QUOTE(canmark @ Feb 12 2010, 07:37 PM) 
Which countries will win the fashion medals at the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies?
Team USA and Team Canada are both looking good.
Full Version: 2010 Winter Olympics Vancouver
Which countries will win the fashion medals at the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies?
Team USA and Team Canada are both looking good.
QUOTE(aaron71 @ Feb 12 2010, 06:57 PM)
I'm saddened by the news that an athlete was killed during a practice run for the Luge competition.
What an awful way to start the Winter Olympics.
I feel for his family, friends, country and fellow athletes.
What an awful way to start the Winter Olympics.
I feel for his family, friends, country and fellow athletes.
Luge is such a dangerous sport. Just a body carreening down an icy track at 80+ mph with no protection, except a little helmet. They were saying on TV that this track is especially dangerous, although they didn't say why. The Georgian who died, flew up and hit his head on a bare steel post. Most of those are covered with soft material. Good for the team for coming and out to the Opening and deciding to compete. Must be tough. Gotta carry on. Accidents, although tragic, are part of life. Awful that the games started like this.
Contrary to some (check out the Outsports Winter Olympics blog), I thought the Opening Ceremonies were marvellous. A wonderful piece of theatrical performance that featured Canadian heroes, some of the country's best-known musicians, that celebrated the country's geography and aboriginal peoples, that had special effects--yes, it's a live show and sometimes things don't work--hence the problem with the cauldron at the end.
I liked that the show focussed a lot on nature. The trees, for example, were remniscent of the style of artist Emily Carr. The orca (killer whale), an important part of west coast aboriginal mythology--and seen on the uniform of the Vancouver Canucks. And, yes, totem poles have a phallic shape--that's because they're poles and they're made from trees. They are a very important part of the culture of the indigenous people of the West coast.
Some info for people who are unfamiliar with some famous Canadians featured in the show (I'll update this later):
Ashley McIsaac - famous openly gay fiddler from the east coast
Measha Brueggergossman - well-known soprano
Betty Fox, one of the people who carried the Olympic flag - mother of Terry Fox, Canadian hero, who died while running across Canada (after losing a leg) to raise money for cancer research
Anne Murray, one of the people who carried the Olympic flag - legendary Canadian singer
Romeo Dallaire, one of the people who carried the Olympic flag - General who led the UN Peace Keepers in Rwanda and vainly tried to stop the genocide (he's the Nick Nolte character in Hotel Rwanda, and his story is told in Shake Hands with the Devil--a book, documentary and fictional film)
We are more - the spoken word/slam poetry performance by Shane Coyczan
Hallelujah - written by poet/songwriter Leonard Cohen (who received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys this year) and performed by lesbian songstress kd lang
Both Sides Now - song by legendary singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell (played during salute to the Prairies)
Bryan Adams, Nelly Furtado, Sarah McLaughlan - well-known pop/rock musicians (admittedly, I don't know the guy who sang in French)
Catriona Le May Doan, one of the people who lit the cauldron (actually, her part of the cauldron was the part that didn't work) - now a broadcaster, she won gold medals in speed skating in both Nagano and Salt Lake City
Nancy Greene, one of the people who lit the cauldron - skier, who won gold at Grenoble Olympics (1968)
Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky - both legendary hockey players
Rick Hansen - paralympian, well-know for his "man in motion" tour to raise money for spinal cord injury research
I liked that the show focussed a lot on nature. The trees, for example, were remniscent of the style of artist Emily Carr. The orca (killer whale), an important part of west coast aboriginal mythology--and seen on the uniform of the Vancouver Canucks. And, yes, totem poles have a phallic shape--that's because they're poles and they're made from trees. They are a very important part of the culture of the indigenous people of the West coast.
Some info for people who are unfamiliar with some famous Canadians featured in the show (I'll update this later):
Ashley McIsaac - famous openly gay fiddler from the east coast
Measha Brueggergossman - well-known soprano
Betty Fox, one of the people who carried the Olympic flag - mother of Terry Fox, Canadian hero, who died while running across Canada (after losing a leg) to raise money for cancer research
Anne Murray, one of the people who carried the Olympic flag - legendary Canadian singer
Romeo Dallaire, one of the people who carried the Olympic flag - General who led the UN Peace Keepers in Rwanda and vainly tried to stop the genocide (he's the Nick Nolte character in Hotel Rwanda, and his story is told in Shake Hands with the Devil--a book, documentary and fictional film)
We are more - the spoken word/slam poetry performance by Shane Coyczan
Hallelujah - written by poet/songwriter Leonard Cohen (who received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys this year) and performed by lesbian songstress kd lang
Both Sides Now - song by legendary singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell (played during salute to the Prairies)
Bryan Adams, Nelly Furtado, Sarah McLaughlan - well-known pop/rock musicians (admittedly, I don't know the guy who sang in French)
Catriona Le May Doan, one of the people who lit the cauldron (actually, her part of the cauldron was the part that didn't work) - now a broadcaster, she won gold medals in speed skating in both Nagano and Salt Lake City
Nancy Greene, one of the people who lit the cauldron - skier, who won gold at Grenoble Olympics (1968)
Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky - both legendary hockey players
Rick Hansen - paralympian, well-know for his "man in motion" tour to raise money for spinal cord injury research
I though the show, outside of the torch lighting mess up, was pretty good. I was really happy to see kd Lang do such a great job. $40 million good, well that hangover is not for another few months yet.
