2010 Olympics open thread: Day 7
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 1:00 PM EST
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Today at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada taking on Switzerland in men's hockey should be a good matchup--especially considering how well (relatively speaking) the Swiss played against the U.S. team on Tuesday (they held on for a 3-1 loss). The snowboarding event is women's halfpipe, which should also be fun to watch, and skeleton is such an interesting sport, I'll try and catch some of that, too. Anton Volchenkov will be the lone Ottawa Senator in action tonight, and a double-header for men's curling? The days are just packed.
Join us in the comments throughout the day for all you could possibly talk about.
Plenty of events on tap for today, February 18, so feel free to chat about them in the comments section. A list of today's events comes after the jump.
- Alpine skiing
- Biathlon
- Curling
Men's: Denmark vs. United States (noon EST)
Men's: Germany vs. Norway (noon EST)
Men's: Canada vs. Sweden (noon EST)
Men's: Great Britain vs. Switzerland (noon EST)
Women's: Canada vs. Germany (3:00 p.m. EST)
Women's: China vs. Japan (3:00 p.m. EST)
Women's: Russia vs. Great Britain (3:00 p.m. EST)
Women's: Denmark vs. United States (3:00 p.m. EST)
Men's: Sweden vs. China (10:00 p.m. EST)
Men's: Great Britain vs. Denmark (10:00 p.m. EST)
Men's: Norway vs. Switzerland (10:00 p.m. EST)
Men's: Canada vs. France (10:00 p.m. EST) - Figure Skating
- Hockey
Men's: United States vs. Norway (3:00 p.m. EST)
Women's: United States vs. Finland (5:30 p.m. EST)
Men's: Canada vs. Switzerland (7:30 p.m. EST)
Women's: China vs. Russia (10:00 p.m. EST)
Men's: Slovakia vs. Russia (midnight EST) - Snowboarding
- Skeleton
- Speed skating
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Canada medal count: Six
Gold: 2
Silver: 3
Bronze: 1
Anyone know if we’ve got some strong medal hopefuls competing today?
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 1:47 PM EST reply actions
Nesbitt is the heavy favourite for the 1000 m skate
Groves is a bit of a long shot in the same race….ranked about 10 in the world cup. Patrick Chan probably also a long shot. Not sure about women’s halfpipe, though that is dumb Olympic event anyway, if you ask me.
Halfpipe is DUMB?!?!
I think it’s awesome. So much fun to watch!
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
That's true
But I would argue that figure skating is both more technical and artistic. Plus they fixed their scoring system.
That's a fair point.
But, from a business perspective, drawing in the young people associated with halfpipe (or snowboarding in general) is a big boost I would imagine.
I absolutely agree
And I also think it gets the winter games more exposre in the American market, which is no doubt the largest. But I’m not sure that business and exposure are the best guiding principles for the games.
Anyway, I’m not mad about it. I just think it’s more appropriate in the X-games.
It's hard to tell where to draw the line, though.
Snowcross quickly became my favorite event to watch, something that was previously unseen outside of the X games. The freestyle skiing is very entertaining as well. Halfpipe may be a natural progression, a ratings grab, an appeal to future generations, who knows. I like it.
Me too
I’d almost be happy to see wakeboarding in the summer games. Only thing holding it back is that you need a boat… seems a bit un-Olympic.
Still, I think snowboarding’s got a place in the winter games, both snowcross and halfpipe. Looking at some other sports, there’s curious events: Biathlon, with the shooting? Even curling, if you think about it. And ski jumping… you just have to control yourself as you go through the air. I think the halfpipe is as justifiable in its presence as those ones.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 3:31 PM EST up reply actions
My brother likes to argue
That it is ridiculous that ping-pong is an olympic sport while squash isn’t. Hard to disagree with that.
Do you wakeboard much Peter?
No, hardly ever. I’ve probably done it a half-dozen times, but it’s so much fun. If I had a waterfront property and a boat, I’d be out there all the time.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 4:25 PM EST up reply actions
Canadians looking strong in curling
Women took China yesterday and Martin’s squad is schooling the Swedes, who took out GB on the first day.
Is Bernard the Canadian women's skip?
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
Well, she's doing pretty well for a skip who sucks...
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 2:52 PM EST up reply actions
She’s only the fourth best skip in the tournament so far. That’s not gold-medal calibre I don’t think
What's after bronze? Wood?
Wood-medal calibre.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
How'd the men's curling go?
Last I saw it was 6-3 Canada.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 2:41 PM EST reply actions
Awesome
4-0 in the round robin now?
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 2:52 PM EST up reply actions
Martin is killing it
I SURE WISH I COULD WATCH
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THESE ARE THE OLYMPICS OF BITTERNESS FOR ME
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Is it worse not being able to see? Or being able to see that there is something on the TV in front of you, but it’s 20 feet away and you’re at an angle of about 20 degrees?
