I <3 the Olympics *spoilers?*

Seriously. The last time I saw the Winter Olympics, I was on a different coast, living a different life, but the emotions are still the same. I'm all weepy watching Shaun White get his gold. What's the deal?

Flechty-poo wrote:

I'm all weepy watching Shaun White get his gold. What's the deal?

Estrogen injections?

Seriously, I was just saying exactly the opposite to someone yesterday. When I was younger, I'd get caught up in Olympics fever, but now there seems to be so much pre-finals coverage that it gets tedious to root for the person and have them a) not qualify or b) get like 6th place. For every Shaun White there's a Bode Miller.

Warlock wrote:
Flechty-poo wrote:

I'm all weepy watching Shaun White get his gold. What's the deal?

Estrogen injections?

Seriously, I was just saying exactly the opposite to someone yesterday. When I was younger, I'd get caught up in Olympics fever, but now there seems to be so much pre-finals coverage that it gets tedious to root for the person and have them a) not qualify or b) get like 6th place. For every Shaun White there's a Bode Miller.

*cough* Dan & Dave *cough*

Just remember, if you ignore the Olympics, the terrorists win.

To be fair, my son was being fussy Saturday morning AM so we watched the Opening Ceremonies. Alp Dresses FTW!

Nope, not fired up this year. Let the terrorists win, I just don't care.

I'm not fired up about the Olympics, but they sure are fun to watch. I'd rather watch speed skating and downhill than some stupid sitcom about some fat ugly guy having problems with his hot wife and how they make it work in the end, aw.

I'm with Fletch. I love the Olympics. Can't wait for mens' hockey to start. The womens' hockey got silly really quickly with those damned Canadian {transphobic slur}s decapitating everyone they come into contact with. I mean seriously, 16 to nothing? That's just heartless.

Canadian {transphobic slur}s, the new Russian Bulldyke.

I'm with you too, Fletcher, and I am equally perplexed at myself.

Despite have generally no interest in sports whatsoever, there is something about the Olympics (particularly the winter variety) that I can't resist. Maybe it is that genuine, hard working athletes who participate in sports that are pretty much ignored for three years and eleven months are suddenly the center of the entire world's attention. It reminds us one of the charms of sports that seems to be lost in more popular sports, which is that otherwise ordinary people can achieve amazing things when they devote themselves to it.

Man, even the random ass bizarre sh*t like curling gets me excited.

GioClark wrote:
Warlock wrote:
Flechty-poo wrote:

I'm all weepy watching Shaun White get his gold. What's the deal?

Estrogen injections?

Seriously, I was just saying exactly the opposite to someone yesterday. When I was younger, I'd get caught up in Olympics fever, but now there seems to be so much pre-finals coverage that it gets tedious to root for the person and have them a) not qualify or b) get like 6th place. For every Shaun White there's a Bode Miller.

*cough* Dan & Dave *cough*

Or Michelle Kwan. Or Apollo Anton "I won on a technicality" Ohno. Or Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. As soon as these overhyped marketing creations flop, then the real stars can come out. We just lucked out that they all tanked in the first three days so we wouldn't have to sit through a week of PR BS only to see them fail miserably.

zeroKFE wrote:

I'm with you too, Fletcher, and I am equally perplexed at myself.

Despite have generally no interest in sports whatsoever, there is something about the Olympics (particularly the winter variety) that I can't resist. Maybe it is that genuine, hard working athletes who participate in sports that are pretty much ignored for three years and eleven months are suddenly the center of the entire world's attention. It reminds us one of the charms of sports that seems to be lost in more popular sports, which is that otherwise ordinary people can achieve amazing things when they devote themselves to it.

Man, even the random ass bizarre sh*t like curling gets me excited.

