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Post by leelee on Feb 14, 2010 12:54:12 GMT -5
NBC mentioned many times how Canada is friendly and "doesn't want to win". Where did that come from? Especially since Canada bitches about winning the Olympics and the Stanley Cup every freaking year.
And who cares about the medal count when the only reason NA is close to the top is because they added all the hippie snowboarding sports and such that Europe doesn't care about.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Feb 14, 2010 17:50:17 GMT -5
Men's biathlon sprint tonight turned into a huge joke as the weather conditions changed about 5 times during the race and the course got thoroughly ruined. Those who got to start among the first 15 should really thank their lucky stars. It was like lottery really.
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Post by leelee on Feb 14, 2010 19:33:11 GMT -5
So, that must have been why the USians did well, one winning a medal.
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Post by DBBN on Feb 14, 2010 20:04:21 GMT -5
So, that must have been why the USians did well, one winning a medal. No, that was the Nordic combined. First US medal in that event ever. US was contending for a biathlon medal too, but the main US guy was one of the late starters, and afterwards called it "the most unfair race ever," but he was smiling while he said it. As for the biathlon...yes. That is a problem when you have staggered starts spanning hours in an outdoor event. It's unfortunate, but...I'm sure it's not the first time it's happened. Though this is their one big shot for the next four years. Just unlucky. My big problem with that is NOW it affects the pursuit...which is dumb overall, but particularly dumb after the sprint was adversely affected.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Feb 14, 2010 20:15:34 GMT -5
I've followed biathlon for ages and I've rarely seen a race like this. Sure, there have been times the weather was horrid, but to see it change this dramatically over the course of a race just sucks. Not to mention that the track wasn't in best state before the race even started. As the silver medalist Svendsen put it, "I am a lucky bastard". And he was the biggest favourite for the title. Go figure.
Yeah, the men's pursuit is fucked now. At least the woman's race should be exciting, but I fear that Magdalena Neuner is going to run away with it.
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Post by DBBN on Feb 14, 2010 23:45:21 GMT -5
Does the "home Canadian gold" count given that dude is from Quebec?
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Post by leelee on Feb 14, 2010 23:59:05 GMT -5
Oops, wrong event. Biathlon only exists for a couple minutes here, so it's impossible to know these things.
Staggered starts is a problem for all winter events. I remember one of the recent downhills was completely ruined because of it.
Good to see Canada finally win something. Also, odd how NBC completely ignored the USian that won bronze. Of course, just when you think they change, they show a long, needless puff piece on Ohno right after. Short track racing is just ridiculous.
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Post by DBBN on Feb 15, 2010 0:20:57 GMT -5
Also, odd how NBC completely ignored the USian that won bronze. SERIOUSLY. Eight years after Sale/Pelletier, and the judging for pairs is still complete and utter bullshit.
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Post by leelee on Feb 15, 2010 0:23:20 GMT -5
I don't bother caring about who wins in figure skating. Shit is so fixed, always has been, always will be. And I don't have Queen Sasha to watch SUCK LOSE despite it being fixed for her.
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Post by The Chloe on Feb 15, 2010 3:12:11 GMT -5
Does the "home Canadian gold" count given that dude is from Quebec? Unless Quebec seperated last week and I missed it, yes. As long as you're sporting the flag and winning, you're a Canadian no matter where you're from: Ontario, Quebec, Jamaica, whatever.
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Post by The Chloe on Feb 15, 2010 3:12:37 GMT -5
I always spell that word wrong.
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Post by The Chloe on Feb 15, 2010 3:13:36 GMT -5
Short track speed skating is awesome. It's my favorite winter sport, by far. It also produced my favorite Olympic moment ever, when everybody else fell over and the Aussie won.
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Post by DBBN on Feb 15, 2010 10:55:10 GMT -5
Does the "home Canadian gold" count given that dude is from Quebec? Unless Quebec seperated last week and I missed it, yes. As long as you're sporting the flag and winning, you're a Canadian no matter where you're from: Ontario, Quebec, Jamaica, whatever. Ah, the little-known Caribbean-Canadian faction. At least you're forthright about your goldlust.
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Post by Wagasi on Feb 15, 2010 10:59:38 GMT -5
Unless Quebec seperated last week and I missed it, yes. As long as you're sporting the flag and winning, you're a Canadian no matter where you're from: Ontario, Quebec, Jamaica, whatever. Ah, the little-known Caribbean-Canadian faction. At least you're forthright about your goldlust. Where do you think those sprinting medals in '96 came from?