I was actually quite pleased with the ceremony in that it wasnt an over the top production. Aside from the unfortunate technical glitch with the cauldron it went off quite well.
Some people might question the heavy native Canadian participation but I assume they are unaware that many events are on native claimed land and that the chiefs of the 4 native nations have been accorded head of state status during the games. As for the use of French during the ceremony, well Canada is an officially bilingual nation. Also French and English are the official languages of the IOC and are spoken at all Olympics Games, along with the host nations own national language.
While Cyd and Jim panned the ceremony I was pleased to read more positive reviews in the international press this morning, especially in some of the European boards, so not everyone was apparently put off by natives, French speakers or a little erectile problem.
Anyway, now on with the GAMES.
Some people might question the heavy native Canadian participation but I assume they are unaware that many events are on native claimed land and that the chiefs of the 4 native nations have been accorded head of state status during the games. As for the use of French during the ceremony, well Canada is an officially bilingual nation. Also French and English are the official languages of the IOC and are spoken at all Olympics Games, along with the host nations own national language.
While Cyd and Jim panned the ceremony I was pleased to read more positive reviews in the international press this morning, especially in some of the European boards, so not everyone was apparently put off by natives, French speakers or a little erectile problem.
Anyway, now on with the GAMES.
I thoroughly enjoyed what I saw on the opening ceremonies. LOVED K.D. Lang and song!!! The girl can TRULY sing! 
But we already knew this.
But we already knew this.
Back to the Opening Ceremonies for a moment... the fashion: meh! I was very disappointed with the uniforms worn by pretty much all the countries. Looks like they just went to a sports store and picked up a bunch of matching ski jackets.
That said, I thought Icelandic men were cute; Kyrgyzstan had a cute/funny hat; Italy initially seemed stylish in a dark wool coat, but the silver vest and silver boots lost me; Norway was OK, as was Denmark; Switzerland had a varsity look; Great Britain was strangely summery and nautical, and the beret-like hats worn by the women made them look like stylish French peasants; I did not like the garish German colour scheme (pink/baby blue with bright yellow and white); given France's fashion tradition, one wonders why their athletes looked like Air France flight attendants on a ski trip. Finland's jacket hurt my eyes. And Ireland--those yellow-green ski pants: ugh!
I give New Zealand and the Netherlands props for always wearing their trademark colours (black and orange, respectively). And Bermuda wore Bermuda shorts!
I thought it interesting that the athletes from Japan and China waved Canadian flags in addition to their own country's. And interesting that Iran had a female flag bearer.
Team USA and Canada clearly went for outfits that can be sold to consumers. The Polo/Ralph Lauren outfits on Team USA featured a wool turtleneck sweater, blue ski jacket with a red stripe, wool knit hat... expect to see those looks stores. The Team Canada merchandise by HBC has been in the stores for months.
That said, I thought Icelandic men were cute; Kyrgyzstan had a cute/funny hat; Italy initially seemed stylish in a dark wool coat, but the silver vest and silver boots lost me; Norway was OK, as was Denmark; Switzerland had a varsity look; Great Britain was strangely summery and nautical, and the beret-like hats worn by the women made them look like stylish French peasants; I did not like the garish German colour scheme (pink/baby blue with bright yellow and white); given France's fashion tradition, one wonders why their athletes looked like Air France flight attendants on a ski trip. Finland's jacket hurt my eyes. And Ireland--those yellow-green ski pants: ugh!
I give New Zealand and the Netherlands props for always wearing their trademark colours (black and orange, respectively). And Bermuda wore Bermuda shorts!
I thought it interesting that the athletes from Japan and China waved Canadian flags in addition to their own country's. And interesting that Iran had a female flag bearer.
Team USA and Canada clearly went for outfits that can be sold to consumers. The Polo/Ralph Lauren outfits on Team USA featured a wool turtleneck sweater, blue ski jacket with a red stripe, wool knit hat... expect to see those looks stores. The Team Canada merchandise by HBC has been in the stores for months.
