2010 Winter Olympics Thread

[djtestudo]

Originally Posted by Strange Famous

personally, I think it is hard to move past the shadow of the Luge guy who was killed by the course they set.

Yes, its a dangerous sport and everyone who does it know's the risk. But if you can afford a multi million dollar opening ceremony I think people feel like maybe you should be able to afford some crash barriers and padding on concrete struts on the fastest luge course ever built. I dont know enough about the sport to know if that really would have saved the guys life,but I think thats how people will feel.

Other than that,just reall want the American girl who fell over showing off on the last jump of the snowboard race last time out to take a gold this time. (Lindsey something?)...

I think an English Gold is too much to hope for, although I think there is a chance in the womens skeleton bobsleigh.

Unfortunately Lindsey Jacobellis was disqualified in her event.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by Strange Famous

I think an English Gold is too much to hope for, although I think there is a chance in the womens skeleton bobsleigh.

Amy Williams won gold in skeleton SF, Britain's first individual Winter Olympic gold medallist in 30 years, congrats.

[ARTelevision]

As always, I start out enthused by the opportunity to experience kinesthetic/mental excellence and after a week or so I am tired of the mass-media aspects of the coverage (I don't care about gold medals, I don't care about America winning a lot of medals, I don't care about the cult of personality, etc.).

The web coverage is really no better. So, as usual. I've stopped watching.

[yournamehere]

ART, while I agree completely with you about sports coverage in general, I am finding the lack of corporate logos refreshing at the Olympics. Even the bottled water only says "Vancouver 2010 WATER" on the labels. Of course, during interviews offsite of the venues, we're still subjected to the blatant advertising (does any American athlete NOT have a Red Bull hat?) Overall, though, I'm enjoying the two-week break from having my TV screen look like a NASCAR driver's jumpsuit.

Although - I do threaten to turn off the TV every time NBC does their stupid segues into yet another Train Your Dragon movie commercial (or whatever it's called- that's what fast-forward buttons are for). That got old the first day.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by Pierre McGuire after 3rd US goal

He got pushed there by Backes, nothing wrong with that, just two guys fighting for position

Yes there is Pierre, it's goalie interference, like it was against Getzlaf in the first when you called it a "bad penalty to take".

I really hate this guy more and more the more I have to listen to him, my mother could call a better hockey game than him, and I don't doubt she knows more about the game after watching me play for 20 years and my father father for almost 40.

5 minutes left in the third, all the announcers keep talking about is how good Miller played, yes he played well, made some big saves at key times, but how many of Canada's shots were right at him? Easy to look great when your oposition is shooting right at you. All around another embarassing performance on Canada's part.

[IdeoFunk]

Originally Posted by Pierre McGuire after 3rd US goal

He got pushed there by Backes, nothing wrong with that, just two guys fighting for position

Originally Posted by silent_jay

Yes there is Pierre, it's goalie interference, like it was against Getzlaf in the first when you called it a "bad penalty to take".

I really hate this guy more and more the more I have to listen to him, my mother could call a better hockey game than him, and I don't doubt she knows more about the game after watching me play for 20 years and my father father for almost 40.

5 minutes left in the third, all the announcers keep talking about is how good Miller played, yes he played well, made some big saves at key times, but how many of Canada's shots were right at him? Easy to look great when your oposition is shooting right at you. All around another embarassing performance on Canada's part.

Wow I was at a sports bar so I couldn't really hear the commentary... McGuire is a piece of shit. That was completely ridiculous that Ryan wouldn't get a penalty from that play but Getzlaf got one in the first. I can't say how upsetting this game was... I was completely disgraced.

[ratbastid]

I've spent some time watching curling in the last couple days. It's fun to watch, but even with my Wikipedia-enhanced understanding of the thing, I still have to say: wtf?? I don't understand it strategically, and I'm not even sure I grok the physics of it.

That aside--This is a sport? I think I'd categorize it as a "game" rather than a "sport". It's more like darts than like skiing.

[Baraka_Guru]

Originally Posted by ratbastid

That aside--This is a sport? I think I'd categorize it as a "game" rather than a "sport". It's more like darts than like skiing.

It's harder than it looks.

