vcjack
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,875
|
Post by vcjack on Feb 12, 2010 21:48:11 GMT -5
|
|
RusskyHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
In Soviet Russia, Hoya Blue Bleeds You!
Posts: 4,599
|
Post by RusskyHoya on Feb 12, 2010 22:31:51 GMT -5
Just wait until it's discovered that Putin had his luge sabotaged...
|
|
The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,844
|
Post by The Stig on Feb 13, 2010 0:25:54 GMT -5
I've deliberately avoided watching the video of the accident. It sounds absolutely awful, and of course the whole thing is very tragic. A lot of Georgetown students are older than he was.
As an auto racing fan, I've seen these sorts of things happen before, but it never makes it any easier.
That said, I got a strong dose of perspective during the Opening Ceremony. One of the people standing on the floor during the moment of silence for Kumaritashvili was Romeo Dallaire, who of course saw things that were tragic on a whole different level, where the victims were simply forgotten instead of memorialized in front of the world.
|
|
|
|
Post by jerseyhoya34 on Feb 13, 2010 0:32:13 GMT -5
How were the opening ceremonies generally?
|
|
The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,844
|
Post by The Stig on Feb 13, 2010 0:44:03 GMT -5
How were the opening ceremonies generally? In my opinion, decent but not great. Obviously not as over the top spectacular as Beijing, but neat nonetheless. Technical difficulties screwed up what should have been a pretty cool torch lighting. The most memorable moment was probably the entry of the Georgian team, who were wearing black scarves and were clearly devastated by what happened earlier today. They got a very warm standing ovation. In my opinion the ceremony ranks below Torino's opening ceremony, because of the lack of (positive) memorable moments. In Torino you had Pavarotti, a Ferrari doing donuts, and probably the best national anthem rendition of all time. In this one you had a bunch of moments that were good to watch, but nothing that really sticks in your mind as awesome. |
|
|
|
Post by Coast2CoastHoya on Feb 13, 2010 0:51:41 GMT -5
Tragic death, lackluster opening ceremonies (other than those sweet ice sculptures), and temps in the 40s with rain for days on end.
Not a great way to start the Winter Games.
DC and Baltimore should start selling our snow to them.
|
|
|
|
Post by jerseyhoya34 on Feb 13, 2010 1:04:17 GMT -5
How were the opening ceremonies generally? In my opinion, decent but not great. Obviously not as over the top spectacular as Beijing, but neat nonetheless. Technical difficulties screwed up what should have been a pretty cool torch lighting. The most memorable moment was probably the entry of the Georgian team, who were wearing black scarves and were clearly devastated by what happened earlier today. They got a very warm standing ovation. In my opinion the ceremony ranks below Torino's opening ceremony, because of the lack of (positive) memorable moments. In Torino you had Pavarotti, a Ferrari doing donuts, and probably the best national anthem rendition of all time. In this one you had a bunch of moments that were good to watch, but nothing that really sticks in your mind as awesome. Thanks - I generally skip the opening ceremonies and missed Torino and Beijing, unfortunately. Saw the Pavarotti footage on Youtube - simply brilliant and something that Italians and others should cherish for a long time. |
|
MCIGuy
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Anyone here? What am I supposed to update?
Posts: 9,425
|
Post by MCIGuy on Feb 13, 2010 1:25:58 GMT -5
Yeah, when I heard that on ESPN I thought maybe I'm just crazy but perhaps there shouldn't have been an exposed steel beam in the vicinity. |
|
SirSaxa
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 747
|
Post by SirSaxa on Feb 13, 2010 8:02:07 GMT -5
The whales "swimming --- and spouting -- across the floor of the arena was pretty cool.
As for the Luge Beams... the only time I ever see Luge is at the olympics, but I don't recall ever seeing a construction with a solid line of Steel "girders" along the entire length of the last stretch coming out of the final turn.
Terrible terrible shame.
|
|
HoyaSC
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 514
|
Post by HoyaSC on Feb 13, 2010 8:21:20 GMT -5
The Olympics always suck. All of a sudden I'm supposed to care about skiing and ice dancing because Visa and Coca Cola have put on a big show. Gimme a break. As soon as the wife went to bed, flipped right to WVU-Pitt.
