I also feel bad for the delegations that had a small delegation including some nations that have one athlete which is a flag bearer. Andorra is one example.
Like in any Olympic games, the opening and closing ceremonies are their one shining moment because some nations who have yet to win a single medal in the Olympic games have no realistic shot. Andorra, Cyprus and San Marino are some examples.
But nevertheless, they're happy to be there.
Last edited by BroadwayBomber55; 02-13-10 at 02:02 AM.
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
Let the games of the XXI Winter Olympiad begin!
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
He looks like he's trying to hold in diarrhea.Originally Posted by b_joseph
Wayne, erm, you ok??
.
Why do people analyze the Opening Ceremonies? I dont really get it. Who cares? The cool part is watching the countries get announced and the torch get lit...thats what I watch it for. I mean who cares what choreographed dances they do and what songs they sing?
Jesus Montero since June 1 (286 at-bats):
.325/.386/.605/.991
July 1 (182 at-bats):
.348/.417/.658/1.075
That's what I watch it for, too. When they throw all that filler in while we wait for the torch to get lit, it gets critiqued. It's a major event and that's part of it. Just like the Super Bowl - the commentary, commercials, halftime show, and actual game all get analyzed. Why would it be different here? Especially when someone actually threw $40 million (apparently 1/10 of what the Chinese did) into putting on a dog and pony show like that.
.
I watch the opening ceremonies for the parade of nations (test my geography) and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
But I also like some entertainment here and there.
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
Love this commercial during the opening ceremonies...
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
In all seriousness, I'm really excited to see curling. Don't know exactly why, but I find it very entertaining
I don't feel bad for them. They are extremely proud and happy to be there. I love seeing the pride on their faces. They usually have great stories too.
2009 - World Champion New York Yankees!!
I guess I dont even understand why they do all that extra stuff. Announce the countries, light the torch, do the speeches by the IOC president and whoever else....and thats it. Why do we even need the other stuff? Its a waste of time and money IMO.
I kinda feel the same way about Super Bowl halftime. Keep the regular 15 minute halftimes like you do all season and thats that. Who cares who sings or performs at the halftime show.
Jesus Montero since June 1 (286 at-bats):
.325/.386/.605/.991
July 1 (182 at-bats):
.348/.417/.658/1.075
From NBC sports...Officials to alter luge track in wake of death.
Fair warning, there is a picture of Kumaritashvili mid-air.
238 more runs to score 1000.
2010 GT record: 8-5 (including two near no-hitters)
Here's what supposed to happen with the cauldron.
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/van...urn=oly,219449
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
The 10 best moments of the opening ceremonies
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/van...urn=oly,219441
1. The gaffe heard 'round the world -- Vancouver organizers had planned for four Olympic cauldrons to be lit by Canada's most famous athletes, but a mechanical error prevented one of the massive torches from rising from the floor of BC Place. Former hockey star Wayne Gretzky, two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash and Alpine skiing legend Nancy Green were able to light their cauldrons, but speedskater Catriona Lemay Doan was left with her flame when the fourth torch failed to emerge from underneath the stadium. It was an embarrassing end to an otherwise flawless Opening Ceremony. Instead of the indelible memory of four cauldron-lighters, this ceremony will be most remembered for the cauldron that wouldn't rise.
2. Honoring Nodar Kumaritashvili -- The tributes to Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who died Friday morning during a practice run at Whistler, were understated at best. In the IOC's defense, it's hard to add a last-minute homage to a ceremony that has been scripted down to the second, but organizers still could have done more than a moment of silence that lasted a few seconds and some perfunctory remarks from Rogge before his address to the gathered 60,000 and the billions watching on television. This isn't to say that the Opening Ceremony should have turned into a somber affair, but there were better ways to address the tragedy than a few hastily-gathered addendums.
3. "Peaks of endeavor" -- In the highlight of the performances at the Opening Ceremony, snowboarders and skiers descended from the roof of BC Place on wires in a stirring tribute to Western Canada and the Rocky Mountains. The performance featured a draped mountain circled by lighted speedskaters that was reminiscent of the lighted drummers from Beijing.
4. An early parade of nations -- Usually the parade of nations takes place in the latter half of the Opening Ceremony, after the numerous performance and set pieces. (This could be because of logistics; thousands of athletes take up a lot of room standing on the floor of a stadium.) But Friday night in Vancouver, the parade took place at the beginning of the ceremony. Unlike in previous Games, though, the 2,500-plus athletes were able to sit in the stands and enjoy the show.
