[Demonbinder]

WOMEN'S 1000M
Miho Takagi

WOMEN'S 1000M
Miho Takagi

[Fatima99]

WOMEN'S 1000M
Miho Takagi

[Carole16]

WOMEN'S 1000M
THE OTHERS

[prokroustis]

WOMEN'S 1000M
Miho Takagi

[Fatima99]

SPORTS CENTER CONTEST #1519

BIATHLON - WOMEN'S 4X6 KM RELAY



20 people correctly picked SWEDEN
wellwhocares
Biblioholic
PennySerenade
Bilbo3443
Demonbinder
angellove0810
gorillaz100
prokroustis
sr55
accountant1usa
vs9
irathomas
Bluberry
hunnybunny
37x
ozswede
magnte
Beetzart
Zbignieww
johngriffen
= win 25 WRZ$ each

Congratulations to all the winners

Still plenty of time left to play
SPEED SKATING - WOMEN'S 1000M - SPORTS CENTER #1520 HERE
CLOSES THURSDAY 2/17 2:30 AM Chicago (UTC -6) THURSDAY 2/17 8:30 AM GMT (UTC +0) THURSDAY 2/17 9:30 AM France (UTC +1) THURSDAY 2/17 4:30 PM BEIJING (UTC +8)

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WOMEN'S 1000M
The others

[HogwartsExpress]

WOMEN'S 1000M
Miho Takagi

WOMEN'S 1000M
Miho Takagi

[Beetzart]

WOMEN'S 1000M
Netherlands

WOMEN'S 1000M #1520
The Others. USA. Why not!



Day Eleven of NBC presents the ROC doping Olympics

Hi!

So while I am a seasoned writer, nonfiction, I have never done a "blog", so I am learning on the fly! This type of writing is very new to me. So If I'm failing at times, cut me some slack!

I feel that on some days I have done better then others. Yesterday I feel that maybe I got to technical on the events, instead of me just more giving more of my opinions. Maybe to many numbers? To much info at times? Not sure if that was better or worse. I'm thinking worse? Don't know. I did use Wikipedia to help me out, and maybe it was too helpful. Only time will tell. Keep in mind, this gets long because it's a 12 hour day, so lot's is happening, and sometimes I'm trying to build suspense! But when this is all done, if my few readers could provide feedback, that would be great because I truly to want to know the good, and the bad. I"m considering maybe doing a daily blog for fun on an actual blogging website. Something to do with my coffee each morning. Or what I call morning. Thanks!

So right off the bat NBC ruined the Mens Team Pursuit finals! I was so Fing pissed off! I had talked a few days ago about looking forward to it, and for reasons I will never understand, they tell us all the results, even thought they admit that we will see it later on tonight. SMH. I just don't get it. I was genuinely screaming out curse words.

F you NBC! Seriously! I honestly hate you so much!

We are told that Meakala Shiffron will now ski in a sixth event! LOL Sure, why not, she was devastated a few days ago, and has skied slow since, but why not! And then she did a practice run for the Nordic Combined which is one downhill and two slaloms, and got first by almost a minute! What! But it is just a practice. Gelato junkie Ester Ledecká will ski in this as well. Oh yea, Mikalea. A talker! She gives like one minute answers to everything! I don't know why I find that funny, but I do!

American Women's curling fell to Canada 7-6 in a tight game. Boo!

So it was now the Men's Biathlon 4/7.5K relay, and this was kind of fun, even though America wasn't shown on TV once. Big surprise! We came in 13th BTW

It was four men, three laps each, 2 shooting stops each and while you got 3 extra bullets, if you then still had targets up, you had to sky penalty laps/loop. HA like that will happen! I'm so sure! Grow up! These men would never miss in such a big event! So dumb!

We dropped in late and Norway, the kings of Biathlon were apparently 8th at the first exchange, and as much as One minute and 47 seconds back, which in a race like this is insane. The Norwegians are to Biathlon what the Dutch are to Skating. It's an insane hurdle to jump and naturally one would think that Norway the king of Biathlon would not medal.

For awhile it was ROC, France and Italy and Belarus an everything was going good. Norway and Germany were coming on strong, but naturally that would be nothing more then a futile attempt that would not pay dividends in the long run.

Then on the final shooting station, station 8, all hell broke loose!

