2010 Winter Olympics thread...

[RICHARD]

"I honestly don't know if I'll be able to do it," Vonn said.

Shut up and suck it up.

http://usparalympics.org/athletes/monte-meier

I saw this gal last night on Biggest Loser.

http://usparalympics.org/athletes/kelly-underkofler

She's missing her lower left arm, skis and shoots better than I do?



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Sometimes I find the Paralympics far more intriguing than the "real" games. I stop listening to athletes who get jacked up before a big game/competition, then compete, flail all over the court/course/field, then do the news conference as to why they failed.

She's already given us a reason as to why she may fail-sit down and let an ABLE BODIED person compete in your stead!!!

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I was watching HBO's Real Sports to catch the segment on Bill Johnson, downhill skier from the 84 games.

The leadoff story was the Weir guy, the ice skater that wears fur.


LOL, sometimes being flamboyant is just an excuse for being good at home and not so sparkly on the road.

The guy is not likeable. He's more in it for himself and 'shopping'

LOL, he was talking about winning 18k for placing third in a competition.

There are people out there that could live for a year on the winnings and he's complaining that it peanuts compared to what baseball/football player earns.


Eighteen thousand dollars for practicing and a weekend competition?

Get a life, moron.

[slick]

On Friday I get to see the torch come by the office I've working from now. I'm so excited and will definately take pictures, if I can get at the front of the masses.

[Karen]

On Friday I get to see the torch come by the office I've working from now. I'm so excited and will definately take pictures, if I can get at the front of the masses.

You can explain to the folks in front of you that you are the "local reporter" for PetTalk.com, so need to get to the front!

[RICHARD]

On Friday I get to see the torch come by the office I've working from now. I'm so excited and will definately take pictures, if I can get at the front of the masses.

Put your breaks together and when you get out on the street?
Talk to people!

I have had the best times at events like that, talking to people!

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Sharpen your elbows the night before.

[RICHARD]

I am going to backtrack a little.

I was watching the down hill race from Cortina and heard that U.S. teams are put together barely a few weeks before the games.

What pressure these people are under to perform under the stress of earning World Cup points and scrambling for a spot on the US ski team?

It's not fair to the athletes to work and try to win a spot so close to the games.

[Nomilynn]

I'll be watching the torch tomorrow night after work. It's coming through the community where my office is, so I figured I might as well stick around and watch the torch because I'm pretty sure I won't be able to drive out of the villiage

[slick]

7:15am - Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrnold is carrying the torch right now in Stanley Park. I wonder what he thinks of our rainy Wet Coast weather??? Everyone is being very tight lipped about the opening ceremonies tonight. It will be a surprise to all of us. I can't wait. I've got the VCR all loaded, programmed and ready to go. Our office is closing at 3:30 to allow everyone to get home and relaxed in front of the TV - that is, if you are not one of the luck 55,000 people attending in person.

[Momto4FemaleFelines]

I'm not really into the Olympic games either but I do like to watch Figure Skating but really nothing else interests me.

Same with me. I've been following skating since "the whack heard round the world". I'm kind of out-of-the-loop as to who is skating in eligibles these days, my heart lies with the professionals. But I will watch the Olympic figure skating and root for my favorites.

[Momto4FemaleFelines]

Sorry, but any "sport" which relies on judging to determine the winner has no place in the olympics.

Figure skating, snowboarding, freestyle skiing, .........

If you need judges to determine the winner, punt it. I'd rather watch the biathalon than watch a few princesses spin around on skates and cry when they fall.

Figure skating is the only sport in the Olympics that I care to pay any attention to.
I've rarely seen a skater cry when they've fallen on the ice, they get back up and keep going most the time, unless they are left unconscious on the ice or seriously and truly injured.

[Momto4FemaleFelines]

I agree. Sorta. LOL

Maybe make the 'scoring' less open to interpretation somehow? If skater/snowboarder performs maneuver X, they get X points. Then, if you have a judge not gives points for a specific "play", then you can do a video review to determine if indeed the maneuver was executed.

Just my $.02. I'm not really a fan of 'judged' events. I WILL be very interested to see how the IIHF officials call the ice Hockey though. Especially the European officials who are not used to North American sized ice. I wonder if the NHL icing rules will be in effect, given its almost entirely NHL players in the event? Or the stupid trapezoid thing for goalies?

