quote:

Originally posted by Dtech:
Have been watching the opening ceremonies with the wife, and it's been cool. The only thing is, I realize that the stadium is set up for the special effects, but it seems like what appear to be seats are almost completely empty?

They said those are reserved for the atheletes when they get done with the march.

Kim Jung Un's sister was visibly THRILLED when the team from the USA entered the arena.

Wow, that sequence with the drones and the skiers/boarders was awesome!

I'm just going to go on the record now and say that I am in love with the Estonia flag bearer.

Saskia Alusalu, marry me. (Just ignore the fact that I'm already married.)

It'll be interesting how much NBC/media keeps pumping-up this whole joint-Korea team thing. Was talking to a couple of friends who are from South Korea, and both of them were just shaking their heads. They said the older generation is wishful of unification and the media has seized on that but, the younger generation (40-50 years and younger), besides not caring much for the North, see unification as economic, financial and socially disastrous. The South Korean president's approval ratings are plummeting and he's taking a lot of heat for using the women's hockey team as a political tool, removing several team members spots to accommodate the North Korean players.

The Winter Olympics are the only sports my wife and I spend any time watching. That and what little sailboat racing gets on TV.

50 years ago, the icon of the winter olympics was the ski jumping (the agony of defeat type of deal). But the Europeans could not beat the Americans so they changed how it is judged. It used to be distance. Oh, glorious distance and acheivement! Now it is style. The Europeans may not jump very far, but they look good doing it. How disgusting.
Ski jumping is not longer the icon of the winter olympics.
Sad.

Not my cup of tea, haven't seen any yet and have no plans to, although I'm sure I'll see something of it surfing channels in the next few weeks. For those that like it - enjoy!

Girls curling, girls ice hockey, girls skating (especially that Estonian babe!!!).

Been watching women's biathlon. Still on right now.

quote:

Originally posted by arlen:
50 years ago, the icon of the winter olympics was the ski jumping (the agony of defeat type of deal). But the Europeans could not beat the Americans so they changed how it is judged. It used to be distance. Oh, glorious distance and acheivement! Now it is style. The Europeans may not jump very far, but they look good doing it. How disgusting.
Ski jumping is not longer the icon of the winter olympics.
Sad.

When has the US ever dominated ski jumping? It's the Scandinavians that have dominated, then the Germanic alpine countries. Sure the US has found success here and there but, I'm not seeing where the US forced a change, distance is still the measuring stick for success here.

I am a sports med doc and had the privilege of working in Lake Placid many years ago with several of the US Olympic teams. Getting to know these athletes who truly sacrifice so much to get to this level was an awesome experience. With few exceptions, most of them were pretty down to earth and not prima donnas. For most of them, their competitive window is fairly narrow and a lot rides upon their not being injured or ill during crucial trials/competitions. One of the most rewarding times of my career!

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:

quote:

Originally posted by arlen:
50 years ago, the icon of the winter olympics was the ski jumping (the agony of defeat type of deal). But the Europeans could not beat the Americans so they changed how it is judged. It used to be distance. Oh, glorious distance and acheivement! Now it is style. The Europeans may not jump very far, but they look good doing it. How disgusting.
Ski jumping is not longer the icon of the winter olympics.
Sad.

When has the US ever dominated ski jumping? It's the Scandinavians that have dominated, then the Germanic alpine countries. Sure the US has found success here and there but, I'm not seeing where the US forced a change, distance is still the measuring stick for success here.

No, it’s not. If it were, there would not be “style” points. Objective victory is an illusion now.

Look at what happened to figure skating scoring after the OBVIOUS cheating (Canadians robbed by French judge bought off by Russia) that blew the lid off that little arrangement. They just changed the scoring so the average (or even advanced) viewer can’t possibly figure it out on a good day. Same thing w/ gymnastics in the summer.

A simple 0-10 point scoring system makes it too easy to spot shenanigans. To easy to call bullshit on the judges.

