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Post by inuvik on Feb 20, 2010 14:28:58 GMT -5
OK, I'll start..... YAY!! Canada broke our curse (2 previous Olympics in Canada with no gold medals) and finally won gold on home soil! In fact, I believe we have 3 so far! Whoo hoo! I'm not a sports fan, but even I hoped we would finally do it at home and we did. It's on 24-7 here, so it's hard to avoid on TV. Everything is in reruns it seems, they don't want to compete with the Olympics, but I miss my TV shows! I did watch the Opening Ceremonies, and will probably watch the closing. Anyone else see them? I'm amazed at the technology of the floor, everything they projected on there looked so realistic. Shame about the weather, though--Vancouver is having the warmest winter in 115 years, they said! Calgary was chinooking in the `88 Olympics, so I guess it's part of the Canadian "fun"  |
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Post by rducasey on Feb 21, 2010 14:59:25 GMT -5
I have been enjoying watching them particularly when I can DVR it and fast forward through the commercials. It seems like they show one competitor and then go to a break. I do love the skiing. Curling, I have not figured out yet!
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Post by Eyphur on Feb 21, 2010 19:09:19 GMT -5
I'm watching. I really like the speed skating and snowboarding. I always find it a little scarry tho, when I think "the next time this is on I'll be four years older and thats really old". I also enjoy hearing the different national anthems.
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Post by matilda on Feb 22, 2010 3:57:09 GMT -5
Go Torah Bright is all I can say. Feel for you Inuvik, I really do. Can I also say how weird it is to be watching it here - 34C and about 99.999%, not really about 85% humidity here in Sydney Town today.
Curling is so interesting. Mental skill eh???
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Post by inuvik on Feb 22, 2010 12:24:33 GMT -5
I have been enjoying watching them particularly when I can DVR it and fast forward through the commercials. It seems like they show one competitor and then go to a break. I do love the skiing. Curling, I have not figured out yet! One of the curling teams has "harlequin" type pants. They look like court jester pants! Hilarious. I think they must be trying to give golfers a run for their money. |
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Post by inuvik on Feb 22, 2010 12:26:20 GMT -5
Feel for you Inuvik, I really do. I assume you mean the hockey game last night? That sucked big time. I am SO disappointed. What a nail biter right at the end too. Still, the women are doing well.  |
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Post by mlm828 on Feb 22, 2010 13:54:55 GMT -5
I've been watching, too, even though NBC's coverage in the U.S. is living down to its usual low standard -- too U.S.A.-centric, too much "filler," and way too many commercials. That said, I loved the bits with Stephen Colbert, even if they could be considered "filler."
I watched most of the U.S.-Canada hockey game. With all the shots Canada got off in the last few minutes, I was sure one of them was going to go in.
I have been watching curling, too. I can't say I understand all of the ins and outs of the game, but I think I have the basic idea.
I am seriously considering starting my own Olympic boycott -- of the companies whose ads are the most inane and annoying.
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Post by bjobsessed on Feb 22, 2010 19:28:08 GMT -5
I have watched so much of the Olympics. I really enjoy it. I don't understand curling at all but our teams are doing well. I was also disappointed at the hockey game last night but hats off to Ryan Miller, the US goaltender. He was awesome!
The thing I don't like is how critical everyone is of our athletes here. We haven't won as many medals as we had the potential to do and alot of people are down on them because they are "failing" and "choking." I really can't stand that. These guys work so hard and sacrifice for this. I think we should be more supportive and take something from the Special Olympics and say "Let me be brave in the attempt...." I don't think you can complain unless you can put your money where your mouth is and very few of us can do that. I say do your best and be a good sport. Set a good example for all the kids that are watching. (Not like the Russians who were cheering when the Canadian bobsled went upside down until they realized they were on camera.)
I say Go Canada Go! (or whatever your country is)
Sorry. Rant over now.
