2014 Winter Olympics Thread

[RobDeer 45]

Discuss

 

I enjoy the Olympics so I'm pretty excited for the next few weeks. I'm also a little nervous about all the worries about Russia. Hope it goes well.

[TooLiveBrew]

You know what? I'm going to sticky this thread. Because what good are these magical powers if I can't abuse them?

 

(and because I semi-unashamedly love the Winter Olympics)

[RobDeer 45]

Good work TooLiveBrew!

 

Ok, so I thought I read you could watch a lot of stuff online, but when I took a quick look, I didn't see anything about that. If anyone has researched, please let me know what the options are (computer, ipad, etc).

[adamb100]

NBC has a live stream but it requires cable. More information on that here: http://gigaom.com/2014/02/06/olympic-winter-games-live-stream/

Other ways to watch the Olympics that may not be legal outside the U.S. include watching the CBC stream (requires a browser extension to bypass territory broadcasting restrictions). More info:

[brwrsfan]

Can anyone tell me what channels are televising the Olympics? I know NBC, but usually there are a few others that have other events on during the day and stuff. Just curious if anyone knows.

[jimmyjeromehardy7]

Also will be MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sportsnetwork and USA. Schedule can be found at NBCOlympics.com

[fondybrewfan]

I just can't get excited about the Winter Olympics other than cool stuff like the Luge and Bobsled. Summer Olympics are way more awesome. That is probably only because so many more summer athletes have name recognition; I basically know absolutely no one on the winter olympic team other than Shaun White and Bode Miller.

[Raw Biz]

I just can't get excited about the Winter Olympics other than cool stuff like the Luge and Bobsled. Summer Olympics are way more awesome. That is probably only because so many more summer athletes have name recognition; I basically know absolutely no one on the winter olympic team other than Shaun White and Bode Miller.

 

Not attacking you or anything but people always bring up "name recognition" and "brand" when it comes to the Olympics. That's why people say Lolo Jones made the bobsled team. Personally, I don't care about established name recognition or anything like that. I just want to see great athletes perform. You don't get the name recognition/brand until you do something great. That's what the Olympics (should) allow athletes to do. Everybody starts out as a nobody until they do something great.

[trwi7]

I just can't get excited about the Winter Olympics other than cool stuff like the Luge and Bobsled. Summer Olympics are way more awesome. That is probably only because so many more summer athletes have name recognition; I basically know absolutely no one on the winter olympic team other than Shaun White and Bode Miller.

 

I'm the opposite. I can watch almost every Winter Olympic event and be entertained. Other than soccer, basketball and swimming, the Summer Olympics are awful to me.

[Jimbo]

I love the Winter Olympics, much more than the Summer version. The X-games type of events I can take-or-leave, otherwise I'll be watching every minute I can.

[NeedMoreFans]

I've always liked the winter games better. I think because most winter events have some sort of danger and crazy factor to them. There is always a chance of injury, which makes those who finish seem like they have accomplished something huge.

[RobDeer 45]

I like them both. I don't know if I could say which one I like better. I just enjoy intense competition. It's cool seeing people having so much pride in what they do and the countries they represent. Always a lot of cool stories too. Just really good entertainment.

[TURBO]

Some of the events are just plain weird if you ask me...

 

Skiing and shooting in the same event? That is just plain odd. They have things like that, but no baseball in the summer olympics?

[RobDeer 45]

I'm guessing that stems from old military competition. I actually really like that stuff. It's like slow motion down the stretch yet super intense!

[brwrsfan]

I watch the Olympics pretty much non-stop, both summer and winter. Couple reasons I guess...

 

1 - It's on all the time, all day every day during the events so it's something to watch.

2 - I like sports and the Oympics give the ability to see a lot of sports that I really only view every 4 years.

3 - This is probably the biggest, but the American aspect of it is something I take pride in. Doesn't matter the event, if there's a USA person in it, that's who I'm cheering for. And there's just something about seeing the flag and hearing the anthem and all that that I really enjoy.