5. Honoring native Canadians -- The opening five-minute celebration of aboriginal culture was a fitting tribute to the native people of Canada, but it felt a bit forced and more than a little hokey. When the tribes were introducing themselves, a large totem pole in the middle of the floor of BC Place raised its arms. When each of the four statues had raised their arms, it resembled a quartet of sleepwalkers. After the parade there were some higher-tech performances, but it seemed like ceremony directors borrowed much of the special effects from "Highlander."
6. The virtual floor -- A terrain of ice virtually broke apart and turned the floor of BC Place into virtual oceans in which whales and salmon swam across. The section combined two-dimension reality with third-dimension effects to make for the most technologically impressive moment of the ceremony. It may not have been the splendor of Beijing, but on a diminished budget, it was an amazing feat.
7. Warm reception for the United States delegation -- The U.S. athletes received one of the warmest welcomes while entering BC Place. Only Georgia (home country of Nodar Kumaritashvili) and Canada were greeted with bigger cheers.
8. Cold weather gear in a climate-controlled stadium -- Though each delegation (with the exception of Bermuda) looked like it was bundled up for a trip into the Canadian tundra, the temperature inside BC Place was actually a balmy 72 degrees.
9. Lindsey Vonn's no-show -- The potential star of the Winter Olympics was in Whistler during the festivities, recovering from her shin injury ahead of her ambitious five-race schedule. Though the athletes were able to sit during the performances of the Games, each had to stand for at least an hour before the march. Thus, it made little sense for Vonn to join the U.S. delegation at the risk of aggravating her injury.
10. The lip-synching singers -- Lip-synching is a given when it comes to performances in huge venues. The risk of technical difficulties, the lack of monitors and trouble with acoustics necessitate recording a back-up track. But usually when this happens, the performers who are going about the lip-synching do a decent job of hiding the fact that they're not really singing. That didn't happen Friday night in Vancouver. From "O Canada" singer Nikki Yanofsky to Nelly Furtado to Bryan Adams to a tap dancer whose tapping sounds were obviously pre-recorded, every performer at the Opening Ceremony had difficulty keeping up with the track. Nobody expects live singing anymore, but at least make a good attempt to fool us, you know? At least the slam poetry guy was on a live mic. (On second thought, maybe that wasn't the best thing.)
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
The officials really need to add more padding especially in areas where they have metal bars exposed.
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
So, I had to work tonight and missed the opening. Really pissed. Just saw the video & pics of the accident, very sad.
I'm excited to watch the bobsledding.
ESPN's medal picks
http://sports.espn.go.com/olympics/w...ory?id=4909817
ESPN's Team USA prediction tally: 32 medals (10 golds)
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
No padding would have saved him at 90 mph.
I think the track itself should have been raised on that side, covering the exposed beams entirely.
Gretzky over Orr?
Awkward.
"I'm sorry Smokey, you were over the line, that's a foul....mark it zero Dude, next frame"
Why is that? Gretzky is easily the most popular and most well known Canadian throughout his country and the world.
Jesus Montero since June 1 (286 at-bats):
.325/.386/.605/.991
July 1 (182 at-bats):
.348/.417/.658/1.075
I thought Orr was the better hockey player, just because he led the league in scoring while being it's best defenseman as well.
But Gretzky is better known throughout the world.
Hmmm.
Guess I should go back to my room and reflect on this.....give it more thought than I have up tp this point...some serious contemplation coming up.
I was hoping for an easy day.
"I'm sorry Smokey, you were over the line, that's a foul....mark it zero Dude, next frame"
Maybe he just didn't think of it, but Gretzky should have let her light one being that he was going to light the external cauldron.Former hockey star Wayne Gretzky, two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash and Alpine skiing legend Nancy Green were able to light their cauldrons, but speedskater Catriona Lemay Doan was left with her flame when the fourth torch failed to emerge from underneath the stadium. It was an embarrassing end to an otherwise flawless Opening Ceremony.
.
It may have been "otherwise flawless" but that doesn't mean it was that good.
The virtual floor was amazing.
Mo' Nut: One Smoove Brotha.
Jaret Wright's 2005 Cy Young Season: 20-3, 3.04 ERA
It also didn't help that Canada had severely restricted practice runs pre-Olympics on their site in an effort to have "home field advantage".
