Olympic open thread

Submitted by jmblue on
Anyone watch the short-track final? That sport is nuts. It seems like every time in the Olympics there's a collision at the very end that knocks a couple people out. Apollo Anton Ohno went from fourth to silver thanks to two Koreans colliding.
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dlanny22

February 14th, 2010 at 9:42 AM ^

That was a fun competition to watch. After the other 2 Americans fell I was worried they might only get one medal. Then Kearney came through with ice water in her veins and nailed all the jumps without losing any speed either. Hell of a fun event to watch!!

Joined: 01/04/2009

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M-Wolverine

February 14th, 2010 at 12:58 AM ^

Awful cocky for a team that's won one gold medal in the sport for what? Like the last 60 years? The pros have even lost twice. Heck, even if they do win, they've only matched the Americans over that time period (for gold mind you). Hockey is wacky when you play 7 game series. Single elimination games? Chaos.

Joined: 10/04/2009

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clarkiefromcanada

February 15th, 2010 at 8:42 PM ^

The only thing that gets in the way of Canada owning that thing is the single game elimination model (and it's accordant over emphasis on the hot goaltender). That said, we could send our b team to the Olympics and be favored. Smyth-Lecavalier-St.Louis Carter-Savard-Cammalleri B.Richards-Spezza-Doan Penner-Sharp-Gagne Bouwmeester-Green Regehr-Phaneuf Robidas-Mitchell Roloson Giguere/Mason

Joined: 11/20/2008

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FreetheFabFive

February 16th, 2010 at 8:51 AM ^

Since NHL players have been allowed to play in the Winter Olympics: Canada: 1998 - 4th 2002 - Gold 2006 - 7th (ouch) Maybe you should have sent your 'B' teams to 1998 and 2006. I don't hate Canada or Canadians by any means. I do however hate their cocky ass hockey fans that think they're everything that is holy. Don't even get me started on the fake applause for the Slovakia team that almost made me puke. You can cheer for all 18 goals, but magically "cheer" the Slovak team after the end of the game? Give me a break. Get over yourself. Enjoy the sport. Enjoy the Olympics. We get it. Hockey is a Canadian sport. No need to shove it in everyone's face every chance you get. I hate to burst your bubble, but past instances have proved that Canada is anything but a "favorite."

Joined: 12/23/2009

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GOBLUE4EVR

February 16th, 2010 at 2:06 PM ^

long it took canada to win another gold and how long its been since the USA won a gold... the USA had their best shot at winning gold in 2002... this year's american team is no where near as good as that team... this years canadian team could be just as good as the 2002 team... as for your point above about how canada faired in the last 3 olympics lets look at what the american hockey team did: 98 - 6th, 2002 - 2nd, 2006 - 8th... so in the last 3 games the american team has finished behind canada... and to put it bluntly clarkie is right canada could send out their B team and still be favored... can the americans say that???

Joined: 01/09/2009

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M-Wolverine

February 16th, 2010 at 5:26 PM ^

But you don't hear Americans going "ohhhh, our team is so much better than yours". We're embarrassed by the pros being there. Heck, rather than make excuses and blame the tournament format for not dominating, or sending our "B" team (what is that anyway? With all the pressure they're under, they're NOT trying to field their best team?!?), we blame the team for not winning, and root against their arrogance. And our pros have only lost it once. THAT'S the comparison. Who's All Star team isn't living up to the hype as much. Because I don't really feel the urge to trash talk if we beat Canada just because they have Steve Nash... Frankly, the Canadians have had a lot bigger worries at these Olympics than how their hockey team does...though that's obviously been a bigger consideration for them. As the other poster said, nothing against Canada, but try and get to .500 with the by far superior talent before you talk all that smack. Because 2 is the amount the Americans have won the last 60 years, and as you point out, that's not all that impressive.

Joined: 10/04/2009

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M-Wolverine

February 14th, 2010 at 12:46 AM ^

Short track was wild and Moguls exciting (though I don't understand it...the YOUNG Canadian girl looked as good as any of them), but did anyone catch the Swiss Luger? Fell off his sled, was skidding on the ice behind it, AND STILL managed to get back on it at like 70 mph to finish the heat.

Joined: 10/04/2009

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hailtothevictors08

February 14th, 2010 at 1:38 PM ^

as i commented above .. shes the future of the sport cause she is pushing how big you can go on the jumps ... but still remember 50% is style of turns and her kness came apart a couple times and she was a second or two slower which is also 25% ... her run was sick but her form just wasnt quite podium form

Joined: 06/11/2009

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mrider

February 15th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^

Yeh I guess other then during the Olympics we all hate all the Frenchies? That's silly, we hate separatists, Bilodeau is not a separatist so we embrace his gold. That run was majestic last night, as a Canadian I had the chills. The Olympics in your own country is special, especially because of the crowd, the Canadians support has been unreal. GO CANADA, Own the Podium!!!

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jmblue

February 15th, 2010 at 3:13 PM ^

Visit any random Anglophone Canadian forum and bring up Quebec, and you generally won't get that nuanced a response toward the province. Incidentally, not all separatists necessarily support the Parti Québécois. Its socialist leanings turn off some libertarian types.

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