I know the games don't open until this Friday.
But, I thought I would start a thread for those who want to post their thoughts on them, throughout, and also what they think are the chances of their favourites to be successful.
As the games progress, it might be interesting to know what everyone is thinking about how the games are going.
__________________
A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.
Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
I know the games don't open until this Friday.
But, I thought I would start a thread for those who want to post their thoughts on them, throughout, and also what they think are the chances of their favourites to be successful.
As the games progress, it might be interesting to know what everyone is thinking about how the games are going.
I can't wait, Patricia!
No kidding
My predictions:
-Bode Miller will fail to inspire, yet again....then have some give-up excuse for his partying and why the Olympics don't matter. Punk.
-Lindsay Vonn just might shock the World.
-The Red Headed snowboarder will wow the crowd.
-US Hockey just might be on the Medal stand.
-Figure Skating will once a again dominate any and all Olympic coverage. As if this is the only f*****g "sport" anybody is interested in.
-The NBC talking heads will think their interviews, athlete spotlights and other non-essential peripheral bullshit is more important than actually watching the events themselves.
Not that I'm bitter.
Other than that, the 2010 Winter Olympics ought to be a lot of fun to watch between the endless stream of commercials and ego driven commentary.
Last edited by GoodSpeak; February-8th-2010 at 08:09 PM.
The sport that puzzles the dickens out of me is the skeleton.
For those who might not remember what that is, a person lies on their stomach, on a tiny little frame of a sled, about 2" from the track, head first.
They then plummet, at speeds up to 50mph, down a track that has a slight incline, and a huge loop at it's centre. YIKES!! Are these people crazy???
Apparently the sleds are no longer manufactured. So, the sledders rely on those that already exist, or re-claimed ones, years old.
A couple of years ago the industrial college in Calgary, SAIT, took up the challenge of building a new version of the sled, meeting all the standards already existing. Although the new design is not approved for use yet, it should be ready by the next Olympics.
Who knew that this little sled that you can hardly see with the athlete on it, was so meticulously engineered??
__________________
A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.
Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
Last edited by patricia; February-8th-2010 at 08:29 PM.
USA Men's Hockey getting a medal would be a long shot, but cool.
As for the rest of the Caucasian Olympics , I'll watch some, since I like sports generally.
The different speed skating events are among the more interesting to me....most of the rest channel surfing material in limited doses.
USA Men's Hockey getting a medal would be a long shot, but cool.
As for the rest of the Caucasian Olympics , I'll watch some, since I like sports generally.
The different speed skating events are among the more interesting to me....most of the rest channel surfing material in limited doses.
The Caucasian Olympics...? Do you really want to go there, Mike?
Not a whole helluva lot of snow in Africa or Latin America.
The sport that puzzles the dickens out of me is the skeleton.
For those who might not remember what that is, a person lies on their stomach, on a tiny little frame of a sled, about 2" from the track, head first.
They then plummet, at speeds up to 50mph, down a track that has a slight incline, and a huge loop at it's centre. YIKES!! Are these people crazy???
Apparently the sleds are no longer manufactured. So, the sledders rely on those that already exist, or re-claimed ones, years old.
A couple of years ago the industrial college in Calgary, SAIT, took up the challenge of building a new version of the sled, meeting all the standards already existing. Although the new design is not approved for use yet, it should be ready by the next Olympics.
Who knew that this little sled that you can hardly see with the athlete on it, was so meticulously engineered??
I look at that stuff and wonder if those guys have a death wish or something.
I agree Tim. My late father was flabberghasted, the first time he saw the skeleton competition.
He still wasn't over seeing the first hot-dog skiers. I remember him saying that he thought they must have a death wish. Considering that Dad was a very successful ski-jumper, as was his father before him, it was a cool observation, I thought.
Mike, labelling the Winter Olympics "The Cuacasion Olympics" is inaccurate, if only because there are several non-Caucasion hockey players who have become valuable members of their respective teams in the NHL. I'm thinking particularly of my Jarome Iginla, of the Calgary Flames. He has the same heritage as your current President.