ROC skied in with a sizable lead, like a minute lead, and all they had to do was shoot clean.

News flash, they did not. ROC choked!

They shot all eight and still had to ski two penalty loops, a showing that was so bad, an official had to literally cover his eyes to avert his gaze to such a magnificent choke! Germany cracked too! Three reloads and a penalty loop as frozen fingers made reloading a tough challenge. France had two reloads but no loops and Norway of course went perfect.

Of course they did!

It so bad that even Frances other athletes were laughing at the ROC shooter as everyone else looked on in horror, Way to keep it classy France!

In the end, the seemingly out of the race Norway, skied to an easy victory by a good minute followed by France, with the ROC hanging on for bronze like two minutes behind Norway. French Quinton Q Fillion now has five medals at just these games, only the 11th to win 5 at single Olympics since 2024. Amazing since America sucks so bad at this.

And why! Why can't we do this! I really don't get it! It's shooting! We have literally more guns then people in this country! I own like 20 myself. At least! I'm not even sure how many I have. How are we not good at this!

I also find it interesting that some have guns made of plastic, and some with a ton of wood? I will have to try and remember to look that up again someday, and by someday, probably in four years when I remember to do so.

Then we got the Nordic Combined Large Hill plus 10km, and I was already over it. Ski jumping! No thank you sir! I'm good!

But wait! It wasn't too bad!

First off, I would like to say that all sports were invented by dumb drunks who said "I'll bet I can do bla bla bla" and they did and then other dumb people did it enough to make it a thing. So clearly a cross country skier and ski jumper got into a fight one day to create this weird combo, because otherwise why would it exist. American Football was created by drunk college fraternity kids after all when a came of soccer went awry. Seriously, look it up.

So they all did one jump, followed by a 10K race. You get 2 points per meter on the jump, 60 points if you go more then 125M! And 60 more for style! And each point starts you off a full four seconds back! Or forward? I'm not sure how that works. But what? That is ridiculous. So if you, let's say, just don't make the 125M line, then your already 240 seconds back, and then some? Clearly we are out of this by the time we start the Cross country. So dumb!

So we start the cross country portion, 3 laps, and that is important to know. We had four Americans in the jump and three make it through. Who cares! Our best American was 2minutes and 26seconds back, so he might as well have been 30 minutes back in a race that goes under a half hour anyway.

Norway Riiber starts off and I mention this for a reason. And then it was Estonia, Japan, Germany, Japan and Australia. But see, if your a great skier who is within a minute, you can make it up.

Riiber looked great. He was in the lead and going into the second lap was way out ahead. But then he comes to the part where you have to keep left to ski the second lap, but he keeps right, and skied into victory lane! SMH That is not good!

It took both him and even the announcers a bit of time to realize this and he has to then stop, turn around, ski back, make a U turn, and continue. By then everyone is catching up and he now tries to ski hard, but it only serves his teammates in the end and he definitely does not medal. What a shame.

In all fairness Riiber was isolated with Covid until this race, so this is his first event of these games, and others have skied the course and have been working out, so I guess there's that.

So while some did great on the jump, and that of course is important, jumping does not get you on the stands if you are not a "fast sprinter" as in can ski six miles really fast. Fitness rules the day here and in the end it was Norway, Norway and then Japan with Germany on the outside looking in. The finish was exciting as always though. Germany was in third and looking good in victory lane, but Norwegian Oftebro came back from forth to take silver and kicked Japanese Watabe back to bronze, with fellow Norwegian Graabak in gold. Another one of those great endings that you can skip directly too and still get all the drama.

We then go to Men's Freestyle ski Aerial jumping. This sport is crazy not just for the high flying acrobats, but for the crazy hits they can take on landing. Lot's of hard heat hits! We will already see some brutal ones here today. Screw that! Not me! I mean we know they are all former gymnast for the most part. Are parents that desperate to recoup the gymnast costs that they stick there kids into this? Is that how you find yourself in this sport? Just wondering.

Two groups trying to qualify for the finals, looks like we got 3 Americans in. Chris Lillis is in and his bro skied this in 2018. We then find out that a third brother who was also a jumper died in his sleep right before the 2018 Olympics. Crazy. That is such a weird way to go at 17. Very sad.