I was thinking the Opening Ceremonies were generally OK- my favorite moments being the trees/forest and the killer whales-
Unfortunately, it should have been full of more highs like that to keep the watcher on an emotional up and down pull during the ceremony.....
Unfortunately, it should have been full of more highs like that to keep the watcher on an emotional up and down pull during the ceremony.....
I also liked the whales and the trees/totems. Not a very big fan of the flying kid or the fiddlers segment. Oh well.
Re: clothes, the US outfit was appallingly bad. No one looked good in it. IMO, the Italians won the style gold.
Re: clothes, the US outfit was appallingly bad. No one looked good in it. IMO, the Italians won the style gold.
Olympic protesters vandalized storefronts in Vancouver. Many of the protesters were masked (how cowardly!) and blamed police when violent confrontations broke out. This is not a surprise to me, as protesters dogged the Olympic Torch Relay and I myself saw chanting protesters in Toronto (I even saw police take down some people literally right in front of me). I don't entirely understand the argument that these protesters are making; in particular, I don't see how smashing windows and spray-painting cars and buildings is supposed to accomplish anything.
On the positive side, the Opening Ceremonies set a TV ratings record in Canada.
Panorama view from inside B.C. Place from CBC.
QUOTE
Seven protesters were arrested and will likely be charged with assault and possession of a dangerous weapon after 200 anti-Olympic demonstrators marched through downtown Vancouver Saturday, smashing plate glass windows and overturning newspaper boxes.
* * *
"This group contained more than 100 masked people many of whom kicked and damage numerous parked cars. They used spray paint on cars and transit buses and tore down signs. They also clashed with members of the public and pedestrians who didn't support them," police said.
* * *
"This group contained more than 100 masked people many of whom kicked and damage numerous parked cars. They used spray paint on cars and transit buses and tore down signs. They also clashed with members of the public and pedestrians who didn't support them," police said.
On the positive side, the Opening Ceremonies set a TV ratings record in Canada.
Panorama view from inside B.C. Place from CBC.
What was the name of the song that Sarah McLaughlan sang?
Sarah McLauchlan's Olympic song is "One Dream," however she actually sang "Ordinary Miracle" at the Opening Ceremonies.
Videos clips of some of the Opening Ceremonies performances here. Video also available here.
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Enjoyed watching short track speed skating last night. I hadn't seen the men's 1500 final, however I just watched the highlights now. The South Korean skaters were 1-2-3 going into the final turn... but then the #2 and #3 guys collided, fell and Americans Apollo Anton Ohno (who now has six Olympic medals to his name) and J.R. Celski slipped in for silver and bronze. Canadian Olivier Jean took fourth (Jean himself got put into the final because in the semi-final a skater fell and took him down). Lee Jung-Su won the gold. Those are the breaks in short track, though. Sometimes you fall jockeying for position, or sometimes somebody else falls and takes you down with them.
The South Koreans fall, literally right in front of the finish line.
Videos clips of some of the Opening Ceremonies performances here. Video also available here.
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Enjoyed watching short track speed skating last night. I hadn't seen the men's 1500 final, however I just watched the highlights now. The South Korean skaters were 1-2-3 going into the final turn... but then the #2 and #3 guys collided, fell and Americans Apollo Anton Ohno (who now has six Olympic medals to his name) and J.R. Celski slipped in for silver and bronze. Canadian Olivier Jean took fourth (Jean himself got put into the final because in the semi-final a skater fell and took him down). Lee Jung-Su won the gold. Those are the breaks in short track, though. Sometimes you fall jockeying for position, or sometimes somebody else falls and takes you down with them.
The South Koreans fall, literally right in front of the finish line.
Another one of those dancing flash mob things. This one was in Vancouver, with people dancing to Dancing in the Streets. It looks so warm in Vancouver. With snow all over the U.S. (including far south places like Dallas) it seems odd that a rainy Vancouver would be hosting the Winter Games.
Can't get enough of John Daly's Loudmouth golf pants? Team Norway's men's curling team like to wear similarly loud pants (to distract their opponents?). According to skip Thomas Ulsrud, "My Second is a real flashy dresser and he is trying to convert the rest of the team." 
They look like the hostess pants that Lucy bought for Ethel's birthday present.
VANOC is prepared for Olympic-calibre f--king and has apparently ordered 100,000 condoms (as much as Beijing had for the much larger Summer Games). Meanwhile US Curling has its own brand of Hurry Hard condoms.
Meridth Vieira visits the Olympic Village (video).
