Winter Olympics general discussion

[MattPie]

  On 2/11/2014 at 5:18 PM, d4rksabre said:

Japan got screwed. Who wants to tell me figure skating isn't a sport because it's judged when a goal as obvious as the one Japan scored gets disallowed? Woof.

 

Hockey is a game, not a "sport" by my strict definition. Personally, I wouldn't have hockey, or any team games (as opposed to relay races or something similar), as Olympic sports since the outcome isn't determined by raw measurement. But that's just my preference; I will watch the Olympic hockey if I happen to see it on NBC (without cable, I have a pretty limited selection of stuff to watch and I don't think I'll bother with streaming)

[millbank]

curling is a fine sports to observe http://sports.yahoo.com/news/anna-sidorova-now-wants-to-turn-heads-with-her-curling-132937978.html

 

and what on earth is with U.S team giving up a seven in one end a Olympic record. Given each team throws eight stones each they achieved the next to impossible .

[darksabre]

  On 2/11/2014 at 5:59 PM, millbank said:

curling is a fine sports to observe http://sports.yahoo.com/news/anna-sidorova-now-wants-to-turn-heads-with-her-curling-132937978.html

 

and what on earth is with U.S team giving up a seven in one end a Olympic record. Given each team throws eight stones each they achieved the next to impossible .

 

Shuster is the worst skip ever.

[millbank]

  On 2/11/2014 at 6:04 PM, d4rksabre said:

Shuster is the worst skip ever.

i did not see this but heard guys on radio. Suppose the young ladies can get flustered they were playing the world champions arguably the best team. Not something I like to see frankly, competitors being embarrassed in what is a life time experience. Hopefully they will regroup and do better.

 

what I am finding interesting about Olympics is the number of athletes who have coaches from other countries, nations coaching them, training them. See a Canadian speed skater with a Chinese coach, a Chinese skater with a Canadian coach couple of such examples. Competition seems a world event of athletes using the attributes of entire world as opposed to having a singular individual national one.

[josie]

Shaun White's reign is over. He came in at 4th place in the half pipe, pushed out of contention by two Japanese athletes and gold going to a Swiss contender.

 

 

Now watching women's ski jump So happy to see it. Watch the doc Ready To Fly on Netflix if you're so inclined- it focuses on Lindsey Van and the American would-be team's efforts to have a women's team. First year for it, in Sochi. Awesome.

Edited February 11, 2014 by Josie914

[millbank]

Question posed on Canadian radio discussion. Would you be alright with a player on your favorite team got injured but it resulted in Olympic team winning a gold medal , would you be ok with that.? Supposing for discussion sake Sabres were a team heading for playoffs with a shot, Miller got injured but his play resulted in a team U.S gold medal, would you be while greatly disappointed with injury obviously, in big picture be more elated at a U.S gold medal, the Sabres season taking a back seat for this?

[MattPie]

  On 2/11/2014 at 6:35 PM, millbank said:

Question posed on Canadian radio discussion. Would you be alright with a player on your favorite team got injured but it resulted in Olympic team winning a gold medal , would you be ok with that.? Supposing for discussion sake Sabres were a team heading for playoffs with a shot, Miller got injured but his play resulted in a team U.S gold medal, would you be while greatly disappointed with injury obviously, in big picture be more elated at a U.S gold medal, the Sabres season taking a back seat for this?

 

In Miller's case, no, because of his trade/contract status. But if it was another player I'd be OK with it. I suppose my answer might change if the Sabres were relevant this year, or in in hindsight the team was favored for the cup but spiralled due to the lost player.

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

  On 2/11/2014 at 6:35 PM, millbank said:

Question posed on Canadian radio discussion. Would you be alright with a player on your favorite team got injured but it resulted in Olympic team winning a gold medal , would you be ok with that.? Supposing for discussion sake Sabres were a team heading for playoffs with a shot, Miller got injured but his play resulted in a team U.S gold medal, would you be while greatly disappointed with injury obviously, in big picture be more elated at a U.S gold medal, the Sabres season taking a back seat for this?

 

In all honesty, I'd be more elated to win $10 on a scratch-off lotto ticket than for the US to win a gold medal. If I grew up in Canada or Europe, maybe I would be more enthused. I will root for the US, but I don't need to see Girgensons blow out a knee taking out Crosby for the tournament so the US has a better chance.

[millbank]

  On 2/11/2014 at 7:44 PM, Ghost of Dwight Drane said:

In all honesty, I'd be more elated to win $10 on a scratch-off lotto ticket than for the US to win a gold medal. If I grew up in Canada or Europe, maybe I would be more enthused. I will root for the US, but I don't need to see Girgensons blow out a knee taking out Crosby for the tournament so the US has a better chance.

 

in Canadian radio discussion hosts saying Canadians generally would be more enthused it Canada won Gold medal. Personally I would not trade a Leaf Stanley cup or a Sabre one for that matter. No doubt these Olympics will shape upcoming NHL playoffs, for some to the negative, that sucks in my opinion.

[spndnchz]

I can wholeheartedly say I haven't watched any of it so far.