Americans Eric Laughran and Justin Schoenefeld are in as well.

China and the ROC figure to favor heavy in the Finals and a few others slip in as well like Ukraine, Belarus, the Swiss got two in, so it should be good Finals are tomorrow early, so no doubt NBC will ruin it in the afternoon and then show it in the evening.

NBC would then show the Women's Snowboard Big Air again, OK, that's cool. But then they would ruin the Mens Speed Skate Pursuit again to talk about American...uh...??? I don't even remember! It was so upsetting all over again! Unbelievable!

Oh, it was Casey Dawson! Dawson was almost out and had to have four negative Covid tests to come to Beijing, something that could have been said later during the race. Meanwhile the Chinese continue their streak of zero positive Covid test.

So I ask you, how could I have avoided this? Really? How? Not listen to her talk? Is that it? Just avoid her? Do I need to fast forward through every time I see her in the afternoon? Is that it? Oh, what, I made this happen? Is that it? It's my fault you say? Thanks a pant load! Way to not have my back people! Way to put this on me!

So rude!

Two man bobsled concluded on the course known as the Snow Dragon in the House of Speed. Great Britain's Team was crowd funded and they may want a refund after their crash. Thankfully they came out of it just fine. Our last placed team with Church and Volker came in 28th or 4.94 back off of first. That's first at the time they went! Not even the eventual gold medal winner! Trinidad and Tobago finished 27th and Brazil and Jamaica mon also finished 28th and 29th, so they only beat them. Not good! Those are all hot places to live! Small third world countries! Come on man!

Our military team made up of Del Duca and Abdul-Saboor, thank you for your service went into 12th. Apparently Germany and Russia also use military men.

The top 20 advanced to the fourth and final heat. Our lone American team did what they could, but finished at 13th. Monaco was still going strong but ended up at sixth, Monaco being a country one mile long and only 38,000 people, so good for them. Someone described this event as trying to squeeze these men into a tin can, and then kicking it off a cliff. I guess they can hit 5'gs and you only get 3g's blasting into space! I'll spare you the suspense as there was none. Germany naturally took all three of the top spots, the first to do this ever in this event. So crap!

Men's team pursuit concluded, as you may have heard! The USA skated off vs the ROC and took a risk not skating Joey Mantia in that event and lost to the ROC. The USA was the World Record holder so who knows what might have been. The powerhouse Dutch meanwhile lost to Norway and so we faced them for the bronze and smoked their asses like a pack of Kools by 2.81 seconds. Which made me wonder "what if we had used Joey in the previous race?" Well ROC went against Norway for the bronze and got beat big time as well by 2.39, and the Norwegians only skated faster then us by 00.73, so who knows. Maybe, maybe not. What a shame all around, from the outcome, to NBC letting us know the outcome! Next time I guess!

Mens Slalom concluded. WE were not really in this either. 12 skiers came into this with in one second of each other and they called it the closest finals coming in like 50 years. It was fun to watch and Noel France eventually took the lead. Noel is French for Birthday, and while Austrian Strolz tried to play spoiler, it was Happy Birthday for France as Noel hung on for the win, followed by two Norwegians.

So let's not end on Women's figuring skating Short Program. But first let me tell you something that really happened to me today!

My 14 year old cousin once removed from up North, who knows I'm doing this, texted me today. He wrote to me "It makes sense that Kamila is doping based on her looks"

I texted back "what??? with like five emojis"

And he texted back "Because she is pretty dope looking!"

Sigh! Terrible dude! I have to smack that kid when I see him next time!

So we have three in, as do most countries including Ruuuuuushia! The mood at the joint is one of malaise. Everyone is bummed at what is going on. Few are happy. You can see that this is one of those things that everyone is just trying to make the best off. What doesn't help is that the ROC is poised for a potential sweep.

American Mariah Bell was up first for the United States. She looked good but had a fall. She ended the night at 11th though which is not to shabby for her. She has the legs to maybe land in the top 10 when it is all done. Karen Chen went last with the final group, including the Russkies. She was our one big hope, we felt, but it was not to be. She also had a fall and ended her routine in near tears and looked distraught and inconsolable in the kiss and tell as she awaited her results. She ended up back behind American Mariah at 13th.