The judging in figure skating has changed immensely from the 6.0 days. It is scored now, much more than judged. Points are given for jumps and spins, replay is now used, deductions are given when moves are not done properly, etc. I actually don't like the new scoring system. It takes a lot of the beauty out of skating...Which I know a lot of people think because of the beauty it isn't a sport. But it is. I know I can't jump in the air and execute 4 spins and then land on a blade that is about 1/4" thick and is making contact with hard, slippery ice.
I'm actually more of a fan of the professional skaters who skate more for the fun and the showmanship part of the sport, but I will follow the skating events in the Olympics. It's the only sport I'll follow in the Olympics.

[Momto4FemaleFelines]

I like the figure skating but don't know who's good since I haven't been following it like I used to. (The meets keep conflicting with football!)

Figure skating is the only sport I follow in the Olympics. I too am out-of-the-loop as to who-is-who in the eligible skating world. I don't like the new scoring system so have lagged off in my interest in it. (my real love is with the professional skaters and I'm VERY DISAPPOINTED that Stars on Ice is not coming to Philadelphia this year) I've been trying to watch the Grand Prix, the US and European National competitions to get a handle on things.

In mens, Evgeni Plushenko has returned to competition---ugh. He is, by far, not my favorite but he has the jumps and can work the new scoring system. I always say he looks like he is swatting at bees as he skates as his arms and legs just seem to flail about in between the jumps. US skater Jeremy Abbott had a fantastic performance in the US Nationals and walked away with Gold. He lacks experience with the big competitions, though, and do not have a lot of hope that he will be able to perform as well as he did in Nationals. In the old scoring system, Evan Lysacek, if he were to skate all the big elements well, could beat Plushenko, but I don't think he will. I can't remember if we have 2 or 3 men representing the US at the Oly's. If we do, Johnny Weir will be the 3rd.

The US has a pretty strong representation in the Ice Dance discipline for these Olympics. Both Davis/White and Belbin/Agosto have a chance at getting on the podium, IMO.

In the pairs competition, I am rooting for China's Zhue Shen and Hongbo Zhao.

In ladies, I don't really know who is strong, whether it be US or another country-woman. I don't think the US ladies will fair very well...they are all "rookies" with the Olympic experience, I think. Nerves could do them in.

[slick]

I saw the torch!!!!!! Got some great shots - will post when I get home. I'm giggling with excitement.

[RICHARD]

I saw the torch!!!!!! Got some great shots - will post when I get home. I'm giggling with excitement.

What did I tell you?

Wasn't that a KICK!!!


Fire on a stick?


Now tonight when you watch the cauldron being lit, it the SAME FLAME you saw cruising down the street!!

GOOD FOR YOU!!!

I think you are giddy, too!

[RICHARD]

Gonna post my last critique of the Games....I'll watch the opening and have fun afterwards.


More and more I see the selfish athletes shun the 'team' concept, compete under the flag and the concept of team, as they shun their fellow teammates.

Shaun White, Shani Davis and Bode MIller are jerks that I really don't care for.

Miller has distanced himself from being a member of the USO Ski Team and then wants to compete as a member. Shaun White defers the chance to stay at the Oly Village-he want to part of the team, but want no part of the team experience,

Shani Davis is a jerk. He refused to help the short track team in one of the team events in '02

This dude made both the short and long track teams -what a wonderful accomplishment! - yet has no idea of what the concept of "team" is.

What a bunch of crybabies and selfish morons.

IT only serves them to be part of a team when it benefits them as individuals.

I guess there is an "I" in United States!

[cassiesmom]

Oh, Canadian PT Friends! I was thinking especially of you while watching the opening ceremonies! I had a pre-Valentine's Day supper at a restaurant with some friends, so all we got was pictures and closed captioning, no audio, but I still thought it was beautiful! When the young woman came out to sing the national anthem my friends and I all got choked up. It was a neat moment, all these people there from all over the world and now, here is the national anthem for the host country. All over the restaurant, people were clapping and cheering for the U.S. and Canadian athletes coming out in their groups. Seeing all those flags waving gave me goose bumps. And I love SArah MacLachlan, I love the Joni Mitchell song "Both Sides Now" and the aerialist was so cool! We couldn't quite make out what was happening with the violinists and tap dancers - audio would have really helped with that. Anyway, we were all watching it while we were eating. And I was thinking of my PT friends from all over the world.

A very sad moment when the Georgian team came out, though. Such sad news about their athlete today. I overheard one man in the restaurant say he wished he could rewind it 24 hours and have that accident not happen. Very, very sad.