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The Power Four => Big Ten => Topic started by: 847badgerfan on February 06, 2026, 12:15:40 PM

Title: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 06, 2026, 12:15:40 PM
Anyone gonna watch?

What sports interest you?

I like hockey, luge, bobsled, speed skating and some of the skiing. Not sure how much I'll get to watch.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 06, 2026, 12:18:26 PM
I'll watch.   It's live sports. 

Unless there's another sport on like basketball 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 06, 2026, 12:26:03 PM
I love the winter Olympics, I prefer it over the summer games (which I also enjoy).

My favorites are Alpine/downhill skiing, speed skating, bobsled, luge, ski jumping, freestyle skiing and snowboarding events (big air, slopestyle, etc.), and ice hockey.

I avoid figure skating and its even worse cousin, ice dancing.

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 06, 2026, 12:27:04 PM
I'm not a fan of any sport that is judged.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 06, 2026, 12:27:54 PM
I'm not a fan of any sport that is judged.
If it's judged, then by my definition, it's not a sport at all.  You could call it an athletic competition I suppose.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 06, 2026, 12:28:27 PM
Might not be a true sport :57:
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 06, 2026, 12:33:43 PM
If it's judged, then by my definition, it's not a sport at all.  You could call it an athletic competition I suppose.
They are athletes for sure.

Curling? That's a game, like golf.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on February 06, 2026, 12:35:56 PM
Snowboarding, Ice Hockey and Curling. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 06, 2026, 12:51:35 PM
Some sports require athleticism 
Some games require athleticism 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 06, 2026, 01:15:01 PM
For anyone interested, here's a link to a doc with the full schedule of televised Olympic events, across NBC's various channels.  It's a little weird formatting because it's made to be printed and read as separate pages.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zrfvjTYu4k5sHU1MMJUaQvPtcrX_n1PVc7PDIsgDclw/htmlview?usp=drivesdk&pru=AAABnFd28uc*-GBXSlOckQzsg3anUegTvA

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 06, 2026, 01:51:24 PM
I don't like sports when you are racing the clock, and IMO that's too much of the winter Olympics.  You watch 30 people ski down a hill one at a time, and they all look essentially the same, unless they totally screw up.  Then the top 20 are all within like 0.8 seconds of each other.

That's why I prefer the summer games, everyone in the pool, or on the track at once.  I do like some of the cross events.  I'll watch hockey now that it's best on best again, and not a weird combination of minor leaguers and former players.

I'll watch figure skating because my wife likes it, but it's not my favorite.  I don't care about the judging inasmuch as I don't know enough to know what to look for in the tricks.  Same with any of the ski and snowboarding pipes/jumps.

I do enjoy curling
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 06, 2026, 01:53:41 PM
I liked curling when I did it. I'm not a fan of watching it though.

Good drinking game.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 06, 2026, 01:57:03 PM
Drinking is a sport,  not a game 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 06, 2026, 01:58:53 PM
I actually like the mixed doubles version better.  I think it was just added at the 2022 games?
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 06, 2026, 02:00:19 PM
I've tried to get into curling, I know lots of people really love it.  It's just not my thing.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 06, 2026, 02:04:51 PM
I don't have the stones for it
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MarqHusker on February 06, 2026, 02:32:52 PM
Cross Country and specifically Biathlon is my favorite.   Great racing, tactics,  teamwork, and endurance.   Makes for great theater.


YouTube the Diggins finish in rhe relay last olympics.   Stuff like that is the best. 

Ive curled...  so I do like it.

Hockey is quite good.

Agree w skiing and luge/sled sports racing tine is less interesting. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 06, 2026, 03:46:29 PM
I get the disinterest due to timing, but personally I just love watching people go fast.  Down a hill, down a sled track, whatever.  

Watching the very best carve a perfect line, and seeing how those who are just slightly inferior simply can't do it as well, is fascinating and exhilerating to me.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 06, 2026, 04:46:35 PM
I don't have the stones for it
https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/2019515200613827039?s=20
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 06, 2026, 05:01:05 PM
I don't even want to know. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on February 06, 2026, 08:36:49 PM
I don't like sports when you are racing the clock, and IMO that's too much of the winter Olympics.  You watch 30 people ski down a hill one at a time, and they all look essentially the same, unless they totally screw up.  Then the top 20 are all within like 0.8 seconds of each other.

That's why I prefer the summer games, everyone in the pool, or on the track at once. 
This is a great idea.
Have all the skiers go at the same time.  THAT would be worth watching.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on February 06, 2026, 08:38:43 PM
I honestly had no idea the Olympics were happening.  Since I don't do commercials (Netflix, Youtube Premium, etc), I'm not bombarded with it, I guess.  

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on February 06, 2026, 11:30:05 PM
I don't even want to know.
Pole vaulting. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 07, 2026, 12:16:30 AM
This is a great idea.
Have all the skiers go at the same time.  THAT would be worth watching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAa7Wk9aOsg
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 07, 2026, 08:20:10 AM
yup, I watch that
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Riffraft on February 07, 2026, 10:33:52 AM
don't remember the last time I watched any of either Olympics.  As a kid and into my early 20s I use to watch everything from both.  Not sure why I lost interest but there is none for either.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 07, 2026, 10:53:42 AM
as a kid, we had 3 TV channels - ABC, NBC, & CBS - of the 3 options, the Olympics was always more interesting than the other 2.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 07, 2026, 05:11:54 PM
Curling entered today looking really good to advance to the medal round.  No harm in the Great Britain loss, they were the two undefeated teams.  But then to lose to 0-5 South Korea?  Rough

Canada is currently up 2-0 on Switzerland in womens hockey, with a 40-4 shot advantage.  The Switzerland goalie better get some sort of medal herself
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MrNubbz on February 07, 2026, 05:34:39 PM
Drinking is a sport,  not a game
I knew that looked familiar

"Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports... all the others are games" - Hemingway
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MrNubbz on February 07, 2026, 05:37:55 PM
https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/2019515200613827039?s=20
Maybe Beulah Balbricker can due the investigating
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 07, 2026, 06:53:03 PM
https://youtu.be/ky63j4VUjSc?si=Bqq70qfhHww6tv0M
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 07, 2026, 10:31:32 PM
Maybe Beulah Balbricker can due the investigating
you get a Yuengling 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: longhorn320 on February 08, 2026, 09:15:36 AM
I think I could be a sweeper
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 08, 2026, 12:52:03 PM
Curling entered today looking really good to advance to the medal round.  No harm in the Great Britain loss, they were the two undefeated teams.  But then to lose to 0-5 South Korea?  Rough
Came from behind to beat Estonia this morning.  Can clinch a spot in the medal round with a win over 4th place Sweden this afternoon.  Otherwise need to beat 2nd place Italy tomorrow morning, or hope for help
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 08, 2026, 01:31:51 PM
Sweden gets 3 in the first end, USA comes right back with 3 of their own to tie it up.