QUOTE
Inevitably, some athletes get beyond flirting. That’s why the Vancouver organizers have laid in a stock of 100,000 condoms, which works out to 14 for each of the 7,000 athletes, coaches, trainers and officials housed in the Games’ two villages.
* * *
The distribution of free condoms at the Olympics goes back at least to 1992 and Barcelona. In 2000, Sydney organizers thought that 70,000 would be enough. They were wrong and had to send out for 20,000 more. Beijing also ordered 100,000 condoms with an Olympic motto: Faster, higher, stronger.
Laugh if you will, but also give the International Olympic Committee credit for acting like a responsible parent: In addition to handing out condoms, they run HIV and AIDS information campaigns in the Olympic Village. And the U.S. Curling Association has gone a step further: In partnership with Kodiak Technology Group, they have introduced the Hurry Hard condom, named for a phrase curlers chant to get their teammates to sweep the ice faster. Proceeds from the prophylactics — which sport a happy cartoon curling stone on their label above the slogan “Be smart, stay safe” — are split between USA Curling and Monterey County AIDS prevention.
* * *
The distribution of free condoms at the Olympics goes back at least to 1992 and Barcelona. In 2000, Sydney organizers thought that 70,000 would be enough. They were wrong and had to send out for 20,000 more. Beijing also ordered 100,000 condoms with an Olympic motto: Faster, higher, stronger.
Laugh if you will, but also give the International Olympic Committee credit for acting like a responsible parent: In addition to handing out condoms, they run HIV and AIDS information campaigns in the Olympic Village. And the U.S. Curling Association has gone a step further: In partnership with Kodiak Technology Group, they have introduced the Hurry Hard condom, named for a phrase curlers chant to get their teammates to sweep the ice faster. Proceeds from the prophylactics — which sport a happy cartoon curling stone on their label above the slogan “Be smart, stay safe” — are split between USA Curling and Monterey County AIDS prevention.
Meridth Vieira visits the Olympic Village (video).
Omega, the official timekeeper of the Olympics, has been hosting celebrities and honouring athletes in Vancouver. Here's their "brand ambassador" Michael Phelps with Canadian Alexandre Bilodeau. And here's them in a two-man bobsled.
Apollo Anton Ohno to become Omega brand ambassador (is that a fancy way of saying "spokesmodel?" ).
Omega president finds a way to get himself in a bobsled with Cindy Crawford.
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Katarina Witt has been seen all over Vancouver as a reporter for German TV. She won gold in the 984 Olympics in Sarajevo and the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. The woman is in her mid-40's and still looks gorgeous!
Apollo Anton Ohno to become Omega brand ambassador (is that a fancy way of saying "spokesmodel?"
).Omega president finds a way to get himself in a bobsled with Cindy Crawford.
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Katarina Witt has been seen all over Vancouver as a reporter for German TV. She won gold in the 984 Olympics in Sarajevo and the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. The woman is in her mid-40's and still looks gorgeous!
Canada-USA men's hockey game tonight (7:30 pm EST). I predict monster ratings in Canada.
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In advance of tonight's Canada-USA hockey game, Hockey Night in Kandahar was held between the Canadian and US military in Afghanistan. Canada won in a 16-2 romp. CTV News video.
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In advance of tonight's Canada-USA hockey game, Hockey Night in Kandahar was held between the Canadian and US military in Afghanistan. Canada won in a 16-2 romp. CTV News video.
Excellent film narrated by Tom Brokaw explaining Canada to Americans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYoTJItSPt0
Canmark I would enjoy hearing what the Canadian Press is saying about the Canada/US game last night. I am wondering if Team Canada was as tight as they looked to me in the first period. I liked how the US counterpunched all night, esp. in the first period. Brodeur clearly, did not have a good game. Ryan Miller was the #1 star of the game IMO, followed closely by Bryan Rofalski. Coach Wilson said in comments that Canada still is the best team, followed by the Russians. It will be interesting to see how Canada responds in the next game. But for one night, we'll take it. Job well done U.S.
I must admit I haven't read a single news article about the Canada-US hockey game. I think we Canadians are going to pretend that didn't happen and move on to the next game. I'm reading that Luongo will start in goal vs. Germany.
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Canada-USA hockey ratings great for CTV and MSNBC.
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Canada-USA hockey ratings great for CTV and MSNBC.
QUOTE
The United States men’s hockey team’s 5-3 victory over Canada on Sunday night was the most watched sports program ever shown on Canadian TV. The average of 10.6 million who watched on six networks, including CTV, exceeded the 10.3 million for Canada’s gold-medal-winning game over the Americans at the Salt Lake Games eight years ago.