I played my first and only match over the Christmas holidays. As a sweeper, you're constantly shuffling down from end to end, and quite often sweeping furiously. You have to remember to breathe. I've been increasing my fitness since last March, and I like to think I'm in relatively good shape both with cardiovascular and muscular toning. I wasn't regulating my breathing at first, and I was fucking winded by the time I got down to my first end.

We ended up playing four matches that day. I think we were there for maybe a couple of hours. It was fun. And although I'm sure skiing is more intense, and I know hockey sure is, but damn it my shoulders were sore the next day from all that sweeping!

And as far as throwing is concerned, it's one of those activities requiring balance and grace. It's quite easy to throw too hard or not hard enough. It's also easy to misturn your stone and have it miss its mark.

[Glory's Sun]

I don't see the appeal of curling..

slide a rock, sweep the ice in front, land in a circle. whop de doo.

not a sport.

[Baraka_Guru]

Yeah, neither is riding a big toboggan or throwing a big frisbee or diving into a pool.

I'm always slightly annoyed by people declaring things as "not a sport" based on their not liking it or not quite getting the point, but what ever.

Some call driving a car a sport, or shooting a gun.

You don't have to like everything.

[Glory's Sun]

sport implies athleticism, curling has no athleticism except being able to lift the beer glass while tossing a rock.

[Baraka_Guru]

Originally Posted by guccilvr

sport implies athleticism, curling has no athleticism except being able to lift the beer glass while tossing a rock.

So baseball isn't a sport either? I've thought of that before. It would explain the beer bellies on the even the pros.

"Athleticism" or "sport" can refer to a wide variety of things. It can be a combination of endurance, strength, speed, skill, and strategy. Curling happens to focus on the latter two.

Some people have a narrow idea of what "sport" means, which is too bad.

Maybe they can join the droves of protesters urging to have curling removed from the games on account of it not being a sport. You know, especially because it's sooo easy.

[Glory's Sun]

I'll join that list sure.

If you want to go the baseball route, you can, but you'll fail pretty miserably. Almost as miserably as Canada failed against the US in hockey.

[ARTelevision]

I like curling very much. I find it is so much about focus...the mental game, in other words.

BTW, I've been tuning in occasionally, still, and it still strikes me as too bad about the way the events are covered - or not covered - by big media.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by guccilvr

sport implies athleticism, curling has no athleticism except being able to lift the beer glass while tossing a rock.

There's far more athleticism in curling than you seem to understand, ever try the sport? Bet you fall on your ass the first time you try and send a stone down the ice, hell I'll bet you fall on your ass trying to send every stone down the ice, as for sweeping, yep you'll probably end up cracking your head open there, because once again you'll be on the ice, and forget about actually getting a stone anywhere near the button, they'll all either be too hard or too soft. As Baraka said quite a bit of strategy involved, how do you think they can pull off taking out 3 and 4 rocks at a time? It's a sport, just because it isn't as exciting as baseball, which to me is like watching grass grow, doesn't mean it doesn't take skill and athleticism to do what they do.

If you want to go the baseball route, you can, but you'll fail pretty miserably. Almost as miserably as Canada failed against the US in hockey.

Meh, we'll see how things go in the medal round, it sure is like an American though to seem to think the mission is accomplished after one big win. I wouldn't celebrate too soon, you guys are only in the quarters, still have to win that and a couple more, too soon to be popping the champagne just yet.

[Glory's Sun]

I don't think the win is telling of anything when it comes to hockey.

Just nice to see the cocky canadiens losing on their home turf

and yeah, I'll take up your bet about cracking my head open on the ice..

I'll give you the skill portion (and strategy) portion when it comes to curling, but there's no way in hell I'm giving you the athleticism portion when it comes to that "sport".

..psst, there are other "sports" that I find shouldn't be under that category either.. it's not just rock sliding.

[silent_jay]

Canadians, we're not the Montreal Canadiens, we're Canadians haha.

As for cocky, well a lot of people here weren't happy with the team that was picked this year, so there really hasn't been much cockiness coming from most of us, except the dumb fans in Vancouver who felt the need to serenade the US team with the Canadian anthem when they were leaving their team meal the night before, which was just dumb on their part, especially seeing as they obviously knew how terrible Canada has been playing.