Apparently already in these Olympics, Sweden, the 2024 World Champions, became the first ever team to get shut out in an Olympic match, and set a scoring record with 13.  Quite the roller coaster
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 08, 2026, 02:01:01 PM
Wow, another 3 from USA in the 4th, to go up 6-4
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 08, 2026, 02:07:42 PM
Steals one in the 5th, 7-4
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 08, 2026, 02:31:56 PM
Give up 2 in the 6th, and let Sweden steal one without the hammer in the 7th.  7-7 going to the 8th.  Although I might like being tied with the hammer more than up 1 without it
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on February 08, 2026, 11:12:57 PM
Out west instead of water towers, they put a water tank up on a hill that looks like this

(https://wchsutah.org/photos3/wchs-03822.jpg)

Sometimes you see ladies figure skating on top with rollerblades, which is kind of funny. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 08, 2026, 11:52:26 PM
Give up 2 in the 6th, and let Sweden steal one without the hammer in the 7th.  7-7 going to the 8th.  Although I might like being tied with the hammer more than up 1 without it
I was right
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 09, 2026, 03:21:16 PM
Wow, took down the defending world champs on the final stone to advance to the Gold Medal game
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 09, 2026, 03:35:49 PM
U-S-A!  U-S-A!
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 10, 2026, 03:06:11 PM
Sweden left them chances, but the US's last 2 rocks were not great.

Still, silver is impressive
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 10, 2026, 05:59:57 PM
USA women 5-0 over Canada.

I know Canada was down their best player, but USA also hit 2 posts.  They are an absolute machine right now
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 10, 2026, 06:03:15 PM
USA women 5-0 over Canada.

I know Canada was down their best player, but USA also hit 2 posts.  They are an absolute machine right now
Looks like scoring 5 in every game is just what they do right now.  I'll take it!

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 10, 2026, 06:25:18 PM
Looks like scoring 5 in every game is just what they do right now.  I'll take it!


And 3 straight shutouts
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 10, 2026, 08:44:44 PM
Scott Hamilton looked 45 when he was 25, and still looks 45 at 65
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MarqHusker on February 10, 2026, 09:07:42 PM
yes.  he's got a Michael McDonald thing going.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 11, 2026, 12:35:20 AM
yes.  he's got a Michael McDonald thing going.
Oof, he never ruined China Grove
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 11, 2026, 02:30:47 PM
Slovakia destroyed Finland.  That was the toughest group, and Finland, who is probably the 4th best team in the tournament, is now going to finish (no pun intended) 3rd in their group
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Honestbuckeye on February 11, 2026, 06:49:04 PM
These athletes continue to amaze me.   Slaloms, moguls, half pipe.   
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 11, 2026, 09:14:04 PM
These athletes continue to amaze me.  Slaloms, moguls, half pipe. 
As someone with 2 ACL tears, I don't understand how human knees can do moguls
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MarqHusker on February 11, 2026, 10:45:11 PM
Skiing moguls is one of the most miserable experiences in my life.  

I intentionally sought to avoid them at Park City,  a run was unexpectedly closed on my way down and I was forced over to a mogul hill.   After about 30 yards, I took off my skis and slugged down the side.  There were several of us pissed off.    
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on February 11, 2026, 10:57:40 PM
If you don't want to get air, you can just do them slow. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 12, 2026, 09:25:57 AM
I enjoyed skiing the bumps, when I was young
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: SFBadger96 on February 12, 2026, 01:31:41 PM
For the challenge, sure. But I lost that urge a long time ago. I'm also not the best skier (never have been). I just like getting down the hill and feeling like I'm going fast (for me) and making fun turns.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 12, 2026, 01:47:15 PM
I only tried moguls once or twice. I never skied enough to be confident to try again. 

Then, when I moved to CA I swapped to snowboarding. But I only went maybe 5-10 times over a number of years, and haven't done it in the past 20 or so. 

It seems like boating or RV... You have to commit to doing it often enough or it's not worth it. For me, the short bit I lived in the Bay Area, Tahoe is 4 hours away, and down here in Orange County, Big Bear is 2 hours away. I didn't have that level of commitment--especially with a[n ex-]wife that would have been more interested in drinking wine in the ski lodge than actually going out on the slopes.  

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 12, 2026, 02:40:14 PM
I only tried moguls once or twice. I never skied enough to be confident to try again.

Then, when I moved to CA I swapped to snowboarding. But I only went maybe 5-10 times over a number of years, and haven't done it in the past 20 or so.

It seems like boating or RV... You have to commit to doing it often enough or it's not worth it. For me, the short bit I lived in the Bay Area, Tahoe is 4 hours away, and down here in Orange County, Big Bear is 2 hours away. I didn't have that level of commitment--especially with a[n ex-]wife that would have been more interested in drinking wine in the ski lodge than actually going out on the slopes. 



I feel targeted.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 12, 2026, 03:04:19 PM
I feel targeted.
Hey, I'm not criticizing. My wife now would be more interested drinking wine in the ski lodge than hitting the slopes. And I'm not saying I'm disinterested in drinking wine [or beer] in the ski lodge either. 

I'm just saying that this is the sort of thing that makes it difficult for one person to go all-in on something. 

If your wife hated weekends in an RV, or Badge's wife hated boating, it becomes pretty hard to make that something that is such a large portion of your lives. When the slopes are far enough away that you have to spend weekends away on a ski trip, it's tough to make that a really large part of life when only one party is interested. 

For me, other things like golf don't have this problem. I have golf courses near me. Playing golf is 5-6.5 hours out of the day counting commute and maybe a post-round beer with the guys. So the fact that my wife has absolutely zero interest in golf doesn't restrict my ability to do it. Just as my disinterest in some of her stuff doesn't stop her from doing it. Because these are things that don't require such a disruptive amount of time and expense that you really need both people on board or you're basically just living apart. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: bayareabadger on February 12, 2026, 03:39:01 PM
I feel targeted.
He got you (and me)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 12, 2026, 03:45:41 PM
And me.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 12, 2026, 05:32:38 PM
I drank plenty in the lodge after the lifts closed down

my brother & I skied on spring break for 7 or 8 years, maybe missed a year or two so maybe 6 or 7 times at 8-9 days each trip.
all over Colorado - most often to Purgatory near Durango - aunt, uncle, and cousin lived there
I went back a couple times after I got married - Vail and Aspen

We'd ski some black slopes in the morning before our legs got tired, then blue slopes the rest of the day- really enjoyed the bumps.
The key is to turn on top of the bump.

hated the green trails - too many women & children clogging things up
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 12, 2026, 06:06:26 PM
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The stakes were low — and the time ripe — for a 54-year old personal injury lawyer and six-time winner of “Minnesota Attorney of the Year” to make Olympic history.

It was the end of the U.S. men’s curling match against Switzerland on Thursday and they were down 8-2.

The team called a substitution. Rich Ruohonen, from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, stepped onto the ice. He hurled the corner guard and watched his stone, biting his lip until it arrived safely at the left flank of the house.

“Yeah, baby! Good shot, Rich!” skip Danny Casper — who was born in 2001, making him 30 years younger than Ruohonen — shouted across the ice.

U.S. fans gave a standing ovation. The lawyer looked wistful. He’d had just become the oldest person to compete for the U.S. at the Winter Olympics.

“I would have rather done it when we were up 8-2 instead of down 8-2,” he said, “but I really appreciate the guys giving me a chance.”
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on February 12, 2026, 11:02:48 PM
So like....to find out the best skiers in the world, how many people have to be crippled?  