At its peak, the viewership of the game in Canada reached 13 million.
In the United States, the game was seen by an average of 8.22 million viewers on MSNBC, more than twice the 3.7 million who watched the New Year’s Day Winter Classic on NBC at Fenway Park. At 8.22 million, the game’s viewership nearly matched the MSNBC record of 8.23 million for coverage of election night in 2008.
At its peak, the viewership of the game in Canada reached 13 million.
In the United States, the game was seen by an average of 8.22 million viewers on MSNBC, more than twice the 3.7 million who watched the New Year’s Day Winter Classic on NBC at Fenway Park. At 8.22 million, the game’s viewership nearly matched the MSNBC record of 8.23 million for coverage of election night in 2008.
On Thursday, Team Canada women have a chance to do what the men couldn't do: beat the USA. The ladies blanked Finland 5-0 to advance to the gold medal game vs. the USA. You go, girls!
Hey Hockeytom - the press coverage up here has run the gammut - from panic - to relax we got stoned by a hot goalie - which we all knew might happen against Ryan Miller. Especially Leaf fans having seen him do it 3 or 4 times this year leading to Sabres' wins in games the Leafs dominated and otherwise should have won. Same thing this past Sunday night against the USA. Better now than in a Gold Medal Game.
Tonight it will be Luongo in net against the Germans - if he plays well - and Canada keeps winning I would suspect you will see Babcock ride him through the final.
In many ways eerily similar to 2002 in Salt Lake and here's hoping this tourney follows the same pattern where Canada keeps getting better and better as the tournament progresses. Canada only went 1 - 1 - 1 in the preliminary round in 2002 and that is really an identical record to this year but this time - unlike 2002 - they did not allow preliminary round games to end in a tie so we had to go to overtime and a shootout to beat the Swiss.
Back in 2002 we were soundly beaten 5-2 by Sweden, barely squeaked by Germany 3-2 and tied the Czechs 3-3 - whereas in their pool the US finished 1st with 2 wins (by 6-0 over Finland and 8-1 over Belarus and a tie 2-2 against Russia.)
During the tournament Pat Quinn - Leafs coach at the time pulled his own goalie curtis Joseph from the starting assignment and handed the reins over to Marty Brodeur and the rest as they say is history 2 - 1 over Finland in the quarters, 7 - 1 over Belarus (who had upset Sweden in the quarters) in the semis and then 5-2 over the USA in the Gold Medal game.
So will the same hold true this time with Luongo being the 2010 version of the 2002 Brodeur.
We'll see and I for one certainly hope so.
Tonight it will be Luongo in net against the Germans - if he plays well - and Canada keeps winning I would suspect you will see Babcock ride him through the final.
In many ways eerily similar to 2002 in Salt Lake and here's hoping this tourney follows the same pattern where Canada keeps getting better and better as the tournament progresses. Canada only went 1 - 1 - 1 in the preliminary round in 2002 and that is really an identical record to this year but this time - unlike 2002 - they did not allow preliminary round games to end in a tie so we had to go to overtime and a shootout to beat the Swiss.
Back in 2002 we were soundly beaten 5-2 by Sweden, barely squeaked by Germany 3-2 and tied the Czechs 3-3 - whereas in their pool the US finished 1st with 2 wins (by 6-0 over Finland and 8-1 over Belarus and a tie 2-2 against Russia.)
During the tournament Pat Quinn - Leafs coach at the time pulled his own goalie curtis Joseph from the starting assignment and handed the reins over to Marty Brodeur and the rest as they say is history 2 - 1 over Finland in the quarters, 7 - 1 over Belarus (who had upset Sweden in the quarters) in the semis and then 5-2 over the USA in the Gold Medal game.
So will the same hold true this time with Luongo being the 2010 version of the 2002 Brodeur.
We'll see and I for one certainly hope so.
A few days ago the two man British Bobsled team suffered a crash on the track. Both John Jackson and Teammate Dan Money were not seriously injured, but you can see what scrapes Jackson suffered on his back.
Guardian Article
And then Sven Kramer was disqualified, because his coach gave him the wrong signal!
The Vancouver Sun Article
He's the picture of the agony of defeat!
Guardian Article
And then Sven Kramer was disqualified, because his coach gave him the wrong signal!
The Vancouver Sun Article
He's the picture of the agony of defeat!
I know I speak for alot of us west coasters who are NOT very happy with NBC's incessant use of the tape delay for more prime time broadcast back east. My apologies my east coast Outsporters. I hope you understand my/our feelings. Right now as I type this the US/Switzerland hockey game is LIVE on the computer if you so choose, but will not air on tv until 3:00pm my time. I wonder if I can stand to wait until then to check the score! I SERIOUSLY doubt it. For shame! 
