Turin Winter Olympics start tomorrow.

[Ned]

I don't know about where you live, but around here no one's talking about the Winter Olympics this time around, except for our local NBC station. I can't remember when so many people just didn't seem care about them.

Do you care about this year's winter Olympics? Are you going to watch them? Are you going to Turin?

I'm an avid sports guy myself, but the Olympics' bug sure has missed me this time around. I'll probably catch a little of it, but in past years I didn't miss much of it, if any.

[nobody122]

Just got back from a business trip to Turin--$145/night (Monday-Wednesday) for an ITALIAN 2* (which makes Motel 6 look like the Oriental Bangkok). But I am going back; we are definately staying in Savona (140km away--even with the price of gas for the car its much cheaper), but rumor has it even the main events are ridiculously undersold--tickets especially for hockey are still easily available--so I'm shooting for some mens hockey, maybe some downhill, all depends. All in all, should be a fun guys only weekend.

[REDJIM]

Originally posted by Ned@Feb 9 2006, 10:46 PM
I don't know about where you live, but around here no one's talking about the Winter Olympics this time around, except for our local NBC station.* I can't remember when so many people just didn't seem care about them.

Do you care about this year's winter Olympics?* Are you going to watch them?* Are you going to Turin?

I'm an avid sports guy myself, but the Olympics' bug sure has missed me this time around.* I'll probably catch a little of it, but in past years I didn't miss much of it, if any.
19943


I'll tune in for Women's Luge. A GREAT spectator sport. Nudge. Nudge. Wink. Wink.

[AaronK]

I used to enjoy watching some of the Olympic sports, especially the opening ceremonies. That was until NBC commercialized it with 5 minutes of commercials every 2 minutes. It got to the point that I had no desire to watch yet another commercial show. I may flip to it tonite, but I probably won't be glued.

[weblet]

I LOVE the Olympics, so I'll be glued! And this will be the first time I can watch whenever I want since I'm working from home! Wish I could join nobody, but being I'm not a guy....

Nobody - log in every once in a while and give us a report on what's going on! Be nice to have our own reporter on the spot!

[susanliber]

I will watch some of it but I am going to Key West next week- so I am sure that watching TV will not be high on my list. Also, I am not a big winter Olympics fan. I love the summer ones though.....

[nobody122]

We are packing up the Alfa and driving down tomorrow morning; going to get there on Sunday since we have to stop at the Pilsner Urquell brewery seeing as it is right on the way.

[Annette]

I've also noticed a real apathy regarding the games this year. Normally I really like the winter Olympics and there are several events that I enjoy watching. This year I don't know how many of them I'm even interested it.

[bini8104]

I love the Winter Olympics and will try to watch as much as possible. It helps that my hometown is a former Winter Olympic site and I am within 1 hour drive of another Winter Olympic site.

[weblet]

Originally posted by nobody122@Feb 10 2006, 11:29 AM
We are packing up the Alfa and driving down tomorrow morning; going to get there on Sunday since we have to stop at the Pilsner Urquell brewery seeing as it is right on the way.
19989


:lol: :lol:

Just have to, eh? Along with any other along the way too, I'll bet!! Just be sure you have a DD...

Annette - what? Not a curler?!?

Aaron - I feel your pain...

[Annette]

Originally posted by weblet@Feb 10 2006, 01:05 PM
Annette - what?* Not a curler?!?
20002


Uhm, no. The only time I have any interest in curling at all is if it has to do with my hair. Although there is something kinda sexy about a man with a broom, but I'd rather see him in my kitchen that on the ice.

[weblet]

Originally posted by Annette@Feb 10 2006, 02:28 PM
Although there is something kinda sexy about a man with a broom, but I'd rather see him in my kitchen that on the ice.
20015


:lol:

[Anita Dunham-Potter]

Sasha Cohen is going to win the gold medal...I hope.

[missalf]

I used to absolutely love the Olympics, but in the past few years the emphasis has shifted from the games themselves to the "up close and personals" and product tie ins and more filler-type programming. As a result, it annoys me to no end when I want to see events and I have to sit through all that drivel.