__________________
A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.
Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
Last edited by patricia; February-8th-2010 at 09:14 PM.
The Caucasian Olympics...? Do you really want to go there, Mike?
Not a whole helluva lot of snow in Africa or Latin America.
Seriouisly. Are we clear on this one?
With rare exceptions, It's the white people's Olympics.
I'm not from the lettuce bowl of America Goody.
There's no disrespect intended....I didn't come up in a 'everything has to be PC' world present company excluded.
That's what I've called this thing ever since I can remember, which is not about to change any time soon.
I agree Tim. My late father was flabberghasted, the first time he saw that. He still wasn't over seeing the first hot-dog skiers. I remember him saying that he thought they must have a death wish. Considering that Dad was a very successful ski-jumper, it was a cool observation, I thought.
Mike, labelling the Winter Olympics "The Cuacasion Olympics" is inaccurate, if only because there are several non-Caucasion hockey players who have become valuable members of their respective teams in the NHL. I'm thinking particularly of my Jarome Iginla, of the Calgary Flames. He has the same heritage as your current President.
USA has this fantastic Black speed skater (forgetting his name)
Calling it the "almost & most of the time Causasian Olympics" just doesn't have any ring to it
USA has this fantastic Black speed skater (forgetting his name)
Calling it the "almost & most of the time Causasian Olympics" just doesn't have any ring to it
That's true. But, I really don't think that race has much, if anything to do with the Olympic athletes, whichever season they are.
Their athletic ability, whatever it is, is what qualifies them to compete and then determines who wins.
__________________
A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.
Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
With rare exceptions, It's the white people's Olympics.
I'm not from the lettuce bowl of America Goody.
There's no disrespect intended....I didn't come up in a 'everything has to be PC' world present company excluded.
That's what I've called this thing ever since I can remember, which is not about to change any time soon.
Hey.
Whatever works for you, Mike.
But I would ask: Would you call Olympic Boxing, Basketball or Track a Black Man's event?
I, however, would be ashamed.
Last edited by GoodSpeak; February-8th-2010 at 09:26 PM.
I agree Tim. My late father was flabberghasted, the first time he saw the skeleton competition.
He still wasn't over seeing the first hot-dog skiers. I remember him saying that he thought they must have a death wish. Considering that Dad was a very successful ski-jumper, as was his father before him, it was a cool observation, I thought.
Mike, labelling the Winter Olympics "The Cuacasion Olympics" is inaccurate, if only because there are several non-Caucasion hockey players who have become valuable members of their respective teams in the NHL. I'm thinking particularly of my Jarome Iginla, of the Calgary Flames. He has the same heritage as your current President.
I'm with you, Patricia.
The Olympics is all about who is the best athlete. Not who is the best white or black athlete. None of that stuff matters here.
But WTFDIK, eh?
Last edited by GoodSpeak; February-8th-2010 at 09:27 PM.
I don't think Mike really meant anything subversive with his comment. It is true that most, but not all competitors in winter are various forms of Caucasion, mostly because the countries in which the disciplines originated are northern European and northern North American.
Mike is a good guy who loves his Sharks.
__________________
A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.
Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
Last edited by patricia; February-9th-2010 at 11:28 AM.
I don't think Mike really meant anything subversive with his comment. It is true that most, but not all competitors in winter are various forms of Caucasion, mostly because the countries in which the disciplines originated are northern European and North American.
Mike is a good guy who loves his Sharks.
The Sharks are all white guys.
I think his Freudian slip is showing.
But there again...WTFDIK?
Last edited by GoodSpeak; February-8th-2010 at 09:30 PM.
[QUOTE=GoodSpeak;862770]
The Sharks are all white guys.
[QUOTE]
Maybe right now. But, next trading season that could just as soon change. Almost all the NHL teams have at least one non-Caucasian player and that has nothing to do with any affirmative action. They are stellar, or they wouldn't be there.