[Glory's Sun]

you caught my error. I haven't misused the Canadian/Canadien spellings in forever.

guess it was associating the poor play of last night with the poor play of the NHL team

(I haven't followed the NHL since the commish pussified it so I may even be wrong on that)

[Leto]

Originally Posted by ratbastid

I've spent some time watching curling in the last couple days. It's fun to watch, but even with my Wikipedia-enhanced understanding of the thing, I still have to say: wtf?? I don't understand it strategically, and I'm not even sure I grok the physics of it.

That aside--This is a sport? I think I'd categorize it as a "game" rather than a "sport". It's more like darts than like skiing.

Or golf.

---------- Post added at 03:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:08 PM ----------

Originally Posted by guccilvr

I don't think the win is telling of anything when it comes to hockey.

Just nice to see the cocky canadiens losing on their home turf

and yeah, I'll take up your bet about cracking my head open on the ice..

I'll give you the skill portion (and strategy) portion when it comes to curling, but there's no way in hell I'm giving you the athleticism portion when it comes to that "sport".

..psst, there are other "sports" that I find shouldn't be under that category either.. it's not just rock sliding.

I LOVE it. Just LOVE IT when the Americans finally call us cocky... but you said it quite succinctly Gucclvr when you said sport "implies" athelticism. That is so true. But it's only an implication, and often a mistaken one.

Sport is play. regardless of the physicality, or mentality required.

PERIOD.

Oh yes, speaking of periods, hockey has three (love the segue) and yes, the Americans played (or Ryan Miller and Rafelsky played) an incredible game last night. An absolute joy to watch (except for the final outcome of course). Even the last goal (the one handed open netter) made the Sportscentre Cialus, Play of the Night. You usually don't see an empty netter doing that!

And yes, the country is Red, White & BLUE over that loss. We take our sport seriously and that loss certainly stung.

Here's some media feed back. By the way, I tried to catch the game on NBC last night, but it wasn't being broadcast. What gives???


U.S. buzzing after spanking Canada - Vancouver 2010 Olympics - thestar.com


U.S. buzzing after spanking Canada
Where visit by Canadian premiers to Washington hardly noticed, Olympic hockey grabs big headlines

February 22, 2010
Comments on this story (10)

Mitch Potter


WASHINGTON – Canada finally emerged as a massive blip on America’s radar Monday, with screaming headlines everywhere.

And the lasting lesson for the largely invisible neighbour to the north: you need not send all your premiers south to get noticed in Washington. All you need to do is lose. To the Americans. In your own sport. On your own ice.

That was the tenor of a flurry of stateside reports that shot to the top of most-read lists throughout the U.S.

The Washington Post front-racked its account of Sunday night’s Olympic hockey calamity under the heading, “U.S. leaves Canada red, white … and blue.”

Over at the New York Times, a gentle home-page sprinkling of salt in Canada’s wound was labelled “Tough day for a land where hockey is religion.”

A more triumphant glee was found on Facebook, where one set of brazen American fans launched a new page titled “Miracle On Ice, 2010 Version (Suck it, Canada!).”

And so it went, from CNN to Sports Illustrated and even to the Los Angeles Times, where a readership wholly unacquainted with winter drove the paper’s account of “upset victory by U.S.” to the top of its most-popular list.

It was precisely the sort of noise – in volume, if not in tone – that seven of Canada’s provincial premiers had hoped to make when they arrived Friday for a rare three-day mission to Washington to tub-thumb the benefits of free trade and smoother border operations.

And at first blush, the political charm-offensive worked, replete with a rare summit between the Canadian premiers and U.S. state governors. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell was so moved by the Saturday meeting to belt out his own improvised rendition of “O Canada.”

But as radar blips go, the Canadian political mission attained the sound of one hand clapping – the more than 200 news reports of the premiers’ efforts landed exclusively north of the border. Not a single word appeared in the U.S. media.

Washington analysts who specialize in how Canada registers on America’s scanners took the Olympic hockey feeding frenzy in stride.

“You can’t take the ‘Own the Podium’ approach and also expect to be treated as the nice guy. When you lose, they’re going to kick you in the shins,” said former Canadian diplomat Paul Frazer, a Washington-based political consultant.

