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Post by FrostbackHoya on Jan 24, 2006 15:46:45 GMT -5
I get no sense, given that the Olys are but weeks away, that anyone in the U.S. cares. Unlike Salt Lake, where being the home side meant tons o' coverage, Turin seems to be, largely, ignored. Up here in the Great White North (metaphorically -- we haven't had snow at all this winter), the buzz is growing exponentially. Our various World Cup teams are having great years, and are getting a ton of funding and press as the 2010 games will be Vancouver/Whistler, and this Oly is considered a stepping stone towards that beast. So -- anyone care? Willing to watch when it gets here, but I'll wait for the SI preview issue before caring? Or are there some rabid skeleton and curling fans out there who're underrepresented by the NFL-slanted media bias?  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2006 17:09:01 GMT -5
Just wanna see pucks.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Jan 26, 2006 10:46:34 GMT -5
This is an interesting phenomenon. I actually love the Olympics. All of it. I even like watching those obscure sports (laugh at curling all you want, but if you start watching a match, I guarantee you will watch until the end - it's mysteriously hypnotic; I don't understand it myself, barely know the rules, but somehow can't bring myself to change the channel).
Speaking of curling, there was some really weird movie on the other day about curling. It was so bad, I had to watch. It had that dude from Aspen Extreme in it (not Peter Berg, the other one), and Leslie Nielson as the old Scottish sage, much like Rip Torn's character in Dodgeball. God, I love catching awful movies like that, it's pure, unadulterated fun in a Mystery Science Theater kind of way.
Anyway, back to the point. I love everything about the Olympics, but I barely even know when they start, what the schedule is or anything else, except that apprently some guy named Bode likes the booze.
One reason is that the sports landscape is currently pretty full right now. Football is reaching its crescendo, the Hoyas are off-the-charts better than anyone dreamed (so far anyway, knock-knock), and the NHL is, well, the NHL. I'll watch that anytime and all the time. It's hard to divert my attention from these things.
Another thought I had is the ESPN factor. We all decry ESPN, there are so many things about it that we all hate, but it is undeniable that the Worldwide Leader is in full control of the sports landscape and conversation. With the exception of Bode Miller, a couple of figure skating stories, and one or two other things here and there, ESPN is doing absolutely NOTHING to build up the Olympics. Obviously they're not, Disney has nothing to do with the broadcast. I don't blame ESPN for this business decision, but it definitely has an effect on our collective anticipation. GE/NBC is the weak sister to Disney and Viacom when it comes to sports promotion, and I think they have failed miserably in building up hype about the Olympics. I know more about the World Cup than I do about Turin.
I do blame myself for not being more proactive in learning about the Olympics, because I do like them, but it was just interesting to think how much about sports is so spoon-fed to us. When it isn't, it can so easily fall into obscurity. I guarantee you that if the Olympics were being broadcast on CBS or ABC/ESPN, we'd all be talking about them more.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Jan 26, 2006 12:35:42 GMT -5
I'm with Boz.
I love the Olympics. But I have no idea when they start.
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Post by FrostbackHoya on Jan 26, 2006 14:46:40 GMT -5
This is an interesting phenomenon. I actually love the Olympics. All of it. I even like watching those obscure sports (laugh at curling all you want, but if you start watching a match, I guarantee you will watch until the end - it's mysteriously hypnotic; I don't understand it myself, barely know the rules, but somehow can't bring myself to change the channel). I just like it when they go 'Hurry, Hurry, Hard..." especially with the women's side... Speaking of curling, there was some really weird movie on the other day about curling. It was so bad, I had to watch. It had that dude from Aspen Extreme in it (not Peter Berg, the other one), and Leslie Nielson as the old Scottish sage, much like Rip Torn's character in Dodgeball. God, I love catching awful movies like that, it's pure, unadulterated fun in a Mystery Science Theater kind of way.>> I find it hard to believe that this movie made it out of Canada. It was... not good. |
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burghoya
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Post by burghoya on Jan 26, 2006 14:49:11 GMT -5
The games this year run from Feb 10th-26th. Men's hockey starts the 18th.
All I've heard so far about the games is the following:
1) Michelle Kwan apparently still figure skates
2) The skeleton coach is either coaching or not depending on the time of day
3) some kids jacked the torch while it was being toured around Italy a few days ago... and they were tackled promptly by the Italian police.
4) Some US skier is a drunk
Still not enough to get me to watch.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Jan 26, 2006 16:47:30 GMT -5
>> I find it hard to believe that this movie made it out of Canada. It was... not good. Thank you, IMDB. It was called "Men With Brooms." Yes, it did make it out of Canada -- at least for one showing on WGN (or DC20, can't remember which) -- and yes, it was truly, truly horrible. A must see! us.imdb.com/title/tt0263734/ |
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hoyarooter
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Post by hoyarooter on Jan 26, 2006 20:07:04 GMT -5
The Winter Olympics are this year? When did they start being held in a different year from the Summer Olympics? Huh? 12 years ago? (I'm guessing) Is Tonya Harding skating this year? No? Oh, well, guess I'll pass.