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

  On 2/11/2014 at 7:51 PM, millbank said:

 

 

in Canadian radio discussion hosts saying Canadians generally would be more enthused it Canada won Gold medal. Personally I would not trade a Leaf Stanley cup or a Sabre one for that matter. No doubt these Olympics will shape upcoming NHL playoffs, for some to the negative, that sucks in my opinion.

 

Other than 1980, it doesn't matter. That was special because it was a bunch of underdog kids going against well-oiled professionals against the backdrop of a potential nuclear war, clash of core ideals, and hosting in your home country. That's a once in forever scenario and pretty neat.

 

I'd take a Bills win opening day versus Cleveland if it meant the US not getting a medal. Heck, if the Sabres were relevant, I'd take a 3 game win streak.

[darksabre]

  On 2/11/2014 at 7:51 PM, millbank said:

 

 

in Canadian radio discussion hosts saying Canadians generally would be more enthused it Canada won Gold medal. Personally I would not trade a Leaf Stanley cup or a Sabre one for that matter. No doubt these Olympics will shape upcoming NHL playoffs, for some to the negative, that sucks in my opinion.

 

Canada only says that because they know Canadian teams aren't going to win the Cup anymore.

[phil_soisson]

NBC has the beautiful and talented Rebecca Lowe on loan for these Olympic games from NBCSN's Premier League coverage and all I see are the two a$$clowns Bob (pink eyes) Costas and Lester Holt. Listening to these two just about makes it unwatchable, and their hockey announcer, Doc Emrick has such an annoying voice.

[bunomatic]

  On 2/11/2014 at 7:51 PM, millbank said:

in Canadian radio discussion hosts saying Canadians generally would be more enthused it Canada won Gold medal. Personally I would not trade a Leaf Stanley cup or a Sabre one for that matter. No doubt these Olympics will shape upcoming NHL playoffs, for some to the negative, that sucks in my opinion.

 

I agree. I'd rather see the Sabres win the cup than see Canada win the gold medal. Gods honest truth. I consider myself patriotic and a proud Canuck but truthfully I'd get a bigger boost out of seeing my team finally lift the Stanley cup. I've waited most of my life. When Canada won the gold in Vancouver I remember feeling torn because as a fan of the Sabres and Miller I was upset that he let that goal in yet I was happy we had won.

[biodork]

  On 2/11/2014 at 2:24 PM, CallawaySabres said:

Well, she clipped someone's pole in the Finals and fell, ugh. She ended up 6th and it was the best finish for an American in the history of the event - not too shabby.

 

No shame in that -- congrats to her!

[thewookie1]

So what time does the Latvian game start today?

[Marvelo]

damn I'm impressed with this USA-Canada women's hockey game. They pass much better than the Sabres!

[gomper]

Canada starting to take it the US w/ a 2-1 lead in the 3rd.

[Huckleberry]

  On 2/12/2014 at 1:57 PM, 716 said:

damn I'm impressed with this USA-Canada women's hockey game. They pass much better than the Sabres!

 

that is not hard to do ...

[darksabre]

Chara trying to be polite despite NBC interviewer trying to bait him into shitting on Russia. Gotta love it.

[SwampD]

  On 2/12/2014 at 3:00 PM, d4rksabre said:

Chara trying to be polite despite NBC interviewer trying to bait him into shitting on Russia. Gotta love it.

I have never been able to hate Chara like I know I'm supposed to, ya know, being a Sabres fan an'all.

[darksabre]

  On 2/12/2014 at 3:05 PM, SwampD said:

 

I have never been able to hate Chara like I know I'm supposed to, ya know, being a Sabres fan an'all.

 

I like him. I just hate being the victim.

[Eleven]

Ok. I officially don't get why there's two-man luge. Putting aside the funny stuff, I just don't understand why it exists. The luge is a one-person sled. If you make it bigger, sure, you can fit two people on it, but WHY? There aren't tandem bicycle races in the summer games. There is no two-woman equestrian event. This seems, to me, to be the only event where the team is artificially a tandem. Is it to allow not-so-good lugers (lugists?) an opportunity to participate or something?

[X. Benedict]

  On 2/12/2014 at 6:49 PM, Eleven said:

Ok. I officially don't get why there's two-man luge. Putting aside the funny stuff, I just don't understand why it exists. The luge is a one-person sled. If you make it bigger, sure, you can fit two people on it, but WHY? There aren't tandem bicycle races in the summer games. There is no two-woman equestrian event. This seems, to me, to be the only event where the team is artificially a tandem. Is it to allow not-so-good lugers (lugists?) an opportunity to participate or something?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=effb2JYiKXM

[darksabre]

  On 2/12/2014 at 6:49 PM, Eleven said:

Ok. I officially don't get why there's two-man luge. Putting aside the funny stuff, I just don't understand why it exists. The luge is a one-person sled. If you make it bigger, sure, you can fit two people on it, but WHY? There aren't tandem bicycle races in the summer games. There is no two-woman equestrian event. This seems, to me, to be the only event where the team is artificially a tandem. Is it to allow not-so-good lugers (lugists?) an opportunity to participate or something?

 

I always figured it was so that they could go faster than the single man luge.