well as stir up hatred against individual athletes amongst the ignorant in the viewing audience. It's bad enough listening to idiots "blah blah blah"ing through performances as if they were the attraction and not the athletes -- going so far as interviewing each other instead of covering the events -- but when they deliberately try to muck with the athletes' heads, sabotage performances, interfere with competition through hatemongering, poisoning the atmosphere of what should be Olympic conviviality, it's time to toss NBC out of the OlympicGames broadcasting business.
[ February 25, 2006, 05:42 PM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
Posted by Dick Button (Member # 9197) on :
Oh, my golly days!
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
It wasn't just NBC doing it. Though since all the coverage is coming through them, they sound like the worse of the lot, but the international press and the American press are all over it, it isn't just NBC. None of the other major networks would be any better at it.
And I didn't know that bit about her equipment, that really sucks that she didn't have the chance to perform at her best during the whole of the games.
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
The closing ceremonies were AWESOME. I ended crying through half of it. Such a tribute to the Human race.
And long live our awesome neighbor, Canada! Their anthem is so moving.
Posted by Rake (Member # 9195) on :
This was Sweden's most succesful wintergames ever. 7 gold medals, 2 silvers and 5 bronze. And we won gold in icehockey! Hooray!
Posted by Risuena (Member # 2924) on :
I think I finally figured out what I like so much about the Olympics - chance to see sports that the US couldn't care less about but have fanatically followings in other countries. Like the Dutch and speedskating, the Koreans and short-track, and the Norwegians and cross-country. It's fascinating and makes me wonder how different sports become popular in different countries.
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
- it has to do with earning money in the sport itself, not through other non-related means. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Laugh]](graemlins/laugh.gif)
at quid. Yeah, after I reread it I almost wanted to add [cue sappy instrumental crescendo] at the end. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Glad I could entertain, Nell. You provided me with such a good opening. How could I resist? ![[Hail]](graemlins/hail.gif)
Peggy Flemming,Scott Hamilton, Torvil and Dean,Bestimyaniva and Bukin, Mishketunik and Dimitriev, Gordeeva and Grinkov, Brian Boitano,Paul Wylie, Todd Eldridge, and Victor Petrenko ( the '92 men's Olympic Champion [ though I truly believe that Paul Wylie actually earned the title, and always will since he skated a cleaner, more difficult program...same as Oksana Baiul vs. Nancy Kerrigan] is coaching the Italian National Ice Dance champions at the rink in the next town over from my home town), and I continue to watch it every chance I get...Kwea gets annoyed when I make comments before the commentators do though! ![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Grumble]](graemlins/grumble.gif)
) and we all know their names. That's just how it is, and really how it has to be. Unless SI starts doing profiles on potential Olympians in the off years.
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Embarrassed]](redface.gif)
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I watched quite a bit of the men's skating, and I remember the commentators saying over and over again how the new scoring system helped the skaters who were more like dancers and had great choreography.