The 2014 Winter Olympics - Sochi

#254
#254
I think I was wrong above. (That was if Finland won)

The US is 2 and Canada is 3, so they would meet before the final.
 
#256
#256
Velo Vol said:
I think I was wrong above. (That was if Finland won)

The US is 2 and Canada is 3, so they would meet before the final.
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Well, that sucks. I was thinking hockey would be a sport the US couldn't help but medal in. Apparently that's not a given yet though.
 
#257
#257
volprof said:
What are your thoughts on the hockey hopefuls at this Olympics, neighbor to the north?
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I'd put my money on Canada first and the US a close second. Kessle's on fire and looks unstoppable. Imo Canada has yet to find their stride, Crosby needs to get involved. If one of us gets the gold I'm happy.
 
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#258
#258
BODACIOUS said:
I'd put my money on Canada first and the US a close second. Kessle's on fire and looks unstoppable. Imo Canada has yet to find their stride, Crosby needs to get involved. If one of us gets the gold I'm happy.
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I have to admit I'm not really a hockey fan. Had every intention of being one after the 2010 final between USA and Canada. That game was so gripping, so I decided I'd start watching the NHL. I made it through only one game or two before I promptly learned that it was only the international context of the Olympics that made is so gripping for me, personally. To each his own though.
 
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#259
#259
volprof said:
I have to admit I'm not really a hockey fan. Had every intention of being one after the 2010 final between USA and Canada. That game was so gripping, so I decided I'd start watching the NHL. I made it through only one game or two before I promptly learned that it was only the international context of the Olympics that made is so gripping for me, personally. To each his own though.
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I'm the same as you. I lost my love for the NHL in the nineties due to the strikes and the european invasion. Expansion watered down the game and Imo the NHL has no business being in the south or the desert.

Give the Olympics or the world juniors anyday.
 
#260
#260
volprof said:
I don't know about particular odds, but I've heard that the medal favorites are primarily Canada and Russia, with Finland and the US vying for the third spot.
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King Henrik and company will likely have something to say about that
 
#261
#261
To win a gold, the US was likely going to have to go through Canada anyways. I think this is an open tournament. Canada has looked beatable, and it wouldn't surprise me if the Swiss stole one against them. I could see Russia losing to Finland as well. They looked hungover today.
 
#262
#262
BODACIOUS said:
I'm the same as you. I lost my love for the NHL in the nineties due to the strikes and the european invasion. Expansion watered down the game and Imo the NHL has no business being in the south or the desert.

Give the Olympics or the world juniors anyday.
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Hockey is just as "regional" a sport as NASCAR. To your point, you could make the argument that expanding outside of Alaska, Canada, and the American Midwest/Northeast actually "watered-down" the sport, just as NASCAR's "nationalization" is watering it down.

And I'm talking about the NHL of course. Not international hockey.
 
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#263
#263
volprof said:
Hockey is just as "regional" a sport as NASCAR. To your point, you could make the argument that expanding outside of Alaska, Canada, and the American Midwest/Northeast actually "watered-down" the sport, just as NASCAR's "nationalization" is watering it down.

And I'm talking about the NHL of course. Not international hockey.
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I've always liked Cowherd's opinion on the NHL. Cut the league down to 12 teams, 6 in the US and 6 here. Trim down the schedule from 82 to 62 or even lower and market it as us against them.
 
#268
#268
Velo Vol said:
Divide it six teams in a country with 35 million people and six teams in a country of 300 million people.

Yeah, that makes sense.
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While I agree with you overall, the number of Canadian hockey fans compared to that of the US might be much closer.

Still wouldn't do it though.
 
#269
#269
Not to pile on, but is there a more apt illustration of choking than Lindsey Jacobellis?

In two Olympic games she falls (with a big lead) for no apparent reason.
 
#270
#270
volprof said:
Of Holland's 17 medals thus far, 16 are in speedskating. That's amazing!

On a related note, given how poor Team USA's performance has been in men's and women's speedskating, you really do have to wonder about those new suits. Team USA did much better in speedskating in the 2010 Olympics. It's hard for me to believe they got this crappy in just four years.
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Just read an article that said they trained at altitude heading into the Olympics instead of keeping their normal training schedules. Have to say that was probably a bad idea. I still don't think the suits made much of a difference.

Also, Holland (I think) has 100 winter Olympic medals now and 99 are in speed skating and the 100th was in snowboarding. (This was yesterday, before they swept the ladies 1500m today).
 
#271
#271
Velo Vol said:
Not to pile on, but is there a more apt illustration of choking than Lindsey Jacobellis?

In two Olympic games she falls (with a big lead) for no apparent reason.
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Snowboardcross is ridiculous. It's so very unpredictable and the sloppy conditions only make it worse.
 
#272
#272
VOLatile said:
Just read an article that said they trained at altitude heading into the Olympics instead of keeping their normal training schedules.
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You mean above sea level, instead of below it?

VOLatile said:
Snowboardcross is ridiculous. It's so very unpredictable and the sloppy conditions only make it worse.
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I could see it if she had to take chances because she was neck-and-neck with another racer. But she was so far ahead both times she just need to stay upright to win.
 
#274
#274
Velo Vol said:
Divide it six teams in a country with 35 million people and six teams in a country of 300 million people.

Yeah, that makes sense.
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Hockey out of the 4 major sports in North America matters the least to those in the US that live in warmer climates. The majority of the American fan bases that live outside of Detroit, Chicago, Boston, Rangers, St. Louis, Buffalo and maybe LA would care.
 
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