Other than special events like the Olympics, I watch very little television. What I get with my OTA antenna serves my needs very well. I pick up NBC, CBS, CBC all in HD, two PBS networks for a total of 7 PBS stations in digital including 2 in HD, FOX in HD and CW in digital. Plus all the local analog stations. I have no interest in paying for specialty channels I'll never watch and, living in an apartment, I can't install a dish and I refuse to pay Videotron's inflated prices for HD services. Whatever I can't pick up with my antenna, I just download from the net. I also watch all the NHL games that are not carried on CBC live on the net.
Vancouver Olympics
- Thread starter Turbodick
- Start date
This is SCARY!!!
Hello all,
I think I may need psychiatric help. Somehow I have begun to understand, appreciate, and like curling...when it doesn't involve weights, beer, or sex...lol. What used to look stupid now looks like a real skill challenge. I feel like I've entered sissy hell...and it's all this hottie's fault for keeping my attention too long.
Ludmilla Privivkova
She does handle a hard rock well...lol.
Now that's funny. The so-called "cleaning" immediately in front of the rock is a strategy that heats the ice and allows the rock to move farther than if the sweepers do not sweep as the rock moves. It allows greater distance and may also accentuate a curving path for the stone if the team leader decides it's necessary. On offense sweeping allows greater distance to reach the target, to bump out an opponent, reach the center (button) of the target, or use defensive strategies. Defensive players can also sweep in front of the opponents stone to make it move out of a good or scoring position once it has passed the center of the target. The game is scored a lot like darts, and like pool/crochet defensively. Teams get 1 point for each stone closer to the absolute center of the button than the other teams next closest stone. There are 10 "ends" (rounds) with 8 stones for each team. Throwing last seems to have a greater advantage.
There's a lot of strategy, timing and touch skills, as well as being able to select the right varying weight of the rocks to have the proper effect on each throw. If you wonder how the players slide so effortlessly...there's teflon on the bottom of their shoes.
DAMN! I am starting to know this game pretty well. That will be one psychiatric couch please.
Ummm,
Merlot
Hello all,
I think I may need psychiatric help. Somehow I have begun to understand, appreciate, and like curling...when it doesn't involve weights, beer, or sex...lol. What used to look stupid now looks like a real skill challenge. I feel like I've entered sissy hell...and it's all this hottie's fault for keeping my attention too long.
Ludmilla Privivkova
She does handle a hard rock well...lol.
Now that's funny. The so-called "cleaning" immediately in front of the rock is a strategy that heats the ice and allows the rock to move farther than if the sweepers do not sweep as the rock moves. It allows greater distance and may also accentuate a curving path for the stone if the team leader decides it's necessary. On offense sweeping allows greater distance to reach the target, to bump out an opponent, reach the center (button) of the target, or use defensive strategies. Defensive players can also sweep in front of the opponents stone to make it move out of a good or scoring position once it has passed the center of the target. The game is scored a lot like darts, and like pool/crochet defensively. Teams get 1 point for each stone closer to the absolute center of the button than the other teams next closest stone. There are 10 "ends" (rounds) with 8 stones for each team. Throwing last seems to have a greater advantage.
There's a lot of strategy, timing and touch skills, as well as being able to select the right varying weight of the rocks to have the proper effect on each throw. If you wonder how the players slide so effortlessly...there's teflon on the bottom of their shoes.
DAMN! I am starting to know this game pretty well. That will be one psychiatric couch please.
Ummm,
Merlot
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Guys - Seriously, how can you NOT be fans of a sport such as curling where the main communication between players is to yell at the top of their lungs "HARD, HARD, HARDER" while trying to slip the rock into the right position. I mean really!
I've played curling for several years and its a fun sport that played in scores of small towns across Canada and probably a lot in the northern part of the US. Its much more a game of skill, like golf. Like golf, the more athletic you are, the better your skills will be put to use. In fact, if talk to members of a typical curling club, you'll find most of the players are golfers in the summer.
BTW, I think CTV's coverage of the olympics sucks overall. Too much human interest crap. There are competition all day long and most of CTV's broadcast day is filled with their useless announcers re-gurgitating something about one of the 8 medals we have won so far. SHOW US THE COMPETITIONS!!!
And finally, on a Canadian note, the Canadian ski team has put in its worst performance ever. The whole crew of coaches and management of Ski Canada should be fired - Oh wait they did that after the last olympics. Guess that didn't work.
I've played curling for several years and its a fun sport that played in scores of small towns across Canada and probably a lot in the northern part of the US. Its much more a game of skill, like golf. Like golf, the more athletic you are, the better your skills will be put to use. In fact, if talk to members of a typical curling club, you'll find most of the players are golfers in the summer.
