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Olympics Open Thread - Day 2

by Izzy Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 04:43:12 PM EST

Technically, this is the first (and perhaps only) of the Olympic open threads, but you guys are tomorrow or... I'm yesterday?  In any case, the time zone thing is messing with my head and if I want to say it's Day 2, I expect you to go along with it.

So yesterday (or was it?), I recapped the opening ceremonies and we ended up live-blogging the Day 1 action in the comments.  And by "we" I mean me and Metatone.  It was obvious to us that there would be a huge demand for this sort of thing (hey -- Fran said she'd like it!), so here it is.

Follow me after the jump for a brief recap of Day 1 events!   Marvel at my ignorance of sport!  Mock my figure skating obsession!  Jump into the comments with commentary on your favorite sports!  C'mon, it'll be fun...

From the diaries - any updates to report? ~ whataboutbob

So I guess we have to start with the obligatory medal count.  I have no idea who got these medals or for what reason, but here are the Day 1 numbers:

Medal totals from left to right:  

Country, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Total

Germany:           2     0     0     =2
Canada:             1     0     0     =1
United States:    1     0     0     =1
Norway:              0     2     2     =4
Austria:               0     1     0     =1
Netherlands:        0     1     0     =1
France:                0     0     1     =1
Italy:                    0     0     1     =1

On Day 1, I watched two competitors in women's freestyle mogul skiing (it looks like it hurts) and about 30 seconds of the biathalon (if it wasn't for the skiing part, I think I could be competitive in that sport).  

It was in the mogul that the Canadians got their Gold medal (which looks sort of like a CD with a HOLE in the middle!?!) with skiier Jennifer Heil.  Metatone  believes second place winner, Kari Traa of Norway was robbed.    

The only thing I really watched was the Pairs Figure Skating Short Program.  There were no big upsets and, with the exception of one pair skating to a Led Zeppelin song, no nasty surprises.  

The top US pair, Inoue and Baldwin, made history by landing the first throw triple axel in Olympic competition and still managed to come in sixth.  I wasn't devestated because I don't care for this team.  I mean, Inoue seems nice, but I can't stand Baldwin.

The Russian and Chinese pairs dominated and took the top five spots.  The winners were Totmianina and Marinin who were mesmerizing:

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

They were followed by Zhang and Zhang in second place, and Petrova and Tikhonov in third.  The pairs free skate is Monday.

It looks like I missed a lot.  The schedule says there was Women's Hockey, Luge, Men's Downhill, and Speedskating.

The schedule for Sunday (today?) seems busy with more Men's Downhill, Snowboarding (when did this start?), Cross-country, Speedskating, Jumping, Short track, and, in Women's Hockey, it's the US vs. Germany.

If I missed something from Day 1, let me know!  Feel free to live-blog the Day 2 events in the comments.  Oh, and if anyone knows the difference between

luge: Image Hosted by ImageShack.us  and skeleton:  Image Hosted by ImageShack.us please enlighten me!

Display:
Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 | 40 comments (40 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
hmm... (none / 0)
Luge competitor, A. Demtschenko, is evidently complaining of bad food, no phone, and no internet access.  Are we sure our Alex is from Toulouse?

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Feb 11th, 2006 at 11:45:26 PM EST
Re: hmm... (none / 0)
Thanks Izzy. I never been a fan of Olympic games, but your 'free style' reporting all of sudden makes it fun and interesting.
by Fran on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 02:50:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: hmm... (none / 0)
Thanks, Fran.  So... I guess you're not the one to ask about this luge/skeleton thing?

I'm not much of a sports fan either, except for the skating.  It's my opinion all sports could benefit from letting the players choose, or even design, their own outfits.

I do always get sucked into the Olympics though.  It won't be long before I have passionate opinions on things like curling (in fact, I'm already rooting for the Scottish housewife).  I don't know how it happens.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 03:07:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: hmm... (none / 1)
No Izzy, I didn't even know there was a thing called luge.

Well, the Scottish Housewife sounds good. The girls have to stick together, don't they? And if you continue reporting I might get sucked into the Olympics also.

by Fran on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 03:17:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes! Do join me... (none / 0)
The Ice Women Cometh

AS SHE carried the flag for Great Britain at Friday night's opening ceremony of the 20th Winter Olympics in Turin, the pride of Rhona Martin was plain for all to see. She was there alongside the likes of fellow flag bearers Renate Goetschl of Austria, Maria José Rienda Contreras of Spain and Croatia's Janica Kostelic, all of them seasoned professionals used to dealing with high profile appearances as they are household names across Europe for their prowess in various skiing disciplines. Arguably the most unlikely captain of a gold medal-winning team in British Olympic history, Martin, by contrast, seemed slightly awestruck by the ceremony.

