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Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-02-11 04:32:40 +0000

Best opening ceremony I've ever seen. Gotta hand it to the Italians, not even Bob Costas and NBC could fuck that show up. Good stuff.

Posted by tgl on 2006-02-11 14:39:02 +0000

I was excited to watch some Olympics last night, but couldn't stand the Michelle Kwan biopic. Ended up glued to three successive episodes of "Arrested Development" instead.

Posted by Null Protocol on 2006-02-11 23:01:52 +0000

Now there are TWO awesome George Michaels. A true gem of a show. I'm sad it is going off the air.

Posted by tgl on 2006-02-13 15:19:22 +0000

Anyone else generally unimpressed with the Men's Halfpipe?

Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-02-13 16:09:11 +0000

Hate it. New school sport, has no place in the Olympics. Their "uniforms" have hoods for shit's sake! Plus the music blaring? I don't get it. Save it for the X-Games. The last thing the Olympics need is another judged event. I'm trying to get a handle on what sports in the Olympics are cool and what are not. I think the rule is generally that a good Olympic sport is one that (a) doesn't have a popular world forum (b) is not judged (c) is well represented internationally. Good:

1. Ski racing
2. Speed Skating
3. Sledding
4. Hockey
5. Ski jumping (after you eliminate judges)

Bad:

1. Snowboard freestyle
2. Freestyle skiing
3. Figure skating
4. Curling (sorry Tommy)

Similar rules should apply to the Summer games.

Posted by tgl on 2006-02-13 17:02:02 +0000

Anyone catch the the live curling broadcast this morning at 3am? Judged events don't seem to fit my idea of "sport". Snowboarding (like skateboarding) seem more entertaining outside the realm of official sportdom (US Open always OK, at least the after-hours part). Although, I found the short track speed skating quite entertaining. I guess the only judging going on is whether rules concerning contact have been broken. In defense of ski jumping: For every meter past the K (90meter jump has a K of 90), you get X2 points. Then the middle three of five technique scores are added on. So, a jumper with imperfect style could overcome a jumper with perfect style (say an average score of 19 versus 20) with an additional 1.5meters of distance. Seems reasonable. Also, the judges are only scoring one possible "trick", or at least two: form in flight and form on the landing. There are no variations on defined ski-jumping form. Er, at least there wasn't until the "V" style came about. What's wrong with curling that is not wrong with archery? I caught Frenchie's run last night, but missed the others ("Oh Brother Were Art Thou" is not the best Coen production, but not bad, either).

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-02-13 18:11:24 +0000

Quick question: How short is Bob Costas? Shaun White was taller than him.

Posted by pamsterdam on 2006-02-13 18:20:57 +0000

Quote: Vince McMahon Interview by Seth Mates WWF.com PEORIA, Ill. - Prior to Tuesday's SmackDown! taping here at the Peoria Civic Center, World Wrestling Federation Chairman Vince McMahon talked to WWF.com about a number of topics, including his recent trip to Australia, Hollywood Hogan regaining the Federation Championship and his impending return to Bob Costas' show on HBO. WWF.com: Vince, the rumors are flying about you returning for another interview with Bob Costas. Will that be happening? Vince McMahon (smiling): I am absolutely going back, on May 16, and I'm looking forward to it. This time if Bob Costas gets in my way, I'm going to forget that he is 4-feet-10 and 120 pounds. I'm just going to consider that he's Hulk Hogan, and when he gets in my face this time, in all likelihood, I will beat the living hell out of him.

Posted by pamsterdam on 2006-02-13 18:30:00 +0000

ok, found a serious answer.

Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-02-13 18:40:44 +0000

What is the advantage to the judging in the ski jump? There's no judging in the long jump or the high jump. It's something that is so easily measured and set up for straight competition. Why muddy it? The main problem with curling is its lack of international appeal. There are 1.5 million curlers worldwide, 1.2 million of them are Canadian. Archery does not have this problem. Archery and curling both fall into the "other" kind of physical activity, that of precision. A lot of people fail to see the sportiness of something that won't make you break a sweat. I'm not sure where I fall on that line, but I think I'm going to give it up to the precision sports, if not only for the sake of open mindedness. Oh Brother is fabulous.

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-02-13 18:55:47 +0000

While the argument against judged events is a good one, men's halfpipe has progressed quite a bit. I was at the US Open in 2002 when Danny Kass linked two 1080's in a row for the first time in competition. 4 years later it is routine, and they are doing them 14 or 15 feet out. I wish Shaun White had not won. Kass is thoroughly much more entertaining, and now has 2 silver medals. It's just uninspiring when the favorite wins.

Posted by tommy on 2006-02-13 22:35:04 +0000

Point taken. I will, however, note that there are 12 teams who qualify for the curling worlds, while there are only 6-7 countries that can compete internationally in hockey. Not that hockey isn't the best sport EVER!!! OMG!!! Also good: 6. Biathlon

Posted by tgl on 2006-02-14 00:24:25 +0000

Between two competitors jumping the same distance, I think the advantage should be to the jumper that lands cleanly. Bad form in the air is probably deterimental to the final distance. I believe you can do whatever you want on the in-run, barring wide-world of sports type disasters. BTW, I know you are all wondering what my personal best is: 72 ft. on a 30m (98ft) ramp.

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-02-14 02:37:09 +0000

Kelly Clark isn't going to medal, but she just blew me away with her last run. Unfortunately she skidded out on her last hit (frontside 900), but she was blasting out of the pipe. Serious air.

Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-02-14 14:12:22 +0000

Biathalon is XC Skiing, and thus covered by ski racing.

Posted by tgl on 2006-02-14 14:51:24 +0000

Skiing with rifles! Biathalon has a precision element. <insert-obligatory-Cheney-and-gun-safety-joke-here>

Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-02-14 15:50:03 +0000

I was thinking about biathalon when I made my precision comment earlier. To be precise whilst strained by prior exertion... these guys could be assassins.

Posted by G lib on 2006-02-14 16:55:35 +0000

Y'all are wrong. Here's the order: 1. Figure skating 2. Half-pipe (DB had it right-- Kelly Clarkson is the bomb) 3. Mogul 4. Pairs skating 5. The rest Actually, I'm obsessed with them all-- I've been glued to the set since Saturday. But this is my ranking.

Posted by tommy on 2006-02-14 19:39:28 +0000

If I remember correctly, a James Bond movie featured assassin biathletes.

Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-02-14 19:53:26 +0000

I was just listening to WEEI and they were talking about how they don't relate to the Winter Olympics... then they pointed out that it's because it's totally catering to women.

Posted by tgl on 2006-02-14 20:23:55 +0000

Oh, that's good.

Posted by Honar the librarian on 2006-02-14 20:24:35 +0000

From Russia With Love?

Posted by Honar the librarian on 2006-02-14 20:26:51 +0000

Scratch that, the spy who loved me, I think. Definitely Roger Moore.