Coming in as the Poster Child of the American delegation, Miller exits the game, frustrated, ego-bruised, and empty-handed.

Some Miller would be great for Bode right about now…
(Source: Newsweek Magazine)

This is not a slam on Bode, he is still a great athlete. But looking back, it would have been great had he exercised a little shrewd discretion, a little more caution.

So, what happened really?

Today, at the Slalom event, Bode ’skiied out of bounds’ only 15 seconds into his first run, and thus, ended his medal hunt at these Winter Games (Benjamin Raich of Austria, again, took the Gold at the Slalom event, four days after winning the Giant Slalom event).

Miller’s Medal Hunt ended today (Source: NBC)

Four days ago, Bode skiied his best at the Giant Slalom event, but could only manage a 6th place finish.

Going back even further, at the Super-G (Feb. 19th), the World Champion’s breakneck speed was impressive to watch. But with challenging hairpin turns, Super-G is more like Formula 1 Racing than NASCAR, and as a result, Bode smashed into a gate in true NASCAR fashion and was out of contention.

At the Combined, Bode straddled a gate (i.e. the pole in the snow went between his legs) and was disqualified.

At the Downhill event (Feb. 12th), Bode saw a United Nations of French, Austrian, Swiss, and Norwegian skiers outperformed him.

Undoubtedly, many would be wondering if Bode was skiing WASTED at these Winter Games. I personally doubt it. But right now, some ‘Spirits‘ (pardon the pun) wouldn’t sound too bad at all.

Update: Read Bode’s lighthearted look back at the 2006 Winter Games, Unrepentant Bode: ‘Man, I Rocked Here’

Post from: EveryJoe

B-0-0-0-de’s 0lympics at T0rin0

Skiing in less-than-perfect weather sans her signature good-luck tiara (athletes MUST WEAR Head Protective Gear in the Giant Slalom event), Julia had two very strong runs down the challenging slopes, in both cases, taking the more aggressive line. Her combined time was 2 minutes 9.19 seconds.

Mancuso skiing in near-blizzard conditions (Source: NBC)

Several other circumstances factored into Julia’s victory.

Crotia’s Janica Kostelic, winner of a Gold and Silver medal at these Olympic games, was ill and could not compete. Heavy favorite Anja Paerson of Sweden was similarly not in peak form, managing a sixth place finish. Giant Slalom is not a strong suit for compatriot, Lindsey Kildow, who did not participate to begin with.

Tanja Poutianen of Finland and Anna Ottosson of Sweden, Silver and Bronze Medalists, were delighted and surprised at their good fortunes.

Like what many around the country is saying, “Julia doesn’t need her tiara anymore. She has an Olympic Crown.”

And for that, I salute you, Julia!

Post from: EveryJoe

Mancuso Made It!

Austria’s Raich and Dorftmeister competing in the Giant Slalom and Super-G events respectively (Source: NBC)

Fellow Countryman, Benjamin Raich, won the Gold at the Men’s Giant Slalom event (Total Time – 2 minutes 35 seconds).

The Austrian’s double victory today solidified their country’s position as an Alpine Skiing Powerhouse. Austria will be the country to beat in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

Croatia’s Janica Kostelic, though finishing second, became the most decorated Women Alpine Skier (6 medals in all, 4 of them Gold). Kostelic won Gold at the Combined event on Saturday (Feb. 18).

American Lindsey Kildow competed with injuries from several days ago could only manage a 7th place finish.

Again, Bode Miller came away from the Giant Slalom empty handed, tying for sixth place with Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal. Miller has only one event left to capture that elusive Gold (Slalom on Feb. 25).

Post from: EveryJoe

Austria – Alpine Skiing Powerhouse!!!

Feb 20 2006

SESTRIERE, Feb 20 (Reuters) – The start times of Monday’s two Alpine ski races at the Turin Olympics have been put back to allow workers to clear snow from the pistes, organisers said.

Heavy snow had fallen all day on Sunday, forcing a postponement of the women’s super-G by 24 hours.

Monday dawned clear and bright but organisers said they needed time to clear the men’s giant slalom piste in Sestriere and the women’s super-G course in nearby San Sicario.

The two legs of the men’s race will now start an hour later than planned at 1030 and 1400 local time (0930 GMT and 1300 GMT) with the women’s race pushed back nearly three hours to 1445 local (1345 GMT).

Post from: EveryJoe

Alpine Skiing: race start-times pushed back

The Italian Alps were blanketed with snow and heavy fog Sunday morning, forcing ski race officials to postpone the women’s super-G at the Torino Games.

The race will be re-scheduled for either Monday or Tuesday

[..more..]
and [..even more..]

Post from: EveryJoe

Women’s Super-G postponed

No ‘Miller Time‘ for Bode just yet… (Source: Newsweek Magazine)

Bode, Bode, Bode…what can we say? Miller came into the Winter Olympics as the World Champion, with 5 Gold Medals within reach. But until today, he doesn’t even have a podium finish, much less a Gold.

In his first event on Sunday (Feb. 12), Bode finished 5th (Downhill). On Tuesday (Feb. 14), he straddled a gate (i.e. the pole in the snow went between his legs) on the Downhill portion of the Combined event and was disqualified.

Miller smashed through a gate and skied out (Source: NBC)

Today, in the Super-G, Bode smashed through a gate and was out of contention altogether. Through an incredible balacing act skiing on one leg, Bode managed to stay upright and not fall. Just for that, I think the Olympic Committee should award him a Special Medal. Bode performed a miraculous recovery in an earlier event after losing his left ski; though the circumstances were dissimilar, his amazing acrobatics should not be missed.

