The Official GMHockey 2010 Winter Olympics Thread - All Talk Here!

wprager wrote:What the hell happened with the Russians. A few days ago they were 6 medals behinds us and now, even with McIvar's Gold we're 2 behind them.

Mind you, we're doubling them in gold medals. Huge difference with the Canadians this year -- just a single bronze and 6 gold (with a good chance to get into double digits). Like that skateboarder who could have settled for the bronze but tried to get a silver (but failed), it's certainly a change from the past. Still too many 4/5 (or worse) finishes, nowhere to be seen in cross-country events (including biathlon) or ski jumping. There's lots of medals to be had there -- that's how countries like Norway and Finland pad their totals.

M_Christopher wrote:

wprager wrote:What the hell happened with the Russians. A few days ago they were 6 medals behinds us and now, even with McIvar's Gold we're 2 behind them.

Mind you, we're doubling them in gold medals. Huge difference with the Canadians this year -- just a single bronze and 6 gold (with a good chance to get into double digits). Like that skateboarder who could have settled for the bronze but tried to get a silver (but failed), it's certainly a change from the past. Still too many 4/5 (or worse) finishes, nowhere to be seen in cross-country events (including biathlon) or ski jumping. There's lots of medals to be had there -- that's how countries like Norway and Finland pad their totals.

Russians have been doing well in the sliding events and figure skating.

wprager wrote:You know, we're just one gold medal behind the leaders. We've got a good chance at getting 2 more golds in curling, which the US (or Germans) have no shot at. We could still "Own the Top-Level of the Podium"

I still remember back when the leaderboard was determined *only* on gold medals.

M_Christopher wrote:

wprager wrote:What the hell happened with the Russians. A few days ago they were 6 medals behinds us and now, even with McIvar's Gold we're 2 behind them.

Mind you, we're doubling them in gold medals. Huge difference with the Canadians this year -- just a single bronze and 6 gold (with a good chance to get into double digits). Like that skateboarder who could have settled for the bronze but tried to get a silver (but failed), it's certainly a change from the past. Still too many 4/5 (or worse) finishes, nowhere to be seen in cross-country events (including biathlon) or ski jumping. There's lots of medals to be had there -- that's how countries like Norway and Finland pad their totals.

Russians have been doing well in the sliding events and figure skating.

wprager wrote:You know, we're just one gold medal behind the leaders. We've got a good chance at getting 2 more golds in curling, which the US (or Germans) have no shot at. We could still "Own the Top-Level of the Podium"

I still remember back when the leaderboard was determined *only* on gold medals.

Yahoo Sports also quoted Italian ice dancer Massimo Scali, who criticized the Canadian winners.

"When you compete in your home country the crowd goes crazy and it can help the skaters. I hope that it does not affect the judges," he is quoted as saying.

"I don't agree with the system. They (Virtue and Moir) are not real dancers. They are very technical and don't really 'dance' on the ice."

wprager wrote:"Rivals, U.S. press question Virtue-Moir gold"
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Olympics/2010Vancouver/News/2010/02/23/12998676.html

Just to be clear, "rivals" were not their training partners (the silver medal winners) but some snot-nosed Italian skater. Boo!

Yahoo Sports also quoted Italian ice dancer Massimo Scali, who criticized the Canadian winners.

"When you compete in your home country the crowd goes crazy and it can help the skaters. I hope that it does not affect the judges," he is quoted as saying.

"I don't agree with the system. They (Virtue and Moir) are not real dancers. They are very technical and don't really 'dance' on the ice."

M_Christopher wrote:

wprager wrote:"Rivals, U.S. press question Virtue-Moir gold"
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Olympics/2010Vancouver/News/2010/02/23/12998676.html

Just to be clear, "rivals" were not their training partners (the silver medal winners) but some snot-nosed Italian skater. Boo!

Yahoo Sports also quoted Italian ice dancer Massimo Scali, who criticized the Canadian winners.

"When you compete in your home country the crowd goes crazy and it can help the skaters. I hope that it does not affect the judges," he is quoted as saying.

"I don't agree with the system. They (Virtue and Moir) are not real dancers. They are very technical and don't really 'dance' on the ice."

Diddling Canada can't win a gold without another country complaining...jesus. Ungreatful bastards Go take them over USA.

sens4win wrote:there goes the i believe montage

wprager wrote:I just looked up Scali. He finished 3rd in Skate America, Skate Canada, Cup of Russia. He's only finished 1st in Italian competitions, something called the Nebelhorn Trophy (7 years ago -- check the list of latest gold winners there, not a single name I know), and the NHL Trophy.

Virtue/Moir finished 2nd in Grand Prix ranking last year; Scalin finished 16th. This isn't an aberration. Ranked on their results in the 6 competitions that make up the Grand Prix they finished 2nd; Massimo finished 16th.

marakh wrote:

sens4win wrote:there goes the i believe montage

Bilodeau is still my favourite one though.

marakh wrote:

sens4win wrote:there goes the i believe montage

Bilodeau is still my favourite one though.