The olympics in general

[GO-NAD!]

I think the US hockey team is kicking butt! Canada needs to step it up. The Americans have role players, Canada is full of stars. The balanced team might help US in the long run. But Canada has some guys that should be grinding a little more. US doesn't have that problem so far.

I can't wait for Sunday's game between Canada and USA. It should be GREAT HOCKEY!!!

I'll admit that Canada made a job of it when it came to the Swiss. They were being far to generous in passing, instead of shooting. And there were too many blind passes that ended up on Swiss sticks.

That said, Hiller stood on his head in goal and almost stole the game. I mentioned in a previous post that a hot goaltender in the Olympics can make all the difference. The team as a whole played very well and I admire the grit and heart.

As for the US, they were actually fortunate in their game against Norway. The US gave up a whole bunch of 2 on 1's and 3 on 1's. If they do the same thing with Canada, they will be crucified! I look forward to the US/Canada game as well.

Do you remember what happened in Salt Lake City? Canada sucked in the first couple of games. Do you remember who won the gold medal? It's not going to be like Turin!

Look at what happened to Russia! Lost to Slovakia! Russia was the favourite going into the tournament. The tournament format for the Olympics can make it a crap shoot, when trying to predict.

 

[adk highlander]

Local guy comes through. Andrew Weibrecht gets the Bronze!! Great result for him. His best before have been top 10's so this was a major result!

We also have several local biathletes and nordic combined still to compete.

 

[jostenmeat]

Actually, lawn bowling has been in the Olympics since Christ was a cowboy.

Can you help me out here, and find me some links? Google and Wiki results are leaving me dry, and that includes keyword of "bowls" as well. There are world championships, but I can't find anything about Olympic lawn bowling.

I'm not sure what era you are implying with Christ being a cowboy, but if it's the original Greek event, that was as much music and art as it was sport, rendering just about anything we argue as moot.

And Tiger Woods wouldn't be able to curl at a world class level - pregnant or not.

This is simply a bad argument. If a joke instead, it's also bad. Lastly, you don't know that, anyways.

How about a Sniper vs. Sniper competion? Would that be a game, or a sport? Hmmm.....

Semantics? Everything, and I mean everything, can be considered as an art. Some things are just more artistic than others, IMO.

Likewise, anything that is a competition can be perceived as a sport. Some things are just more of a sport than others.

For instance, baseball is one of my favorite sports, but the candidates for competition are firstly chosen by their ability to hit or pitch. Not so much in baserunning, arm strength (for position players), or defense. There are many that can do the latter, but few that can do the former. Hitting is considered by many to be the hardest thing to do in sports. Yet, a batter might have a bloop single, stand up double, a walk, and a couple of strikeouts, and hardly break a sweat during the game. This position player might have nary a ball hit to him. Therefore, I consider it less of an athletic sport than the other major US sports, such as football, basketball, or hockey.

To answer the question, by the simple act of competition is curling a sport. The same goes for shuffleboard, darts, bumper pool, bags, bocce, etc. None of these "sports", however, are worthy of being an Olympic event, IMO.

Otherwise, it looks like a very fun game. Some of the female competitors are attractive. I do wish, at least where I am, that there wasn't so much focused coverage on curling, as I'd really prefer to watch other events that I consider to be more of a sport than the sport of curling.

 

[jostenmeat]

Man, is Svindal a stud or what? Just a couple of years ago, he loses more than 30 lbs of muscle with multiple injuries, comes back to win at Beaver Creek and destroys the competition at the Super-G. I thought it was going to be close, as the difference between the top three times before Svindal were separated by only 0.05 second, and the Norweigan beat the best by 0.28 was it?

Hey Craig, will you give me the breakdown/explanation between the various skiing events?

 

[GO-NAD!]

Can you help me out here, and find me some links? Google and Wiki results are leaving me dry, and that includes keyword of "bowls" as well. There are world championships, but I can't find anything about Olympic lawn bowling.

I'm not sure what era you are implying with Christ being a cowboy, but if it's the original Greek event, that was as much music and art as it was sport, rendering just about anything we argue as moot.



This is simply a bad argument. If a joke instead, it's also bad. Lastly, you don't know that, anyways.