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Post by hoosier on Feb 22, 2010 19:51:18 GMT -5
Missed the opening ceremonies! Argh!  I've seen bits and pieces--short track, speed skating, ski jumping, some skiing and ice dancing. Instead of concentrating on the "high ratings" sports all the time I wish they would show some of the others like biathlon. Here's a sport that combines two totally different skills--cross-country skiing and shooting--that have to be mastered. |
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Post by mlm828 on Feb 22, 2010 22:28:35 GMT -5
The thing I don't like is how critical everyone is of our athletes here. We haven't won as many medals as we had the potential to do and a lot of people are down on them because they are "failing" and "choking." I really can't stand that. These guys work so hard and sacrifice for this. I think we should be more supportive and take something from the Special Olympics and say "Let me be brave in the attempt...." I don't think you can complain unless you can put your money where your mouth is and very few of us can do that. I say do your best and be a good sport. I totally agree. I really dislike the attitude that anything less than a gold medal is failure. As you say, how many of us can do what the athletes do? I absolutely loved gold medalist Evan Lysacek's handling of Evgeni Plushenko's "sour grapes" response to winning the silver in men's figure skating. When his skating career is done, Evan can look forward to a new career -- as a diplomat! I think part of the appeal of curling is that you don't have to be a twenty-something daredevil to do it. Even if regular folks can't compete at the same level as the Olympians, it's a game we can still participate in at the recreational level. |
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Post by inuvik on Feb 23, 2010 14:13:28 GMT -5
Instead of concentrating on the "high ratings" sports all the time I wish they would show some of the others like biathlon. Here's a sport that combines two totally different skills--cross-country skiing and shooting--that have to be mastered. I have often thought that this should be an event at the Paralympics--for blind athletes. Now there would be an exciting sport! (Sorry, couldn't resist).  BJO is right about the pressure Canadian athletes are feeling. There is a whole program this year called "Own the Podium". The best line I have heard so far at the Olympics is from an American journalist: "The Canadians can own the podium, no problem. But we'll rent it from them for two weeks" (or something like that) Awesome line and so true! That hockey game Sunday night was the most watched sporting event in Canada in HISTORY. 2 out of 3 Canadians tuned in. To put it in perspective, it's 50 times the audience of the Super Bowl. WOW! |
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Post by matilda on Feb 23, 2010 16:04:17 GMT -5
Feel for you Inuvik, I really do. I assume you mean the hockey game last night? That sucked big time. I am SO disappointed. What a nail biter right at the end too. Still, the women are doing well. Yes darl, I meant the game, Canadian brother-in-law beside himself, my sister says "we are suffering ice hockey angst in this house"! The women are soooo doing well. I love the curling champ woman, forget her name. You reckon your coverage is bad mlm? Ours is on Foxtel (no prizes for guessing who owns it) thus cable thus one must pay for access. And - get this one - one of the commentators is Michael Buble. Nothing against the bloke, but being Canadian doesn't seem to me to qualify to commentate on winter sport?? Not to worry, the fans - and there are MANY here - will be lovin' it. Ah, Aussies and sport. And I'm one of them (a sport-loving Aussie, that is). |
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Post by bjobsessed on Feb 23, 2010 19:30:16 GMT -5
Did anyone watch figure skating last night? The Canadian team was awesome and so was the American one. I stayed up late to watch...again. I was laying in bed and so was my mom. When the Canadians won, she yelled her head off. It was after midnight! I'm not a huge skating fan but those two couples were beautiful to watch. Congrats to both.
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Post by maggiethecat on Feb 23, 2010 19:50:55 GMT -5
Amen to that! The most beautiful, graceful, and talented ice dancing team since Torvil & Dean in 1984! And of course I gave them major taste points because they skated to Mahler. |
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Post by bjobsessed on Feb 23, 2010 22:22:20 GMT -5
Canada beat Germany. Bring on the Russians! As all of Canada breathes a sigh of relief.
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I've seen bits and pieces--short track, speed skating, ski jumping, some skiing and ice dancing. Instead of concentrating on the "high ratings" sports all the time I wish they would show some of the others like biathlon. Here's a sport that combines two totally different skills--cross-country skiing and shooting--that have to be mastered.