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Post by DBBN on Feb 15, 2010 11:09:35 GMT -5
Drugs? But, then, don't they all.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Feb 15, 2010 11:44:15 GMT -5
Short track speed skating is awesome. It's my favorite winter sport, by far. You're a true Korean, then.
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Post by leelee on Feb 15, 2010 12:40:27 GMT -5
Short track is certainly the most exciting. Even if it's random as anything. It's just crazy that it's an Olympic sport.
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Post by DBBN on Feb 15, 2010 13:07:35 GMT -5
It's good because everyone is going at the same time. And also because people trip each other.
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Post by GoDom on Feb 15, 2010 13:50:36 GMT -5
Bode Miller is leading in the Downhill race but wasn't the fastest in the second half. This should be exciting.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Feb 15, 2010 13:53:53 GMT -5
The ski events should be cancelled, tracks are ridiculous. The women have only just finished their cross country race and the men should come up in a couple of hours, and the track is already ruined. If there's no snowfall in the next couple of days it will all become a mess of gigantic proportions.
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Post by leelee on Feb 15, 2010 14:49:25 GMT -5
NBC is saving the downhill for tonight, I presume. Thanks. Sigh.
The weather only appears to get warmer for Vancouver next week with a more pronounced Western ridge. And mostly dry.
They were kinda unlucky with this strong El Nino that affects the Western US/Canada the most... but, when you select marginally cold places like Vancouver, Salt Lake and Nagano, this is what you get. Ooh boy, if it was in Salt Lake this year, they'd really be screwed. It's not like there's a dearth of places where it's regularly below freezing in winter.
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Post by DBBN on Feb 15, 2010 14:54:50 GMT -5
Winter Games used to be explicitly placed at "ski resorts," but now that the Olympics survives on bids from cities hoping for bazillions of tourists, both during and after the Games, they need to be at larger urban agglomerations, the preferred size of which hardly ever exist in consistently frozen areas.
Go Wasilla '18.
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Post by leelee on Feb 15, 2010 15:04:09 GMT -5
Population isn't everything either, Sochi is far from a large urban area. But, again, let's choose the one somewhat populated city in Russia that doesn't get cold in winter, and has some mountains to ski on. I suppose it's all about keeping tourists warm. For the Winter Freaking Olympics. Whatever.
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Post by DBBN on Feb 15, 2010 15:15:16 GMT -5
Yes, that's kind of what I mean. They want to pick places where tons of people can...hang out and go shopping and not really care about watching sports.
Smart people do not like being consistently cold.
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Post by DBBN on Feb 15, 2010 15:16:41 GMT -5
And compare Sochi to, like, Albertville, or Lillehammer. Let alone Cortina d'Ampezzo.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Feb 15, 2010 15:29:34 GMT -5
I don't know what Sochi will look like. Perhaps they'll hold the skating competitions there and airlift nordic skiers to Siberia. And alpine skiers to Austria.
Norwegians are still without a gold medal and they're starting to freak out, especially since Sweden got their first gold today.
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Post by leelee on Feb 15, 2010 15:48:58 GMT -5
What's the difference between say 40 degrees and 25. It's still cold enough that you have to wear a jacket, and one can still function in below freezing weather. Plus, you're going to watch skiing and snow. You do not like these things if you hate cold weather.
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Post by lexpretend on Feb 15, 2010 15:59:16 GMT -5
When I was in Montréal a few weeks ago (minus 10-15 at night, I think) covering an outdoor festival (!), it was actually a lot more bearable than England has been - mostly because you get into the super-cold weather mindset and actually wear Serious Winter Clothing which does the job, partly because it's a dry kind of cold. I haven't seen any of the Winter Olympics yet
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Post by DBBN on Feb 15, 2010 15:59:20 GMT -5
I personally think 40 degrees is more than palatable, especially after 8 months in Dublin. Say what you will, Ireland minus car certainly made me a hardier soul.
But, that's my point, half of the people going to Olympics don't actually like the sports, they just want to go to the Olympics. They are aiming to milk more money out of fans ranging from less-than-casual to non-existent, and therefore they have to go for bigger sites in more temperate climates. I'm not saying they should...but they do.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Feb 15, 2010 16:02:54 GMT -5
When it's 40 degrees my brain is starting to melt and I feel like I'm going to die.
Sorry, I'll never understand Fahrenheit.
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