Finally,while hosting the Olympics, Canada is winning medals

by Ziks511 Feb 19, 2010 8:19AM PST

Canada hosted the summer games in 1976 and won nothing, and hosted the Winter Olympics in 1988 (I have a photograph of my 5 month old son with the Olympic flame going by) and won nothing again. This year, at the midpoint of the Olympics, the US is in first, Germany second, Norway in third (total population of 4,854,000), and Canada currently in fourth, tied with France but with more golds for Canada. On top of that the spokesperson for Canada said that the coming week is the stronger week for them.

Unlike previous years I haven't been watching avidly, I've just caught what I could, but I did see the Canadian Women's Hockey Team playing the Swiss, and boy are they good. as are the American Women. They play such a skillful game there is a precision and grace about it that isn't as noticeable in the strength based style of the men. But I'll be watching the Men's gold medal game too. I'll be hoping that one of the two teams wins. I'll be happy either way.

Rob

Discussion is locked

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Neat item on Canadian coverage. "How hard is it" taking a

by Ziks511 Feb 19, 2010 9:06AM PST

non-participant and having them try a sport. In this case it was former Formula 1 driver Jacques Villeneuve doing the skeleton down the course. Headfirst chin 2-3 inches off the ice, 100+ kmph. The women run about 140 kmph about 75 mph, heaven knows how fast the men are.

Rob

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One commentator asked

by JP Bill Feb 19, 2010 11:32AM PST

Which is safer, luge or skeleton?

Skeleton coach responds "Skeleton, head first...that's how we came into the world."

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ROTFL Thanks, Dr. Bill.

by Ziks511 Feb 20, 2010 4:17AM PST

I was watching them interview Emily Brydon, a Canadian skier who crashed very worryingly in the Super G Slalom. One of her first comments was, "Well, you've got to ski a course like this pretty "balls out" if you're going to finish well." Would that have gotten through on NBC? I don't know anymore, but I almost fell out of my chair when she said it. She continued through the interview, getting pretty teary behind her sunglasses, because this is her last Olympics and she had hopes. All in all, it was a moving interview.

Injured Canadian skier Kelly Vanderbeek, the on-air expert picked Fischbacher to medal minutes before the competition started, boy was she right. Lindsey Vonn's interview was really good, boy, she's an attractive personality as well as a very attractive woman.

Rob

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(NT) Sorry JP. for the misidentification

by Ziks511 Feb 20, 2010 10:42AM PST

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I wuz flattered........

by JP Bill Feb 20, 2010 11:53AM PST

Dr. Bill wasn't

No problem

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Jacques Villeneuve is one of only three people...

by Paul C Feb 21, 2010 5:26PM PST

...to have won the American open wheel racing (CART/IndyCar) drivers' championship, the Formula 1 drivers' championship and the Indianapolis 500 (the others being Mario Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi, neither of whom I can see trying skeleton sliding).

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At the risk of having yet another post deleted,

by Mike_Hanks Feb 19, 2010 9:48PM PST

I'm sure what you MEANT to claim was that Canada had not won a GOLD medal until this hosting.

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You're right and the Canadian commentators are wrong

by Ziks511 Feb 20, 2010 11:36AM PST

or my brain is not processing as it should. No golds but 5 xilver and 6 bronzes in Montreal. Canadians have done well in World Cup races, and in Olympics in other countries, 2 silver and 3 bronze in 1988. So far canada has 8 medals, 4 Golds, 3 Silves and 1 Bronze and a week to go.

But leaving that aside, the American performance has been jaw-dropping. Half way through and they've got 22 medals which is I believe a peak at an Olympics outside the US

A really neat filler with Mary Cerulo for NBC about the RCMP training academy in Regina Saskatchewan. 4 degrees Fahrenheit which they consider warm spring weather. The commandant leaned on her heavily during inspection, and his sarcasm had her biting her lips to keep from laughing. She was very complimentary about the Mounties, a number of whom have been shipped out of Vancouver for various infractions. Nice going guys, way to embarrass the country.

Rob

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Yes, of course

by Mike_Hanks Feb 23, 2010 7:19AM PST

the announcers were wrong.
Even I knew that.

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Canada is also a good host

by Angeline Booher Feb 20, 2010 4:49AM PST

I have enjoyed the mountain scenery, and the indoor and outdoor venues are first class.

I recall when we were ecstatic when winning any medal in the winter sports competitions.

Angeline

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I've been enjoying all the coverage

by JP Bill Feb 20, 2010 5:25AM PST

even this

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Colbert has been having fun ribbing Canada through his

by Ziks511 Feb 21, 2010 7:36AM PST

comments, Canadians have been enjoying the teasing. I was shown the Bob Costas Stephen Colbert interview, complete with your link by a Canadian friend who thought it was good. Colbert in an interview on Canadian TV said very nice things, despite the interviewer trying to get him to let fly with a few zingers. I have always puzzled over Canadian's self-deprecating attitudes when things seem great to me, but I guess it's a hold over from the British who used to dominate the culture here. Comments from the athletes have been good.

Rob

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I notice NBC gives the height and weight of the competitors

by Ziks511 Feb 20, 2010 10:58AM PST

which is interesting. The women tend to be tall now, and for Downhill and Super G some of the American women are now using men's skis, longer and less flexible and probably better suited both to their strength and size now. not to mention the crappy snow conditions.

Super G designed by the Austrian member of the Olympic group, and it was designed to favour (at least according to some commentary) the Austrians. 3 of them didn't do well, but Fischbacher won Gold.

Rob

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Canada expected to win most medals

by surgeryhouston Feb 23, 2010 2:56AM PST

Coming in wasn't Canada expected to win the most medals?

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Nah...they said they wouldn't win any

by JP Bill Feb 23, 2010 3:05AM PST

They went in with a defeatist attitude.

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(NT) Expectation? No. Hope? Yes

by Angeline Booher Feb 23, 2010 3:28AM PST

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Yes, I believe they said they would "own" the podium...

by EdHannigan Feb 23, 2010 5:42AM PST

but it's all in good fun. Except for the stupid Curling.

Finally,while hosting the Olympics, Canada is winning medals

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