“But the fact everyone seized on the U.S. victory and ignored the premiers mission isn’t really a problem,” said Frazer.

“Nine out of 10 times, when the U.S. media notices Canadian politicians it usually involves some kind of bad news. The fact that no American reports were generated means there was no bad news. The goal was to get the attention of the governors, not U.S. reporters. And that’s what they got.”

[ratbastid]

Originally Posted by Leto

Or golf.

Hey, now. Let's keep this civil.

[Leto]

Originally Posted by ratbastid

Hey, now. Let's keep this civil.

[Baraka_Guru]

Well, weren't golf and curling both invented by those most lovable Scots?

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by guccilvr

you caught my error. I haven't misused the Canadian/Canadien spellings in forever.

guess it was associating the poor play of last night with the poor play of the NHL team

(I haven't followed the NHL since the commish pussified it so I may even be wrong on that)

Haha I had to mention the error, even I don't know how the Habs are doing this year, I'm with you on the pussification of the NHL it's getting horrible, Bettman is quickly ruining the game, he has no idea what he's doing, all he cares about is propping up his Southern US expansion teams and making sure they keep losing money and playing for 700 fans like in Atlanta does every home game, and trying to take all the physicality out of the game, heaven forbid they use body contact, or lift a guys stick to get the puck away, which 10 years ago was perfectly fine, now it's a hooking call, and tryign to entice the the Americans to watch more, I'll be glad when he finally retires, or gets tossed out on his ass.

Even the last goal (the one handed open netter) made the Sportscentre Cialus, Play of the Night. You usually don't see an empty netter doing that!

Blame Perry for that one, watch how he starts to protect the puck and slows down when he's 10 feet away from the bloody thing rather than busting his balls to get the puck and turn the play around while Kessler is trapped because he dove for the puck.

[ratbastid]

Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

Well, weren't golf and curling both invented by those most lovable Scots?

A.k.a "The World's Laziest Athletes".

[Baraka_Guru]

Originally Posted by ratbastid

A.k.a "The World's Laziest Athletes".

Dude, I think you mean "drunkest."*







*The Irish don't even try.

[Glory's Sun]

speaking of body contact

YouTube - Ovechkin Destroys Jagr

YouTube - Ovechkin Destroys Jagr

brutal.

(there were better vids but the IOC blocked them all.. fucking whining about copyright.)

[The_Dunedan]

Yeah, they felt that hit all the way back in Prague. CTV-1 is reporting that both HC Slavia and HC Sparta fans have mysteriously awoken with bruising, dizziness, and the certain conviction that they did -not- drink enough beer last night. Hockey fans in Zlin, Pardubice, Oloumoc, Ostrava, Brno, and Mlada Bolselav are reporting a variety of symptoms, mostly limited to mild light-headedness and ringing in the ears.

[silent_jay]

That was a great hit, still don't know what Jagr was thinking cutting up the middle like that with his head down. Good thing it wasn't in the NHL regular season it would have been called a 'head shot'.

[The_Dunedan]

Ovechkin picked his moment beautifully. Jagr's always had a reputation for being -very- hard to knock anywhere, and one of the hardest men in hockey to knock off the puck, plus his size lets him take and deliver the kinds of hits most people just...can't. Ovechkin saw him glancing at the puck and took his opportunity.

[silent_jay]

I agree Jagr can't take some big impacts, but deliver them, not something he's exactly known for or feared because of, he is a Czech after all haha.
Seems to be an Olympic theme Jagr getting hammered, too bad this one was by Ruutu can't stand the fucker, this one from back in 2006

YouTube - Jarkko Ruutu Hits Jaromir Jagr (Olympics 2006)

YouTube - Jarkko Ruutu Hits Jaromir Jagr (Olympics 2006)

The headline on the CTV Olympic site reads:

Babcock not ready to announce Luongo as starter

I respect Brodeur a great deal, he's one of the best goalies in the last 20 years, but Luongo is the obvious starter for the next couple of games, given Brodeurs performance so far, not that it's all his fault, he hasn't exactly got a lot of offensive or defensive help from his players, but when Marty's handling the puck as badly as he was against the US, he's off his game.

According to a report from Yahoo! Sports, Roberto Luongo will get the start in net for Canada against Germany in Tuesday's qualification round game, replacing Martin Brodeur.