Totally and completely sucks.
Totally and completely sucks.
I certainly can understand your frustration Hockeytom. I must admit I can get confused as I'm flipping channels watching all the coverage up here each evening between 8:00PM and about 1:00AM ET. I'm usually watching live coverage on CTV, TSN and Sportsnet - but sometimes tape delayed a bit if two 'big' events were happening simultaneously. And it doesn't matter if I flip to CTV Toronto, CTV Calgary or CTV Vancouver - they are all showing the same things at the same time - usually live.
Then every once in a while I'll flip over to NBC Boston - which sometimes is live but also sometimes hours old on tape delay or other times just minutes delayed. For example last night they were showing Heat 3 of the Women's bobsled at the same time that the Final Heat was being shown on CTV. Then I get the 'nothing is live' coverage on NBC Seattle.
So I get the best of both worlds. I can watch almost everything live - but if I miss something I can flip over to NBC Boston to see if they are perhaps on a bit of tape delay. So I watched live as we won the Gold and Silver in bobsled last night - and then about 20 minutes later watched the two Canadian runs again with the NBC announcers take on things.
Likewise anytime a Canadian has won gold and it was an event I watched live on CTV or TSN - and it was being shown live on NBC - I've been able either watch or set my PVR to tape for just 10 or 15 minutes for 3 hours later so I could again take in the excitement of Canada winning gold from the NBC perspective. Or watch emotional moments like Rochette's skate live with Canadian announcers and watch or PVR 3 hours later the NBC coverage with the emotional sobbing of Scott Hamilton.
I luv the fact I can get everything live - but I must admit in some of the sports like bobsled and the freestyle skiing events - some of the NBC announcers and expert commentators are better than their Canadian colleagues. CTV is doing a MUCH better job though of catching the spirit of the games either with their outdoor studio in a central square up in Whistler - where there have some fabulous and joyous scenes - and on the streets of Vancouver. That is my one biggest criticism of the NBC coverage I have watched - they just aren't capturing that spirit of the games.
Then every once in a while I'll flip over to NBC Boston - which sometimes is live but also sometimes hours old on tape delay or other times just minutes delayed. For example last night they were showing Heat 3 of the Women's bobsled at the same time that the Final Heat was being shown on CTV. Then I get the 'nothing is live' coverage on NBC Seattle.
So I get the best of both worlds. I can watch almost everything live - but if I miss something I can flip over to NBC Boston to see if they are perhaps on a bit of tape delay. So I watched live as we won the Gold and Silver in bobsled last night - and then about 20 minutes later watched the two Canadian runs again with the NBC announcers take on things.
Likewise anytime a Canadian has won gold and it was an event I watched live on CTV or TSN - and it was being shown live on NBC - I've been able either watch or set my PVR to tape for just 10 or 15 minutes for 3 hours later so I could again take in the excitement of Canada winning gold from the NBC perspective. Or watch emotional moments like Rochette's skate live with Canadian announcers and watch or PVR 3 hours later the NBC coverage with the emotional sobbing of Scott Hamilton.
I luv the fact I can get everything live - but I must admit in some of the sports like bobsled and the freestyle skiing events - some of the NBC announcers and expert commentators are better than their Canadian colleagues. CTV is doing a MUCH better job though of catching the spirit of the games either with their outdoor studio in a central square up in Whistler - where there have some fabulous and joyous scenes - and on the streets of Vancouver. That is my one biggest criticism of the NBC coverage I have watched - they just aren't capturing that spirit of the games.
I would tend to agree with you generally about NBC not quite capturing the spirit of the games. On the weekend show for Saturday "Today" the closest thing they have to a "crowd" are some people who hang out with them at their NBC camp near Whistler, but thats pretty much it. Willie Giest in the morning on MSNBC gives his perspective on the goings on in Vancouver daily. He is pretty good. From what I hear the US/Canada women hockey game is supposed to be LIVE at 3:00pm my time, but I won't hold my breath..... 
Hey Hockeytom - Congrats to the USA for making the final - nervous time now for every Canadian hoping our team is not looking past the Slovaks in anticipation of revenge agaisnt the USA on Sunday. If Canada comes through - starting in about 90 minutes - every TV ratings record in Canada will be OBLITERATED Sunday afternoon for the Gold Medal game.
So Go Canada Go tonight!
I know a lot of NBC links won't play up here and I'm sure CTV links of Olympic stuff won't play down there because of local rights issues but I think these Vancouver Host videos work anywhere. So have a look - this one has a brief tour of Hockey House - to give you a sense of the great Vancouver scenes you are just not getting much of on NBC...Pat
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-video...g209828-xQ.html
So Go Canada Go tonight!