BTW, I think CTV's coverage of the olympics sucks overall. Too much human interest crap. There are competition all day long and most of CTV's broadcast day is filled with their useless announcers re-gurgitating something about one of the 8 medals we have won so far. SHOW US THE COMPETITIONS!!!
And finally, on a Canadian note, the Canadian ski team has put in its worst performance ever. The whole crew of coaches and management of Ski Canada should be fired - Oh wait they did that after the last olympics. Guess that didn't work.
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Curling is the most incredibly dull sport to watch. I would rather watch a rousing game of broomball. One good thing is that the Canadian curling association has dropped the baggy unstylish outfits for the ladies and have gone with tight pants. Add low cut tops and I might just start watching.
Another sport which strikes me as unworthy of being in the olympics is the one which involves shooting at targets and cross country skiing. What a strange combination. What next, bobsled archery?
Another sport which strikes me as unworthy of being in the olympics is the one which involves shooting at targets and cross country skiing. What a strange combination. What next, bobsled archery?
DAMN! I am starting to know this game pretty well. That will be one psychiatric couch please.
I know the feeling! LOL!!!
About 3 weeks ago, the Canadian championship (The Scotties Curling Championship) was held in Sault-Ste-Marie (ON) and some of the women were so incredibly hot!! Especially team Newfoundland! As we spent the weekend watching the championship on tv, a buddy of mine & myself were kicking one another for not making the long trek to the Sault in order to watch the tournament & join in on the fun! Damn they looked hot!!!
Maybe next year.....
it would take a minimum of sexy lingerie to make me watch curling.
i partially agree with you, but biathlon belongs. why? it requires skill & endurance and you need to be faster than your opponents.
there needs to be a framework that defines what qualifies as an olympic sport:
- "higher, stronger, faster" is a good place to start, requiring more than one of those elements.
- a minimum # of countries need to be competitve in the sport (women's hockey does not belong yet.)
- sports which have a time restriction must involve direct defense by your opponent (hockey, basketball, etc.).
- using "better" as the only criteria is not a sport, it's a skill set; golf, darts, billiards, curling, etc.
- sports that are judged; figure skating, diving, gymnastics, sync swimming (even the athletes are not 100% convinced their judges are not biased.)
- sports involving animals; equestrian (how much work is the human doing?)
Burke to whiners: "Shut up!"
VANCOUVER — Brian Burke has got two words for the people who are complaining these are the Glitch Games:
Shut up.
“I think that’s (B.S.),” said Team USA’s general manager. “I’ve been to four Winter Olympics, this is the best one I’ve been to in terms of organization. You’re going to have glitches in an event this size, this many people, logistical things, with multiple venues. You’re going to have glitches.
“I don’t know why people are whining about it. I think it’s been extraordinarily well run. This is my fourth one, it’s not like I’m a novice. I think they’ve done a marvelous job here. I wish people would quit bitching about it.”
The Americans and the Canadians will faceoff at 4:30 p.m. local time Sunday, the first time in the preliminary schedule the Americans will not have to play in the first game of the day at noon.
The schedule hasn’t sat well with Burke, but he has adopted the same policy here as he has with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“I think playing at noon sucks,” he said. “I think it is very hard for NHL players to play at noon. But, we’ve played two games at noon and you haven’t heard a word about our team. Not one player has complained about it and we won’t because our theory is no complaints, no excuses. That’s our team motto in Toronto. A complaint is a prelude to an excuse, and an excuse is a prelude to losing, and so it’s no complaints and no excuses.
“Now that we played the two games, I will say that I don’t like playing at noon. We didn’t complain about it.”
No matter what time Sunday’s game is played, it going to be a sea of Canadian red inside GM Place and it will be interesting to see how the young American team — 16 of its players are 25 years of age or younger — handles the environment.
“We’re the enemy tomorrow. We know that. It’s going to be a hostile crazy crowd on behalf of Canada and that’s the way it ought to be. The games are in Canada, that’s the way it ought to be. It was like that in Salt Lake for the U.S. team, a good U.S. crowd. It ought to be, that’s what hockey is about, passion,” said Burke.
“It’ll be a passionate. It’ll be a zoo in here. Again, that’s an important part of being successful in a tournament like this, is for our team to manage that.”
VANCOUVER — Brian Burke has got two words for the people who are complaining these are the Glitch Games:
Shut up.
“I think that’s (B.S.),” said Team USA’s general manager. “I’ve been to four Winter Olympics, this is the best one I’ve been to in terms of organization. You’re going to have glitches in an event this size, this many people, logistical things, with multiple venues. You’re going to have glitches.
“I don’t know why people are whining about it. I think it’s been extraordinarily well run. This is my fourth one, it’s not like I’m a novice. I think they’ve done a marvelous job here. I wish people would quit bitching about it.”
