Well, the Olympics are over and I miss them already. But here are a few wrapping up notes:
NO new nation won a medal this Winter Olympics. Just as the website (Infostradasports) said!
Zimbabwe – Luke Steyn was 59th in Giant Slalom and did not finish the Slalom.
Morocco – Two athletes: Adam Lahhamedi was 48th in the Giant Slalom and did not finish the Slalom, either. The other Moroccan Olympian is Kenza Tazi and she tied for 61th in the Giant Slalom and was 45th in the Slalom.
Togo – They had two competitors as well: Mathilde Amivi Petitjean was 68th in the Ladies’ 10k Classic (cross-country skiing) and Alessia Afi Dipol was 53rd in the Giant Slalom and DNF at the Slalom.
Second, I found the NBC coverage surprisingly not jingoistic. I was impressed with the report about the Russian two-man bobsledder just before his team won the gold medal! I think Michael Callahan was listened to (Bob Costas actually called Callahan!) and I hereby give him the credit for calling the 2012 coverage right! Now if Callahan and I could be hired to make sure other viewpoints are heard at the Games, that would raise ratings – what outrageous thing will Sanders or Callahan say tonight? Tune in at 8/7 central time! Rio or bust!
Speaking of tiny nations, Slovenia was excellent in these games: Two golds (Tina Maze), two silver and four bronze! Not bad for a nation with just over 2 million people! I would think within the year, we’ll hear Maze at the Grammys and she’ll have a record contract in the USA!
After the disastrous fourth place finish in USA hockey, I can only say: If this is the best the NHLers can do, let’s go back to Herb Brooks! Maybe the NHL will decide that the break in the season is too much; they should renounce sports imperialism instead. But I’ll take the right thing for the wrong reason!
Finally, I ‘ll start this with the disclaimer and add emphasis to boot: I only blog/speak/write for me – not for the Curling Club of Virginia. I am no longer president nor am I even on the board! But I got to say it: Something must be done. The USA curling teams were hard to watch. It seemed like the other teams ran circles around our teams. In one game (USA women v. Great Britain) a record was set – a record of infamy: GB scored SEVEN points in one end. There are only EIGHT ROCKS! My recommendation is that we consider the all-star team idea – I hate it – develop a national team early for international competition or we need to get some funds from the private sector to promote curling, especially among the youth. Maybe we can have fancy tournaments in the USA where the prize money would draw the world’s best curlers and our best, too. Over time that effort to win will produce better teams. No sports imperialism but something like the World Cup of skiing. And some TV time, too! USA Curling can build and develop new clubs and then their next goal is: dedicated ice. For example, Richmond could use at least four sheets of dedicated curling ice.
We also need more nations in curling. There is little or no curling in South America or Africa.
Sandy is not saying his Olympic coverage is completely over, but this is a summing up. It’s a long two plus years until 2016.
Article written by: Elwood "Sandy" Sanders
About Elwood Sanders
Elwood "Sandy" Sanders is a Hanover attorney who is an Appellate Procedure Consultant for Lantagne Legal Printing and has written ten scholarly legal articles. Sandy was also Virginia's first Appellate Defender and also helped bring curling in VA! (None of these titles imply any endorsement of Sanders’ views)
- Web |
- More Posts (1930)
