2010 Winter Olympics Thread

[pleasepassthesoup]

I tend to root for people in the Olympics rather than countries. It really doesn't make me happier when an American wins than when someone from somewhere else wins. In fact, it's often more exciting when someone from one of the smaller countries wins.

[sprucemoose]

I know, for the most part, what they are looking for and it's still very frustrating to me because I think there are innate biases. The Russian teams almost always seem to get higher marks than they deserve as well as the "bigger" names in the sport.

I just like to watch the routines. The medals almost seem to be pre-ordained sometimes.

Have things changed much since the pairs controversey in 2002? I don't really follow the sport, but I remember they were going to introduce a new judging system for figure skating. Has it made a difference?

[Panamaniac42]

I always have trouble watching figure skating and gymnastics...cuz I never know what the judges are really looking for. What looks like a good skate to my untrained eyes...gets low scores. And the opposite of that happens too.

Yeah apparently you can fall on your ass and still get put into 3rd place...

[CoyoteYankee]

And the judges just illustrated what I mean. The Russian team wipes out during their singles jumps and still wind up with the second best score.

I love these outfits from the Ukraine team!

[BroadwayBomber55]

I tend to root for people in the Olympics rather than countries. It really doesn't make me happier when an American wins than when someone from somewhere else wins. In fact, it's often more exciting when someone from one of the smaller countries wins.

I root for both: the United States and the rest in the Olympics.

And it is exciting to see athletes from the smaller countries win a medal.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics is a great example.

I mean sure, the media and the fans focused on the battle between the United States and China, but most people do not talk about the other countries.

86 different countries out of the 204 that participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing won at least one medal and 54 of them had at least one gold medal.

Here in Vancouver, it's the same thing. It could be a three-team race between the United States, Canada and Germany, but also other nations who are looking to win their first Winter Olympic medal or their first medal overall.

[CoyoteYankee]

Have things changed much since the pairs controversey in 2002? I don't really follow the sport, but I remember they were going to introduce a new judging system for figure skating. Has it made a difference?

I really don't think things have changed much. I am not a totally avid figure skating fan but I probably watch more than most people and I still see the same biases come through in the judging. It's really annoying.

[dabomb2045]

Fair enough. I don't actually see much of a rivalry (except hockey). I'm happy when Canada wins, but it doesn't really make a difference to me if a Canadian finishes ahead of an American or a Swede or a Russian. And the Canada-US rivalry in international sport (except hockey) is more akin to Royals-Yanks...not much of a rivalry when one side usually wins. I mean, can you really consider Canada a rival in basketball?

Maybe I'm just a weirdo. I see it more like friends. If I can't win, I hope my friend does. If I do win, I hope my friend finishes second.

No, although at least you guys have Steve Nash . As to your second point, I was always under the impression that most Canadians felt that way (and maybe they do). What always changed my perception was watching the Juniors tournaments....anytime they were hosted by Canada....seeing the Canadian crowd always boo the US players and root against them--even if it was against Russia. Now I dont know if thats a "we hate the US and their team" thing, or is it a "we know the US is good, we want them to lose now so we dont have to face them later on" thing. Maybe you can answer that one for me.\

I was also in Toronto last March for the WBC....and was at the USA-Canada game at Skydome. I was surprised a) how into the game Canadian fans were and b) how much crap I took from the crowd.

[CoyoteYankee]

Damn...that was quick. Visa already has a Johnny Spillane commercial (voiced by the incomparable Morgan Freeman).

[BroadwayBomber55]

Day 3 Schedule: February 15, 2010

http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-schedule-results/

6 more medal events on tap.

Medal Event
10:00 - Cross-Country Skiing - Ladies' 10 km Free

Medal Event
10:30 - Alpine Skiing - Men's Downhill

10:30 - Snowboard - Men's Snowboard Cross Qualification

Medal Event
12:30 - Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 15 km Free

14:00 - Snowboard - Men's Snowboard Cross 1/8 Finals

14:26 - Snowboard - Men's Snowboard Cross Quarterfinals

Switzerland vs Canada
14:30 - Ice Hockey - Women's Preliminary Round - Group A Game 5

14:42 - Snowboard - Men's Snowboard Cross Semifinals

Medal Event
14:53 - Snowboard - Men's Snowboard Cross Finals

15:30 - Speed Skating - Men's 500 m Race 1 of 2

Medal Event
17:00 - Figure Skating - Pairs Free Skating

17:00 - Luge - Women's Singles Run 1

Medal Event
17:28 - Speed Skating - Men's 500 m Race 2 of 2

18:50* - Luge - Women's Singles Run 2

Sweden vs Slovakia
19:00 - Ice Hockey - Women's Preliminary Round - Group A Game 6

[dabomb2045]

And the judges just illustrated what I mean. The Russian team wipes out during their singles jumps and still wind up with the second best score.

