Winter Olympic Discussion

[Christian Fox]

Opening ceremonies: I feel really badly for the Russian dude responsible for the flowers that turn into the Olympic rings thing (the last flower didn't open into a ring). He and his family might not make it to Sunday.

[Scott G.]

All the ski sports. Biathlon for sure.

Think Putin will medal in Biathlon and Ice Dancing.

[ned]

US actually has a legit shot at nordic medals in both XC and jumping. Once again, it's the women, not the men, who look to make history. I blew off the ski jumping oly qualifiers because of the crowds, but I'm not going to miss the women's jumping medal round.

[sailor]

CBC is running super slowly with Hola for me to the point it is unwatchable. Anyone have any suggestions to for better streaming?

[s_curran]

So did the US think they were showing up for an ugly sweater party?

[j44ke]

can someone explain the math to me, i don't get it.

I like Alpine Sports a ton. If Mancuso wins a medal, especially a gold medal, I will be super psyched. But I really hate NBC's coverage. Not so enamored with the current Russian political scene either. I am just not interested. I'd much rather watch cycling. Or go cycling. I really fucking want winter to be over.

[TMB]

Remind me again why we still have "judged" sports ?

Russia, U.S. have vote-swapping deal for figure skating, says L’Equipe | 2014 Winter Games

[Sbti]

WTF is the annoying horn blowing during speed skating? Did they modify some vuvuzelas from soccer?

[sailor]

If I name a son Sven make them fast on a bike and skates? Sven Kramer crushed the 5k speedskate.

[Corso]

Judged sports:

Ashly Wagner choked and finished 4th at the Olympic trials, but the US figure skating federation chose her over the 3rd place finisher to go. My daughter was a competitive figure skaters, several of her friends competed in the trials, a few made it all the way.

I’ve always hated the way “judges” gave high marks to the favorites, regardless of performance. So typically if they want to rig an event, it’s through scoring, not through “4th place wins” bullshit. By the same “body of work” excuse, the Broncos should have been awarded the Superbowl win.

Skater who was screwed has no choice other than take it, as if they protest too far, she’s “done” for life by the federation.

US cycling screwed Steve Larsen out of an Olympic spot years back, the guy they sent in his place did squat. So cycling isn’t above this crap either.

[Tom]

So yesterday I look at the schedule and think "cool, I can watch skiing or hockey or something while I'm on the trainer." I turn it on. Ice dancing. Oh, nooooo... fortunately they moved BPL to another channel and I could watch Chelsea thoroughly dominate somebody. Not that I care about that too much but when they showed a camera shot out from behind the Chelsea goal and there were two pigeons walking around in it eating stuff off the ground I cracked up.

Sorry for the tangent but I thought it was funny. Back to our regularly scheduled programming of women that look nine years old skating around.

Wait... I did see part of the US women's hockey game against Finland. Damn, they're fast and the stick skills blew me away. The Finnish goalie is insanely good, too.

[dashDustin]

The Real Reason Ashley Wagner Made The U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team

Judged sports:

Ashly Wagner choked and finished 4th at the Olympic trials, but the US figure skating federation chose her over the 3rd place finisher to go. My daughter was a competitive figure skaters, several of her friends competed in the trials, a few made it all the way.

I’ve always hated the way “judges” gave high marks to the favorites, regardless of performance. So typically if they want to rig an event, it’s through scoring, not through “4th place wins” bullshit. By the same “body of work” excuse, the Broncos should have been awarded the Superbowl win.

Skater who was screwed has no choice other than take it, as if they protest too far, she’s “done” for life by the federation.

US cycling screwed Steve Larsen out of an Olympic spot years back, the guy they sent in his place did squat. So cycling isn’t above this crap either.

[Corso]

Dustin, good article, but nothing new to me.

Funny how the other skaters sent to the olympics were “based" on the nationals. What a coincidence. All those the fed wanted to skate scored well enough to place in nationals, but Wagner failed so badly they couldn’t fake the scores.

Figure skating at his point should be an exhibition, not a competitive sport.

[72gmc]

As a cord cutter who would like to watch something other than NBC's epic butchery, I give our corporate overlords full credit for a thorough effort. BBC, CBC and Sochi sites plus Sochi YouTube channel--I'm in the wrong country. CBUT TV? Can't get it without cable. NBColympics.com--only 30 minutes a day without a cable subscription. Haven't tried Hola.

Yet I can still watch full London and Vancouver events any time I want.

[Christian Fox]

two observations:

1.) I fucking LOVE when they show the XC ski sprint from the side (only view that does the speed justice); it is insane how fast those people go. Crazy fitness levels.

2.) Russian male figure skaters somehow manage to look like studs (rather than princesses) while wearing sequins.

[Sbti]

2.) Russian male figure skaters somehow manage to look like studs (rather than princesses) while wearing sequins.

Canadians, not so much.

[Blakey]

Another option if CBC isn't giving you all of it:

Watch Live - Network Ten

6 feeds. Use Hola set to AU.

[j44ke]

Mancuso fuck yeah.

[j44ke]

2.) Russian male figure skaters somehow manage to look like studs (rather than princesses) while wearing sequins.

Canadians, not so much.

So you've been reading the newspapers, right? Regarding laws against advocating homosexual life styles and persecution of homosexuals in Russia? Perhaps there are freedoms in Canada that are not present in Russia that affect even the way people look and who gets to participate in competitions?

[vertical_doug]

So you've been reading the newspapers, right? Regarding laws against advocating homosexual life styles and persecution of homosexuals in Russia? Perhaps there are freedoms in Canada that are not present in Russia that affect even the way people look and who gets to participate in competitions?

Watch what people do not what they say. It is a self selection bias caused by parents.