I know a lot of NBC links won't play up here and I'm sure CTV links of Olympic stuff won't play down there because of local rights issues but I think these Vancouver Host videos work anywhere. So have a look - this one has a brief tour of Hockey House - to give you a sense of the great Vancouver scenes you are just not getting much of on NBC...Pat
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-video...g209828-xQ.html
Despite a Slovakian barrage at the end of the game, Canada survives and wins 3-2.
Canada vs. USA hockey final on Sunday! Woot!
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Just discovered another gold medal Canada vs. USA matchup: men's long track speed skating team pursuit
Canada vs. USA hockey final on Sunday! Woot!
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Just discovered another gold medal Canada vs. USA matchup: men's long track speed skating team pursuit
Hey TP: MSNBC actually had 2 stories last week and live correspondants from Hockey House. It looked like a riot of fun! The house was rocking and the Molson was flowing. Then yesterday Willie Geist was interviewing who he thought was the US goalie Ryan Miller after the Finalnd game. The imposter said he was practically guaranteeing a US victory on Sunday. Then while watching another program, they interrupted to go back to Vancouver where Geist said that an "imposter" had gotten through to him who was not Ryan Miller. He then did actually interview the correct Miller. The plot thickens..... Oh, there was no guarantee of victory from Miller by the way.
Oh, there was no guarantee of victory from Miller by the way.
Loved the story on the Canadian love and spirit that Tom Brokaw did about post-911- great emotional connection which shows the spirit of Canada.....
HOWEVER- it was televised during LIVE speedskating events. During LIVE bobsledding.... and had nothing to do with the Olympics.....
The spirit of Canada could have been told in another piece... that was some of the worst decision-making I have ever seen- OMG
HOWEVER- it was televised during LIVE speedskating events. During LIVE bobsledding.... and had nothing to do with the Olympics.....
The spirit of Canada could have been told in another piece... that was some of the worst decision-making I have ever seen- OMG
3 gold medals for Canada today, the second last day of the games: men's team pursuit in long track speed skating, Jasey Jay Anderson in snowboard parallel slalom, and Kevin Martin's team in curling. We also picked up a bronze in 4-man bobsled.
The big Canada-USA hockey game is Sunday, noon PST/3pm EST. Closing ceremonies 5:30pm PST/8:30 EST. I wonder what entertainment they'll have in store for us at the Closing Ceremonies? And I wonder if certain people will complain about how boring it was? 
The big Canada-USA hockey game is Sunday, noon PST/3pm EST. Closing ceremonies 5:30pm PST/8:30 EST. I wonder what entertainment they'll have in store for us at the Closing Ceremonies? And I wonder if certain people will complain about how boring it was?
While I didn't care for the pompous "own the podium" slogan from the beginning, and I'm definitely not one to get caught up in hyper-nationalistic frenzy about sports or anything else, but the Canadian athletes are doing very well in Vancouver-Whistler. I watched the four-man bobsled final heats today. The USA won the gold medal for the first time since 1948, Germany won silver, and bronze went to the Canadian team of Lyndon Rush, Lascelles Brown 
, David Bissett and Chris LeBihan. A mere hundredth of a second is all that separated them from the Germans. The other Canadian team placed fifth, with veteran pilot Pierre Lueders, Justin Kripps, Neville Wright and hunky CFL football player Jesse Lumsden .
Meanwhile the new Terry Fox Award was presented to Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette and Slovenian X-country skier Petra Majdic.
, David Bissett and Chris LeBihan. A mere hundredth of a second is all that separated them from the Germans. The other Canadian team placed fifth, with veteran pilot Pierre Lueders, Justin Kripps, Neville Wright and hunky CFL football player Jesse Lumsden . Meanwhile the new Terry Fox Award was presented to Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette and Slovenian X-country skier Petra Majdic.
Congratulations to the Canadian curling team and one of their members, unberhottie John Morris, for winning the gold!
No, really. Morris is HOT, especially with that scruffy look he was sporting Saturday.
Now we need people to find revealing pics of him.
No, really. Morris is HOT, especially with that scruffy look he was sporting Saturday.
Now we need people to find revealing pics of him.
The CTV Olympics website has a "separated-at-birth" photo gallery.
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Double gold medalist Charles Hamelin will carry the flag for Canada at the Closing Ceremonies tonight.
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Double gold medalist Charles Hamelin will carry the flag for Canada at the Closing Ceremonies tonight.
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Just read that Joannie Rochette--not Charles Hamelin--will be carrying the Canadian flag in the Closing Ceremonies.
Obama and Harper have a bet on the outcome of the USA-Canada game.