I remember the olympics being televised in the '60's and '70's, and being glued to the set for both the summer and the winter games. Then there was much less about the shopping, and the restaurants, and the this and the that and it was about the competition. Heck, I remember being allowed to stay up late when the winter olympics were in Japan oh-so-many years ago when I was in school, watching it in my bedroom on my little black-and-white tv -- must have been late '60's or very, very early '70's. It was an event then that I treasured.

Now I practically cringe when I hear the musical intro over and over and over. We've slapped brand names on the competitors (Product placement is everything), we've watered down coverage of actual events and the amount of face time for commentators almost outweighs that of the athletes -- not to mention the drug scandals. What, 6 Americans were just banned due to failed test results or something?

What a shame. I'd love to be able to watch JUST the events, with minimal announcements and lessened NBC/Big Brother presence, but I fear that's yet another event that's been IMPROVED past the point of no return.

Again, what a shame.

[Ned]

Originally posted by missalf@Feb 10 2006, 04:07 PM
I used to absolutely love the Olympics, but in the past few years the emphasis has shifted from the games themselves to the "up close and personals" and product tie ins and more filler-type programming...

I remember the olympics being televised in the '60's and '70's, and being glued to the set for both the summer and the winter games.* Then there was much less about the shopping, and the restaurants, and the this and the that and it was about the competition...

Now I practically cringe when I hear the musical intro over and over and over.* We've slapped brand names on the competitors (Product placement is everything), we've watered down coverage of actual events and the amount of face time for commentators almost outweighs that of the athletes -- not to mention the drug scandals.* What, 6 Americans were just banned due to failed test results or something?*

What a shame.* I'd love to be able to watch JUST the events, with minimal announcements and lessened NBC/Big Brother presence, but I fear that's yet another event that's been IMPROVED past the point of no return.

Again, what a shame.
20022

Bring back Jim McKay and the solid general and sports reporting we used to have, not the fluff and irrelevant, extraneous, immaterial, impertinent, information they shower on us today. Bring back athletes who competed to win for sure, but also who cared about competing and competed to accomplish their very best, instead of the prima donna pros who generally only care about money, themselves, money, themselves, money, oh well you get the point.

Herb Brookes, coach of the 1980 Gold Medal Champion US Olympic Hockey Team said it best while reminiscing about those 1980 Olympics, shortly before his death in an auto accident in 2003. Brookes said, referring to the Olympics after 1980, "A few years later the US began using professional athletes at the games, dream teams. I always found that term ironic because now that we have dream teams, we seldom ever get the dream. But on one weekend, as America and the world watched, a group of remarkable young men gave the nation what it needed most, a chance for one night, not only to dream, a chance once again to believe."

[Ned]

Originally posted by Anita Dunham-Potter@Feb 10 2006, 03:52 PM
Sasha Cohen is going to win the gold medal...I hope.
20020

I would much rather see Michelle Kwan win. She brings wonderful flowing artistry to the ice that the other skaters can only dream about. Today they're whirling dervishes and nothing more. They can jump, they can skate, but it's no longer beautiful, no longer flowing to the music, it's just a bunch of athletic jumps plotzed together.

[Annette]

I just don't "get" the opening ceremonies anymore. It's become to artsy and ethereal for me. It's a good thing that I'm not in charge of the opening ceremonies, at least as far as the Olympic commitee is concerned I'm sure. They'd be simple, cheap, and quick. I can just imagine the committee meetings:
"Oh, you want something more surreal than that? Okay, we raise hundreds of ducks from hatchlings, divide them into 5 groups and feed each with a special feed that will dye them into the olympic colours. Then we'll teach them to walk in big circles over the stage."...

[Ned]

Originally posted by Annette@Feb 10 2006, 11:20 PM
I just don't "get" the opening ceremonies anymore.* It's become to artsy and ethereal for me.* It's a good thing that I'm not in charge of the opening ceremonies, at least as far as the Olympic commitee is concerned I'm sure.* They'd be simple, cheap, and quick.* I can just imagine the committee meetings:
"Oh, you want something more surreal than that?* Okay, we raise hundreds of ducks from hatchlings, divide them into 5 groups and feed each with a special feed that will dye them into the olympic colours.* Then we'll teach them to walk in big circles over the stage."...
20043

Annette, what a great idea. Do you think that would work on people too? When all those crooks in Congress are convicted, as part of their sentence we can dye them greedy green and let them be marked for life.