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 4:26 PM EST up reply actions
The worst part about is that I WANT to watch and can't
I’d watch five straight minutes of “Train Your Dragon” commercials if it meant I got to stream the video afterwards. Fuck you very much, NBC, I want to watch what i enjoy, not what you want to force on me.
What I really don’t understand is blocking me from watching CTV. How is “You can’t watch it here, so you can’t watch it anywhere” a viable buisness strategy? Where’s the fuckhead that was babbling about economics a few nights ago? Wasn’t that Hurley? You got an answer for that?
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I'm assuming it has to do with regulation or advertising or something
Do you want a real answer? Or are you content with calling people names and throwing your tantrum?
Actually, I would be interested in a real answer
I mean, it has to be a business (read: monetary) decision, but I can’t figure out a good way that monpolizing a product generates revenue if you’re not actually selling the product. I’m genuinely curious if there’s some kind of precedent that Adam Smith came up with that I’m missing or something.
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Does NBC show highlights in primetime?
Wouldn’t want you to have watched everything during the day and then not tune in while their commercials are running.
As a side note: American streams are often blocked for Canadians. TV websites and, most notably, that Hulu thing block IPs that aren’t domestic.
I'll admit that I haven't watched every second of their primetime coverage
But I haven’t even seen curling mentioned, much less highlights. I believe they’re just showing tape replays of the major ratings events… you know, stuff where the US athletes might win gold. Considering how the men’s team is doing, I don’t forsee them getting on primetime anytime soon. Considering the women’s flop in 2006, they’re not getting anywhere near primetime anytime soon.
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It's just business
It’s a proprietary thing, I think. They paid to be the only American broadcaster of the Olympics, they want to be that—and they want to make sure their advertisers are satisfied that they are the only broadcaster.
That said, I think it’s a ridiculous business model. Like you said, if you’re going to choose between watching something they don’t have on or not watching anything, it’s not serving any purpose for them to block that thing they don’t have on.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 9:42 PM EST up reply actions
I would actually think it's more of a legal issue.
Especially given the circumstances. VANOC gets a big chunk of revenue from auctioning off broadcast rights to different countries. I’m not sure how much it costs, but these networks shell out big money to get exclusive rights to the Olympics. I would guess that NBC wouldn’t be too happy about paying for an exclusive deal only to have its online portal rendered worthless by CTV’s superior coverage. These must be contracts, so there must be clauses in there working together to screw the public.
I'm sure the rights are eight figures, easily
And I can understand NBC not wanting to see its portal shamed by CTV, but in this case, CTV is providing content NBC is not. There’s not a competition going on, so it simply appears to the public like NBC is just trying to force them not to see ANY curling coverage. That’s business decision that doesn’t make any sense to me.
Granted, NBC’s revenue from curling is probably miniscule in the States. I wonder if it costs more to cover than they get back in ad revenue? That would make sense….
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Bob Costas doesn't work for free.
by Mike Hurley on Feb 18, 2010 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Ha! Rec'd
He would be the worst curling commentator ever
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Mike nailed it with the 'exclusive coverage' thing
NBC paid big to be the only way you could see the olympics. It undermines that position if they negotiated to have exclusive coverage on everything except, say, curling.
Maybe NBC would sell the rights to show Americans curling, but who is going to pay for that?
It can't undermine their postion if they aren't providing any coverage though
In this case, they’re exclusively providing me shit. That’s their choice, but if they’re not going to provide coverage, they shouldn’t prevent me from seeking it out someplace else. I don’t see how that makes them ANY money.
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True
But it doesn’t make them any money by negotiating with CTV and the VANOC in order to let you watch it either.
I’m with you that it sucks. Maybe write them a strongly worded email?
I guess it doesn't make them any money, but they already paid VANOC and IOC a butt ton of money to be the exclusive provider
Why not try and recoup some of that payment by getting some ad revenue from curling?
My faux rage is not enough for me to write them a strongly-worded email. Sadly, I have enough corporate experience to know what their reply will be:
“Dear Mr. Parisi,
Thanks for your email. [Bland excuse about why I can’t watch fucking curling when I want to] [Marketing spin about all the other great options I can watch at NBC!] [Generically patronizing statement about how they’re coninually working to bring me the best coverage in the world] [insincere thank you for writing]"
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That's what this blog is for while the Sens are on break, as far as I'm concerned
I get to be belligerent about my country and other crap.
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Dear NBC
My name is Mark Parisi and I am a 7 year old boy. The doctors say I’ll never get better, but I always feel better when I watch curling. Why won’t you ever show curling?
Love,
Mark Parisi
by Mike Hurley on Feb 18, 2010 7:56 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Triple
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by Mark Parisi on Feb 18, 2010 11:46 PM EST up reply actions
I can't think of the song
But Alexisonfire is usually pretty awesome.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
Seeing them on Sunday!