However in an interview with Vancouver radio station THE TEAM 1040, Canada's head coach Mike Babcock was not yet ready to make that announcement.

"Well, it sounds to me like TSN is ahead of the coaching staff so if they got a good scoop, you'll be able to say 'they knew'".

Luongo started Canada's opening game against Norway, making 15 in an 8-0 shutout where he was never really tested.

Brodeur was in net for Canada's past two games, making 21 saves in regulation then four more in a shootout in a win over Switzerland but was not at his best in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the United States.

After the loss, coach Mike Babcock admitted Canada could have certainly been better in the goaltending area versus the U.S. and didn't discount the idea of starting Luongo next, however he appeared to soften his stance on Monday when speaking to the TEAM.

"All athletes, especially proud ones that have been successful many times want to be good every single night, and sometimes it doesn't go the way you want it," Babcock said of Brodeur. "And when you look at it, I guarantee you his preparation was fantastic and he was ready to be the best he could be. It didn't happen for him, but there's nothing we can do about yesterday and it's time to move on."

Babcock also admitted that with the loss Canada would have a hard path to the medal rounds, but that they expected to face some adversity at some point in the tournament.

"I've been involved in a number of these - whether it be in the World Juniors or the World Championships - and we've always chosen the hard way. I don't know why that is, but we've always chosen the hard way. It seems to be the Canadian way. It was no different in 2002 when they won the Gold medal. We've just got to get ready for Germany and get better each and every day."

Canada must get better in a hurry as a dual with Russia is looming in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Babcock not ready to announce Luongo as starter

[Glory's Sun]

It's just hard to imagine someone as awesome as Brodeur not being in net.. hate the fucker but his record book is more than stellar.

If I were a coach, I'd have to stick with the guy that's done it all and pulled through similar situations. Not a knock on Luongo, just stating the obvious I think.

[silent_jay]

I can understand that, his record is great and he is a great goalie, but so far in this tourney he's played suspect against the Swiss and barely got the win, and well against the US, I think the baseball swing says it all, but I do see why Babcock is having a hard time I suppose, I don't think I'd want to be in his shoes, he has an entire nation waiting to second guess him.

[settie]

<threadjack>
OH MY GOD THE ICE DANCING IS ON TONIGHT! MY OLD SPORT! YAY! Go Virtue and Moir!
</threadjack>

[Charlatan]

That's hardly a threadjack...

Speaking of Curling... anyone notice how Canada is undefeated in both men's and women's curling?

[silent_jay]

My thought as well, any time Canadians are in the hunt for gold it's never a threadjack, and I mean Glen Anderson used to take figure skating lessons when he was a kid, and he was one of the fastest skaters of his time, besides it's quite fun to watch.

I noticed that too Charlatan, they're both playing very, very well, I even saw a clip of Lanny McDonald, Jim Peplinski and a couple of other ex-Flames players, I knew their faces but couldn't remember their names playing with the Canadian women I believe it was.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by settie

<threadjack>
OH MY GOD THE ICE DANCING IS ON TONIGHT! MY OLD SPORT! YAY! Go Virtue and Moir!
</threadjack>

I know nothing about Ice Dancing, but that was a really nice skate they had tonight, I mean it was really impressive the moves they pulled off, and with such grace. Also a very nice story behind them, I knew nothing about them before the Olympics, and nothing about their past before tonight, but saw the little biography Sportsnet had on before they skated, couldn't believe they've been skating together for that long.

[Glory's Sun]

So some teams are complaining that the Canadian fans are being boorish by being loud and boisterous during opposing teams curling "throws". Even the Canadian teams are saying that it's not fair.

Man, I never knew there was so much controversy in sliding rocks on ice.

[Daval]

YouTube

YouTube

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by guccilvr

So some teams are complaining that the Canadian fans are being boorish by being loud and boisterous during opposing teams curling "throws". Even the Canadian teams are saying that it's not fair.

Man, I never knew there was so much controversy in sliding rocks on ice.

The British men's team liked being serenaded with the National Anthem going into the final end, and it seemed to have inspired the Canadian men's team.
British curling team lose after Canadian national anthem blasted out - mirror.co.uk

Britain's curlers saw their gold medal hopes shattered - thanks to the Canadian national anthem.

