2006 (ET/CT Time Zone) Torino Olympics Thread (Spoiler Rules in First Post)

[ISiddiqui]

I think speed skating relay races are the wierdest things known to man.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Speed Skating - Men: Gold-medal winner Chad Hedrick leads the U.S. in the men's team pursuit competition.

If leading means tearing apart in the USA, then I have to agree with that.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

If leading means tearing apart in the USA, then I have to agree with that.

I was just copying what was on the NBC page- I'm not taking any editorial guff from the likes of you (not that I'm sure I know what "the likes of you" are like, but I wanted to use the phrase "taking editorial guff from the likes of you" )

So, anyways, I wake up at 9am to another tight US curling match, this one versus Sverige- err... Sweden. Darn hattrick.

SI

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I was just copying what was on the NBC page- I'm not taking any editorial guff from the likes of you (not that I'm sure I know what "the likes of you" are like, but I wanted to use the phrase "taking editorial guff from the likes of you" )

It wasn't a jab at you at all, it was a jab at NBC's line backfiring with the turn of events.

[JonInMiddleGA]

http://medialifemagazine.com/artman/...ticle_2915.asp

February should be NBC’s month but disappointing ratings for its Olympics coverage, compounded by solid performances by its competitors, has the network in a slump.

NBC is now in a distant second place behind ABC in the February sweeps, with both CBS and Fox nipping behind. And media people say its chances of winning sweeps, a given in past Olympics, seem to grow slimmer by the day.

Through Monday, ABC was No. 1 in adults 18-49 with a 6.94 rating on the strength of the most-watched Super Bowl since 1996 and its increasingly powerful lineup of shows like “Desperate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Dancing With the Stars.”

NBC was No. 2 with a 4.34 rating, according to the most recent numbers from Nielsen Media Research. CBS was No. 3 with a 3.86 and Fox No. 4 with a 3.77 rating. The WB had a 1.41 rating and UPN a 1.22.

ABC was also No. 1 in total viewers, averaging 18.7 million in the first 12 days of the February sweeps rating period, compared to NBC’s 13.2 million. CBS averaged just under 12.3 million, while Fox’s audience was nearly 9 million, the WB's 3.3 million and UPN's 3.1 million.

NBC's struggles are not all that surprising, say media researchers.

“The Olympics rarely go up against original programming, and the other networks decided to put their best products forward,” explains Jordan Breslow, director of broadcast research at MediaCom. “It has never gone up against ‘American Idol,’ and I don’t think anyone should be surprised that the older-skewing Olympics should not have any impact on ‘Idol.’

"I look at the Olympics as fallback programming" says Breslow. "It’s like, take your pick of first-run product and if there isn’t anything there, then, great, tune into NBC.”

Says John Spiropoulos, vice president and group research director at MediaVest: “The problem for NBC is that they are still struggling, putting the Olympics aside. The network has not yet shown that they have hit bottom, although they said they have.”
...
“You look at the Winter Games and the biggest superstar that we had has withdrawn, Michelle Kwan, and the outspoken [skier] Bode Miller can’t get his act together," says Breslow. "There’s no real draw, there’s nothing really pulling you in.”

What is surprising is how soundly NBC’s competitors are beating the Olympics in head-to-head competition.

On Tuesday, for instance, both Fox’s “American Idol” and “House” beat the Olympics. Fox averaged a 9.6 adult 18-49 rating, compared to NBC’s 5.6, based on Nielsen overnights.

On Sunday, ABC ranked No. 1 in the demographic, edging out NBC’s 7.2 overnight rating with a 7.7. ABC’s “Desperate” and “Grey’s” beat the Olympics at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively.

The big question for NBC is whether or not it can bounce back in the next 11 nights of Olympics coverage.

MediaCom’s Breslow thinks that's unlikely. If anything, he says, the Olympics will face tougher competition in original programs such as the “Dancing with the Stars” finale, “American Idol,” and programs like CBS’s “Survivor.”

[Butter]

They need to bring Tonya Harding's fat ass out of retirement and have her club somebody over the knee.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

They need to bring Tonya Harding's fat ass out of retirement and have her club somebody over the knee.

At one time I remember thinking she was kinda hot.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

At one time I remember thinking she was kinda hot.

Well, you won't think that anymore!

Especially not after looking at this picture of her:

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

Well, you won't think that anymore!