Your Saturday! WOO!!!! I usually bring a Canadian flag but cannot find anywhere to get one in Newcastle =(
Im going twice
Once at the Soundwave festival (they play there with a lot of other bands) Then again on Tuesday in Melbourne (their playing with Antiflag and Comeback Kid). Flying down there and taking the week off for some holidays.
It is going to be insane.
That + US vs Canada + Melbourne + Alexisonfire x2 is going to be a very drunk and unforgettable week.
Norway's playing well against the US (only down 2 after 1)
I only watched the last 8 minutes of the first and it easily could have been 2-1.
I guess since they only won 6-1 they suck, huh
Maybe you’ll give them some respect after your whupping on Sunday!
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Well, I hope we never get there
I’d like to think my country is too racially diverse to ever reach a boiling point of government-led focused hate, regardless of all its flaws.
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I think Team USA's young legs are going to be their only hope
But I think it’s going to be a shellacking.
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I don't think his heroics will be enough
But you’re right. He has to be flawless. 3 on none flawless.
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Wow. Great point.
How did that even happen?
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Ladies 1000m Speed Skate Final has started
Should be at least 10 minutes before Nesbitt and Groves skate though.
Quick summary of last night, Senators edition:
Meszaros was invisible most of the night.
Milan Michalek was fantastic.
Marian Hossa had some hustle but got checked a lot behind the net.
Chara was useless and angry.
Kuba actually used his body to push people. He was still meh, but better than he has been most of the year. I kept shouting at him, amusing the Czech guy in front of me.
I also finally got a definitive answer on how to pronounce Michalek
Let me put it this way – neither one of the brothers has told the media how to pronounce it properly.
by Ryan Classic on Feb 18, 2010 4:32 PM EST up reply actions
Mee-ck-ha-leh-k
The cha part sounds a lot like the sound you make when you’re cought up phlegm. That sounds more gross than it actually is. The last syllable is not pronounced -lick or -lek, There’s definitely a soft h in there.
by Ryan Classic on Feb 18, 2010 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
The way he's played this season, he should be happy we call him anything besides BUST
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
Well, since his injury, at least
Or since the San Jose game. He started well, but boy, has he slowed down.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 5:46 PM EST up reply actions
What did the Czech guy in front of you say?
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
"Are you cheering for the Czech Republic?"
Guess I was too harsh on Kuba.
by Ryan Classic on Feb 18, 2010 4:57 PM EST up reply actions
What did he do?
I saw he had no points and was even. Can you be more specific about what made him awesome? Not that I’m doubting you.
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He was breaking through Slovak defenders in crazy ways. Not as spectacular as Elias. Elias was freaking amazing.
by Ryan Classic on Feb 18, 2010 7:13 PM EST up reply actions
Was he falling all over the place?
Seems like that’s his patented move.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 9:48 PM EST up reply actions
Yes.
Chara got a penalty for knocking him down. I have a photo of him on the ground, Chara away from him looking annoyed, and Meszaros staring down.
by Ryan Classic on Feb 18, 2010 9:49 PM EST up reply actions
#5 - For every poor defensive play Heatley makes, say "Fisher wouldn't have done that!"
From Another Ottawa Senators Blog’s “Tips for (Not) Cheering for Heatley at the Olympics”
http://anothersensblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/tips-for-not-cheering-for-heatley-at.html
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 4:59 PM EST reply actions
Its tough when he when he plays so damn well
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
Not as good as the scoresheet would indicate.
They woke up in the last 10 minutes. Norwegian goalie was good until then. USA let in a shortie after Lagenbrunner messed up.
by Ryan Classic on Feb 18, 2010 5:21 PM EST up reply actions
Would have been nice to get the double.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 5:47 PM EST up reply actions
And here we have Kuba doing what Kuba does best
Note in the far left is the puck, and note skating with some actual effort is Michalek.
I'm all for ridiculing Kuba, he's a bum
But I would be a hell of a lot more troubled if Kuba was going after that puck. He is a defenceman after all.
The most he did was stand at that blue line and let some Slovakians get delayed for a few seconds and then later he whiffed on a power play slapshot
By the end they weren’t even letting him be on the PP.
by Ryan Classic on Feb 18, 2010 7:21 PM EST up reply actions
So what's the final verdict??
by Los Blancos Chicca on Feb 18, 2010 8:36 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Red for sure!
Every team has a white jersey, its too non-descript. Without seeing the logo on the front you could even be mistaken for a philthy Belarusian or something of the sort
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
i know!
Made up fact that is likely true: Canadian national teams with Mike Fisher have never lost to Switzerland.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
Patrick Marleau is a total horse's cock
And so much for all the previous shit-talk about the Americans barely handling the Swiss.
