Olympics 2014

[Lavabe]

Oooooooooooooooooh... I think that's green...

[Very Duke Blue]

I set the DVR for the opening. We will watch it this weekend. Praying and vibing for safety.

[lawgrad91]

Oooooooooooooooooh... I think that's green...

Looks like a Sprite commercial.

[colchar]

I need to update my Olympic wardrobe. I have one Olympuc sweatshirt. A CANADIAN Olympic sweatshirt that I picked up in Vancouver in 2010.

That is the only one worth wearing

[colchar]

And, in typical fashion, there is already a scandal brewing in figure skating as a French magazine is reporting that the Russians and Americans have agreed to prop each other up so that they win their respective titles (team event for Russia, ice dance for the US). The magazine has also said that it has already been decided that the Canadian ice dance pair of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (they are past world champions and won the Olympic gold in 2010) will be awarded silver. What a pathetic fucking joke that sport is - and I use the term sport loosely there. If it cannot be measured, timed, or scored objectively (. putting pucks in the net, scoring baskets, etc.) then it isn't a sport and doesn't belong.

[ArkieDukie]

And, in typical fashion, there is already a scandal brewing in figure skating as a French magazine is reporting that the Russians and Americans have agreed to prop each other up so that they win their respective titles (team event for Russia, ice dance for the US). The magazine has also said that it has already been decided that the Canadian ice dance pair of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (they are past world champions and won the Olympic gold in 2010) will be awarded silver. What a pathetic fucking joke that sport is - and I use the term sport loosely there. If it cannot be measured, timed, or scored objectively (. putting pucks in the net, scoring baskets, etc.) then it isn't a sport and doesn't belong.

The whole thing sounds a bit suspicious to me based on quality of skating so far - unless Team USA intentionally chose Abbott and gambled on him doing his usual tank. With that being said, I'm watching the team event right now. It appeared to me that the Russian ice dance team was given some home cooking on the scores. Davis/White were underscored.

In terms of individual competition, Meryl and Charlie do not need the benefit of being propped up. Right now they are the best in the world. Period. They blew everyone else out of the water in the short dance of the team competition even though they were scored too low. Davis/White were flawless and only scored 3 pts ahead of Virtue/Moir, who made a visible mistake. If the Russian ice dance team ends up with the bronze, based on what I've seen so far, I would be highly suspicious.

[TillyGalore]

GBR skater Jenna Mc. is super cute. Loved her costume.

[colchar]

In terms of individual competition, Meryl and Charlie do not need the benefit of being propped up. Right now they are the best in the world. Period.

That is highly debatable. I saw a story earlier today (I will post a link after I find it again) that documented how their scores have been inflated and Virtue & Moir's scores have been decreased over the last year or so. There was controversy at the last Grand Prix event prior to the Olympics (in Japan) after Moir was docked points. I saw it and Virtue and Moir were better.

[ArkieDukie]

GBR skater Jenna Mc. is super cute. Loved her costume.

I agree! Mae Berenice Meite has a cool costume as well.

Was so glad to see Ashley Wagner bring it. Good short skate for her. Julia Lipnitskaia brought it. Wow. Not as much a fan of Mao Asada. She really just skates around and jumps. Not as artistic as many of the others, although the commentators wax poetic about her abilities. All in all, I preferred Lipnitskaia. I've always been a bit neutral on Carolina Kostner as well, but she's better artistically than Asada IMO. Placements were probably correct, but I thought Kostner's score was a bit on the high side.

Mao barely ahead of Ashley in the short. That's encouraging. Kostner's overscore (IMO) not so encouraging for the chances of Gold or Wagner to get anywhere near the podium, assuming that trend carries on to the individual competition.

[ArkieDukie]

Finally watching the skating I recorded on Thursday night. Duhamel/Radford were incredible. What an amazingly creative program. Just ... wow. Liked it better than the V/T program that was in first place, although they were pretty phenomenal as well.

For the men, Hanyu was such a joy to watch. A well-deserved first place finish. Jeremy Abbot, almost predictably, laid an egg.

[colchar]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/sochi2014 ... manno.html#

[windsor]

In terms of individual competition, Meryl and Charlie do not need the benefit of being propped up. Right now they are the best in the world. Period.