Especially not after looking at this picture of her:

Dude, that was so wrong.

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm about 30 minutes behind on TIVO, but this snow board cross is exciting.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I'm about 30 minutes behind on TIVO, but this snow board cross is exciting.

Yeah, I liked that one.

Actually, despite absolutely hating the announcers on figure skating (a friend described them as that annoying guy you go to the movies with: "hey, you know, this is the cool part where you find out Bruce Willis is dead" or "oh, this is great, coming up" or "man, that is so good but it's not perfect as werewolves can't eat garlic") I liked the Russian figure skater. It's like Tiger Woods on tv. I don't know much about golf but I know he's good and when he's on, I might actually stop and watch for a few minutes.

SI

[MIJB#19]

Snowboard Cross is the coolest event so far.

Not even the men's 1000 metres and 1500 metres speedskating will beat that. Maybe the women's 1000 metres will beat it, but only if they won't try to disqualify Marianne Timmer this time! Nor can ice hockey beat it.

By the way, how about that Switzerland win against the Czech Republic!?

[sterlingice]

USA Women's hockey in OT on USA.

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

Thanks for the tip SI, just flipped it on because of your post.

[sterlingice]

Going to shootout for a birth in the gold metal game.

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

That's some pressure at any age, but damn, some of those players are young.

[larrymcg421]

The Swedish Goaltender is incredible.

[sterlingice]

Apparently women's snowboard cross tonight

SI

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Apparently women's snowboard cross tonight

SI

Excellent. My two favorite things in the Olympics combined

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Excellent. My two favorite things in the Olympics combined

"Tonight" and "apparently"?

SI

[sterlingice]

Hm... missed the USA women's curling that was on at 3 AM. Cassie and the squad got edged out again, this time 8-7 versus Russia, all but killing their medal hopes.

SI

[Wolfpack]

It's medal. I rarely get picky, but spelling "medal" as "metal" irritates me for some reason.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

It's medal. I rarely get picky, but spelling "medal" as "metal" irritates me for some reason.

Whoops, I'm awake. Really

SI

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Apparently women's snowboard cross tonight

SI

I honestly thought snowboard cross was extremely boring last night. It seemed like whoever won the wholeshot won nearly every race. Somebody always fell making it a 3 person race and about 20% of the time 2 people fell making it no race at all.

Not once was there ever 3 or 4 snowboarders coming to the line at the same time.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

I honestly thought snowboard cross was extremely boring last night. It seemed like whoever won the wholeshot won nearly every race. Somebody always fell making it a 3 person race and about 20% of the time 2 people fell making it no race at all.

Not once was there ever 3 or 4 snowboarders coming to the line at the same time.

The falls and the fact that the guys were given a bit of leeway to push each other was a big part of the excitement factor for me. The most exciting heat was when 3 guys fell. Who was going to get up the quickest, and build momentum to finish the race? That was a fun race.

[Oilers9911]

If you guys actually do love watching curling then take a trip over to www.curltv.com. It has webcasts of live and on demand curling events from the mens and women's Canadian curling tours. And here is a link to Canada's best looking curler. Canadian champion Jennifer Jones (far left)
http://www.teamjenniferjones.com/

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Love watching curling. I've stayed up til 2 AM the past two nights watching the US teams play. Hey, it's only on TV every 4 years.

[larrymcg421]

Actually, the dude that won snowboard cross for USA didn't get the holeshot. It was pretty exciting to see how he built up speeds by going high on the turns and then narrowly make that pass, then brilliantly block the other guy at the end.

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Actually, the dude that won snowboard cross for USA didn't get the holeshot.

Yea, that is why I said nearly every race.

[sterlingice]

Ok, maybe the stupidest move ever as the American Leon Lett's the Snowboard cross.

SI

[Eaglesfan27]

Lindsey Kildow is my most admired Olympic Athlete. We are about 2 hours behind on DVR, and I'm just so impressed with her guts. Tough day for her.

[cthomer5000]

.

[sterlingice]

The FARK version of the story cruely links the "Great Falls Tribune"

SI

[ISiddiqui]

I heard about the snowboard cross fall earlier today and was anxiously awaiting it on TV. I laughed my ass off! She deserved it for that crap!