Semantics? Everything, and I mean everything, can be considered as an art. Some things are just more artistic than others, IMO.

Likewise, anything that is a competition can be perceived as a sport. Some things are just more of a sport than others.

For instance, baseball is one of my favorite sports, but the candidates for competition are firstly chosen by their ability to hit or pitch. Not so much in baserunning, arm strength (for position players), or defense. There are many that can do the latter, but few that can do the former. Hitting is considered by many to be the hardest thing to do in sports. Yet, a batter might have a bloop single, stand up double, a walk, and a couple of strikeouts, and hardly break a sweat during the game. This position player might have nary a ball hit to him. Therefore, I consider it less of an athletic sport than the other major US sports, such as football, basketball, or hockey.

To answer the question, by the simple act of competition is curling a sport. The same goes for shuffleboard, darts, bumper pool, bags, bocce, etc. None of these "sports", however, are worthy of being an Olympic event, IMO.

Otherwise, it looks like a very fun game. Some of the female competitors are attractive. I do wish, at least where I am, that there wasn't so much focused coverage on curling, as I'd really prefer to watch other events that I consider to be more of a sport than the sport of curling.

I have to retract the lawn bowling thing! I was sure I'd seen it photos of it in prior olympics, hence the Christ thing - but you're right - a search brings up nothing. I must've dreamt it. My apologies.

As for Tiger Woods not being able to curl - I was not joking. It is not as easy as it looks and I'd put money on him not being competitive at it unless he put in as many years at it as olympic curlers have. Do you think it's glorified shuffleboard? That somebody can step on the ice and get the hang of it in a few minutes? I think not.

What makes a sport, a sport is certainly a matter of perspective. Several countries consider it a sport, so I suppose a sport it is!

I think you're taking the debate a little too seriously.

 

[jostenmeat]

I have to retract the lawn bowling thing! I was sure I'd seen it photos of it in prior olympics, hence the Christ thing - but you're right - a search brings up nothing. I must've dreamt it. My apologies.

Ok.

As for Tiger Woods not being able to curl - I was not joking. It is not as easy as it looks and I'd put money on him not being competitive at it unless he put in as many years at it as olympic curlers have. Do you think it's glorified shuffleboard? That somebody can step on the ice and get the hang of it in a few minutes? I think not.

Ok. I never, ever, ever said it was easy. I also don't think shuffleboard, pool, darts, or foosball are easy. People at the top of their game in any of these do amazing things. I'd still vote against having any of these in the Olympics.

Ok, I'm going to look up the events right now. If Tiger dedicated his life to any of the given sports below, maybe he can do ok, maybe not. If a 5.5 month pregnant was to compete in any of these events, outside of curling, she would be considered mentally unfit to be a mother.

Freestyle skiing, ski jumping, speed skating, ice hockey, short track, figure skating, cross-country skiing, skeleton, luge, bobsleigh, ice dancing, biathalon, nordic combined, alpine skiing, and snowboard.

What makes a sport, a sport is certainly a matter of perspective. Several countries consider it a sport, so I suppose a sport it is!

So are shuffleboard, pool, darts, and foosball.

I think you're taking the debate a little too seriously.

 

[GO-NAD!]

Ok.


Ok. I never, ever, ever said it was easy. I also don't think shuffleboard, pool, darts, or foosball are easy. People at the top of their game in any of these do amazing things. I'd still vote against having any of these in the Olympics.

Ok, I'm going to look up the events right now. If Tiger dedicated his life to any of the given sports below, maybe he can do ok, maybe not. If a 5.5 month pregnant was to compete in any of these events, outside of curling, she would be considered mentally unfit to be a mother.

Freestyle skiing, ski jumping, speed skating, ice hockey, short track, figure skating, cross-country skiing, skeleton, luge, bobsleigh, ice dancing, biathalon, nordic combined, alpine skiing, and snowboard.



So are shuffleboard, pool, darts, and foosball.

You know what, I realize that Tiger is a very gifted athlete. He might excel at any one (or more) of these if he started his career with them. But guess what curling has over golf - you actually have to play against an opponent. In golf, you just have to complete the course in the fewest shots. There is nothing you can do about what your opponents are doing. That makes golf little different from archery, or pistol shooting. In curling, not only must you be able to make your shots, you must be able to counter your opponents shots.

