Is anybody into the Vancouver Winter Olympics?

[Glenn E.]

More importantly, what defines an athlete?

By the way, my definition of an athlete is anyone who is more physically fit than I am.

Which might be 90% of the population!

[Eric Menchen]

NASCAR is not a sport, by definition:
NASCAR = Not A Sport Centered Around Rednecks

[Eric Menchen]

Back to the original topic, I don't think Ice Dancing belongs in the Olympics, but the Brits just danced to Linkin Park, so I have to admit I appreciated that.

[Roy Hersh]

I assume we won't be hearing from Peter Meek today who is still hung over from celebrating the win of an Ann Arbor ice dancer who was half of the pair that won the silver medal yesterday. The other was also from MI, and probably why it will take at least to noon for Peter to chime in here today.

[Roy Hersh]

Now THIS is really fun to read: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/o ... tin23.html

[Peter W. Meek]

I assume we won't be hearing from Peter Meek today...

Actually, I was clearing snow, talking to bankers, and watching curling (where the news wasn't so good for the USA). I don't tend to follow the skating portions, although I did enjoy watching Apolo on the short track. It isn't because I don't think skating is a sport, it just doesn't grab me.

[Luc Gauthier]

Canada forgot one thing ....... they " forgot " to invite Québec

[Roy Hersh]

Those from your city always seem to be feeling separate from the rest of Canada. Why do you think that is, Luc?

[Roy Hersh]

Peter,

Glad you are back. I don't blame you for not watching the ice dancing. Locally, there was a poll done by the Seattle Times in a special section of the newspaper dedicated to the Winter Olympics. When asking which Winter Olympic event should not be a part of the games, the response made it clear ... very clear, that people at least here in Seattle do not give a triple lutz about Ice Dancing, almost at all.

We can argue all day long whether it is a sport or the entertainers who perform in that event are worthy of being considered athletes, but I share in your lack of enthusiasm for that specific event. But with hockey getting into the medal rounds and some top notch skiing events coming over the next few days ... fortunately, it matters no more.

It would be nice to see Canada win in hockey today so that they can get back into medal contention. I'll be rooting for them, today.

[Luc Gauthier]

[quote="Roy Hersh"]Those from your city always seem to be feeling separate from the rest of Canada. Why do you think that is, Luc? [/quo

What bugs me the most is the canadian government acts if the Québec culture is of little consequence .
They've been cutting back on funding for the Arts , If Francophones outside of Québec need representation , the funding was cut to the organisation that would normaly represent them .
But hey , we got Le Cirque du Soleil , The Habs , the screaming diva , the SAQ .
Also in Montréal we can't turn right on a red light .

[Roy Hersh]

... and your women's hockey team shut us out yesterday 2-0 to end the hopes of our little women who gained the Silver and were pretty disappointed by that outcome. Then again it all boiled down to the Canadian goalie as the teams were pretty evenly matched and she stopped all 40-something shots in her direction.

Today the US hockey team plays "LIVE" at noon. It will be the first and possibly only (Unless we make it to the Gold medal finals round) thing we American's see truly live at these Winter Olympics games. I am psyched for the game today and if Miller can repeat his past 4 performances, we will wind up in the Finals on Sunday which would be fantastic if it was against Canada. I do not think we'd beat Canada yet again in the same games, on home ice ... but stranger things have happened. But Finland has their own hot goalie and it will be a wild game this afternoon!

Canada now up to 8 Gold Medals ... priceless!

[Roy Hersh]

Loving life as USA goes up 2-0 early in the 1st period, after a 'gimme' and a power play goal scored shortly thereafter. Awesome energy in this games. The Finns are tough, so even a pair of goals ahead, just is going to make Finland even more determined, if that is even possible.

[Roy Hersh]

Wow, I barely finished typing after the 2nd goal and we scored again, for a 3-0 lead. Wow!

[Roy Hersh]

Oh my good, a minute later and it is 4-0 ... absolutely crazy. I smell a visit to the Finals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am happy for a SILVER ... with a small chance for GOLD. Wow, what a great quarter.

[Roy Hersh]

It is hard to say game over but in the 15 seconds, two more goals for the USA ... and inside of the first period ... 6-0. I have never in 40 years of watching hockey have I seen 6 goals scored in 12 minutes 42 second. Absolutely insane and Finland entered this game with the hottest goalie in the Olympics with the highest percentage of saves ... PLUS ... Finland had the least number of penalties and #1 team defense.

[Roy Hersh]

6-1 the Final score and the USA Men's team will now play for GOLD.

All I can say is gO-CANADA you guys MUST win tonight. Playing Slovakia on Sunday -- just would not be the same.

Folks tune in LIVE ... ... on Sunday at noon on the west coast and 3 p.m. on the east coast.

What bottle of Port to open is the ONLY question beyond who we'll be playing.

[Glenn E.]

I'm going to the bronze medal match tomorrow night, so I wouldn't be disappointed if Canada lost and had to play tomorrow.

We'll have fun regardless, though, so I'll be cheering for Canada to make the gold medal match. Finland vs Slovakia would still be a fun match!

[Frederick Blais]

And Canada saved the day. Another great day for my Country despite silver in curling.

I did open a half bottle of Niepoort 2000. Took a few hours to get in shape, still I think it was not a good bottle, the cork came into pieces, it was a museum bottle I bought only for the special label, it was kept in bad conditions in Porto. Lots of cherries and plums, tannins integrated, some figs flavours and cooked fruits on a short finish and nothing near of the intensity I've been used to with this Port.

[Luc Gauthier]

The silver in curling really hurt .
But all week the canadian skip was pulling a rabit out of a hat to win games .
And when she had a chance to win the gold in the 9th end , she missed her final rock .
The odds finally caught up .

[Roy Hersh]

Damn sweepers!

I for one, thought that Ohno DID, repeat DID deserve to be DSQ from the 500m due to other similar DSQ that set precedent in these games (although many similar examples in Turino and many before it too). Although his Silver did not count, I was very pleased he placed Bronze in a wild finish in the relay later on. What an achievement for this young skater. Watching how he avoided danger (yet again) last night in a number of heats, was simply amazing. It is like tragic falls gravitate around his presence.

The best news is that I can sit and watch the greatest hockey match up of the Vancouver games tomorrow, the one we've all been hoping for ... a repeat of 2002 is likely. If Canada loses this game on its home ice ... make sure you don't have any relatives in Canada. It is going to be ugly if that should happen. I can't for the life of me, imagine them losing a 2nd time to team USA. Just to be safe, put away all scissors and knives!