Makes it not seem very important to me.  Idk
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Riffraft on February 13, 2026, 08:56:52 AM
Hey, I'm not criticizing. My wife now would be more interested drinking wine in the ski lodge than hitting the slopes. And I'm not saying I'm disinterested in drinking wine [or beer] in the ski lodge either.

I'm just saying that this is the sort of thing that makes it difficult for one person to go all-in on something.

If your wife hated weekends in an RV, or Badge's wife hated boating, it becomes pretty hard to make that something that is such a large portion of your lives. When the slopes are far enough away that you have to spend weekends away on a ski trip, it's tough to make that a really large part of life when only one party is interested.

For me, other things like golf don't have this problem. I have golf courses near me. Playing golf is 5-6.5 hours out of the day counting commute and maybe a post-round beer with the guys. So the fact that my wife has absolutely zero interest in golf doesn't restrict my ability to do it. Just as my disinterest in some of her stuff doesn't stop her from doing it. Because these are things that don't require such a disruptive amount of time and expense that you really need both people on board or you're basically just living apart.

Im very lucky my wife likes golf as much as me.  I almost never play golf without her.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 13, 2026, 09:15:50 AM
So like....to find out the best skiers in the world, how many people have to be crippled? 

Makes it not seem very important to me.  Idk
ask Sonny Bono
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 13, 2026, 09:30:09 AM

(https://i.imgur.com/D94tq2w.png)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 13, 2026, 09:32:30 AM
well obviously, Sonny wasn't wearing his helmet
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 13, 2026, 09:35:03 AM
Michael Schumacher was and he still vegetableized himself in a skiing accident.

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 13, 2026, 09:44:30 AM
he was better with 4 wheels with good tires
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Riffraft on February 13, 2026, 10:19:39 AM
Michael Schumacher was and he still vegetableized himself in a skiing accident.


Never been skiing. why would I go down a hill on 2 pieces of fiberglass with only two visible means of stopping, running into something or falling down.  No thank you. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 13, 2026, 04:39:53 PM
Oh and hey, is anyone surprised that there's controversy regarding the judged outcome of the ice dancing competition?  

(https://i.imgur.com/3VYLM5C.png)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 13, 2026, 04:52:22 PM
I suspect the russian judge!
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 13, 2026, 04:58:11 PM
I suspect the russian judge!
Gotta watch out for the East Germans too.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 13, 2026, 05:02:11 PM
Nah in figure skating it's always the French judge, and this case was no different.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on February 13, 2026, 05:12:49 PM
Gotta watch out for the East Germans too.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-9thwTXOlRw/maxresdefault.jpg)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 13, 2026, 05:41:57 PM
Looks like scoring 5 in every game is just what they do right now.  I'll take it!


Except when they score SIX!!!
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 14, 2026, 11:47:11 AM
The 21 year old speed skating prodigy seems to be exceeding the hype.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MarqHusker on February 14, 2026, 02:00:02 PM
That's was a fun drag race vs the Dutchman.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 14, 2026, 04:26:51 PM
Men's Hockey playing with their food
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MarqHusker on February 15, 2026, 07:55:11 PM
Was just explaining who Eddie the Eagle is to my daughter as were talking about the merits of ski jumping. 

That guy was a legend. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: bayareabadger on February 15, 2026, 08:37:01 PM
Biathlon rules.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MarqHusker on February 15, 2026, 08:53:26 PM
Biathlon is best olympic sport imo.  

This course is so beautiful too, w massive crowds.

The totally homebrewed course in sochi w fake snow was a crime and a total disaster. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 16, 2026, 11:12:22 AM
Sweden fell all the way to the 7 seed, which means USA-Sweden will play in the quarterfinals, eliminating one of the medal favorites before the medal round
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 16, 2026, 11:13:22 AM
https://twitter.com/Pickswise/status/2023081325000044973?s=20
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 16, 2026, 12:29:52 PM
Both USA Curling teams had fantastic victories yesterday, and USA Women's Hockey looks like they are playing against the JV.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 16, 2026, 05:42:52 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/wrw0iyK.png)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 16, 2026, 05:46:25 PM
Both USA Curling teams had fantastic victories yesterday, and USA Women's Hockey looks like they are playing against the JV.

And then the women turned around and had perhaps a loss that will keep them out of the medal round.  Losing 7-2 to an 0-5 Italy squad is brutal
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 16, 2026, 05:52:01 PM
And then the women turned around and had perhaps a loss that will keep them out of the medal round.  Losing 7-2 to an 0-5 Italy squad is brutal
Hadn't seen that.  Couldn't steal one without the hammer in both the 9th and 10th to save that one, apparently.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 16, 2026, 05:53:39 PM
Hadn't seen that.  Couldn't steal one without the hammer in both the 9th and 10th to save that one, apparently.
They play well with the lead, but they get too cute trying to come from behind.  Granted they HAD to get 2+ in those final ends
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 16, 2026, 06:47:09 PM
I don't understand "style points" in ski jumping. 

Give the medal to whoever goes the furthest. 

I can understand gate and wind adjustments. You can at least model that based on physics. But do we really need to add style?
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 16, 2026, 06:49:02 PM
I don't understand "style points" in ski jumping.

Give the medal to whoever goes the furthest.

I can understand gate and wind adjustments. You can at least model that based on physics. But do we really need to add style?

Agree, why add silly unnecessary subjectivity when there's already an objective metric to use, and that objective metric is the entire point of the sport in the first place?
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 16, 2026, 07:36:30 PM
Agree, why add silly unnecessary subjectivity when there's already an objective metric to use, and that objective metric is the entire point of the sport in the first place?

Yep. I could see assigning a penalty if someone falls on the landing. I assume we don't want to incentivize someone just selling out and not landing at all in the aim to get another meter. But beyond that, "style" isn't something I think we need in ski jumping. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MarqHusker on February 16, 2026, 08:21:31 PM
When I was much younger nobody jumped with the V formation on skis, that was verboten.  You had to keep them parallel.  Why did it take so long for somebody to convince others how much further you could jump w better technique. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 16, 2026, 08:30:51 PM
it sure as hell wasn't Eddie the Eagle at @Calgary in 1988
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 16, 2026, 08:57:11 PM
When I was much younger nobody jumped with the V formation on skis, that was verboten.  You had to keep them parallel.  Why did it take so long for somebody to convince others how much further you could jump w better technique.
As I recall, the ski jumpers realized that the penalty for "bad form" was more than offset by the distance they were gaining, so they all adopted the V formation.  Eventually, since everyone was doing it anyway, they stopped penalizing for it.

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 16, 2026, 09:04:22 PM
The V-style in ski jumping is an aerodynamic flight technique where the jumper spreads the tips of their skis apart, forming a "V" shape with the tails close together, maximizing surface area to increase lift and flight distance by roughly 10%. Pioneered by Jan Boklöv in 1985, this technique, also known as the Graf–Boklöv style, replaced the traditional parallel, or Däscher technique, becoming the standard by the 1990s.