[Anita Dunham-Potter]

Originally posted by Ned@Feb 10 2006, 09:48 PM
I would much rather see Michelle Kwan win.* She brings wonderful flowing artistry to the ice that the other skaters can only dream about.* Today they're whirling dervishes and nothing more.* They can jump, they can skate, but it's no longer beautiful, no longer flowing to the music, it's just a bunch of athletic jumps plotzed together.
20042


Hi Ned,
I like Michelle Kwan, but her time has passed. Sasha Cohen is the whole package an athletic ballerina on ice. Problem with Sasha is she's not turned in a clean long program in a major event. I think she will this time, but will it beat Irina Slutskaya? Who knows.

[nobody122]

Well the games are well, pretty bland this year. Tickets are available for everything still (well except the gold medal hockey game). We watched the women's moguls and mens ski jump yesterday, and it was very empty (nothing like SLC) and very disappointing.

[weblet]

Originally posted by nobody122@Feb 12 2006, 08:52 AM
Well the games are well, pretty bland this year.* Tickets are available for everything still (well except the gold medal hockey game).* We watched the women's moguls and mens ski jump yesterday, and it was very empty (nothing like SLC) and very disappointing.
20068


:(
Even (how do we put this delicately) the social scene? Maybe things will improve... :) How was the brewery?

[nobody122]

I am pretty much spoiled by living in Prague. I mean where else in a major city does a 0,5L of GOOD (not American) beer cost under $1 in a decent restaruant? And where all the waitresses look like super models?

As for the games--we caught the Russian/Canadian game yesterday and that had to have been the highlight of the entire trip. I can't really comment on the social scene as in typical Italian fashion hotels near anything major (likethe games) are so outrageously priced--hence staying about an hour and a half from Torino. Anyways, that was the extent of the olympic vacation as we are heading home today because of work on Tuesday....

[deangreenhoe]

I used to enjoy watching some of the Olympic sports, especially the opening ceremonies. That was until NBC commercialized it with 5 minutes of commercials every 2 minutes.
I'm an Olympics freak and try to watch the vast majority of the coverage. That said, I agree with the above and get particularly irritated by coverage that jumps back and forth between events. I can see editing out lulls in the action but watching an event in the installment plan gets on my nerves. <_<

So this year I'm taking control with my DVR. I'm watching everything on a pre recorded delay basis, skipping commercials and the few events that make me snore. (Sorry all you curling fans! Cross country events put me in a coma also. :P )

It's working out pretty well but I'm living in news blackout so the results won't be revealed before I see the event. If someone tries to chat about the events from the night before I have to clap my hands over my ears and sing "la-la-la-la" really loudly. Lets home nuclear war doesn't break out before Feb. 27 or I won't even know about it until the next morning.

[weblet]

Originally posted by nobody122@Feb 13 2006, 02:55 AM
I am pretty much spoiled by living in Prague.* I mean where else in a major city does a 0,5L of GOOD (not American) beer cost under $1 in a decent restaruant?* And where all the waitresses look like super models?

As for the games--we caught the Russian/Canadian game yesterday and that had to have been the highlight of the entire trip.* I can't really comment on the social scene as in typical Italian fashion hotels near anything major (likethe games) are so outrageously priced--hence staying about an hour and a half from Torino.* Anyways, that was the extent of the olympic vacation as we are heading home today because of work on Tuesday....
20089


How about the waitERS? :lol:

Sounds like the place to be yesterday was the boarding. It was said the venue was sold out and people were sitting up in the hills trying to get a glimpse. Glad you saw a good hockey game tho'. Back to the real world now....

For those of us lucky enough to have CBC on cable (or antennae), they have live coverage IF you're a nightowl. Provides good counterpoint to NBC, although to give them credit they are showing events on affiliated stations like USA and CNBC. I printed off the schedule of events each day off the websites. And even tho' some of us find curling a snore, I will be watching today! It's a strategy game...