I love these outfits from the Ukraine team!

Another thing that bothers me about figure skating....how the judges always seem to be biased in favor of the Russians.

[BroadwayBomber55]

Judging skater hard to figure
http://www.theadvertiser.com/article...12028/-1/rss01

[fredgmuggs]

I think Dick Buttons is wearing Herman Munster's boots.

[BroadwayBomber55]

Another thing that bothers me about figure skating....how the judges always seem to be biased in favor of the Russians.

I don't think any judging system is going to get it right.

Whether it's figure skating or gymnastics, we all don't know what is right.

[xenadanielle]

I think Dick Buttons is wearing Herman Munster's boots.

I just made the same comment.

He looks like one of my great uncles.

[xenadanielle]

This sounds like the music from "Spring Awakening."

[CoyoteYankee]

Another thing that bothers me about figure skating....how the judges always seem to be biased in favor of the Russians.

I already said that! (Post #397)

Especially in pairs skating and ice dancing, the Russian teams seem to get higher scores than they deserve a lot of the time.

[CoyoteYankee]

Wait, what?? How TF did that Canadian pair just get that score?

[CoyoteYankee]

This should be a really good score. In the 70s.

[fredgmuggs]

My rule about figure skating is I just watch it for the enjoyment of the artistry. The hows and whys someone wins is a mystery so I don't even worry about the outcome.

[CoyoteYankee]

Judging skater hard to figure
http://www.theadvertiser.com/article...12028/-1/rss01

I just went and watched the Canadian pair skating performance from Salt Lake City that caused the scandal on YouTube. That was an absolutely amazing performance. It gave me the chills, even now. It was perfect. It was so obvious that something was wrong when they didn't win.

[yankeesAZ]

The Chinese have a legit shot at a medal sweep tomorrow night.

The couple in the Avatar like costumes were getting ripped by the Canadian announcers. The annoucers also questioned the score of that Canadian team.

[ZYanksRule]

Man, it's really something here the National Anthem at the Olympics. Got me choked up, even. Just a bit different than listening to it at a Rangers game.

[Barb51850]

It was nice seeing Bilodeau's brother with cerebral palsey celebrating his brother's gold. He said that he was dedicating his performance for his brother. He also said that when he doesn't feel like training, he thinks about his brother who can't do the things that he can and it motivates him. Nice story.

That was a very beautiful story.

Did you notice at the end of the interview with Bilodeau when that blond girl grabbed him and kissed him? That was funny.

[dabomb2045]

Man, it's really something here the National Anthem at the Olympics. Got me choked up, even. Just a bit different than listening to it at a Rangers game.

I feel the same way...I think its cuz you know how much it means to the athlete who is on the medal stand.

[CoyoteYankee]

Man, it's really something here the National Anthem at the Olympics. Got me choked up, even. Just a bit different than listening to it at a Rangers game.

Imagine what it's like for the athlete who is standing on top of that podium. I'd be hysterically crying to think that they are playing that anthem because of what I had done. It must be incredibly cool.

[CoyoteYankee]

That was a very beautiful story.

Did you notice at the end of the interview with Bilodeau when that blond girl grabbed him and kissed him? That was funny.

Yes, that was funny!

[BroadwayBomber55]

Peggy Fleming slightly hurt in Joe Biden's motorcade accident
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/new...v=ap&type=lgns

[BroadwayBomber55]

Woe Canada: Games off to bad start
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/new...yhoo&type=lgns

[Yanks1976]

Man, it's really something here the National Anthem at the Olympics. Got me choked up, even. Just a bit different than listening to it at a Rangers game.

It has to be the most unbelievable feeling. You train everyday of your life for that, especially in the individual sports. Just see the look on the athlete's faces when their anthem is playing (I also think the flag being raised higher then the rest would be pretty sweet too):


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfktTjS5yLg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCoquFAghOo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBnF0...eature=related

[Barb51850]

It has to be the most unbelievable feeling. You train everyday of your life for that, especially in the individual sports. Just see the look on the athlete's faces when their anthem is playing (I also think the flag being raised higher then the rest would be pretty sweet too):


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfktTjS5yLg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCoquFAghOo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBnF0...eature=related

Those clips are beautiful.