History & Adoption: Though Polish jumper Mirosław Graf used a similar style as early as 1969, it was not accepted until Jan Boklöv of Sweden proved its efficiency in the mid-1980s, despite initially being penalized by judges.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MarqHusker on February 16, 2026, 11:01:51 PM
Rare victory scene with medalists w their kids in their arms or at their feet.  Pretty cool scene for the Moms at the Monobob Bobsleigh race.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 17, 2026, 08:30:11 AM
And then the women turned around and had perhaps a loss that will keep them out of the medal round.  Losing 7-2 to an 0-5 Italy squad is brutal
Oof, and then the men lose to 1-5 China
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 17, 2026, 10:18:30 AM
Nice bounceback for the women this morning
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 17, 2026, 12:16:27 PM
Nice bounceback for the women this morning
Had to watch that before dragging myself to work, that was bad ass.  Hadn't seen a concession prior to the 9th end before.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: SFBadger96 on February 17, 2026, 12:37:56 PM
My Winter Olympics hot take: I'm trying to figure out why NBC has decided that curling is the most interesting event in the Winter Olympics. Good for a side story or two from time to time, but I'm baffled by how much prime time coverage NBC devotes to it.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 17, 2026, 12:40:54 PM
My Winter Olympics hot take: I'm trying to figure out why NBC has decided that curling is the most interesting event in the Winter Olympics. Good for a side story or two from time to time, but I'm baffled by how much prime time coverage NBC devotes to it.
Yeah it's an automatic channel change for me.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 17, 2026, 12:49:39 PM
I'm guessing it's rating driven.

I haven't watched any of the Prime Time coverage  Since I work from home, I watch live during the day.  For live broadcasts it's the exact opposite, USA and NBC show almost no curling, you have to go to Peacock for it
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 17, 2026, 12:52:58 PM
I find it pretty fascinating, but have watched it during the daytime.  I still pay for the Peacock, so I can flip around and see different stuff than the NBC main feed.  In fact, I've usually already seen the stuff they throw on prime time anyway--which has given me time to follow the K-State Basketball drama at night.

The fact that a lot of the curling chicks are easy to look at helps.  Did you see the lead for Italy? The US lead is a smoke show too.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 17, 2026, 12:54:29 PM
Also, IMO the least watchable is speed skating.  The long races are just everyone skating in a pack, rotating taking the lead, with no separation, until a mad dash at the end.  I get the stamina standpoint, but thee is zero separation, they might as well help a friend move, and then go skate, if that's the point.

Then short track is just everyone crashing out, determining whose fault it is, then DQing them, over and over
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MikeDeTiger on February 17, 2026, 12:58:54 PM
Honestly had no idea what curling is and only know anything about it now because there was a news story over the weekend wherein Sweden accused Canada of cheating, and the Canadian guy told him to F off.  

I think he should've been DQ'd for failing to add the "eh" at the end.  It's "F off, eh?"  
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MikeDeTiger on February 17, 2026, 01:02:34 PM
Apparently it's a Scottish sport.  So they gave us golf and curling.  Trying to imagine Fearless taking up curling.  
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 17, 2026, 01:07:10 PM
I don't have Peacock but they're showing stuff on NBC, USA, and NBCSN, all of which I have.

I've watched a lot of the Alpine skiing and freestyle skiing and snowboarding events.  I've watched luge and bobsled too.  I like watching people go really really fast down mountainsides or sledding tracks.

Am I the only one that finds 2-person luge to be oddly weird and uncomfortable-looking, though?

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 17, 2026, 01:10:21 PM


Am I the only one that finds 2-person luge to be oddly weird and uncomfortable-looking, though?
Just don't say Gay.

I don't remember Mono-bob from previous Olympics.  Odd how it's old people that excelled in that one.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: GopherRock on February 17, 2026, 01:24:51 PM
Just returned from Italy. Yes, the Mrs. and I went to Milan and the Olympics. 

Will have more details and thoughts once I sift through the impressive stack of unread emails.

Also, bobsled is badass. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on February 17, 2026, 01:41:14 PM
Yeah it's an automatic channel change for me.
It's not to be taken seriously. It's more of a "so bad, it's good" sorta thing. Like the Star Wars Holiday Special. Or Christmas Vacation 2. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 17, 2026, 01:51:16 PM
Yeah it's an automatic channel change for me.
Yeah, we were watching last night and it swapped from whatever it was to curling. 

My wife just said. "NO."
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: GopherRock on February 17, 2026, 03:18:00 PM
My Winter Olympics hot take: I'm trying to figure out why NBC has decided that curling is the most interesting event in the Winter Olympics. Good for a side story or two from time to time, but I'm baffled by how much prime time coverage NBC devotes to it.
It was a bit of a mind-screw to fall asleep on the couch to skating, and to groggily wake up a couple of hours later to curling.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 17, 2026, 03:40:19 PM
Men fall to Italy.  Need to beat Great Britain tomorrow, and then get some help
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MarqHusker on February 17, 2026, 07:52:51 PM
Just returned from Italy. Yes, the Mrs. and I went to Milan and the Olympics.

Will have more details and thoughts once I sift through the impressive stack of unread emails.

Also, bobsled is badass.
doing the Bobsled trek in Park City was badass.    So much fun,   fire yourself down an icy track in a giant oil drum is basically what it felt like.   
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 17, 2026, 08:05:30 PM
USA-Sweden in a quarterfinal match is crazy.  They were the projected Silver and Bronze medal favorites in some order.  Although I think that was based on the talent of the US, and not the fact that they don't know how to build a team.

I fully expect Sweden to win, they have the 3rd most talent, and its much more cohesive.  They just had some bumpy moments in group play.  US had the easiest group, and couldn't get the 1 seed
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 18, 2026, 09:42:13 AM
Women blew a 7-4 lead in the 9th end, and lost 8-7 to Great Britain.

Chance neither US squad advances to the medal round
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 18, 2026, 11:48:17 AM
Women blew a 7-4 lead in the 9th end, and lost 8-7 to Great Britain.

Chance neither US squad advances to the medal round
I just finished watching that.  What an unbelievable shot that Brit chick made to win.  Also woke up in the recliner this morning at 5:30 and watched Shiffrin freaking tear up the slalom.  Her only competition would have been the other American, if she wouldn't have flubbed her first run--her second was the fastest of all.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: SFBadger96 on February 18, 2026, 12:14:59 PM
Also woke up in the recliner this morning at 5:30 and watched Shiffrin freaking tear up the slalom.  Her only competition would have been the other American, if she wouldn't have flubbed her first run--her second was the fastest of all.
Cool to see her get over the Olympic hump in her last race. Well done.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 18, 2026, 12:29:59 PM
Cool to see her get over the Olympic hump in her last race. Well done.
That was the most nervous I've ever been watching someone compete in an Olympic event
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 18, 2026, 02:40:02 PM
Men's curling got destroyed 9-2 by Great Britain in just 6 ends.

They finish 4-5, yet will somehow still advance if Italy, Norway and Germany all lose tomorrow morning.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 18, 2026, 06:14:38 PM
I won't play spoiler...