As for Shani Davis, his excellence took him to the games, not preferential treatment and good for him. But, being raised in North America, with winter sports gave him the opportunity to be exposed to the sport and become good at it. They have winter, snow and cold weather in Ill.
Southern and tropical countries participation in the Winter Olympics is still unusual, if only because they don't have cold weather, snow or ice.
__________________
A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.
Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
Last edited by patricia; February-9th-2010 at 11:29 AM.
But I would ask: Would you call Olympic Boxing, Basketball or Track a Black Man's event?
I, however, would be ashamed.
Idiot...
Have you ever watched Olympic Boxing, Basketball or Track??????
Did you somehow miss people of all colors and mutiple nations participating in them all, as opposed to the "almost everyone in it is White Olympics" ?
Did you see the Chinese Olympic basketballers have nothing but tall Chinese guys on the team?
Did you somehow miss people of all colors and mutiple nations participating in them all, as opposed to the "almost everyone in it is White Olympics" ?
South Korea had 6 Gold medals in the last winter olympics and ranked 7th among countries in the medal table, ahead of some alpine or nordic nations.
Some winter sports are just not that popular in the US and escape attention.
Due to neglectable tv coverage in the US I don't follow winter sports much between olympics. I do however plan to watch the coming events sans figure skating. I will root for my homie Shani Davis to win 2 gold. I have no clue who has aspirations among my old country boyz and girls. I hope we will beat the Austrians in alpine skiing and understand that there are some hot prospects in ski jumping and cross country as well.
Last edited by Uli; February-9th-2010 at 05:44 AM.
I hope for live footage in Blood-Boosting. I wouldn't even care if Caucasians or not.
The highest EPO content detected wins and has to pay for the snow cannon's energy bill
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who put lemonade in my lemonade?
I hope for live footage in Blood-Boosting. I wouldn't even care if Caucasians or not.
The highest EPO content detected wins and has to pay for the snow cannon's energy bill
that's not the spirit, lonely come join me and
Raise a Glass for Team Canada! Feb 4, 2010
Raise a glass and support our Olympic and Paralympic athletes in 2010! Millions of Canadians came together in 1988 during the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary to help athletes and coaches by purchasing over 50 million Petro-Canada glasses.
Petro-Canada, a proud Vancouver 2010 National Partner, introduced a set of glassware to support our athletes in their preparation for the 2010 Winter Games. And now the 20-ounce “Jericho” pilsner glass, the fourth and final piece in the Vancouver 2010 branded glassware series, is available at participating Petro-Canada and Sunoco retail locations.
The “Jericho” pilsner glass is only $3.99 (plus taxes); approximately 50 per cent of the proceeds go towards supporting Canadian athletes in their bid for podium success at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Each Vancouver 2010 glass is a limited-edition keepsake and displays a petroglyph on one side and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games emblem embossed on the other. The other glasses in the series — the Capilano, the Robson and the Garibaldi — are available today for $3.99 (plus taxes), so why not complete your collection with the “Jericho” pilsner and help our athletes fuel their dreams in 2010!
Alpine Skiing: First Iranian woman skier ready for Canada slopes Feb 6, 2010
Dizin (AFP) - Marjan Kalhor, who never imagined she would one day become the first Iranian woman to take part in the Olympic Winter Games, insists her moment of history will not fall foul of her country's conservative rulers.
Kalhor will compete in the Alpine slalom and giant slalom categories at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games from February 12 to 28.
"I'm thrilled to make it to the Olympics and even more honoured to be the national team's flag bearer," she told AFP in an interview at this northern Iranian ski resort where she grew up.
The 21-year-old is also confident she can keep Iran's Islamic dress code when she takes part in the Games. In the Olympic village she will sport the traditional headscarf, but in competition she will dress like everyone else.
"Skiing is a sport which needs you to be fully clothed. So as far as the uniform for the competition goes, there is no problem -- I'll observe the Islamic dress code," she said.