Exactly. I get such a kick out of the Olympics, and I always have. No matter how commercialised it gets, no matter how glammed up it is, there's still an element of genuineness to the whole affair. These people got there because they're good at what they do, even if nobody else cares, and for one brief moment, speed skating and luge races are just as important as football or basketball (inside US) or soccer (outside US). That's pretty cool.

I'm an unabashed figure skating junkie; when I was a kid, I'd schedule my whole evenings during the Olympics around watching the performances. I don't follow it so much anymore, but I still get a real warm feeling when I read about it or catch it in passing on TV. I like that about the Olympics, how it makes me happy in a very simple way.

About the only thing I have any interest in is women's figure skating.

Rat Boy wrote:

Or Michelle Kwan. Or Apollo Anton "I won on a technicality" Ohno. Or Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. As soon as these overhyped marketing creations flop, then the real stars can come out. We just lucked out that they all tanked in the first three days so we wouldn't have to sit through a week of PR BS only to see them fail miserably.

So instead we have to sit through a week of corporate marketing B.S. ? I don't even watch the Olyp-Coke-John Hancock-ics anymore because it is owned by the corporations and sold to us as one big 8 day commercial. If it was about the amatuers, and only the amatuers, it would be a fun experience and fun to watch. Unfortunately everyone going to the olympics are are just looking to make a buck these days.

Well maybe not the curlers..

I love watching paired figure skating. Before I was doing martial arts I "liked" it, but now I "love" it, because I have a vague point of reference which lets me imagine the skill and athleticism level really required for them to look that good. I can really appreciate their balance, footwork, extension... oh and the skimpy outfits on the women of course.

We need more female Olympic skater wardrobe failures!

Marsman wrote:

We need more female Olympic skater wardrobe failures!

I was heartbroken the day I discovered that they make spandex in "flesh" colors.

Marsman wrote:

We need more female Olympic skater wardrobe failures!

Of course YOU would say that, considering many of the girls are underage.

My wife's friend - Lindsey Jacobellis (snowboarder) - is in this Olympics so we'll watch that. But in general I like the summer olympics more. The US hockey team's win against the USSR and then vs. Finland for the gold in 1980 were so frantic and exciting that nothing has come close since. I was only 10 but those games were incredible. The 70's had some great moments too, maybe it's just my perspective because I was a squirt, but the games seemed more important then.

I love the Summer Olympics but cannot get excited for the Winter Olympics. Snowboarding is interesting, but sadly enough, the only thing that can hold my attention in the winter Olympics is the participation of an attractive female athlete.

I personally am a basketball, football, baseball fan myself. Most of that is because those are the sports I played, and continue to participate in. I also enjoy watching track and field in the Olympics because it's the (mainstream) Olympic event that best defines the word athlete - in my mind - as those who win are the best combination of strength, speed, agility, and endurance.

In summary, Summer Olympics ftw.

Marsman wrote:

We need more female Olympic skater wardrobe failures!

And less women in pants! Who OKed that rule change?

Staats wrote:
Marsman wrote:

We need more female Olympic skater wardrobe failures!

And less women in pants! Who OKed that rule change?

Certainly not Edwin.

My name is Edwin, and I approve this thread.

OMFG. The achilles heel guy? See? That's what the Olympics are all about. I'm bawling over here.

What I hate ---

Pairs figure skating - ok...love watching the effortless grace, and the Russians skated flawless, deserved to win this time...no prob. But the chinese pair, lady falls, they go over to the side, take some time, talk to the coach, decide to finish...and get the bronze --- WTF? Look - if you preordain who wins/loses, don't hold the event...wastes our time! I mean, how bout bronze to someone that actually skated a clean good program!!! Anyone else see this as just bu**sh**?

Also, the hockey - women's - gents...you all watch the game. They tried not to rub it in...I think at one time, they substitituted in a front line of the janitor, the towel girl, and a random fan, and all three still scored on the Italians. Don't blame them...they played clean and didn't run up the score...when everyone on your team gets a goal...thats something that maybe the Italians should have kept their program down in the 'minors', eh?