The Americans and the Canadians will faceoff at 4:30 p.m. local time Sunday, the first time in the preliminary schedule the Americans will not have to play in the first game of the day at noon.
The schedule hasn’t sat well with Burke, but he has adopted the same policy here as he has with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“I think playing at noon sucks,” he said. “I think it is very hard for NHL players to play at noon. But, we’ve played two games at noon and you haven’t heard a word about our team. Not one player has complained about it and we won’t because our theory is no complaints, no excuses. That’s our team motto in Toronto. A complaint is a prelude to an excuse, and an excuse is a prelude to losing, and so it’s no complaints and no excuses.
“Now that we played the two games, I will say that I don’t like playing at noon. We didn’t complain about it.”
No matter what time Sunday’s game is played, it going to be a sea of Canadian red inside GM Place and it will be interesting to see how the young American team — 16 of its players are 25 years of age or younger — handles the environment.
“We’re the enemy tomorrow. We know that. It’s going to be a hostile crazy crowd on behalf of Canada and that’s the way it ought to be. The games are in Canada, that’s the way it ought to be. It was like that in Salt Lake for the U.S. team, a good U.S. crowd. It ought to be, that’s what hockey is about, passion,” said Burke.
“It’ll be a passionate. It’ll be a zoo in here. Again, that’s an important part of being successful in a tournament like this, is for our team to manage that.”
Simple, he is the most recognizable Canadian athlete across the world, and whether he still lives in Canada or not is irrelevant, he has done so much for his country in his lifetime, not to mention put the city of Edmonton on the map, i for one was very pleased with him as the choice to light the torch
I love the way Burke manages to complain about playing at noon while insisting he isn't complaining. If you really aren't complaining about it, you shouldn't mention it in the first place. Stupid jackass.
As for Gretzky, it's got nothing to do with whether he's recognizable or not. There are other athletes who have given their lives to the pursuit of their sport who were much more deserving of the honour.
As for Gretzky, it's got nothing to do with whether he's recognizable or not. There are other athletes who have given their lives to the pursuit of their sport who were much more deserving of the honour.
A case could be made that Jacques Villeneuve is as recognizeable around the world as Gretzky is.
Terrible news!
Six-time Canadian figure skating champion Joannie Rochette's mother passed away early this morning of a heart attack at a Vancouver hospital, where she had been rushed to by ambulance late Saturday night. Joannie was told of her mother's death from her father at the Olympic village this morning. The family had just arrived in Vancouver to attend the women's competition starting on Tuesday night. Therese Rochette was 55 years old. Joannie Rochette has indicated that she won't pull out of the event, where she had a good chance of obtaining a medal. She will dedicate her competition to her mother.
I cannot comprehend how devastating this must be to her & her family. It will make it almost impossible to compete. Terrible!
Joannie Rochette's mother suddenly dies of a heart attack in Vancouver
Six-time Canadian figure skating champion Joannie Rochette's mother passed away early this morning of a heart attack at a Vancouver hospital, where she had been rushed to by ambulance late Saturday night. Joannie was told of her mother's death from her father at the Olympic village this morning. The family had just arrived in Vancouver to attend the women's competition starting on Tuesday night. Therese Rochette was 55 years old. Joannie Rochette has indicated that she won't pull out of the event, where she had a good chance of obtaining a medal. She will dedicate her competition to her mother.
I cannot comprehend how devastating this must be to her & her family. It will make it almost impossible to compete. Terrible!
Joannie Rochette's mother suddenly dies of a heart attack in Vancouver
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Doc, I agree with you that Villeneuve may be even more recognizable on the international stage, but he's not an Olympic athlete and could not have lit the torch.
Very sad news about Joannie's mother and I applaud her strength in going forward with the competition. Having lost my mother a number of years ago, I know that at that point in time I would not have been able to even consider something like that. I'm sure that her mother would be very proud of her decision and I wish her all the best in winning a medal in her honour.
Very sad news about Joannie's mother and I applaud her strength in going forward with the competition. Having lost my mother a number of years ago, I know that at that point in time I would not have been able to even consider something like that. I'm sure that her mother would be very proud of her decision and I wish her all the best in winning a medal in her honour.
Gretzky was no more an olympian than Villeneuve. His only relationship with the Olympic was not as an athlete but as a coach or something like this in 2002 at Salt Lake City. I wonder why they didn't ask Gaétan Boucher or Jean-LUc Brassard?
Back to Women's curling - US concedes to Canada after 7 ends
Cherly Bernard and her teamates showed the US womens team why they have a serious chance at gold. The US team conceded after 7 ends with the score 9-2. Canada remains the only undefeated team at 5-0. Cheryl is definitely in the MILF category at 43.
I'm also looking forward to Canada playing the Russians who have a fairly hot team. Their co-skip is Anna Sidorova (to the left in group picture next to the skip Ludmila Privivkova.