Actually, I like the Winters. I can tolerate the skating, which my wife likes, and I like the skiing, ski jumping, bobsled and luge. Hockey? Do they still play that? (just kidding) ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2006 20:09:53 GMT -5
Boz, Men With Brooms is a classic!!!
The best part? "Team Kingston." And who, pray tell, are the members of "Team Kingston" that I love it so much?
You guessed it... Gord Downie, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair, Rob Baker and Johnny Fay... THE TRAGICALLY HIP.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Jan 27, 2006 0:07:54 GMT -5
Can we just give Michelle Kwan the silver now and save everyone the time?
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Nevada Hoya
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Jan 28, 2006 15:53:11 GMT -5
I am with Frostback, Boz, and SF in my love for anything Olympics. I guess we have been too mesmerized by the recent Hoya success to notice, but I will be there watching. I heard that the coverage is 24.5 hours a day (go figure). Since I lived in Toronto for two years, I came to enjoy the simple pleasures of winter (which living in Las Vegas for 25 years, I have almost forgotten) with curling, ice skating and hockey. So, yes, I will be watching and cheering.
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burghoya
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Post by burghoya on Jan 28, 2006 17:24:13 GMT -5
I dunno... I'll watch the Winter games but that's simply because 1) NBC shows won't be on (such as personal favs "the office" and "L&O" and all it's spin offs) 2) I might watch skiing to see someone wipe out.
I get much more excited for the summer games... I love watching the non-mainstream sports like archery, weighlifting, and what not. I swam completetively for 10 years too, so I love all that stuff. Two years ago, the last week before I went back to school was built around summer games broadcasting.
I dunno... I just can't get into the winter games. I think my disdain of the actual season of winter may have something to do with it as well.
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Jan 30, 2006 4:12:36 GMT -5
Do you think NBC will use the glow puck in its olympic hockey coverage?
Seriously the US delegation will take names and kick ace this year, but the hockey team will be really weak.
Other reasons to watch - a good number of the sports involve ice and high speeds meaning that there is a certain NASCAR effect to watching them and hoping that somebody biffs it. Remembering when you used to know all these countries existed back in Map of the Modern World with Pirttle.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Jan 30, 2006 9:42:43 GMT -5
Four words:
Short. Track. Speed. Skating.
NASCAR-like crashes, without all of that protective "automobile" surrounding you.
Good stuff!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2006 9:49:57 GMT -5
Seriously the US delegation will take names and kick ace this year, but the hockey team will be really weak. They weren't supposed to be good in Salt Lake City... and look what happened there... ... of course if they'd taken Ryan Miller to stand between the pipes, they'd be my odds on favorite to win it all |
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Jan 31, 2006 0:37:28 GMT -5
What about if they got Julie "the cat" Gafney to stand between the pipes? Would that change anything?
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burghoya
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Post by burghoya on Jan 31, 2006 1:42:10 GMT -5
and emilio estevez as the coach who is tempted by the trainer of the Iceland team and almost goes bad, but then in a montage realizes that he's American and something about ducks and comes back to coach the kids to victory?
if only...
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Jan 31, 2006 14:18:34 GMT -5
... of course if they'd taken Ryan Miller to stand between the pipes, they'd be my odds on favorite to win it all Or they could have taken Tim Thomas, the man who has single-handedly saved Mike Sullivan's job over the past few weeks. But that's if they wanted a good goaltender. ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2006 17:49:57 GMT -5
Or they could have taken Tim Thomas, the man who has single-handedly saved Mike Sullivan's job over the past few weeks. But that's if they wanted a good goaltender. ;D Thomas is the next Jim Carrey (the Caps flash-in-the-pan goalie... not the rubber-faced, over-acting commedian). Take THAT, Boz! |
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Feb 13, 2006 15:02:28 GMT -5
Jim Carrey. Ha! As Peter Griffin would say, "Ow, my pride!" You get a "ba-ZING" for that one, Buffalo (and Tim Thomas looked decidedly flash-in-the-pannish against Tampa, so do me a favor and zip it!) As for the Olympics, I heard a rumor that Michelle Kwan is out. Any news on that?  As usual, the events have been entertaining; the coverage, abysmal. My favorite non-favorite moments: 1. What's-his-name trying to make some huge deal out of the initial crash in the 30K nordic pursuit race. It's 18-miles, for crying out loud. And he got up immediately. This was not a big deal. But thanks for adding some artificial drama. 2. Jim Lampley trying to sound more intelligent than the 16-year old Emily Hughes he was interviewing. Nice questions, Jim. 3. Anything featuring Jimmy Roberts. Thank god for remote controls and mute buttons. 4. The entire media world embracing Shaun White as the new American hero. Only because it's going to make it all the more entertaining to watch everyone backpedal when his eventual marijuana arrest happens. On the other hand, I was late for work today because I COULD NOT STOP WATCHING the women's curling. Nice choke by the USA, dammit! I don't know what it is about that "sport." I am mesmerized. Love short-track speed skating too. But those relays make me a little uncomfortable. DON'T TOUCH ME THERE!! Last Olympics, I was definitely on the "Hope Apolo crashes and burns" bandwagon, but I felt pretty bad for him with yet another wipeout. Rooting for him to win out from here on....despite the goofy facial hair. |
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