But the USA/Sweden Hockey game is worth catching the end.  I got back in the office with 7 minutes left from popping in to watch the last testimony in the current jury trial going.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 18, 2026, 09:08:49 PM
priorities
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MarqHusker on February 18, 2026, 09:49:29 PM
3-3 OT to settle games at this juncture is a disgrace.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 18, 2026, 10:34:13 PM
3-3 OT to settle games at this juncture is a disgrace.
Its awful
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 19, 2026, 09:39:26 AM
I swear every time I turn on the Olympics... It's curling again. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 19, 2026, 09:48:38 AM
Ski Mountaineering is way less fun to watch than it sounds like it would be
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 19, 2026, 09:49:28 AM
I swear every time I turn on the Olympics... It's curling again.

Same here. Odd coincidence, or is it actually the only thing ever on??? ;)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 19, 2026, 10:06:04 AM
I swear every time I turn on the Olympics... It's curling again.

My solution has been working. I haven't turned any Olympics on.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 19, 2026, 10:21:59 AM
same
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 19, 2026, 10:22:12 AM
Every time I think I'm excelling as a curmudgeon, someone here at CFB51 shows me the true ceiling I have yet to reach... 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 19, 2026, 10:23:05 AM
motivation
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 19, 2026, 10:25:04 AM
Every time I think I'm excelling as a curmudgeon, someone here at CFB51 shows me the true ceiling I have yet to reach...

These guys have years of experience on you.  Decades if we're talking about CD... ;)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MikeDeTiger on February 19, 2026, 10:26:30 AM
Every time I think I'm excelling as a curmudgeon, someone here at CFB51 shows me the true ceiling I have yet to reach...

Every time I think I'm excelling as a curmudgeon, folks here at CFB51 confirm my assessment and remind me that I am comfortably lapping the pack, with little chance of being caught.  
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Riffraft on February 19, 2026, 10:31:17 AM
Same here. Odd coincidence, or is it actually the only thing ever on??? ;)


I swear every time I turn on the Olympics... It's curling again.

Was at a sports bar last night and wife made the same comment
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 19, 2026, 11:36:41 AM
Apparently it's a Scottish sport.  So they gave us golf and curling.  Trying to imagine Fearless taking up curling. 
Legendary people for making up sports to do when their wives yelled at them for just sitting around drinking.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 19, 2026, 11:46:16 AM
Another question... Why do we need so many variants of events? 

For example, I understand adding things like snowboarding, or big air ski jumping, which are meaningfully different from slalom/downhill skiing and the ski jump. 

But why did we need monobob? And if we're going to add monobob, why do we still have twin bobsled. Why not make it just monobob and 4-person sled, and cut the 2-person out? And if you're going to have 1, 2, and 4, why not 3? What's next, 6-man bob? 

It seems like they keep adding minor variants of stuff we already see in order, IMHO, to fill TV inventory and increase medal counts. 

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 19, 2026, 11:50:20 AM
Another question... Why do we need so many variants of events?

For example, I understand adding things like snowboarding, or big air ski jumping, which are meaningfully different from slalom/downhill skiing and the ski jump.

But why did we need monobob? And if we're going to add monobob, why do we still have twin bobsled. Why not make it just monobob and 4-person sled, and cut the 2-person out? And if you're going to have 1, 2, and 4, why not 3? What's next, 6-man bob?

It seems like they keep adding minor variants of stuff we already see in order, IMHO, to fill TV inventory and increase medal counts.



Probably this.

But I don't want to see 2-person bob go away, I like it, it's probably my favorite of the sliding sports.

I'd much rather see the elimination of 2-person luge which is just freaky.

Along those same lines though, are the combo sports.  Like ski jumping and cross-country skiing.  They each have separate events.  Do we really need a combination of those two? Seems like just more medal-stacking.



Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 19, 2026, 11:57:35 AM
Probably this.

But I don't want to see 2-person bob go away, I like it, it's probably my favorite of the sliding sports.

I'd much rather see the elimination of 2-person luge which is just freaky.

Along those same lines though, are the combo sports.  Like ski jumping and cross-country skiing.  They each have separate events.  Do we really need a combination of those two? Seems like just more medal-stacking.
I thought that too, but oddly, it's not a new filler event, it's been around since 1924.

The number of events has exploded, and it seems like they've added a team event to just about every sport as well.  I'm guessing that is also pressure from the larger nations, and their TV partners.  Rewards having depth, which population tends to lead to.

I agree with you that 2 man bobsled is my favorite sliding sport.

Disagree about the 2 man luge.  I say we keep going.  4 man luge?  Also you know some guy keeps tossing out there mixed doubles, just to float the idea
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 19, 2026, 11:59:42 AM
Also you know some guy keeps tossing out there mixed doubles, just to float the idea
Hey baby, you want to come and slide on my luge? We'll talk about the first thing that pops up... :57:
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 19, 2026, 12:00:46 PM
I thought that too, but oddly, it's not a new filler event, it's been around since 1924.

The number of events has exploded, and it seems like they've added a team event to just about every sport as well.  I'm guessing that is also pressure from the larger nations, and their TV partners.  Rewards having depth, which population tends to lead to.

I agree with you that 2 man bobsled is my favorite sliding sport.

Disagree about the 2 man luge.  I say we keep going.  4 man luge?  Also you know some guy keeps tossing out there mixed doubles, just to float the idea

You have grown wise young AAA.

And yeah I can buy that the combo ski jumping/cross country has been around a while.  I suspect it, and biatholon, are actually evolved from the Nordic countries' training regimens for defending their countries aginst invading Russians.

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 19, 2026, 12:03:39 PM
Hey baby, you want to come and slide on my luge? We'll talk about the first thing that pops up... :57:

First sport where finishing early doesn't mean you win
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 19, 2026, 12:35:47 PM
I'll give you old farts something to complain about...the USA women's curling team came up clutch after a devastating loss yesterday, and giving up 3 in the 10th to go to an extra end today.  I was riveted, and you can't take that away from me!
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Honestbuckeye on February 19, 2026, 12:43:04 PM
First sport where finishing early doesn't mean you win
😂😂
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 19, 2026, 02:09:48 PM
I'll give you old farts something to complain about...the USA women's curling team came up clutch after a devastating loss yesterday, and giving up 3 in the 10th to go to an extra end today.  I was riveted, and you can't take that away from me!
It was the 2nd best moment of these Olympics, behind Shiffrin.

Unless you hate America
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 19, 2026, 02:13:15 PM
Shiffrin was second.  The best moment was 41-year-old Elena Meyers Taylor winning gold in bobsled and then hugging her kids on the platform immediately after.

Unless you hate America.

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MikeDeTiger on February 19, 2026, 02:31:22 PM
If I haven't watched a single second of the Olympics, do I hate America?
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 19, 2026, 02:35:40 PM
Shiffrin was second.  The best moment was 41-year-old Elena Meyers Taylor winning gold in bobsled and then hugging her kids on the platform immediately after.

Unless you hate America.
Touching as they may be, I can't put medal ceremonies over the actual competition.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 19, 2026, 02:40:45 PM
Touching as they may be, I can't put medal ceremonies over the actual competition.
I can easily, when the competition in question is boring-ass curling.

Also, it wasn't the medal ceremony, it was the moment immediately after she finished her final run, and realized she'd won gold.  So, you know... the actual competition and its aftermath.

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: SFBadger96 on February 19, 2026, 02:41:15 PM
USA in trouble against Canada in the women's hockey gold medal game...
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 19, 2026, 02:52:43 PM
I can easily, when the competition in question is boring-ass curling.
To each his own.  Although I disagree, there's a lot of people that think baseball is boring.