David Murdoch's team led the tournament-favourite home side 6-5 in Vancouver with just one end to play.

But as they knuckled down to the crucial last few stones, the 5,600-strong crowd suddenly launched into a lung-bursting rendition of "O, Canada" to stir the home team into action.

The match had to be stopped until the fans finished singing as the players could not concentrate and the sweepers could hear their instructions.

Trailing by one, Canada were inspired to finish the game by scoring two points for victory, beating their top rival 7-6 to remain unbeaten in the tournament.
"The national anthem, wasn't that something?" said Canadian skip Kevin Martin.

"You noticed that we didn't play during that. It was amazing. Something you remember for the rest of your life. I've never heard that in any sport I've ever been to."

Scottish skip Murdoch's last stone fell short, giving the Canadians two and sending the home crowd - including hockey legend Wayne Gretzky - into a frenzy.

Canada have won all six of their matches in Vancouver with three remaining in group play, while Britain's world champions are in danger of missing the semi-finals.

"We had a great chance in the 10th there. Unfortunately we were a little short with it," said Murdoch.

"Every game's a must-win now for us to finish 6-3."

As for Murdoch's reaction to the unexpected rendition of the national anthem? "I thought it was hilarious," he said. "It's not something that you're ever going to see stopping a match again, is it?" Last night's Murdoch's men got back to their winning ways with a 4-2 victory over the USA.

A few women's teams seem to like it as well
Raucous fans make competitors feel the noise | Sports | Reuters

With ear-splitting cheering, chants, pounding feet and stadium waves the sell-out crowd at the Vancouver Olympic Center tried to dispel the image of curling as a conservative spectator sport.

The competitors are not accustomed to the racket and flag-waving in what on the first day of play quickly became the Thunderdome of Curling, but they loved it.

"I have to say that it's really amazing to play in front of this crowd," Thomas Ulsrud, captain of Norway's men's team, said after his first game on Tuesday against Canada.

"There must be some hockey fans out there, because I've played a lot of curling tournaments, but never with a crowd as loud as this."

The venue seats about 6,000 people, which is not large for a Canadian curling arena. What it lacks in seating capacity it more than makes up for in decibel levels.

The frequent cries from the ice of "Hard! Hard!" as rock throwers demand their team mates sweep more intensely is often drowned out by the din of the boisterous fans, especially when their beloved Canadian teams nail a shot.

It is unfamiliar territory even for the host country's curlers, Canadian skipper Cheryl Bernard said after winning her first match against Switzerland.

"The noise is very stimulating. It kind of gets right inside of you," she said. "It's really loud out there, which is great, but I'm not used to it. I think we all felt that we could feel the noise right inside."
Canada is a hotbed for the sport, which has a reputation for being a genteel pastime of strategy and precision. It is the home to most of the world's curlers, and the fans are well-versed and expecting their Olympic teams to excel.

At the venue, there are frequent chants of "Here we go, Canada, Here we go!" In fact, a boy who was little bigger than a toddler led the chanting from his perch on his father's lap for several ends on Tuesday.

But the din is not reserved for the Canadians. Plenty of U.S. fans keep it loud when those teams play in one of the four games that take place simultaneously. There are smaller eruptions for the Germans, Swiss and others too.

It all makes for a thrilling Olympic experience, Niklas Edin, Sweden's captain, said.

"You can really feel the excitement. It's a great venue."

I really hope Joannie Rochette has a great skate tonight, she's got a lot on her mind with her mother's sudden passing on Sunday.

Brodeur's out, Luongo is in for Canada for what may be the rest of the tournament depending on his performance, Babcock made the obvious move after the USA game.

I find it amusing how Crosby's lack of production is blamed on 'not being with the proper linemates' by all the media here, rather than the kid having a shitty tournament, the media always seem to pass the buck for the kid here, it's never his fault when he plays bad, it's always a linemate issue, pretty pathetic excuse really.

[Glory's Sun]

no big surprise there, the media has a constant hard-on for Crosby. The NHL can't allow the "next golden boy" to look foolish can they?!

If Luongo pulls a shitty game, Babcock is going to be creamed. He's damned either way.. this is when coaching sucks.

Oh well.. should be a good game.