Kalhor, who will head a four-member Iranian team leaving on Monday, the only one from the Middle East, will follow in the footsteps of countrywoman Homa Hosseini, a rower who was Iran's flag bearer in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The other members of the Islamic republic's team in Canada are Porya Saveh Shemshaki and Hossein Saveh Shemshaki, competing in the men's Alpine skiing event, and Seyed Sattar Seyd in the Cross-country.
Kalhor's ambitions really took off when she won a national event at the age of just 11.
"I grew up here in Dizin where my family skied," said the skier whose role model is Alpine world champion Kathrin Zettel of Austria.
"I started when I was four, but when I won first place in the national youth games at the age of 11 it inspired me."
Skiing is not widespread in Iran, despite the country having two major mountain ranges in the north and in west. And the season is short, depending on snowfall.
Dizin, in the Alborz mountains some 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Tehran, attracts both Iranian and foreign skiers.
It can also be dangerous. Last Thursday, an avalanche killed at least eight Iranians including a woman when it struck Dizin and nearby Shemshak.
Kalhor has seen steady success in international events, but her big moment came last year at the World Championship at Val d'Isere in France when she got enough points to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games slalom.
"I was very excited, and I said to myself that I can improve my performance and qualify for other events," Kalhor said.
Later in 2009 she managed to muster enough International Ski Federation (FIS) points in Turkey to qualify also for the giant slalom in Vancouver.
Iranians have competed nine times in the Olympic Winter Games since 1956, but have failed to bag any medals. The best finish was when Hassan Shemshaki came 30th in the men's slalom in 1998 in Japan.
Kalhor is realistic about her chances, and does not expect to mount the medal winners' podium, but she is still determined to give Vancouver her best.
"The kind of snow we compete on here in Iran is different from there. The snow on the pistes there is more packed than ours. They're more advanced when it comes to preparing pistes," she said.
Figure Skating will once a again dominate any and all Olympic coverage. As if this is the only f*****g "sport" anybody is interested in.
Up here, all other coverage shall cease as soon as the Canadian hockey team takes the ice whether it be for a game, practice or just a skate around the ice with their kids. Thank god for pvr so I can fast forward past any and all hockey foolishness.
The figure skating is one event that I never miss. I'm even excited about the dance this time around, that's never happened before.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoodSpeak
[-The NBC talking heads will think their interviews, athlete spotlights and other non-essential peripheral bullshit is more important than actually watching the events themselves.
Yup, that's universal. The other annoying habit is the looking for controversy in any story. God forbid our hockey team should not win gold, there will be calls for a national enquiry (for the Americans that's like a congressional hearing, only more expensive). I'm not bitter either
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Soulless Blackberry-using weasel with coffee breath
If NBC's coverage is anything like it usually is, there will be endless biographies and trivia about the atheletes, at the expense of showing us the sports events, which is what I care about, no matter which country excels.
NBC manages to dig up material that gives the impression that if an athlete is healthy and faced no crisis, they are unusual.
One thing though. Because the games are in B.C. this time, I won't have to worry about getting up in the middle of the night and finding coverage, live, of an event I want to see.
__________________
A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.
Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
Last edited by patricia; February-9th-2010 at 11:35 AM.
I don't watch, hoping that somebody will get hurt, or even killed, the way some NASCAR aficianadoes seem to watching cars race around a track.
Falling on ice or on a ski-hill may look amusing, if it's not you doing the falling.
Much like when I'm watching the Summer Olympics and the athletes are on the uneven bars, and they make it look easy, same with skiing, ski-jumping, speed-skating etc.
"I could do that" I think................for a second.
I have to remind myself that they know what they're doing and they still get hurt.
It's a real skill being able to get to the bottom of a hill, or the end of a track in whatever discipline it is.
Of course, I'll be watching, intently, the hockey games, because it amazes me how the European countries have upped their game. It's not just Russia that is worrysome anymore.
__________________
A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.
Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
Last edited by patricia; February-9th-2010 at 01:18 PM.
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