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
marleau looks like a 1930's hollywood star
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
Yep, but it still won't help his reputation as a diver since he was down for so long
Which is bull, but that’s how it goes.
by Ryan Classic on Feb 18, 2010 9:20 PM EST up reply actions
What is wrong with Team Canada?
Is Switzerland our kryptonite?
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 9:38 PM EST reply actions
Hiller, pretty much
I’ve only watched the 3rd though. From what I’ve seen we arnt lacking chances and we’re not giving much up at the other end
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
It's his amazing mask
Damn, so amazing.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 9:53 PM EST up reply actions
How did Thorton not finish that Heatley feed
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
Ha, seriously he's not Chris Kelly though
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
looked like Nash just dived at him
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
I like it
but I’d hate it in the playoffs. Which is probably a truer sign of how I feel about it.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 9:54 PM EST up reply actions
Indeed
I don’t care if Americans don’t have the attention span for a triple-overtime nailbiter, it’s why I watch.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 10:16 PM EST up reply actions
Are Canadians falling victim to smallpox? Or some other European disease, carried through infected blanket gifts from the Swiss?
Geez, it’s like an accurate continuation of the opening ceremonies enacted on ice…
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 9:55 PM EST reply actions
"Ya ya, just rub those Swiss guys on the blankets and well send them to Vancouver"
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
This is a five-player shootout, yes?
What is this guy talking about?
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 9:59 PM EST reply actions
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
ICAN’TBELIEVEWEWONICAN’TBELIEVEITWASSOCLOSE
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 10:00 PM EST reply actions
Whatever, doesnt matter how we win, just the final result
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
Assuming the Swiss win a game
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
The Swiss can't knock us out of a quarter-final spot
If we lose to the US, however, we’ll have to play in the round of 8 unless there are games decided in overtime in the other pools.
Man... is there anything on right now besides figure skating?
Not that I’m prejudiced, I just don’t enjoy watching it.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 10:15 PM EST reply actions
Curling on Sportsnet
Canada-France. The Norwegians are on the rink next to them in full pants glory.
by Ryan Classic on Feb 18, 2010 10:16 PM EST up reply actions
YES!
YES ON BOTH COUNTS!
Plus we’ve got the gold medal ceremony in twenty minutes, which I’ll watch. I haven’t seen one yet.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 10:19 PM EST up reply actions
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! CURLING!
Sorry Mark.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 10:22 PM EST reply actions
Is Mark around?
He might appreciate it.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 10:29 PM EST up reply actions
I think the US should invade Canada and bring civlization to you savages
That’s what I think
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by Mark Parisi on Feb 18, 2010 11:48 PM EST up reply actions
grumble grumble
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by Mark Parisi on Feb 18, 2010 11:47 PM EST up reply actions
And because I mentioned it earlier, the Chara penalty
Chara got called for taking out Michalek. You can see him on the right going “what the eff?” with Michalek down. Note Meszaros as well, just for kicks. Halak looks weird in blue.
So...
I missed the medal ceremony, and now I’m skipping curling for Survivor.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 18, 2010 11:03 PM EST reply actions
I would just like to say that Canada did not deserve to win that game
They better play a LOT better on Sunday if they want to beat the US Team.
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'Course we deserve it
Its our version of ‘manifest destiny’
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
I guess so
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by Mark Parisi on Feb 19, 2010 12:21 AM EST up reply actions
Volchenkov is amazing
He stopped a Gaborik slapshot point blank with his shin and did not flinch, then stopped another with the shaft of his stick. It broke and he calmly went to the bench for a new one.
HOLY SHIT TIE GAME
HOW CAN I GO TO BED NOW
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 19, 2010 1:54 AM EST reply actions
M HOSSA FROM DEMITRA AND HOSSA
That’s the best nameplate system ever. Only one Hossa gets a letter in front of his name.
by Ryan Classic on Feb 19, 2010 1:55 AM EST up reply actions
Makes zero sense
How is Meszaros playing well? I think he’s task-oriented. Give him one thing to do, he will do it—and do it reasonably well.
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 19, 2010 1:58 AM EST up reply actions
I've got theories on the Hossa thing
My guess is because 18 is unavailable (I think Satan has it. I think), Marian wanted 81. Every time they’ve played together before, Marian’s worn 18 and Marcel 81. So because he took Marcel’s 81 and made Marcel take 91, Marian let him be just plain Hossa.
Meszaros has been not too bad at shot blocking. I’m guessing Volchenkov taught him how to do it well.
by Ryan Classic on Feb 19, 2010 2:04 AM EST up reply actions
Christ what a game, Demitra with the SO winner
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
Thread comments closed!
Check out day eight’s thread, whoooooo!
http://www.silversevensens.com/2010/2/19/1313770/2010-olympics-open-thread-day-8
by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 19, 2010 5:55 PM EST reply actions
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