But in between them 16 year old Alysa Liu, with her big smiling braceface, skated great and apparently decided to not go big and save it for the Free Skate later on. A strategy I hope pays off for her. She landed at eight and that's great, but with a 69.50 and the top three around 80, she isn't looking to medal. I know Sarah Hughs did it in 2002, but she came in at fourth. JMO, but good for her non the less!

Everyone else went. The Russians all looked great and have three of the top four spots with Sakamoto of Japan slipping into second and another Japanese in fifth, any of whom could medal. South Korea and Belgium are sixth and seventh, but right there with Alysa Liu, so not looking good for them as well. Kamila Valieva did have a bobble on a jump and it did cost her and her and she knew it. She was the only one in the top ten looking to be in tears with a evening best of 82.16, a score that is not insurmountable to any of the next two, or even four, but if she doesn't skate clean, who knows. Otherwise I'm pretty sure she is going to win. Doper or not, if she can weather this storm of controversy, then I think she will take the Gold, and possible a Ruuuushian sweep. And then on to meet Putin I guess. Maybe join Anastasia from Women's Slope style for that sleepover we talked about yesterday. Well we will find out on Thursday Night.

Finally we got to Mens Slope Style Freestyle Skiing and it was Guuuuuuuuu!

OK, no.

It was three Americans and they were looking good! This competition was a best score out of three runs, winner take all and we joined them in Run two with American Alex Hall at the top from round one with a 90.1 and car crash survivor Colby Stevenson from Big Air looking good too. In the second Nick Geopper joined them with a big score and going into the third they were Alex Hall stil in first, Goepper in second and Stevenson in 6th.

Back in Sochi 2014 you might remember that we swept, so that was not a stretch at this point. Geopper was on that podium that day and got the bronze and was looking to add a gold to his silver he got back in 2018 to complete the set? Would he do it? Stay tuned to find out.

Larry David SB commercial

And were back! The final run was not kind to most. As they all went big to win the day, most would boble early and sometimes just ski out with just their dignity. Colby Stevenson then went and it's always a bad sign when the skier is quite visibly chastising himself on the course, so the sweep was now off the menu.

Fabian Bosch of Switzerland is apparently capable of doing a Quad cork 1980. That's 5.5 rotations! Remember in the snowboard half pipe, doing three won gold! But thankfully he did not put that down and skied out too. Max Moffatt of Canada might to it! But when a person is visibly upset after their run, probably not. He eventually gave us a smile and was out.

First place American Hall then went and failed to improve after a bad start on the rails and had to wait to see if his 1st score would hold up for the gold. Then Swedish skier Tjader who remained in third went and coldn't do nothing either.

Now it was just down to Ravishing Birk Rudd of Norway. Could he do it?

Nope!

Now it was down to just fourth place Andri Reagetti of the Swiss looking to medal. He started off good, thankfully for us, quickly abandoned his run and skied on down. Americans Alex Hall took Gold, Nick Goepper gets a second Olympic Silver and Tjader of Sweden third. Yea!

I have to say that this is probably one of the best events to watch. These guys on skies can do even bigger stuff then those on the snowboards. When they land them.

So that was it for the day, except for the Men's Hockey game against Slovakia, a country of just 5.4 million people. The American men had the bye and should have been good. Should have been. I bounced back and forth until even NBC even took it over. It went back and forth a bit, with Slovakia scoring first, then the USA twice and then Slovakia tied it up to send it into what was a scoreless overtime. From there it was a shootout. Not the situation you want to be in. We tried. We did. But came up short and lost it one to zero in the shootout and our dreams of a medal went with it. We had plenty of opportunities in the third with a few power plays, including one that was 5-3, but squandered it and have no one to blame but ourselves. C'est la vie

So see! I told you we wouldn't win this all along! And once again I am right! Thank you!

I hope you all have a great day! Bye


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuydhF-gPgA
Alex Hall and Nick Goepper give U.S. a 1-2 finish in slopestyle!


Alex Hall and Nick Goepper Gold and Silver!
Jesper Tjäder photo-bombs down there on the bottom right! Terrible!

[Zbignieww]

WOMEN'S 1000M
Netherlands

WOMEN'S 1000M
Netherlands

[MaestroZanni]

WOMEN'S 1000M
Netherlands

[lush]

WOMEN'S 1000M
Miho Takagi