All three skiers are among the favourites for gold in their main events, but the 'quiet Ayrshire housewife' who in reality is one of the fiercest competitors in British sport faces an uphill struggle to lead her team to golden glory four years after that unforgettable night in Salt Lake City when curling exploded onto the British sporting scene.

Go Rhona!

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 03:24:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]
And maybe... (none / 0)
... you could answer that question I had from the other thread.  Do you know about "24 year old Swedish sensation who already has a holiday named for her?"

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 03:29:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]
and in other news... (none / 0)
Our newscasters are practically having fits of the vapors over Michelle Kwan's news conference today.

All Eyes on Kwan

TURIN, Italy - Let the psychoanalysis begin. Never mind, it already has.

Michelle Kwan gave a news conference Saturday afternoon that left everyone - from veteran Kwan-watchers to novice observers - wondering just what they had heard.

Was it the groundwork for an eventual concession that she can't compete here in the Winter Olympics? Was it an athlete in denial? Was it an honest assessment in the aftermath of the effects of travel and several hours at the opening ceremonies and, thus, not such a big deal?

Will Kwan be going for that elusive Olympic gold next week? Or should alternate Emily Hughes be ready to catch a plane?

At different times, it sounded like all of the above.

Initially, Kwan attributed her difficulties in her first practice here Saturday to being stiff from the trip to Turin and being outside so long at Friday night's opening ceremonies. But when asked directly about the possibility of not competing, she said, "Physically, if I'm not able to skate, I will give up my spot."

As more questions about her health kept coming, Kwan eventually said, "I really have to pay attention to how I'm feeling these days. It's important that I'm in touch with it right now. And being serious about it. How I'm skating and how I'm feeling. Dropping out is not something I want to do, but I have to listen to what my feelings are."



Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Feb 11th, 2006 at 11:50:15 PM EST
Michelle's fall (none / 0)
in practice today.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 12:40:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]
BREAKING! (none / 0)
Michelle Kwan HAS withdrawn from the Olympics.  I can't quite believe it.  Apparently, she had re-injured or strained her previous groin injury during the practice.  It worsened throughout the day and she announced the withdrawal first thing in the morning, Torino time.  Her doctor has confirmed she has a serious groin strain.  It is expected that Emily Hughes will fly in to replace her.

This really is a shame.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 03:33:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Inoue and Baldwin (none / 0)
Here's the historic throw triple axel:

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

After seeing their program (which I'd somehow missed before) I have to admit they were really good.  The best I've ever seen them.  I'm actually not so sure now that they deserved sixth place.  They definitely aren't in the medaling category, but I think there was some wiggle room in the next three spots.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 12:36:45 AM EST
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 1)
Basically:

Luge, riding feet first on an incredibly flimsy little frame sled.

Skeleton, riding head first on a bit less flimsy frame.

Those who make the distinction say that Luge is really, really dangerous, where as Skeleton is usually only really dangerous.

An extra twist, a luge sled left to it's own devices will crash at the first corner, whereas a skeleton sled will make it safely down to the bottom. Thus, different skills, in one you "drive to survive," in the other you "tweak to succeed."

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 04:14:03 AM EST
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 0)
Thank you for this excellent summation!  I suddenly feel so well-informed.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 04:18:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 0)
Do you ever sleep, Izzy?
by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 04:43:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 0)
Why, yes (she answers approximately 8 hours later).

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 01:09:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 0)
;-)
by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 01:15:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 1)
I don't have much to add, but just wanted to thank Izzy for all the comments and assure her that it was read - and enjoyed!

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 05:38:24 AM EST
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 0)
Thanks Jerome.  I see France's Antoine Deneriaz took the gold medal today in men's downhill skiing!  Did you hear?  The favorites were U.S. sot, Bode Miller and Austria's Michael Walchhofer.  

Bode was spotted drinking with pals around midnight and ended up coming in, appropriately enough, fifth.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 01:08:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 1)
Deneriaz had the run of his life! It was pure speed. I'll note that Bode's teammate and chief critic Rahlves didn't fare much better...

Deneriaz performance is all the remarkable considering his horrendous crash at Chamonix a year ago. This seems to be becoming the "comeback" Olympics...

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 01:18:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 0)
Thanks for the recap!  I hadn't seen it, but I'll try to catch a repeat tonight.  I love the comeback stories!

Over here, between Bode and Michelle, they're calling it Black Sunday for the US team.  Another thing they're saying that I never knew, was that Men's Downhill is the most prestigious event in skiing.  Have you heard that before?

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 01:24:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 1)
Oh yes. It's the "blue riband" alpine event. Mainly because it's the fastest people go on skis. Pretty scary stuff! The other skiing events involve a lot more turning (slalom, super-G, giant slalom) and thus don't get up to the same raw speed...

(The luge likewise has prestige because it is the fastest event in the whole games, speeds up to 140 km/hr (87 mph)).

However, my nomination for the most amazing event on skis has to be the ski-jumping. Watching them fly is incredible...