And Jeez, ESPN and NBC, I think it is in terrible taste to show that poor kid's death. It comes out of nowhere and happens so fast--- next thing you know, you're looking at a dead (or soon to be dead) kid.
|
|
SirSaxa
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 747
|
Post by SirSaxa on Feb 13, 2010 10:01:43 GMT -5
The Olympics always suck. All of a sudden I'm supposed to care about skiing and ice dancing because Visa and Coca Cola have put on a big show. Gimme a break. As soon as the wife went to bed, flipped right to WVU-Pitt. De gustibus non est disputandum. Personally, I love to watch the skiing event, especially the Downhill! Nothing more exciting than watching the world's best skiers flying down the mountain! Single most exciting event in the Olympics -- summer or winter. |
|
hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
|
Post by hifigator on Feb 13, 2010 12:13:31 GMT -5
The Olympics always suck. All of a sudden I'm supposed to care about skiing and ice dancing because Visa and Coca Cola have put on a big show. Gimme a break. As soon as the wife went to bed, flipped right to WVU-Pitt. De gustibus non est disputandum. Personally, I love to watch the skiing event, especially the Downhill! Nothing more exciting than watching the world's best skiers flying down the mountain! Single most exciting event in the Olympics -- summer or winter. Aside from curling, sychronized swimming and ballroom dancing I presume you mean. |
|
RusskyHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
In Soviet Russia, Hoya Blue Bleeds You!
Posts: 4,599
|
Post by RusskyHoya on Feb 13, 2010 12:14:33 GMT -5
For my money, Olympic hockey is the best hockey around. Or at least the most entertaining.
|
|
|
|
Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Feb 13, 2010 12:40:53 GMT -5
I love the winter games i love the skiing and the snow boarding and the hockey.
But openign ceremonies are stupid and boring. Who wants to see a bunch of people walk around a stadium. So glad I was able to get the tombs to switch the channel to the pitt wv game.
|
|
SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,743
|
Post by SFHoya99 on Feb 13, 2010 14:10:12 GMT -5
I love the Olympics.
I get to be an unabashed Patriot/Xenophobe without any negative repercussions.
I get to see elite level athletes in interesting sports that I don't see for another four years.
Yes, I wouldn't watch professional curling, but watching the USA play curling? Awesome.
It's fantastic.
|
|
|
|
Post by wahoohoya on Feb 13, 2010 14:52:58 GMT -5
Horrifying accident. Really disgraceful that officials are basically saying it was user error rather than any design flaw with the track. Sure, a more experienced luger could have avoided that disaster, but getting ejected into a steel beam at 90 mph doesn't seem like a fair penalty for taking a bad line out of a turn. Padding wouldn't have made a difference but build the wall 2 feet higher and the kid has a concussion and a few broken bones but he likely survives.
|
|
The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,844
|
Post by The Stig on Feb 13, 2010 15:27:01 GMT -5
I think the crash was undoubtedly rider error, but the aftermath was just a freak accident. It's exceptionally rare for a rider to go flying out of the track like that. Most of the time they just hit the wall and slide down the track.
That said, it would probably be a good idea to install some form of netting or catch fencing or Plexiglas around luge tracks to make sure sliders don't go flying out in the future. Padding on the pole doesn't help when you're going 90 mph.
|
|
|
|
Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Feb 13, 2010 15:31:50 GMT -5
They apparently put up a wooden wall now and are running on a shortened track to reduce speeds.
|
|
MCIGuy
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Anyone here? What am I supposed to update?
Posts: 9,425
|
Post by MCIGuy on Feb 13, 2010 17:36:07 GMT -5
And Jeez, ESPN and NBC, I think it is in terrible taste to show that poor kid's death. ESPN ain't showing jack. NBC never shares Olympic footage. |
|
|
|
Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Feb 13, 2010 17:38:42 GMT -5
They showed still photos of it.
|
|