[sprucemoose]

No, although at least you guys have Steve Nash . As to your second point, I was always under the impression that most Canadians felt that way (and maybe they do). What always changed my perception was watching the Juniors tournaments....anytime they were hosted by Canada....seeing the Canadian crowd always boo the US players and root against them--even if it was against Russia. Now I dont know if thats a "we hate the US and their team" thing, or is it a "we know the US is good, we want them to lose now so we dont have to face them later on" thing. Maybe you can answer that one for me.\

I was also in Toronto last March for the WBC....and was at the USA-Canada game at Skydome. I was surprised a) how into the game Canadian fans were and b) how much crap I took from the crowd.

I was at that game too. Most of the back-and-forth I saw was in good fun. Not sure what your experiences were.

We've gone over the World Junior thing a few times in the past. Not much I can say about it, other than that it was truly embarassing. I can't excuse it, and I can't explain it. I'd like to think it was a mixture of stupidity, alcohol and mob mentality, but it could easily be something else. I really hope that kind of thing doesn't happen during the Olympics.

[dabomb2045]

I was at that game too. Most of the back-and-forth I saw was in good fun. Not sure what your experiences were.

We've gone over the World Junior thing a few times in the past. Not much I can say about it, other than that it was truly embarassing. I can't excuse it, and I can't explain it. I'd like to think it was a mixture of stupidity, alcohol and mob mentality, but it could easily be something else. I really hope that kind of thing doesn't happen during the Olympics.

I'm sure I brought some of it on myself by wearing my Jeter jersey . Its funny...going to that game I didnt expect that type of intense crowd. I mean I really didnt think Canada cared much about baseball and def not the WBC. Yet the place was packed and the crowd was off the charts. Other then Game 7 2003 vs Boston, it was easily the loudest and most intense crowd I've personally experienced at a baseball game.

I hope the Vancouver crowd treats us well. We didnt really give you guys a hard time in Salt Lake (at least that I can remember) so I hope the favor is returned.

I was talking about this with a few of my knowledgeable hockey friends....lets assume Canada makes it to the Gold medal game. I begged the question to them "in terms of one single game, in any sport at any time, has there ever been a team thats faced more pressure to win then this Canadian hockey team?" We all thought about it and we couldnt come up with a scenario. Thats not to say that there havent been any---I'm sure some of the Red Army teams faced some rather dire repercussions anytime they lost a game, or I know in soccer there is immense pressure on certain countries to win. But considering a) these Olympics are on Canadian soil b) how much the sport of hockey means to the country and c) how badly they want to win it and not lose "their sport" on their soil.....I see the pressure being just unbelievable and its something I think even the Canadian players that have played in the Finals and won Cups will be hard pressed to deal with. Agree or disagree?

[BroadwayBomber55]

Watching women's cross-country skiing 10KM free and Men's Alpine Downhill.

[BroadwayBomber55]

Great run for Bode Miller!

Will it hold up for a medal?

[BroadwayBomber55]

So far, Bode Miller is leading the Alpine Downhill, but there are of skiers trying to knock him out of the medal podium.

[Barb51850]

That was a very beautiful story.

Did you notice at the end of the interview with Bilodeau when that blond girl grabbed him and kissed him? That was funny.

Saw this on an olympics web site:

My favorite contribution by an NBC broadcaster came Sunday night, when Bob Costas remarked on the post-interview massive kiss planted on Canada's gold-medal-winning Bilodeau by his girlfriend.
"Judging by the scene with Bilodeau immediately after Tina [Dixon]'s interview," Costas said wryly, "this is going to be a very good Valentine's Day for him all the way around."

[BroadwayBomber55]

Cross-Country Skiing - Ladies' 10 km Free Results

G: Charlotte Kalla, SWE
S: Kristina Smigun-Vaehi, EST
B: Marit Bjoergen, NOR

[BonusCantos]

I shut the TV off. NBC's coverage of live events is so terrible it's not worth wasting the electricity.

[BroadwayBomber55]

I shut the TV off. NBC's coverage of live events is so terrible it's not worth wasting the electricity.

Just watch it from your computer and use Eurosport.

It's more effective than CTV and NBC combined.