Ever the free-spirit (or Rebel, some would call him), Bode is not staying at the Olympic village during the games. Instead, opting to stay in an RV provided by his sponsors. Did I mention that he also likes to party late?

The last American hopeful, Daron Rahlves, did not fair any better at the Super-G, finishing 9th overall. Norwegian Kjetil Andre Aamodt won the Super-G Gold.

Bode’s next event is the Giant Slalom.

Post from: EveryJoe

Oh no, Bode…not again!!!

Results
Aamodt won with a time of 1:30.65, .13 seconds ahead of silver medalist Hermann Maier of Austria. Switzerland’s Ambrosi Hoffmann won bronze in 1:30.98.

Congrats, everybody in Norway is very pleased. This is Norway’s second gold medal in this Olympic. Thanks for correcting this very embarrassing gold medal count.

Post from: EveryJoe

Aamodt wins Gold in Super-G

But perhaps more inspiring was Lindsey Kildow’s eighth place finish. Kildow suffered a horrific crash just two days ago while practicing.

Bothered by the injury, Kildow is understandably dissapointed. “The pain was something I was going to take no matter what…I knew this course inside and out, so it’s disappointing,” remarked Kildow after the event. She described her competitive form as being only “70 percent.”

Dorfmeister all choked up during the Medals Ceremony (Source: NBC)

Dorfmeister, the winner of a dozen Championships, has never won Gold at the Winter Olympics. Her victory ended Austria’s Gold Medal drought at the Downhill event. The last Austrian to win the Gold was Annemarie Moser-Proell at the 1980 Lake Placid Games.

Dorfmeister, who nearly beat out American Picabo Street for the Gold in Nagano, announced that she will be retiring from competition.

Read: Dorfmeister wins gold in women’s downhill

Post from: EveryJoe

Dorfmeister (AUT) wins Gold, Kildow inspiring!

Rank / NOC / Skiier / Time (Difference)

1- AUT – Michaela Dorfmeister (1:56.49)
2 – SUI – Martina Schild (1:56.86 / +0.37)
3 – SWE – Anja Paerson (1:57.13 / +0.64)

Results of Canadian Athletes

20 – CAN – Emily Brydon – (1.59.63 / +3.14)
24 – CAN – Kelly Vanderbeek (2:00.30 / +3.98)
26 – CAN – Sherry Lawrence (2:00.47 / +3.98)

Post from: EveryJoe

Alpine Skiing – Ladies Downhill

… We are opening the site up as a true community endeavor.
… We have invited a variety of other networks to participate as well.

So if you want to write about the games, please feel free to register at the site and we’ll get you all setup. Don’t forget to put in your country (”Extended Profile” under “Users”) and a link to your site (as it will go in every post you write).

So .. Pick a sporting event .. SIGN UP … and start blogging!!

All times are local Torino time (subtract 6 hrs for ET)

Curling
* 09:00 – Men – Canada vs Great Britain
* 09:00 – Men – Finland vs New Zealand
* 09:00 – Men – Sweden vs Norway
* 14:00 – Women – Sweden vs Great Britain
* 14:00 – Women – Italy vs Russian Federation
* 14:00 – Women – Japan vs Norway
* 14:00 – Women – Denmark vs United Sates
* 19:00 – Men – United States vs Italy
* 19:00 – Men – Great Britain vs Norway
* 19:00 – Men – Canada vs Switzerland
* 19:00 – Men – Germany vs Finland

Nordic Combined
* 10:30 List – First Round – LH Team
* 11:35 List – Final Round – LH Team
* 15:00 Team 4×5 km

Ice Hockey (Men’s Preliminary Rounds)
* 11:35 Kazakhstan vs Sweden
* 13:05 Italy vs Canada
* 15:35 Switzerland vs Finland
* 17:05 Germany vs Czech Republic
* 20:05 Russian Federation vs Slovakia
* 21:05 Latvia vs United States

Alpine Skiing
* 12:00 List – Ladies Downhill

Freestyle Skiing
*14:00 List Men’s Moguls Qualification
* 17:30 Men’s Moguls Finals

Luge
* 16:00 List – Doubles’ Run 1
* 17:20 Doubles’ Run 2

Speed Skating
* 17:00 List – Ladies Team Pursuit Preliminaries
* 17:31 List Men’s Team Pursuit Preliminaries
* 18:21 Ladies Team Pursuit QuarterFinals
* 18:52 Men’s Team Pursuit QuarterFinals

Short Track Skating
* 19:30 List Ladies 500m Quarterfinal 1
* 19:33 List Ladies 500m Quarterfinal 2
* 19:36 List Ladies 500m Quarterfinals 3
* 19:39 List Ladies 500m Quarterfinals 4
* 19:57 List Men’s 1000m Heat 1
* 20:01 List Men’s 1000m Heat 2
* 20:05 List Men’s 1000m Heat 3
* 20:09 List Men’s 1000m Heat 4
* 20:13 List Men’s 1000m Heat 5
* 20:17 List Men’s 1000m Heat 6
* 20:21 List Men’s 1000m Heat 7
* 20:44 Ladies 500m Semifinal 1
* 20:47 Ladies 500m Semifinal 2
* 21:05 List Men’s 5000m Relay Semifinal 1
* 21:14 List Men’s 5000m Relay Semifinal 2
* 21:38 Ladies 500m Final B
* 21:41 Ladies 500m Final A

Post from: EveryJoe

Busy Day Today – February 15, 2006