I appreciate the strategery, the necessary skill, and performing under pressure of curling, can't ever imagine mastering either myself.  

All I have to do it spit out words with a racing pulse these days.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 19, 2026, 02:57:05 PM
If I haven't watched a single second of the Olympics, do I hate America?
You might.  Probably need a cologuard to confirm
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 19, 2026, 02:58:48 PM
To each his own.  Although I disagree, there's a lot of people that think baseball is boring.

I appreciate the strategery, the necessary skill, and performing under pressure of curling, can't ever imagine mastering either myself. 

All I have to do it spit out words with a racing pulse these days.
That's where I am.  I couldn't get into a curling league.  And honestly I feel like they've given it less time than it deserves considering the sports they cover than the USA is non competitive in, and that's their market.  But I assumed Venn Diagram of the people who think curling is boring, and the people who think baseball is boring is a circle
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 19, 2026, 03:00:10 PM
I hate people and there are people in America, so...


Anyway I'm just arguing to argue.  I enjoy the Olympics (other than curling) but I'm not gonna die on any hills over them.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 19, 2026, 03:00:59 PM
That's where I am.  I couldn't get into a curling league.  And honestly I feel like they've given it less time than it deserves considering the sports they cover than the USA is non competitive in, and that's their market.  But I assumed Venn Diagram of the people who think curling is boring, and the people who think baseball is boring is a circle
College baseball is great.

MLB = rat's ass.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 19, 2026, 03:02:47 PM
I love both.

But I also enjoy 2 weeks of curling every 4 years
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 19, 2026, 03:21:04 PM
That's where I am.  I couldn't get into a curling league.  And honestly I feel like they've given it less time than it deserves considering the sports they cover than the USA is non competitive in, and that's their market.  But I assumed Venn Diagram of the people who think curling is boring, and the people who think baseball is boring is a circle
I think baseball, if you really understand every at bat as a chess match between pitcher and batter, can be very interesting. And you often will be able to understand it and find it most interesting if you played it. 

I think there's some similarity in curling. I see how the strategy plays out, even if I don't understand it deeply. And I assume if you've ever curled, then you really do understand it deeply and you get a lot out of watching it. 

I only played one season of little league baseball as a kid, and I've never curled. So I don't appreciate the strategic aspects of either, which is WHY both are boring to me. 

However, I disagree with your Venn diagram idea. Because there are a LOT more Americans who grew up playing baseball than curling, and so I'd assume there are a lot of people who deeply understand (and enjoy) watching baseball, but don't get the same satisfaction from curling because they've never personally done it. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: GopherRock on February 19, 2026, 03:27:46 PM
US tie it up with 2:04 to go in regulation
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 19, 2026, 03:53:39 PM
I'd also say there's a reason I find watching golf on TV interesting... It's because I've played golf all my life. I understand it. 

I get why non-golfers find it boring as hell. It's the same reason I find baseball or curling boring as hell... Because what you see is only the surface level, and you have to understand the game deeper to find it interesting. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 19, 2026, 03:53:57 PM
US tie it up with 2:04 to go in regulation
Is this sudden death OT, or do they play the full period? 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 19, 2026, 03:56:21 PM
Ok question answered... Gold USA!
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: GopherRock on February 19, 2026, 03:56:26 PM
Sudden death, and the US wins!
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MikeDeTiger on February 19, 2026, 03:58:17 PM
I'd also say there's a reason I find watching golf on TV interesting... It's because I've played golf all my life. I understand it.

I get why non-golfers find it boring as hell. It's the same reason I find baseball or curling boring as hell... Because what you see is only the surface level, and you have to understand the game deeper to find it interesting.


Golf as a spectator sport is boring as hell.  I really enjoyed playing it back when I took a swing at it (pun not originally intended, but gladly claimed post-hoc anyway).  But good lord did I suck at it.  I didn't have the time or the funds back then to do the kind of practicing it would've taken to get better.  So I just quit after a little while and never looked back.  
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: slugsrbad on February 19, 2026, 03:58:46 PM
What a beautiful move to win it (3v3 is dumb)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 19, 2026, 03:59:24 PM
I think baseball, if you really understand every at bat as a chess match between pitcher and batter, can be very interesting. And you often will be able to understand it and find it most interesting if you played it.

I think there's some similarity in curling. I see how the strategy plays out, even if I don't understand it deeply. And I assume if you've ever curled, then you really do understand it deeply and you get a lot out of watching it.

I only played one season of little league baseball as a kid, and I've never curled. So I don't appreciate the strategic aspects of either, which is WHY both are boring to me.

However, I disagree with your Venn diagram idea. Because there are a LOT more Americans who grew up playing baseball than curling, and so I'd assume there are a lot of people who deeply understand (and enjoy) watching baseball, but don't get the same satisfaction from curling because they've never personally done it.
You assume my diagram is Americans
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MikeDeTiger on February 19, 2026, 03:59:39 PM
Sudden death, and the US wins!

Take that, America's Evil Tophat!
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 19, 2026, 04:01:39 PM
What a beautiful move to win it (3v3 is dumb)
They do 10 minute OTs.

It should be 10 minutes of 5 on 5, then 10 minutes of 4 on 4, then 10 minutes of 3 on 3, and if somehow you get through that, a shootout.

The dumb OT rules (for all sports) make sense in the regular season, I guess, but in elimination games, its embarrassing.  Fortunately I don't think there is any traction in that direction for the NHL playoffs
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 19, 2026, 04:02:42 PM
Take that, America's Evil Tophat!
The US was the better team all tournament, and even if they weren't I'd allow it, but I hate it
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 19, 2026, 04:03:56 PM
Alright, there's a moment to rival any others mentioned prior!

What a freaking move!
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 19, 2026, 04:05:25 PM
You assume my diagram is Americans
Fair enough, but that's still not accurate. I'd say there are a lot of Americans who find curling boring but not baseball, and many international folks that find baseball boring but not curling...

So there'd be a significant non-overlap between the two circles. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 19, 2026, 04:06:11 PM
Alright, there's a moment to rival any others mentioned prior!

What a freaking move!
Yup, definitely 3rd best moment in the Olympics so far!
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 19, 2026, 04:07:24 PM
Fair enough, but that's still not accurate. I'd say there are a lot of Americans who find curling boring but not baseball, and many international folks that find baseball boring but not curling...

So there'd be a significant non-overlap between the two circles.
That was my thought as well but then I realized Set Theory was 5th grade and that was over 40 yers ago so I'm not gonna worry too much about it.

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 19, 2026, 04:30:38 PM
Perhaps, I should say limiting to people who give both sports a shot.  

I largely suck as chess, but I enjoy watching people who are good at it, more than I enjoy checkers.  Some of these athletes do crazy shit.  I'm amazed by it.  It's fun to watch.  But I can't watch 40 people do mostly the same thing, but a few do a half twist less.

I'd rather watch the strategy of curling.  I don't love it.  I assume there's a curling league somewhere that I don't watch.  But I also don't watch the X Games.  Of all of the sports in the Olympics, curling and biathlon are the two that aren't constantly available
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 19, 2026, 04:50:47 PM
There's nothing like an instantaneous celebration by a team in a sudden-death type of situation.  The shot showing the bench from the other end of the rink...fantastic.