[BroadwayBomber55]

Alpine Skiing - Men's Downhill

Bode Miller gets a medal.

Miller shut out in Torino four years ago, bags a bronze medal in the Men's Alpine Skiing Downhill event.

Didier Defago of Switzerland gets the Gold. Askel Lund Svindal or Norway takes silver.

G: Didier Defago, SUI
S: Askel Lund Svindal, NOR
B: Bode Miller, USA

[BroadwayBomber55]

Medal Events

Up Now: Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 15 km Free

On Deck: Snowboard - Men's Snowboard Cross Finals

In the Hole: Figure Skating - Pairs Free Skating

[BroadwayBomber55]

Nate Holland thinks your pants are too tight
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/van...urn=oly,219715

[NYYDragoon]

I shut the TV off. NBC's coverage of live events is so terrible it's not worth wasting the electricity.

Just watch BB55's updates instead.

[BroadwayBomber55]

Just watch BB55's updates instead.

There's also Eurosport.

[sprucemoose]

I'm sure I brought some of it on myself by wearing my Jeter jersey . Its funny...going to that game I didnt expect that type of intense crowd. I mean I really didnt think Canada cared much about baseball and def not the WBC. Yet the place was packed and the crowd was off the charts. Other then Game 7 2003 vs Boston, it was easily the loudest and most intense crowd I've personally experienced at a baseball game.

I hope the Vancouver crowd treats us well. We didnt really give you guys a hard time in Salt Lake (at least that I can remember) so I hope the favor is returned.

I was talking about this with a few of my knowledgeable hockey friends....lets assume Canada makes it to the Gold medal game. I begged the question to them "in terms of one single game, in any sport at any time, has there ever been a team thats faced more pressure to win then this Canadian hockey team?" We all thought about it and we couldnt come up with a scenario. Thats not to say that there havent been any---I'm sure some of the Red Army teams faced some rather dire repercussions anytime they lost a game, or I know in soccer there is immense pressure on certain countries to win. But considering a) these Olympics are on Canadian soil b) how much the sport of hockey means to the country and c) how badly they want to win it and not lose "their sport" on their soil.....I see the pressure being just unbelievable and its something I think even the Canadian players that have played in the Finals and won Cups will be hard pressed to deal with. Agree or disagree?

I'd agree with that. Most the people I know are realistic about Canada's chances; we know that there are four or five teams that could win this tournament, and that talent wise the Russians are equal if not superior. Having said that, people have been looking forward to this since Vancouver was chosen to host and we want to win gold. The only comparable I can think of is France in soccer in 1998.

[BroadwayBomber55]

Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 15 km Free

G: Dario Cologna, SUI
S: Pietro Piller Cottrer, ITA
B: Lukas Bauer, CZE

[b_joseph]

Snowboarding cross is awesome...hardly any race has all 4 guys who complete it upright.

[BroadwayBomber55]

Snowboarding cross is awesome...hardly any race has all 4 guys who complete it upright.

Yep, SBX is awesome!

I wish there are more events for SBX.

[b_joseph]

France in 1998 is a good shout about the pressure....The 2014 world cup is in Brazil, now that will be a team under pressure.

I think the 2008 USA Basketball team had more pressure on them because people demanded that they won. Canada have expectations but people can realistically think of reasons why they wont win.
That USA Basketball team, there was no reasons why they should lose. They would have been ridiculed if they would have lost after placing so much emphasis on that particular tournament.

This Canadian team wont be ridiculed if Russia beats them in the Gold medal game. If they do, then those people are silly.

BB55 - Agreed. Both USA dudes are in the Final.

USA - USA - FRA - CAN for the final

[BroadwayBomber55]

France in 1998 is a good shout about the pressure....The 2014 world cup is in Brazil, now that will be a team under pressure.

I think the 2008 USA Basketball team had more pressure on them because people demanded that they won. Canada have expectations but people can realistically think of reasons why they wont win.
That USA Basketball team, there was no reasons why they should lose. They would have been ridiculed if they would have lost after placing so much emphasis on that particular tournament.

This Canadian team wont be ridiculed if Russia beats them in the Gold medal game. If they do, then those people are silly.

BB55 - Agreed. Both USA dudes are in the Final.

I think the Canadian men's hockey team will be ridiculed if they don't get to the Gold medal game or don't medal at all.

As for SBX, we have two chances to earn two more medals.

Bode Miller snatched one earlier with a bronze in the men's downhill.