Winter Olympics: Torino 2006

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by USCTKE
Canada's womens hockey team...I dont even know what to say...16-0 yesturday...8-0 through a period and a half today...this is what I call total domination...I hope our girls have their act together

It's not fun to watch a total blowout like that. However, Goals for and against count for home ice advantage. in this tournament. When USA beat the Swiss 6-0, we had to run up the score in order to increase our goals for.

When Canada plays the US, it will be a very exciting and close game.

Also, I have to commend Italy's performance. They played really well considering the outcome. I was lisiting to the commentary during the game and it was said that there are about 60,000 women who play hockey in Canada and only about 300 that play in Italy. Italy is also only a tier III team. It's hard going up against a tier I team. I really do commend their effort and hard work. Right now Canada and the US are the dominant teams. One day the other countries are going to catch us to us.

ETA: Does anyone know where I can find a list of all the participant countries in Torino? I tried the IOC website and couldn't find anything.

ETA again: Canada just won another medal. Cindy Klassen just won bronze in women's 3000m long track speed skating.

[A Random DphiE]

shaun white captured gold!

ohno didn't qualify for the finals

and bode placed fifth. ::argh::

[AGDee]

Originally posted by AOIIalum
She might be ready to head to Torino, but can she even get a flight due to the snow?

Not yet. Thankfully, the women don't start until Feb. 23rd or something like that. She is in New York and it will probably be a couple days before she can get out.

I was probably too harsh on Michelle in my first post. She has dominated the sport for a long time and is an excellent skater, but hasn't pulled off the Gold at the Olympics. I did always find Kristi Yamaguchi more appealing as a skater. Michelle had quite a career and will be known as one of the best, Gold or not. She did handle that press conference very maturely. I feel like I've watched her grow up ... oh wait, because I have!

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Originally posted by AGDee
Not yet. Thankfully, the women don't start until Feb. 23rd or something like that. She is in New York and it will probably be a couple days before she can get out.

I was probably too harsh on Michelle in my first post. She has dominated the sport for a long time and is an excellent skater, but hasn't pulled off the Gold at the Olympics. I did always find Kristi Yamaguchi more appealing as a skater. Michelle had quite a career and will be known as one of the best, Gold or not. She did handle that press conference very maturely. I feel like I've watched her grow up ... oh wait, because I have!

I know. When the reporter said Michelle Kwan was 25, I was really surprised. I know that she was only 13 when she was in the standby position after Nancy Kerrigan was attacked. I just cannot believe that was 12 years ago.

I wish Michelle Kwan could have competed in the Olympics and bring home the gold. I think that she is wonderful.

I think that Emily Hughes will be able to fly out of JFK on Tuesday, maybe Monday night at the earliest. The local airports are closed today, and tomorrow will probably be spent removing the snow.

[DeltAlum]

Kwan would have been a great story, but the chances of her winning this year were pretty slim.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
I know. When the reporter said Michelle Kwan was 25, I was really surprised. I know that she was only 13 when she was in the standby position after Nancy Kerrigan was attacked. I just cannot believe that was 12 years ago.

I wish Michelle Kwan could have competed in the Olympics and bring home the gold. I think that she is wonderful.

I think that Emily Hughes will be able to fly out of JFK on Tuesday, maybe Monday night at the earliest. The local airports are closed today, and tomorrow will probably be spent removing the snow.

But would it kill Emily Hughes to be a little gracious about this opportunity? I know she's just a kid, but maybe a, "While I feel badly about Michelle, I'm thrilled...".

As I remember, when Michelle Kwan stepped down for Nancy Kerrigan, she issued that sort of statement.

[AOII_LB93]

Originally posted by honeychile
But would it kill Emily Hughes to be a little gracious about this opportunity? I know she's just a kid, but maybe a, "While I feel badly about Michelle, I'm thrilled...".

As I remember, when Michelle Kwan stepped down for Nancy Kerrigan, she issued that sort of statement.

I respectfully disagree with you here. Michelle Kwan asked for special consideration and basically got Emily's place on the squad because she didn't even compete in anything this year and was injured. I can see that MK wants a gold, but isn't everything she's accomplished good enough for her? I mean seriously, a silver and bronze are not bad, plus all of the various championships she has won over the years? Quite honestly it seems the USOC chose Kwan to up the $$ factor, not because she could have won the gold. She was considered the long shot from the start anyhow.

I appreciate Kwan's skill and grace, but I'm glad that she stepped aside. She should have done that from the start.

[honeychile]

We'll have to agree to disagree, then. If I remember properly, Michelle would have been the first female figure skater to win the gold, silver, and bronze, should she had pulled an upset. I would imagine that the USOC was looking at that. That would have made incredible international press.