 

I will say though, that it's tougher for me in the Winter Olympics because I don't always know what the scoring is based on. For things like figure skating and snowboarding, other than glaring mistakes, I have no idea what a good run looks like so I find that aspect difficult, plus I'm always a bit skeptical about the judges being honest, but I still enjoy watching.

[CheezWizHed]

Skiing and shooting in the same event?

 

I used to think the same thing, but I've come to really appreciate how difficult that really is to do. You race as hard as possible with your heart going a mile a minute. Then you need to stop, focus, and shoot at a target (which is made much harder with your heart racing).

 

Way more interesting than just x-country skiing alone.

[Vgmastr]

I love watching the biathlon, the shooting segments are so intense, the targets are tiny and one miss can kill your chance at a medal. Behind curling, it's the event I look forward to the most.

[NeedMoreFans]

Well, the danger factor was present in the women's slopestyle last night. A Czech boarder crashed and slammed her head so hard that her helmet cracked on the back. She was clearly knocked out cold, but came to and finished the run under her own power. I also saw one of the American men's downhill skiers hit a jump at around 83 mph and fly 80 yards through the air. Unreal.

[Jimbo]

Skiing and shooting in the same event? That is just plain odd.

 

I think it's a throwback to the old days when one had to strap on the skis and go shoot dinner.

[Jimbo]

First time in several Olympics former NFL playcaller Tim Ryan isn't doing Alpine Skiing. My favorite Ryan quote came in 1994 Lillehammer describing bare chested Norwegian spectators, "Must be Green Bay Packer fans!!".

 

In hockey, some chime is played at each penalty call, same as Vancouver. Is this some international hockey thing?

 

Favorite LOL moment from today-

A.J. Mleczko: "When Hillary Knight left Wisconsin, she weighed 159 pounds. She hit the weight room and now weighs 180, would like to get to 185."

Mike Emrick: "Some of us can get to 185, without the weight training."

[RobDeer 45]

 

Favorite LOL moment from today-

A.J. Mleczko: "When Hillary Knight left Wisconsin, she weighed 159 pounds. She hit the weight room and now weighs 180, would like to get to 185."

Mike Emrick: "Some of us can get to 185, without the weight training."

 

My favorite moment so far from today is that there is a speed skater named Roman Craig.......Great Outdoors anyone? "You know what hotdogs are made of don't you? Lips and and....."

[Jimbo]

I just can't get excited about the Winter Olympics other than cool stuff like the Luge and Bobsled. Summer Olympics are way more awesome. That is probably only because so many more summer athletes have name recognition; I basically know absolutely no one on the winter olympic team other than Shaun White and Bode Miller.

 

Not attacking you or anything but people always bring up "name recognition" and "brand" when it comes to the Olympics. That's why people say Lolo Jones made the bobsled team. Personally, I don't care about established name recognition or anything like that. I just want to see great athletes perform. You don't get the name recognition/brand until you do something great. That's what the Olympics (should) allow athletes to do. Everybody starts out as a nobody until they do something great.

 

Every Olympics will have unknown athletes that emerge and become fan favorites. First possible candidate is Kate Hansen. Her pre-race ritual has "viral" potential.

[Jimbo]

Trenni Kusnierek scheduled to be a curling sideline reporter, although she wasn't on today. And Randy Moss sideline reporter for ski jumping(?)

[bjkrautk]

Trenni Kusnierek scheduled to be a curling sideline reporter, although she wasn't on today. And Randy Moss sideline reporter for ski jumping(?)

 

I caught Trenni interviewing the U.S. Men's Skip during the tail-end of the CNBC coverage yesterday. (His last stone was one of the few moments where I could look at the TV and genuinely say "I can do that" as he threw his draw through the house.)

 

Also, guessing that's the Randy Moss who works for the NFL Network, as opposed to the one who played in the the NFL (when he wanted to play).

[trwi7]

The referee and linesmen who worked the USA/Canada women's game today should not be allowed to work for another game. They were horrendous.