Quintin_Stone wrote:

About the only thing I have any interest in is women's figure skating.

This saddens me. Unless the reason you have an interest in it is because it keeps your SO occupied while you do more interesting things...

Pigpen wrote:

What I hate ---

Pairs figure skating - ok...love watching the effortless grace, and the Russians skated flawless, deserved to win this time...no prob. But the chinese pair, lady falls, they go over to the side, take some time, talk to the coach, decide to finish...and get the bronze --- WTF? Look - if you preordain who wins/loses, don't hold the event...wastes our time! I mean, how bout bronze to someone that actually skated a clean good program!!! Anyone else see this as just bu**sh**?

I just have to second this, and add that they actually were awarded the silver medal. That was ridiculous. I told my wife, "Next year, we're entering the pairs competition. I'm going to tell everyone that I'm going to toss you, make you flip 30 times in the air, and I will somehow teleport over and catch you. You'll crash into the boards, really, but I figure we're a lock for bronze at least." I don't see how that's even a sport.

Agreed. If falling with flair was an Olympic event, I would have a closet full of medals.

Chumpy_McChump wrote:
Quintin_Stone wrote:

About the only thing I have any interest in is women's figure skating.

This saddens me. Unless the reason you have an interest in it is because it keeps your SO occupied while you do more interesting things...

Well, I said 'any interest', not 'a lot of interest'. Those skaters have nice legs.

Pigpen wrote:

What I hate ---

Pairs figure skating - ok...love watching the effortless grace, and the Russians skated flawless, deserved to win this time...no prob. But the chinese pair, lady falls, they go over to the side, take some time, talk to the coach, decide to finish...and get the bronze --- WTF? Look - if you preordain who wins/loses, don't hold the event...wastes our time! I mean, how bout bronze to someone that actually skated a clean good program!!! Anyone else see this as just bu**sh**?

Wow, I missed that. Were there only 3 couples even competing? (Or 2, if they indeed got the silver as Poppinfresh says.)

Nope...tons competing...i think maybe 10-20 pairs. Granted, this couple had overcome adversity, with the man having a complete hamstring replacement, and coming back. But it was the lady, in both the short and long program who messed up...and again, I just have no idea how they justify this. I've always felt that ice skating would double in popularity if they would let the actual program be the reason you win/lose. For instance, in swimming, or rowing, or downhill, its simply the best/fastest win. But for some reason, and gymnastics suffers from this some, but not as much, the medals go to how you are ranked. I'm quite sure if Michelle Kwan had walked out on the ice, she was guaranteed a bronze medal minimum...

It actually keeps me from watching more of the ice skating, which is really a graceful art form...

Pigpen wrote:

Nope...tons competing...i think maybe 10-20 pairs. Granted, this couple had overcome adversity, with the man having a complete hamstring replacement, and coming back. But it was the lady, in both the short and long program who messed up...and again, I just have no idea how they justify this. I've always felt that ice skating would double in popularity if they would let the actual program be the reason you win/lose. For instance, in swimming, or rowing, or downhill, its simply the best/fastest win. But for some reason, and gymnastics suffers from this some, but not as much, the medals go to how you are ranked. I'm quite sure if Michelle Kwan had walked out on the ice, she was guaranteed a bronze medal minimum...

It actually keeps me from watching more of the ice skating, which is really a graceful art form...

I'm not quite sure what you mean here. They are basing the medals on the programs. But there are two programs that any figure skater or pair needs to complete: the short and the free skate (I think in ice dancing there are three programs).

So you could do really well on the short program, botch your free skate, and still come out with a medal. That's probably what happened with the Chinese pair. It doesn't mean that they're not basing the medals on the performances, only that there happens to be more than one performance that determines the medals.

Figure skating is just an exhibition with medals awarded based on subjective judgments. It's no different than Dancing with the Stars or Skating with Celebrities.