Over but not out…

So…the games are over. Spectacular performances. Beautiful city and venues. New records. All to be expected and all to be celebrated. Less obviously but perhaps more important is the Olympic spirit, which continues on in every city that hosts a games. A spirit that transcends cultures and distances and our daily lives. A spirit that teaches us all, elevates us all, and reminds us of the better angels inside all of us.

Who can forget the brave skater who with her beloved mothers death not a day old, rose to the occasion to perform a personal best and ultimately win a medal?  What lessons could all of us have learned from that athlete at that moment?  To bear witness to the moment of a sea of humanity acknowledging not just the spirit of the athlete but sharing if for only a moment, a transcendent emotional bond felt round the world, is a moment we should all learn from.

Yes we have our problems as individuals, as countries and as humanity. Somehow if our leaders could summon up the emotion of that moment our world would be a better place.  The Olympic games may be over, the spirit will live on.

Joannie Rochette has demonstrated what it means to be taken by the spirit of the games. And uniquely the audience on that night, both in the stadium but far away showed us all our common humanity.

Lindsey Vonn Wins

When thinking of pretty girls most do not think of heroes. When thinking of pretty girls most do not associate words such as ‘grit’ or ‘tested’ or ‘heroic’.  Lindsey Vonn certainly changed most thinking today. Injured with an injury that would have caused many to quit Vonn stiffened her resolve. Lacking training time due to weather Vonn found other ways to prepare. In pain, Vonn managed her mind to focus on the task at hand.

And so, when Lindsey Vonn stepped into the competitors moment today, she left everything behind except the hero. And won.

It’s an Olympic moment that will be long remembered. An inspiration to all who will come later. Congratulations Lindsey. You deserve the day.

Johnny Weir-fun, fun, fun…’till…

I was thinking about that t-bird daddy might take away the other day when Johnny Weir came to mind.  Johnny Weir is about much fun as there’s been in figure skating in many a year. This all came to mind as I watched the oh so serious pairs long skate. Where did the fun and the passion go? It didn’t seem that long ago that the Scott Hamilton’s, and the Nancy Kerrigan’s were bedazzling us not just with their technical skills, but with their passionate, fun, articulate expression of their sport.

Yes of course the pairs winners were great. Or amazing. Or any of a dozen other words that came to mind. But the one thing they were not, was passionate. If there was fun anywhere to be had in Vancouver that night, it was definitely not in the pairs arena. Such serious music. I was waiting for  ‘Voyage of the Damned’ as the next music.

So Johnny Weir is a ray of sunshine in this otherwise grim sporting tale, as dark and as gray as a Vancouver sky.  And ‘yes’, that quad will make or break him. But my bet is that his will be the most fun, and his will be the most memorable that evening. No one is taking Johnny’s t-bird away.

So tonight  Johnny be good.  Go Johnny go!

Team USA to play Russia

The tradition started during the cold war. The best of the west’s hockey teams playing the best of the Soviet block. Classic games from the 70′s, Team USA versus the Soviet Union, or Team Canada versus the Soviet Union. Things have calmed down somewhat after the fall of the empire. but any Team USA game against the Russians is still the classic hockey game.

So tonight Team USA women goes up against the best of ‘the Bear’.  National pride is on the line for both countries. Canada is a great neutral arena, not that the Canadians are disinterested. Hockey as any Canadian worth their salt will tell you, is ‘our game’. And Canada is doubly motivated in this games. Its home territory for the Canadians and a gold at home would be the first for Team Canada. But its also ‘those guys’ (or girls in this case), the one game that has a 40 year at least tradition. Home many games can you name that have that kind of tradition. Not many is the answer.

So both Team USA and their rivals are going to playing their best. And it may well be some of the best hockey to be seen this decade. The puck drops tonight! Your thoughts welcome!

The Olympic Hockey War

Its always a war, when it comes to hockey. The big battle this time will be in Vancouver. Team USA and Team Canada will be in the middle of it. But don’t forget the Swedes, the Russians and the Checks. Fans can post their thoughts to the community using the form below.

Tell us what you think!

Sasha Cohen

So many Olympic sports are about speed, or strength or team work. Figure skating has always for me been the ballet on the ice. Not that figure skaters are not superb athletes, they are all that an more. But it is the artistry and the creativity of figure skating that draws us to the event.

This games, America has one of its youngest rosters. Rachel Flatt replaces Sasha Cohen the silver medalist after Cohen fell. Elegant, technically perfect and demonstrating some of the most creative passionate competitors in decades, Flatt will be the one to watch. But somehow you just get the feeling that the experience of Cohen will be missed. Fans can post their experiences here.

Tell us what you think!