-Rob

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:

quote:

Originally posted by arlen:
50 years ago, the icon of the winter olympics was the ski jumping (the agony of defeat type of deal). But the Europeans could not beat the Americans so they changed how it is judged. It used to be distance. Oh, glorious distance and acheivement! Now it is style. The Europeans may not jump very far, but they look good doing it. How disgusting.
Ski jumping is not longer the icon of the winter olympics.
Sad.

When has the US ever dominated ski jumping? It's the Scandinavians that have dominated, then the Germanic alpine countries. Sure the US has found success here and there but, I'm not seeing where the US forced a change, distance is still the measuring stick for success here.

You must be a young fellow. Just a couple of minutes ago I watched some dude with a handlebar mustache from Scandinavia jump quite a distance.....but he might lose a couple of "points" because of style!!!!!!! How girlish!

Back in the 60's the U.S. would win the ski jump all the time. Well, if they didn't win, they made them work for it.
And they used ski poles. And didn't wear the sissy jump suits and helmets.
Back when men were men, and the women....well, the women were men, too.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: arlen,

quote:

Back when men were men, and the women....well, the women were men, too.

The East German ones anyway.

My best memories, Franz Klammer's run in the '76 Downhill and the '80 victory over the Soviet Hockey team.

Thaf's a good one!!

quote:

Originally posted by arlen:

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:

quote:

Originally posted by arlen:
50 years ago, the icon of the winter olympics was the ski jumping (the agony of defeat type of deal). But the Europeans could not beat the Americans so they changed how it is judged. It used to be distance. Oh, glorious distance and acheivement! Now it is style. The Europeans may not jump very far, but they look good doing it. How disgusting.
Ski jumping is not longer the icon of the winter olympics.
Sad.

When has the US ever dominated ski jumping? It's the Scandinavians that have dominated, then the Germanic alpine countries. Sure the US has found success here and there but, I'm not seeing where the US forced a change, distance is still the measuring stick for success here.

You must be a young fellow. Just a couple of minutes ago I watched some dude with a handlebar mustache from Scandinavia jump quite a distance.....but he might lose a couple of "points" because of style!!!!!!! How girlish!

Back in the 60's the U.S. would win the ski jump all the time. Well, if they didn't win, they made them work for it.
And they used ski poles. And didn't wear the sissy jump suits and helmets.
Back when men were men, and the women....well, the women were men, too.

Haven't been called a young fellow in quite awhile, thank you.
Just a simple check, the US has a single medal in Olympic Ski Jumping...1924 bronze. In FIS World Cup, our women have done better than the men but, again, there's very little podiums. Do you have a link with the US successes?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...lists_in_ski_jumping

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:

quote:

Originally posted by arlen:

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:

quote:

Originally posted by arlen:
50 years ago, the icon of the winter olympics was the ski jumping (the agony of defeat type of deal). But the Europeans could not beat the Americans so they changed how it is judged. It used to be distance. Oh, glorious distance and acheivement! Now it is style. The Europeans may not jump very far, but they look good doing it. How disgusting.
Ski jumping is not longer the icon of the winter olympics.
Sad.

When has the US ever dominated ski jumping? It's the Scandinavians that have dominated, then the Germanic alpine countries. Sure the US has found success here and there but, I'm not seeing where the US forced a change, distance is still the measuring stick for success here.

You must be a young fellow. Just a couple of minutes ago I watched some dude with a handlebar mustache from Scandinavia jump quite a distance.....but he might lose a couple of "points" because of style!!!!!!! How girlish!

Back in the 60's the U.S. would win the ski jump all the time. Well, if they didn't win, they made them work for it.
And they used ski poles. And didn't wear the sissy jump suits and helmets.
Back when men were men, and the women....well, the women were men, too.

Haven't been called a young fellow in quite awhile, thank you.
Just a simple check, the US has a single medal in Olympic Ski Jumping...1924 bronze. In FIS World Cup, our women have done better than the men but, again, there's very little podiums. Do you have a link with the US successes?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...lists_in_ski_jumping

Weird story too. He actually won it 50 years after his actual jump.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/new...ly-ski-jumping-medal

Irritated I missed women’s biathlon. Great sport to watch