Ludmilla is not bad either:
http://en.rian.ru/images/15738/11/157381186.jpg
Cherly Bernard and her teamates showed the US womens team why they have a serious chance at gold. The US team conceded after 7 ends with the score 9-2. Canada remains the only undefeated team at 5-0. Cheryl is definitely in the MILF category at 43.
I'm also looking forward to Canada playing the Russians who have a fairly hot team. Their co-skip is Anna Sidorova (to the left in group picture next to the skip Ludmila Privivkova.
Ludmilla is not bad either:
http://en.rian.ru/images/15738/11/157381186.jpg
Gretzky did play in the 1998 Nagano games, the first time that the NHL'ers were invited to the games. That's the infamous time where coach Marc Crawford didn't pick Gretzky as one of his shooters in the shootout in the final game, something he's criticized about to this day.
I don't see what Gretsky did for Edmonton nor Canada in general. He has been paid tens of millions of dollars for his extraordinary hockey playing and more tens of millions in endorsements due to the classy way he conducts himself. I harbor no ill will to him, but, in my opinion, we (Canadians) and Gretsky are even. He owes Canada nothing and we owe him nothing.
I agree with Techman that an Olympian who has worked for relative peanuts during the best years of his life (e.g. Gaetan Boucher) would have been a better choice.
Its is called tounge in cheek humor, and NO ONE does it better than Burkie!, this is just another classic example of Brian at his best, i for one am glad to see him starting to move on after the terrible tragedy of losing his son, although he will never fully move on..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongue-in-cheek
One thing about ole Brian Burke, you either love him or hate him, if he is for your team, you love him, and when he is not for your team, he is hated and feared, just the way he wants it to be i am sure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongue-in-cheek
One thing about ole Brian Burke, you either love him or hate him, if he is for your team, you love him, and when he is not for your team, he is hated and feared, just the way he wants it to be i am sure.
Simple, most of the world would go, WHO? when referring to those other 2 names, without having to google their names. it is VERY simple why the Great One was chosen, Worldwide Appeal, EVERYONE knows the name Wayne Gretzky and his name is Synonymous with Canada. And these games are Canada's chance to show the world what a great country they are, whether they need to do that or not, and Wayne was the Perfect choice to light the torch. think about it, it is as clear as day
another big reason is , what sport is decorated as Canada's Sport? ( and who is the most famous EVER in that sport?) we get reminded of this with every other commercial during these olympics, in case you missed it (ha ha) here it is
also i am sure for those in the United States have not seen this either, so enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vYFIufNoBo&feature=related
another big reason is , what sport is decorated as Canada's Sport? ( and who is the most famous EVER in that sport?) we get reminded of this with every other commercial during these olympics, in case you missed it (ha ha) here it is
also i am sure for those in the United States have not seen this either, so enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vYFIufNoBo&feature=related
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How Pissed Would You Be!!!
Damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One lane change changes everything
The Netherlands’ Sven Kramer has the 10,000-meter race won — until it’s lost
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...s-mens-speedskating--20100223,0,5778702.story
After giving years of your life, probably having no other life, you get to the Olympics in speed skating. This is the moment your dreams can come true after years of sacrifice just for this chance. Now you are leading in the event and you are assured of a gold medal being way ahead of everyone else. Suddenly during the race when you practically have the gold in hand your coach tells you to stay in the inner lane instead of changing as you were about to. So you follow his directions and stay. Oooops, the coach made a boo-boo and he screwed up when you were actually doing it all right. That's what happened to Sven Kramer when coach Gerard Kemkers made the screw up of a lifetime that got Kramer disqualified. Commentators suggested a Dutch witness protection program for Kemkers since Kramer is such a huge idol in the Netherlands that the Dutch have dubbed this the Svencouver Olympics.
Yikes,
Merlot
Damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One lane change changes everything
The Netherlands’ Sven Kramer has the 10,000-meter race won — until it’s lost
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...s-mens-speedskating--20100223,0,5778702.story
After giving years of your life, probably having no other life, you get to the Olympics in speed skating. This is the moment your dreams can come true after years of sacrifice just for this chance. Now you are leading in the event and you are assured of a gold medal being way ahead of everyone else. Suddenly during the race when you practically have the gold in hand your coach tells you to stay in the inner lane instead of changing as you were about to. So you follow his directions and stay. Oooops, the coach made a boo-boo and he screwed up when you were actually doing it all right. That's what happened to Sven Kramer when coach Gerard Kemkers made the screw up of a lifetime that got Kramer disqualified. Commentators suggested a Dutch witness protection program for Kemkers since Kramer is such a huge idol in the Netherlands that the Dutch have dubbed this the Svencouver Olympics.
Yikes,
Merlot
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