Different sports demand different levels of exertion and fitness. Mountain climbers must be very fit - should it be an olympic sport? Auto racing drivers must be fit, but many people don't consider them athletes. Shooting doesn't demand any more strength than to be able to lift the firearm - it's an olympic sport.

I think figure skating is just ballet on ice. Ballet dancers are extremely fit. Should ballet be an olympic sport? You could debate this forever, but in the end, the IOC has decreed that curling is a sport worthy of the olympics.

 

[jostenmeat]

You know what, I realize that Tiger is a very gifted athlete. He might excel at any one (or more) of these if he started his career with them. But guess what curling has over golf - you actually have to play against an opponent. In golf, you just have to complete the course in the fewest shots. There is nothing you can do about what your opponents are doing. That makes golf little different from archery, or pistol shooting. In curling, not only must you be able to make your shots, you must be able to counter your opponents shots.

Well, golf is considered very difficult because you are playing against the whole field, simultaneously. In fact, others' scores DO affect your playing, because either you have to push the envelope, or you can play it safe, depending. The reason above is why many consider Tiger's collection of majors to be more impressive than Federer/Sampras; the tennis players only play against one at a time. IOW, it's harder to do it the first way.

Different sports demand different levels of exertion and fitness. Mountain climbers must be very fit - should it be an olympic sport? Auto racing drivers must be fit, but many people don't consider them athletes. Shooting doesn't demand any more strength than to be able to lift the firearm - it's an olympic sport.

I think mountain climbing and auto racing would be much better Olympic events than curling!!! However, the way these two are done would make it very difficult to implement in a two week span. Racing is normally done by a season/circuit, to declare a champion. Mountain climbing, well I guess it depends on the mountain, but it can't be too high/difficult due to extremely fast changing conditions that would either delay/cancel an event, or make the climb extremely unfair between contestants. Lastly, it's not usually a competitive event, perhaps self-competitive more than anything.

I think figure skating is just ballet on ice. Ballet dancers are extremely fit. Should ballet be an olympic sport? You could debate this forever, but in the end, the IOC has decreed that curling is a sport worthy of the olympics.

No, I don't actually think ballet should be an Olympic event. OTOH, I really cannot see how this is an argument that curling should be an event.

 

[darien87]

There's one more to go! The 1500m, Saturday, 8pm here, and most likely the same for you. I can't watch it! Have prior engagement. The sportscaster said that in prior interview, Davis said he's tired, but that's normal as it's the Olympics.

He won silver in Turin, but is the current world record holder, and is the favorite for the event. Thought you'd be interested.

Just finished watching it. He got silver. He skated a good race. Shani's turns are the best in the world, he just didn't have enough left at the end.

 

[darien87]

Man, is Svindal a stud or what? Just a couple of years ago, he loses more than 30 lbs of muscle with multiple injuries, comes back to win at Beaver Creek and destroys the competition at the Super-G. I thought it was going to be close, as the difference between the top three times before Svindal were separated by only 0.05 second, and the Norweigan beat the best by 0.28 was it?

How about the Swede, (can't remember her name), that ate complete **** in the downhill, then came back the next day and got a medal in the combined? Now that's a tough chick. Huge thighs on that girl. Bet she could crack your head like a nut while you were going down on her if she wanted to.

 

[GO-NAD!]

Well, golf is considered very difficult because you are playing against the whole field, simultaneously. In fact, others' scores DO affect your playing, because either you have to push the envelope, or you can play it safe, depending. The reason above is why many consider Tiger's collection of majors to be more impressive than Federer/Sampras; the tennis players only play against one at a time. IOW, it's harder to do it the first way.

I can see that point.

I think mountain climbing and auto racing would be much better Olympic events than curling!!! However, the way these two are done would make it very difficult to implement in a two week span. Racing is normally done by a season/circuit, to declare a champion. Mountain climbing, well I guess it depends on the mountain, but it can't be too high/difficult due to extremely fast changing conditions that would either delay/cancel an event, or make the climb extremely unfair between contestants. Lastly, it's not usually a competitive event, perhaps self-competitive more than anything.