I'm not saying that she would have gotten the gold; the groin injury alone (not forgetting that she had two of them) would have made it almost impossible. But if you know skating, you know that at least 75% (some say 90%) is politics - not necessarily national, but not unlike office politics - and that would have served her well. Had she skated cleanly, she would have medaled.

Emily Hughes hasn't had a chance to build up that political backing. Being Sarah's sister will work as much against her as for her. That's why I felt that a little graciousness would have served her well. After all, what's one of the things said about Michelle Kwan almost every time her name is mentioned with Olympics? That she voluntarily and gracefully stepped down for Nancy Kerrigan. If you don't believe how political it is, read On Thin Ice, I think by Christine Brennan. The top five are already selected, unless someone chokes. It's just a matter of skating the events now.

[honeychile]

Peggy Fleming was asked what she thought of Michelle Kwan. I'll try to get the quote right, as it's amazing. I'll have to add it once I find it.

From Yahoo:

"She's probably the most significant athlete at these Olympic Games," said skating analyst Scott Hamilton. "And so for her to pull out is a gigantic story, and a loss for the U.S. team because so much of the focus was going to be on her."

"Michelle Kwan means more to the United States Olympic Committee than maybe any athlete that's ever performed," USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth said. "She's been a leader, she's been gracious, she's somebody that cares for so many youngsters that are training in our country...."She's a real loss to all of the United States Olympic Committee and to the United States of America, and I think to the world. She's made a courageous decision."

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by A Random DphiE
honestly i shed a tear [ok i balled] when they highlighted the kenyan athlete who named his firstborn after another competitor [ can't recall who ] who waited for him at the finish line at the last olympic games ...

That would be Kenyan cross-country skier Philip Boit who the finish line dead last in the 10-kilometer race and he was embraced by Bjorn Dahlie, the gold medal winner from Norway.
Bjorn Dahlie also won a bajillion medals in all 3 colours, because he is such as awesome x-country skier. Philip Boit is a long distance runner and I think he only stood on skis maybe 6 months' prior, or something like that. Nike financed him to get to the Olympics, along with another Kenyan.

[honeychile]

Did Jamaica send a bobsled team this year?

[Thrillhouse]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Let your feeling be known. Write to Dick Ebersol, the President of NBC Sports. He's the one who sets the tone of the coverage.

Or just not watch the events and read the results online

[A Random DphiE]

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
That would be Kenyan cross-country skier Philip Boit who the finish line dead last in the 10-kilometer race and he was embraced by Bjorn Dahlie, the gold medal winner from Norway.
Bjorn Dahlie also won a bajillion medals in all 3 colours, because he is such as awesome x-country skier. Philip Boit is a long distance runner and I think he only stood on skis maybe 6 months' prior, or something like that. Nike financed him to get to the Olympics, along with another Kenyan.

thanksssssssss i hadnt been able to find the info ;]

btw: did i mention that i now get texted with the latest in olympic news? ooh yea.. let the obsession begin!

[Thrillhouse]

Originally posted by AOII_LB93
I respectfully disagree with you here. Michelle Kwan asked for special consideration and basically got Emily's place on the squad because she didn't even compete in anything this year and was injured. I can see that MK wants a gold, but isn't everything she's accomplished good enough for her? I mean seriously, a silver and bronze are not bad, plus all of the various championships she has won over the years? Quite honestly it seems the USOC chose Kwan to up the $$ factor, not because she could have won the gold. She was considered the long shot from the start anyhow.

I appreciate Kwan's skill and grace, but I'm glad that she stepped aside. She should have done that from the start.

I agree 100% on this. I apprieciate her skill but she got her name out there this Olympics without having to perform and thats all that matters for the $$ factor.

[AGDee]

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
I know. When the reporter said Michelle Kwan was 25, I was really surprised. I know that she was only 13 when she was in the standby position after Nancy Kerrigan was attacked. I just cannot believe that was 12 years ago.

It is forever etched in my memory because I was on maternity leave and there was NOTHING on TV except Nancy/Tonya coverage, especially here in Detroit, where it happened. I was relieved to be in the labor/delivery room because there was no TV in there and I didn't have to hear "OH my knee!" anymore. My daughter turned 12 on Jan 14th.

ETA: After Michelle's first press conference, they interviewed Emily Hughes at her home and Emily was very gracious. She said something along the lines of "It would be awful for Michelle if she can't compete" as she should have. THEN she added "If I get the call though, I'm ready to go" and they talked about how she had been practicing all along as if she was going, just in case.