Baseball walkoffs, hoops buzzer-beaters...and OT Olympic Gold Hockey just a few minutes ago.

It's fun to win football games that way, but a FG as time expires isn't quite the same.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 19, 2026, 05:56:06 PM
As much as I love football, it is the worst end of game highlight sport.  It's why we love a good Hail Mary, because it sort of a real play.  That's why the Michael Crabtree play holds sway with me, it was ana actual football play.  Not a Hail Mary, not a field goal.  
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on February 19, 2026, 06:07:49 PM
As much as I love football, it is the worst end of game highlight sport.  It's why we love a good Hail Mary, because it sort of a real play.  That's why the Michael Crabtree play holds sway with me, it was ana actual football play.  Not a Hail Mary, not a field goal. 
Yeah, there's a degree to which it can be VERY anticlimactic. If your team has the ball with a 1 point lead, the goal is to get to the 2 minute warning with a first down and your opponent having zero TOs. Because you can kneel down three times and walk off the victor. 

You'll never see that in a basketball game with a 1 point lead and 2 minutes to play...
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on February 19, 2026, 06:27:34 PM
Yeah, it's always a little lame when the outcome of a huge game hinges on some little soccer looking guy kicking a FG. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Cincydawg on February 19, 2026, 06:40:29 PM
I've played in some walkoffs, and they are pretty exciting.  I have not lost any I can recall.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MarqHusker on February 19, 2026, 08:55:33 PM
Curling Night in America is a TV thing.     it's always funny that the US Curling Championships are immediately following the Olympics.  I think they actually start on Monday this year.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 19, 2026, 09:06:33 PM
funny strange
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: GopherRock on February 20, 2026, 09:28:54 AM
As much as I love football, it is the worst end of game highlight sport.  It's why we love a good Hail Mary, because it sort of a real play.  That's why the Michael Crabtree play holds sway with me, it was ana actual football play.  Not a Hail Mary, not a field goal. 
Skip Bayless may be a giant POS, but he's spot on here.


https://youtu.be/84BSNd--2Q0?si=wIMPGWQSn3bYgXOw
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 20, 2026, 10:12:17 AM
Skip Bayless is a douchenozzle.

Anyway, happy to see the women's hockey team succeed.  Since Canada is our 51st state, I guess we technically won both gold and silver.  U-S-A!  U-S-A!

Also glad to see Alysa Liu win the gold for women's figure skating.  Sure it's judged and therefore not a sport, but I actually watched her routine yesterday because my i s c & a aggie wife wanted to, and found it to be very entertaining.  I saw a few other routines from the other top skaters and hers was lighter, happier, and more fun, than all of theirs.  She seems pretty cool.

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 20, 2026, 10:49:17 AM
I actually turned on the olympics last night - watched Alysa's show - good for her - she needed to retire once to be happy - it worked
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 20, 2026, 01:12:44 PM
Stupid Canucks
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 20, 2026, 04:35:00 PM
Bring it like this on Sunday, and the US has a chance
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: GopherRock on February 20, 2026, 04:36:15 PM


Also glad to see Alysa Liu win the gold for women's figure skating.  Sure it's judged and therefore not a sport, but I actually watched her routine yesterday because my i s c & a aggie wife wanted to, and found it to be very entertaining.  I saw a few other routines from the other top skaters and hers was lighter, happier, and more fun, than all of theirs.  She seems pretty cool.


Mrs. GR and i went to the figure skating team finals two Sundays ago. I hadn't been a figure skating guy before, but I went back to the hotel VERY impressed after the event was over. Alysa didn't skate then, but it was a ton of fun to see in person.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: SFBadger96 on February 20, 2026, 04:55:21 PM
Liu representing the Bay and O-Town. I played hockey at her home rink for about a decade.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on February 20, 2026, 10:01:46 PM


(https://forum.thescarletandrage.com/uploads/default/optimized/2X/5/50b3ece2a292f2c37e78fe903d725f8ff8b3abf1_2_400x500.jpeg)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 22, 2026, 08:47:55 AM
1-0 end of the 1st!
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: slugsrbad on February 22, 2026, 09:48:04 AM
Canada dominated the 2nd and tied the game up. Need to find new life in the 3rd. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 22, 2026, 10:31:57 AM
OT, all thanks to the Goalie
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 22, 2026, 10:38:44 AM
3 v 3 to decide it is dumb
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: bayareabadger on February 22, 2026, 10:50:01 AM
3 v 3 to decide it is dumb
Full team golden goal until it’s over. If someone collapses because of exhaustion, you’ve got more bodies.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 22, 2026, 10:50:51 AM
it's not dumb if the USA wins
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 22, 2026, 10:52:55 AM
NOT DUMB!!!!!
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: slugsrbad on February 22, 2026, 10:53:31 AM
USA! USA! 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 22, 2026, 11:04:26 AM
When I saw here that it was going to OT, I turned on the 2026 Olympics for the first time, on Peacock.

That was fun to see, and it makes me happy that the USA won and that Canada is sad.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Honestbuckeye on February 22, 2026, 11:09:41 AM
Incredible!  And historic.  Canada dominated- but our goalie was outrageously good.  
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: bayareabadger on February 22, 2026, 11:16:00 AM
USA! USA! USA!
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 22, 2026, 12:32:23 PM
Incredible!  And historic.  Canada dominated- but our goalie was outrageously good. 
He was unreal.  Nearly single handedly won the game
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Cincydawg on February 22, 2026, 12:38:02 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/WKbnb7j.png)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 22, 2026, 12:51:41 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260222/e94f14ba6d5e54e3d50ace0640a7abab.jpg)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 22, 2026, 12:52:04 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260222/86441bb281927133b3e0dfb19062a158.jpg)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: longhorn320 on February 22, 2026, 01:17:21 PM
The puck dont lie
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: GopherRock on February 22, 2026, 11:29:24 PM
So now that the Olympics have finally ended, my thoughts from our visit to Milan:

- This started during the Paris Olympics, where we registered for the ticket lottery for the Milan Games, and then promptly forgot about it. Roughly a year ago, we got notice that my wife had a winning entry, and that OPENING CEREMONY tickets were part of the draw. To make a long story short, we decided to go for it.

Our jet lagged selves arrived in Milan from Atlanta Thursday morning, and promptly had our first experience with crush-loaded trains on the Malpensa Express on the way into the city.

Our credit cards got a hard workout at the massive merch store in Duomo Piazza.

Somehow they ran out of solid food at womens hockey at the Rho Fieramilano convention center Threat. Plenty of beer for sale though. 

So, the San Siro. Legendary stadium. World Cups, UEFA Champions League finals, U2, Taylor Swift, the Stones, Bruce Springsteen. AC and Inter titles.  Historic football ground. And it's very clear why AC and Inter are building a new stadium. Think of the most run down, smoke filled, cockroach-infested beer joint you ever got drunk in. That place is downright palatial compared to the San Siro. 

The opening ceremony was one of the most moving things I've ever been part of. I now know why people make a habit of going to them, Olympic cycle after Olympic cycle. 