Well, as much as I like auto racing, I wouldn't consider it suitable as an Olympic competition. Although a high level of fitness is required (depending on the type of racing), the sport isn't meant to be a demonstration of the drivers' athleticism. It's the interaction of man/woman and machine, that's on display.

No, I don't actually think ballet should be an Olympic event. OTOH, I really cannot see how this is an argument that curling should be an event.

No, I don't think ballet belongs in the Olympics either. But, as I said, I consider figure skating to be ballet on ice. Which, I suppose, implies that I don't think figure skating belongs any more than ballet. The argument I was trying to make is that which sports belong in the Olympics depends very much on perspective.

Is it your perspective that curling isn't a sport because it's too slow and not extremely demanding when it comes to physical effort? I can understand that. There are other Olympic sports that aren't physically taxing - archery (some arm strength required, but I doubt anybody breaks a sweat) and shooting (I don't mean biathalon - there's no doubt about that sport!).

I think dog sled racing would be a suitable winter olympic sport, but I don't hear any talk of including it. Maybe dogsledders aren't interested? Who knows?

Different sports demand different levels of fitness and physical effort. Should there be a cutoff point, where a particular sport would not qualify? I mean baseball demands a high level of fitness, yet players spend about 90%of a game sitting/standing around! So, to make a determination based on those criteria would be nightmare.

I don't know what else I can say on the topic. Millions of people around the world consider curling a sport and argued for its inclusion. The argument was accepted and the rest is history.

 

[Alex2507]

Haven't read the thread but I thought I would add this to the discussion in case it's been missed.
Go Canada!

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Canadian-commentators-fail-to-cool-it-with-Johnn?urn=oly,221050

 

[vizionut]

hocky

Lets go team usa in hocky! Team usa is playing canada right now on msnbc.
This game should be a great game for sure. Its tied at 1-1 right now,wow!

 

[vizionut]

I think the US hockey team is kicking butt! Canada needs to step it up. The Americans have role players, Canada is full of stars. The balanced team might help US in the long run. But Canada has some guys that should be grinding a little more. US doesn't have that problem so far.

I can't wait for Sunday's game between Canada and USA. It should be GREAT HOCKEY!!!

Yeah this game is good right now!! 2-2 tie

 

[tcarcio]

I don't know about kicking butt, but I think they are playing pretty good. So far Miller is making some nice saves. Go USA.

 

[XEagleDriver]

3-2 after two!

Great hockey game so far.

U . . S . . A . . . U . . S . . A ! !

XEagleDriver

 

[STRONGBADF1]

USA beats Canada in hockey...Wow!

 

[XEagleDriver]

USA beats Canada in hockey...Wow!

Ryan Miller fro Pres!

OK, maybe not, . . . but at least USA MVP of the Day.

XEagleDriver

 

[GO-NAD!]

Ryan Miller fro Pres!

OK, maybe not, . . . but at least USA MVP of the Day.

XEagleDriver

He should be charged with robbery! He stole that game! If Team USA make it all the way, he'll be tournament MVP. I mentioned in one of my previous posts that a hot goaltender in a short tournament can make all the difference and I mentioned Miller by name. B*****D!

Brodeur, on the other hand, was simply sub-par. Team Canada certainly dominated the play for most of the game, outshooting the US by a 2-to-1 margin - and quality shots too. But Miller kept his team in it.

Anyway, you win or lose as a team, so credit to the US team. Team Canada has certainly dug a hole for itself. I expect we'll see Luongo in goal against Germany.

 

[MinusTheBear]

The problems with Canadian hockey is that they are too steeped in tradition, stubborn and tend to favour veteran athletes and it holds the program back. IMO there is no reason why Brodeur should be the starting goltender this olympics. First of all Luongo is the better goaltender at this point in their careers. He is younger, closer to his prime. Brodeur is past his prime, he was also the starting goaltender last olympics 8 years ago. IIRC he let in 3 goals on 16 or 17 shots + 1 empty net goal. That is just a horrible performance and he was acting like a headcase in net and deserves to be pulled.

Olympic hockey mostly comes down to hot goaltending. Miller has been one of the best goalies all year with the Sabres and he continues to do so.

I think Canada has a better chance at winning Gold with Luongo in net, but I do not know if they have the balls to pull Brodeur for the rest of the games. Stubborn Canadian hockey.