[deangreenhoe]

And even tho' some of us find curling a snore, I will be watching today! It's a strategy game...
Yeah, like watching a 12 hour chess match. Zzzzzzzzzzzz.

Tape it and watch in reverse, Weblet. It's far more interesting. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[weblet]

Originally posted by deangreenhoe@Feb 13 2006, 09:19 AM
Yeah, like watching a 12 hour chess match.* Zzzzzzzzzzzz.

Tape it and watch in reverse, Weblet.* It's far more interesting.* :lol:* :lol:* :lol:
20100


You're just jealous 'cause you can't slide down the ice on one foot chasing a big piece of granite with a stick... :P

[deangreenhoe]

You're just jealous 'cause you can't slide down the ice on one foot chasing a big piece of granite with a stick...
LOL. No I'm not. I gave up chasing rocks with sticks when I was 8 years old. :P

However, I did slide down a hill on my ass under a couch on Saturday while helping a friend move in a snow storm. Does that count? I think that performance at least deserves a silver medal. B)

[weblet]

I did slide down a hill on my ass under a couch on Saturday

Couch-sliding Rules:

"...participant must be on top of the couch..."

(unless, of course, judges have been appropriately compensated, preferably liquidated... then freestyle position is allowed)

[deangreenhoe]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Now STOP IT! You're making me laugh and it hurts. (Still lame from the infamous weekend move.)

But I wondered why my scores were so low. This Olympics is a bust for me. I was also disqualified for falling off the truck ramp in the freezer dragging event. <_<

[weblet]

Originally posted by deangreenhoe@Feb 13 2006, 11:56 AM
But I wondered why my scores were so low.* This Olympics is a bust for me.* I was also disqualified for falling off the truck ramp in the freezer dragging event.* <_<
20127


Liquidation rules still apply.... Obviously the hosts of the event were not fulfilling their end of the obligations to the judges and participants; the F/B manager should have been fired...

Having been host to several of these Olympics, as well as participant and judge, there are certain rules that must be followed. The first rule is, "There shall be appointed by the host an official F/B manager to make sure all participants are appropriately liquidated and fed." This is also rule 2, 3, 4.... The result of not following these rules is obvious - low scores and disqualification.

I'd sue.

[trvlgirl]

I’m a little disappointed in the coverage of the games. It seems we only get to see what the network wants us to see. I like watching not only our athletes but also the other countries. Just my two cents.

[Arkstfan]

Can't say I'm terribly interested.

First back in the day when it was on ABC with Jim McKay a part of what made it so exciting was to prove to them commies we were better. The thing was that two of the darlings of even American viewers in the summer were two "commie" gymnasts (Olga and Nadia, are last names even needed?).

Second, stars emerged. You usually didn't get a lot of hype on individuals except when the world champion was an American. Most of the time in winter sports the favorites weren't from the United States except in a few sports so we went in seeing most American medals as a suprise.

Today us vs. them just doesn't apply.

Second NBC has been telling us who the stars are going to be for weeks or months. They've hyped how the Americans have been so successful in world competition since Salt Lake that we ought to win a ton of medals.

Sunday afternoon eating lunch with friends Join Bode came on the TV screen. My friend said, "I'm so sick of hearing his name that I hope someone else wins." Twenty years ago unthinkable but the hype machine is wearing us out.

Last night we watch the halfpipe because my daughter wanted to see it. My 16 year old son comes through just as they are doing yet another bit about Kwan pulling out. He looked at the screen and said "This just in Michelle Kwan is still quitting due to injury."

AUUUUGGGHHHHH

[joyceandrews]

Yes, the hype is ridiculous, but I still love the Olympics. I was however actually glad Bode did not win. Maybe he will do better on the next one.
Tomato was fantastic.

[Arkstfan]

Originally posted by joyceandrews@Feb 13 2006, 12:32 PM
Tomato was fantastic.
20144


He's three years older than our son so seeing him all teary about his parents being there really touched my wife and she got all teary too.

[stephen_s]

You know, I really haven't felt like watching it at all. But then, I haven't even watched any TV for any extended period of time. I've maybe seen between 5 and 10 minutes, but that's about it.