That is highly debatable. I saw a story earlier today (I will post a link after I find it again) that documented how their scores have been inflated and Virtue & Moir's scores have been decreased over the last year or so. There was controversy at the last Grand Prix event prior to the Olympics (in Japan) after Moir was docked points. I saw it and Virtue and Moir were better.

From a technical perspective Meryl and Charlies edges are deeper and more precise, they work closer together and with more power. Their unison is incredible.

There is no one close to them. No one.

[YmoBeThere]

I definitely prefer the Olympic sports where the race is against the clock or over a distance. Judging is inherently biased. Always has been, always will be.

[windsor]

I definitely prefer the Olympic sports where the race is against the clock or over a distance. Judging is inherently biased. Always has been, always will be.

True that. It is subjective, and biased. Ice dance was the worst for years. It has gotten a little better, but not much. My daughter skated competitively until she was 10 (and she had issues with her growth plates) Skating can be an ugly ugly sport. The parents you see on Toddlers and Tiara's and Dance Mom's are freaking amateurs compared to some skating mothers.

I except Plushenko to suddenly become 'injured' so the younger skater for Russia competes in the individual mens. He said he only wanted to do team, and when advised the rules said that the team competitor must also skate individual he decided to do both. Would be in the first time in Olympic history - Russian gymnasts have often had sudden injuries when someone unexpected wins...to get the right person to the all around

[windsor]

I definitely prefer the Olympic sports where the race is against the clock or over a distance. Judging is inherently biased. Always has been, always will be.

True that. It is subjective, and biased. Ice dance was the worst for years. It has gotten a little better, but not much. My daughter skated competitively until she was 10 (and she had issues with her growth plates) Skating can be an ugly ugly sport. The parents you see on Toddlers and Tiara's and Dance Mom's are freaking amateurs compared to some skating mothers.

I except Plushenko to suddenly become 'injured' so the younger skater for Russia competes in the individual mens. He said he only wanted to do team, and when advised the rules said that the team competitor must also skate individual he decided to do both. Would be in the first time in Olympic history - Russian gymnasts have often had sudden injuries when someone unexpected wins...to get the right person to the all around

or I EXPECT Plushy to become injured...and having seen his long program...holy home cookin' Batman

[DukieInKansas]

I recorded the live coverage of the team ice skating event. Good part - Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir, and Gannon do the coverage and don't do a lot of talking through the skate. Bad part - it didn't include the pairs free skate.

I didn't realize that the evening tape delayed coverage had the announcers/commentary added. It wasn't done live. I think I will record the other skating events.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I have yet to watch even one race or event...

[windsor]

I have yet to watch even one race or event...

Anti American Socialist !!

[Lavabe]

And, in typical fashion, there is already a scandal brewing in figure skating as a French magazine is reporting that the Russians and Americans have agreed to prop each other up so that they win their respective titles (team event for Russia, ice dance for the US). The magazine has also said that it has already been decided that the Canadian ice dance pair of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (they are past world champions and won the Olympic gold in 2010) will be awarded silver. What a pathetic fucking joke that sport is - and I use the term sport loosely there. If it cannot be measured, timed, or scored objectively (. putting pucks in the net, scoring baskets, etc.) then it isn't a sport and doesn't belong.

Officer Koharski! Paging Officer Koharski! Would you please take away a few goals? ;)

[DukieInKansas]

I definitely prefer the Olympic sports where the race is against the clock or over a distance. Judging is inherently biased. Always has been, always will be.

True that. It is subjective, and biased. Ice dance was the worst for years. It has gotten a little better, but not much. My daughter skated competitively until she was 10 (and she had issues with her growth plates) Skating can be an ugly ugly sport. The parents you see on Toddlers and Tiara's and Dance Mom's are freaking amateurs compared to some skating mothers.

I except Plushenko to suddenly become 'injured' so the younger skater for Russia competes in the individual mens. He said he only wanted to do team, and when advised the rules said that the team competitor must also skate individual he decided to do both. Would be in the first time in Olympic history - Russian gymnasts have often had sudden injuries when someone unexpected wins...to get the right person to the all around

You were partly correct. He was injured in warm-ups today. He went out on the ice for his short program but never skated - went to the judges and withdrew. There is no substituting another skater. Of course, if he wasn't in the last flight, that could change.