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 01:43:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 0)
Yes, I love watching the jumps as well.  There's just something about it.  I haven't seen the snowboarding yet -- do they do the same?

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 01:54:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 1)
I didn't get to watch the snowboarding today. Apparently it was "half-pipe" so it is more jumping tricks I think. USA got gold and silver tho, so maybe that will cheer up your commentators.
by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 01:59:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 1)
Yeah, it's been big news here - as it is both a great win and totally unexpected.

Imagine the sheer joy of this guy - he was the best the one day when it mattered most, and he will be olympic champion for eternity. Now that's wild.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 01:48:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 (none / 0)
I can't wait to see it!  It'll show on our network this evening.  I'll have to mute it so I don't hear all the invective about Bode.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 01:53:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Men's Downhill (none / 1)
is on CBC now.  First, the Canadian newscasters aren't much different from ours.  They just said there was only one legend in the race, Herman Meier, and then proceeded to call him "The Hermanator."

Next, the margins sort of freak me out -- tenths of a second!  I literally just watched a skier who was ahead until the final run.  The announcer was getting all excited... he's ahead... he'll be in first... OHHHH.  Four tenths of a second back!  WHERE DID THE TIME GO?

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 02:30:35 PM EST
Re: Men's Downhill (none / 0)
Well, the Hermannator is really a legend in his own right. Sadly, so far his comeback is not the fairytale. However, there's always the the Super-G...
by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 02:44:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Men's Downhill (none / 0)
Wow, now they are showing bits of the race on "the shadow cam" which superimposes two runs together. It's amazing to see where time is lost between the 1st and 2nd places.
by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 02:46:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Men's Downhill (none / 1)
Ooh, the race just finished here -- I hope they show that.  I just saw Deneriaz' run and he had a huge win of half a second!  It was very exciting -- the announcers started yelling about half-way through.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 02:51:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Men's Downhill (none / 1)
So this is very you are hidding. Sounds exciting. All I read in the Swiss news is that we got the bronze medal.
by Fran on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 02:59:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Men's Downhill (none / 0)
Yes, Bruno Kernen.  I kept an eye on him because of you!  It was very exciting.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 03:03:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Short track speedskating (none / 0)
on now.  People are being eliminated so fast it's brutal.  They're doing semi-finals in groups of six.  Only the first two over the finish line move on to the finals.  I was rooting for a British skater for about a minute, back when he was a contender.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 03:06:19 PM EST
Re: Short track speedskating (none / 0)
Apollo Ono's group now...

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 03:07:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]
OH NOOO! (none / 0)
He tried to make a move and almost fell!  He's out of it.  It's over for the defending champion and my hometown favorite!  Black Sunday indeed...  :-(

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 03:10:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: OH NOOO! (none / 0)
:(

He will still go in some other distances though, right?

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 03:29:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: OH NOOO! (none / 0)
This is what my husband assures me.  The Canadian announcers were no help.  I've been cruising through the sports sites, trying to find out for sure, but all I keep finding are stories from yesterday that he'd "sailed" into the 1500.

(the horror... the horror...)

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 03:35:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: OH NOOO! (none / 0)
I think he is entered in the 500m and the 1000m also, so plenty of chances. Short track speed-skating is fraught with accidents, so you can't expect to sweep every time. I am sure he will come through in one of the other events.
by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 03:51:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: OH NOOO! (none / 1)
You're too kind!  I'm turning off the tv and computer for awhile.  We're actually having a sunny day!  I need to be outside.  :-)

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 03:55:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: OH NOOO! (none / 0)
Oh, I wish you guys got BBC. They did a Top Gear (a car program) Olympic special with cars taking on various events. The best had to be ski-jumping with a Mini...
by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 12th, 2006 at 05:09:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]
US coverage sucks (none / 1)
I watched the Men's Downhill and the Men's 90m jump today - horrible. Can't they just show an event? I understand tape delay because of the time difference, I understand the idea of putting the highlights on the primetime network slot, but can't they actually show the damn event someplace? (they've got a bunch of channels) Instead you get a half dozen jumpers and a dozen downhillers interrupted by countless commercials. And why not run the stuff live in the morning - do infomercials really draw a bigger audience? I won't even go into the quality of the commentary, especially on the ski jumping.
by MarekNYC on Mon Feb 13th, 2006 at 01:07:21 AM EST
Re: US coverage sucks (none / 0)
That's the thing that drives me crazy, too.  I could put up with the dopey commentary, soapy profiles, and endless commercials.  Fine.  But now they don't even show an event in any big chunk of time.  It's like they're trying to force you to watch the whole block of coverage.

Luckily, we get the Canadian station here, and they are better, although not as much as I'd hoped.  At least for the big events, they seem to be showing whole segments.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Feb 13th, 2006 at 01:36:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Olympics Open Thread - Day 2 | 40 comments (40 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)


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