I'll admit that going to figure skating on the first Sunday night was an idea that my wife really had to sell me on,  due mostly to the cost of the tickets. Well, I wasn't a skating guy going out there, but I left VERY impressed. It didn't hurt that it had the top pair, man, and woman of the top 5 teams, so it was basically the All Star Game starting lineups. 

More thoughts later. Very glad we went. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: SFBadger96 on February 23, 2026, 01:45:54 PM
I saw some social media BS trying to stir up stuff about a Canadian men's hockey player saying that he thought they were the better team on the day. I don't know why people get so exorcised about comments like that. He was right, they were...in all phases except the one that mattered. Our goaltender was the hero, for sure.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 23, 2026, 01:49:49 PM
his comments don't bother me in the least bit
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MikeDeTiger on February 23, 2026, 02:46:36 PM
I saw some social media BS trying to stir up stuff about a Canadian men's hockey player saying that he thought they were the better team on the day. I don't know why people get so exorcised about comments like that. He was right, they were...in all phases except the one that mattered. Our goaltender was the hero, for sure.

I mean, sure, don't get bent out of shape about it, but he's objectively wrong.  They'd have been the better team on the day if they scored more points, which is the point of the game, and how we measure how good the teams were that day.  

It's always stupid when a player in any sport on the losing team says they were really better that day.  Objectively and literally, no, they weren't.  It was stupid when Matt Leinart said it about the 2005 Longhorns, it was stupid when Bama players said it about LSU in 2019, and it was stupid when this doofus said it.  Guess what, if the other team's goalie is so amazing that he overcomes the entirety of your team on his own, then oh well, you're not the better team.  
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 23, 2026, 02:49:33 PM
calm down dude

:34:
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MikeDeTiger on February 23, 2026, 02:51:17 PM
I'm not calmed up   *shrug*

I can not get bent out of shape about something--which is exactly what I said--and still note that something is wrong and stupid.  
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 23, 2026, 02:52:28 PM
Calmer than you are, dude ;)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 23, 2026, 02:56:02 PM
Agree it's dumb every time someone says it about their own team's performance.

It's irrelevant, doesn't matter at all, but it's still dumb.  Pointing out dumb things people say is one of the key areas of achievement for the internet.

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: GopherRock on February 23, 2026, 03:08:16 PM
I saw some social media BS trying to stir up stuff about a Canadian men's hockey player saying that he thought they were the better team on the day. I don't know why people get so exorcised about comments like that. He was right, they were...in all phases except the one that mattered. Our goaltender was the hero, for sure.
I won't argue that the Canadians had the better of the action for much of the game, but they couldn't score when they had terrific chances to do so. Maybe they should have cashed in on 1:40 of 5-on-3. Or scored on multiple wide open nets. Or not hit the post.

That said, the Canucks ran into one of the best goalie performances in the history of the sport. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 23, 2026, 03:45:34 PM
The better team doesn't always win.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 23, 2026, 03:48:57 PM
The better team doesn't always win.
Sure.  And the better team often does win.

Either way, if you're the loser, you look dumb when you say it.  And I'm here for the lulz when dumb people talk.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 23, 2026, 03:54:45 PM
He shouldn't have said it.

I only watched the OT. 

tUSA was better.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: bayareabadger on February 23, 2026, 04:41:07 PM
One of the baseball teams I grew up rooting for won several World Series titles when clearly not the best team. I can acknowledge that as a fan and such. 

But my team won the World Series and that's what counts for my joy. Being the "better" team that didn't win is cold comfort. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 23, 2026, 04:47:02 PM
being the better team that didn't win, SUCKS

means the better team, Choked or F'd it up, or the refs stole it

In this case I'd say, "Canada, f'd it up"

as GopherRock pointed out - Maybe they should have cashed in on 1:40 of 5-on-3.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 23, 2026, 04:55:59 PM
Maybe they should have scored more goals than the USA.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MikeDeTiger on February 23, 2026, 05:19:42 PM
The better team doesn't always win.

Quite true.  But the better team that day always wins.  By definition.  

If the guy had said he thought they were the better team in general, I'd probably just roll my eyes and then forget before I ever commented on it.  But apparently he said they were the better team that day.  The scoreboard would suggest otherwise. 
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 24, 2026, 11:36:11 AM
There are few things in sports that cause me to leap out of my recliner to celebrate.

Salvador Perez walk-off hit in the 2014 Wildcard win against the A's...

A few Purple Wildcat moments, of recent the alley-oop jams from the most recent hoop Elite-8 season...

The Golden Goal this Sunday.

Somewhere back we were talking about best moments, and a walk-off sudden death victory by a huge underdog that had been hanging on for dear life for Gold, on the same day we beat the Soviets 46 years ago as I watched from my basement as a 3rd grader...and those National Anthem Booing Canadians on the receiving end.  

F'ing Fantastic.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: bayareabadger on February 24, 2026, 02:12:08 PM
Maybe they should have scored more goals than the USA.

Would’ve been a good strategy, I think
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: Wildcat4E on February 24, 2026, 04:29:57 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/cnfklxQ.png)
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 24, 2026, 05:00:36 PM
The funny thing is that while their skaters dominated the US skaters, the US was absolutely not built for 3 on 3.  I don't love that method of deciding things, but that's where Canada SHOULD have had the biggest advantage
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: SFBadger96 on February 24, 2026, 05:05:30 PM
Yeah, unlike the women, where I thought they were just as well suited to 3 vs 3 as 5 v 5, I thought the US men were cooked in 3 v 3.

As an aside, I really dislike 3 v 3 as a method of determining a meaningful hockey game.

4 on 4, for at least 10 minutes, seems like it is at least a compromise. For a gold medal, an extra 20 at 5-a-side before getting into gimmicky solutions makes sense to me. If anyone asked me, that's what I would say: 5 on 5 for an extra period; 4 on 4 for 10 minutes; 3 v 3 for 10; if still no winner (highly unlikely--3 v 3 is a huge advantage for the offense), a shootout.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with the two hockey gold medals, but I can like the outcome and not like the process.
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: ELA on February 24, 2026, 05:08:00 PM
I would do a series of 10 minute OTs.

5 v 5

4 v 4

3 v 3

Shootout

4 v 4 is at least still hockey, 3 v 3 isn't.

I would be ok with the same for NHL Playoffs, but with full 20 minute OTs.

Surprised college football hasn't gone to the NFL OT
Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: utee94 on February 25, 2026, 03:59:30 PM
(https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/640524667_1433413671796881_249266408138361761_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_p526x296_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=7b2446&_nc_ohc=6CT7ZUzOSAMQ7kNvwFAubP0&_nc_oc=Adl5MczF2cq0h_Nkb6laUmpzY0wdfScwSTHtC8_Fr-sVbxpXmi1imgel0Lbj2ZZlXFk&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=RzN72cEO-UDhd7SXHLm0_g&oh=00_AfuO61fiNj7bK1--QWhpsArZNzjzYJU9w7FjmFRA194rXw&oe=69A539BB)

Title: Re: 2026 Olympics Thread
Post by: MikeDeTiger on February 25, 2026, 04:03:56 PM

Surprised college football hasn't gone to the NFL OT

I suppose one barrier is cfb decided to preclude the possibility of ties, whereas the NFL still has them.