Obama and Harper have a bet on the outcome of the USA-Canada game.
Love the Closing Ceremonies production number: it was like a Mel Brooks musical. Giant mounties, hockey players, beavers, flying moose, canoes, lumberjacks and dancing girl maple leaves. Audience wearing moose antlers.
QUOTE(canmark @ Feb 28 2010, 09:29 PM)
Love the Closing Ceremonies production number: it was like a Mel Brooks musical. Giant mounties, hockey players, beavers, flying moose, canoes, lumberjacks and dancing girl maple leaves. Audience wearing moose antlers.
Then what happened? NBC broke away to show "The Marriage Ref". UGH !!!! I didn't even get to see Nickleback or Avril Lavigne.
I know. That was BS! There was still a ways to go in the closing ceremonies and what does NBC do? They cut to the premiere of their overhyped series Marriage Ref.
QUOTE(canmark @ Feb 28 2010, 08:29 PM)
Love the Closing Ceremonies production number: it was like a Mel Brooks musical. Giant mounties, hockey players, beavers, flying moose, canoes, lumberjacks and dancing girl maple leaves. Audience wearing moose antlers.
It lost me at giant beaver...
And in a brilliant programming move, NBC decides to go back to the closing ceremonies after their show's premiere. Does it matter now? Most folks in Central and Eastern Time Zones went to sleep, figuring NBC was done for the night.
Is it just me or were both the opening and closing ceremonies (and no, I'm not one of those people who hated the opening ceremonies) very heavy with a self-congratulatory Canadian tone? I might be wrong but I don't remember other host countries spending that much time in the opening/closing ceremonies talking about and congratulating themselves. It seemed excessive to me.
They did seem a bit high on themselves, but hey, they were the ones who hosted the games and can understandably pump their chests a bit.
NBC should just let ESPN take over the televising of the Olympic Games.
NBC SPORTS COVERAGE SUCKS!
NBC SPORTS COVERAGE SUCKS!
I flipped over to NBC to see if they were "getting it" and noticed their "live" broadcast was at least 10 minutes behind the Canadian broadcast. I wasn't sure if people outside our borders would get that were we making fun of ourselves and also the stereotypes foreigners have. There probably isnt a Canadian who hasn't encountered a tourist asking about beavers, mounties etc. The only thing they left out were igloos, and I have heard lots of tourists being surprised we dont live in them.
The Winter Olympics are over. Now what ???
Bring on March Madness and the King of the Hardwood Competition.
Edited to add: The London Summer Olympics are 879 days away.
Bring on March Madness and the King of the Hardwood Competition.
Edited to add: The London Summer Olympics are 879 days away.
QUOTE(Crew Chief @ Feb 28 2010, 11:06 PM)
And in a brilliant programming move, NBC decides to go back to the closing ceremonies after their show's premiere. Does it matter now? Most folks in Central and Eastern Time Zones went to sleep, figuring NBC was done for the night.
Cool. My DVR recorded it.
QUOTE(mplsboy @ Mar 1 2010, 12:24 AM)
Is it just me or were both the opening and closing ceremonies (and no, I'm not one of those people who hated the opening ceremonies) very heavy with a self-congratulatory Canadian tone? I might be wrong but I don't remember other host countries spending that much time in the opening/closing ceremonies talking about and congratulating themselves. It seemed excessive to me.
I believe it was supposed to be self-effacing humour.
The "I am Canadian" tone was really directed at Canadians--encouraging them to be proud of themselves. Because Canadians are generally modest, restrained and somewhat cowed, living as we are, next to a high-achieving older brother.
You might compare this to the over-the-top pride exhibited at Pride parades--it's done not to put down straight people, but to give confidence to LGBT people, to tell them it's OK to be proud of yourself and your group.
Canada, the country that had hosted two previous Olympics yet had not one a single gold medal at either, was in dire need of something to make us feel proud... even as the media (particularly the British media) lambasted us for the "Glitch Games."
So, we're not bragging to make other people feel bad. We're bragging to make ourselves feel good. And to tell ourselves it's OK to be proud to be Canadian.
I was in Europe during some of the Olympics. In terms of TV coverage, well...there was virtually nothing. Maybe the 3rd or 4th story on the sports segments.
These games were primarily a North American TV event. Nevertheless, IMO Vancouver did a magnificent job hosting and the Canadian pride is well deserved, notwithstanding the booing and jeering of the US hockey team as they left the ice.
These games were primarily a North American TV event. Nevertheless, IMO Vancouver did a magnificent job hosting and the Canadian pride is well deserved, notwithstanding the booing and jeering of the US hockey team as they left the ice.
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