I guess it is an advantage when you can literally "kill" the competition.
Mo on repeating in 2010:
“The question is, do we want to do it? The question is, are we still hungry enough to do it?”
Sliding track modified.
http://sports.espn.go.com/olympics/w...ory?id=4911258
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
Olympic officials are blaming the poor kid:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/mo...k_not_to_.html
Hughes Rules: Pleading the Fifth
That's really dumb.
Why blame poor Nodar Kumaritashvili for this?
I blame it on the track designers for this.
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
Of course. This is the same organization that turned a blind eye to what China did to stage the Olympics, their 12-year old gymnasts, telling our athletes apologize for having the audacity to wear masks when there's pea soup thick smog there.
The torch no longer gets ran through other countries to stifle protest.
Let's just bury that body and get the games going!
On another note:
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/van...ress&type=lgns
"VANCOUVER - Johnny Weir is staying at the Olympic village because he was concerned about his safety after receiving what he considers "very serious threats" from anti-fur activists.
The American figure skater had talked about staying in a hotel because he didn't enjoy his experience in the Olympic village four years ago. Weir says arranging security at a hotel would have been too tough, while the village is under tight control. Weir is sharing a two-bedroom suite with ice dancer Tanith Belbin.
Weir drew the ire of animal-rights activists last month after he added white fox fur to the left shoulder of his costume for the free skate at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships."
He is "Blades of Glory".
Mo on repeating in 2010:
“The question is, do we want to do it? The question is, are we still hungry enough to do it?”
The Swiss win the first Gold...Federer has company as an athlete who is the best in the world at his craft.
"Owning the Yankees," Steinbrenner once said, "is like owning the Mona Lisa."
Simon Ammann won his third gold medal in Olympic history with his win in the Normal Hill Ski Jumping event.
Silver: Adam Małysz, POL
Bronze: Gregor Schlierenzauer, AUT
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
Next Medal Event: Men's 5000M Speed Skating
Americans Chad Hedrick, Trevor Marsicano and Shani Davis are in it, but they need to pass by the Dutch trio of Sven Kramer, Bob de Jong and Carl Verheijen to win medals.
Last edited by BroadwayBomber55; 02-13-10 at 04:52 PM.
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
What moved me the most last night was the moment of silence. It lasted a full minute, and there was not one sound from 50,000 people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QOU77cw1Vs
Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer. ~Ted Williams
It was.
Both the crowd giving the Georgian delegation a standing ovation for marching in the Parade of the Nations and the moment of silenced really moved me.
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
Another medal event taking place
Biathlon - Women's 7.5 km Sprint
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
I think that ius the first Olympic record of the day...Sven Kramer, 5000m speed skating.
Beast.
"Owning the Yankees," Steinbrenner once said, "is like owning the Mona Lisa."
Go Chad!
2009 - World Champion New York Yankees!!
Blah, oh well. The 1500 m should be fun to watch later tonight. I like the sprint races.
2009 - World Champion New York Yankees!!
And....
He is a cutie.And....
2009 - World Champion New York Yankees!!
Kramer.
Pride Power Pinstripes
Men's 5000M speed skating results
G: Sven Kramer, NED
S: Lee Seung-Hoon, KOR
B: Ivan Skobrev, RUS
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
Two more medal events on tap for today: Saturday, September 13
Short Track Speedskating - Men's 1500 m Finals
Freestyle Skiing - Ladies' Moguls Final
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
Women's 7.5km Sprint - Biathlon
G: Anastazia Kuzmina, SVK
S: Magdalena Neuner, GER
B: Marie Dorin, FRA
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
Ski schedule revamped after delays
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/van...v=ap&type=lgns
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
Just watched the short track speed skating. Apolo is amazing!!
Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer. ~Ted Williams
Seeing luge right now.
This is one of Germany's bread-and-butter Winter Olympic sports.
They have 26 medals in this sport, 11 gold.
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
Hopefully, Apolo Anton Ohno and the American short trackers get some medals in.
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
Georgian luger and the teammate Nodar Kumaritashvili, Levan Gureshidze withdrew from the event.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-feat...h+heavy+hearts
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
He's fun to watch!
2009 - World Champion New York Yankees!!
NBC is boring the hell out of me right now. Show me some events, dammit!
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