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I heard about the snowboard cross fall earlier today and was anxiously awaiting it on TV. I laughed my ass off! She deserved it for that crap!

Same here. I heard about it earlier and finally saw it.

[TazFTW]

Saw the snowboard cross finals and I also laughed when she fell.

I also watched some of the women's hockey game versus Sweden and I found it to be pretty boring. The shootout was pitiful. It was like every shooter was expecting the goalie to fall for the first move and when they didn't, the shooter kept waiting and waiting and waiting.

[Vince]

I have to say, that was one of the most boneheaded moves I've ever seen...but good for the girl to take the interviews, not dodge the questions, and deal with what she did.

[Dr. Sak]

The Swiss are beating the Canadians in men's hockey 2-0 after two periods.

[henry296]

Is anyone getting Olympics at 11 AM in the east coast on NBC?

What a great game by Martin Gerber so far for the Swiss.

[General Mike]

Originally Posted by henry296

Is anyone getting Olympics at 11 AM in the east coast on NBC?

What a great game by Martin Gerber so far for the Swiss.

Yeah, Cross Country skiing is on for me. Or the Biathalon. Whatever.

Aebischer played his ass off the other day, and Gerber is playing even better today.

[General Mike]

Way to go Switzerland. One of the best goaltending performances EVER~!

[henry296]

Our NBC station in Baltimore didn't pick up the coverage until noon.

[ISiddiqui]

This biathalon pursuit is freaking awesome! It's going to be an incredible finish!

[ISiddiqui]

And a close finish coming up!!

[ISiddiqui]

HOLY CRAP! What a move by Defrasne!! After slipping!

[saldana]

Originally Posted by TazFTW

Saw the snowboard cross finals and I also laughed when she fell.

I also watched some of the women's hockey game versus Sweden and I found it to be pretty boring. The shootout was pitiful. It was like every shooter was expecting the goalie to fall for the first move and when they didn't, the shooter kept waiting and waiting and waiting.

worst shootout i have ever seen...out of our 6 shots, only two tried to go top shelf, and that goalie for sweden was dropping down really early...terrible job by the coaches to not pick that up.

[saldana]

dola, and i really enjoyed the girl that got the goalie down and beaten, and then let the puck roll off her stick and missed the empty net.

[TazFTW]

Originally Posted by saldana

dola, and i really enjoyed the girl that got the goalie down and beaten, and then let the puck roll off her stick and missed the empty net.

Ah, yes. That was the woman that got the redo. I liked her first shot when she went for a wrist shot in the slot, it was better than holding on to it. Then on the redo she deked the goalie out and the puck rolled off her stick.

It could be interesting for the men's team. They're currently in fourth, a win should get them to advance but their next games are against Russia and Sweden.

[Young Drachma]

I love how they did that whole explanation thing about Davis v. Hedrick, trying to make it into this huge rivalry.

[saldana]

i think davis's interview proved that he is generally and asshole, and the fact that he isnt getting money from US speedskating is insignificant...he is just an asshole.


and bode miller blows.

[Young Drachma]

An article about the US Speedskating/Shani Davis rift

Link

The rift between U.S. Speedskating and Davis is hard to pinpoint. The biggest problem now is a sponsorship issue. Davis found a personal sponsor in Dutch bank DSB and competed with its logo on his uniform. In the Netherlands, Davis and speedskating are immensely popular. He cannot walk down the street there without being swarmed by kids. He feels responsible to them as a role model, and makes a habit of signing lots of autographs.

Logo at heart of dispute

The U.S. team wanted him to remove the DSB logo in favor of one from the team's sponsor, Qwest. A dispute ensued over the wording of the rules. And U.S. Speedskating dropped Davis' funding for training and competing.

While that probably was the biggest problem between skater and federation, it hardly was the first. Through the years, the federation and Cherie Davis have been fighting constantly, often over who should have control of his career.

The bickering spilled over four years ago, actually leading to Davis' first moment in the mainstream sports world. Speedskating in the United States has mainstream popularity only around the time of the Olympics.

Davis needed to win the final short-track race of the 2002 trials to make the team. He did win, beating heavily favored Apolo Ohno, who reportedly seemed to slow down at the end. With Davis on the team, Tom O'Hare was off. O'Hare then filed a complaint accusing Ohno, a close friend of Davis', of conspiring with skater Rusty Smith to fix the race so Davis would win.