<p>Sometimes I wonder why we (“we” = Americans anyway) on “best” and “tops”. What Apolo has done is great - 7 medals, 3 Olympics in a row - 12 years + of Olympic committment. As he said, “no regrets”. Of course the commentators will make a big deal about it, it’s the news now. In a couple of weeks, he will be an Olympic great - right alongside Blair and the others - but right now it’s news! I think many of us tend to get real defensive - defensive for an athlete if they are our favorite, defensive if they are not and they are getting praise. </p>
<p>Geez, most of us could not make it through one week of their life of training without quitting. They are all great - they train it seems for many of them, for the hope of that one moment on the ice or snow . Let them have it. It should take nothing away from Olympians before them - it’s much a matter of opinion who is “best”. Should not be argued.</p>
<p>Jesse Lumsden, who is the brakeman on the Canadian national champion sleigh, is a running back on the Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL. Many of these guys are former football players because being huge and powerful is what they’re looking for in getting the sleigh pushed quickly at the start.</p>
<p>I am a big curling fan. I have watched it most of my life, living across the river from Windsor, Ontario and having daily access to Canadian Sports television. Unfortunately, I have only been able to try to play it once and it is VERY HARD.</p>
<p>It is not like bowling, one shot at a time, it is more like a chess match. Each shot sets the stage for the next 4-5 shots.</p>
<p>Don’t judge the sport by watching the USA teams. They are terrible. If you have a chance to watch the Canadian men’s team, you will understand what great curling really is. Those guys are so good, it’s scary!</p>
<p>Thanks, UMDad, now…let me rephrase…is there chess in the summer olympics? I suppose curling is an interesting game (there are plenty of participants and fans who thiink so!) but does it belong in the olympics?</p>
<p>Does anyone else find it incredibly fantastic that Eric Heiden, the multi-gold medal winner is now Dr. Eric Heiden, orthopedic surgeon and team doctor? :)</p>
<p>After getting her Olympic medals, summer Olympian Jenny Thompson also became an MD. Per Wikipedia, she now works as an anesthesiologist in Boston. Cool.</p>
<p>S goes to school in Canada and was glued to the TV watching curling last night. He just loves it! Tonight will be amazing with the USA/Canada hockey game. S said the junior nationals competition - back in December - was the most intense hockey he’s ever seen. I’m not crazy about watching it on TV but there’s no other option!</p>
<p>Tenley Albright is an MD and neurosurgeon as well. I wonder if there is some connection between the concentration needed to be a successful skater and that needed to become a surgeon. Maybe all those compulsory figures helped to create new synapses.</p>
<p>It is the strategy that is employed in curling that can be compared to chess, which I’m fairly sure is what UMDad meant, not the physical prowess that it takes to be accomplished at the game. He is absolutely correct that it is very hard to be good at this sport, even to participate for fun at your local curling rink, let alone to be good enough to compete at the Olympics. Many people underestimate the difficulty of this sport. I think we could ask why several sports should be a part of the Olympics, but I’ll let the IOC make those decisions.</p>
<p>Half of all Canadians are expected to watch the three hockey games on today. Olympic hockey is being billed as the best hockey tournament ever and Gary Bettman better be paying attention. Starts at 3 - set your clocks, hockey fans!</p>
<p>^^We’ll be watching here. My Ss play hockey so I’ve always appreciated the skill & finesse of the game, but don’t care for the often unnecessary roughness. This is why Olympic hockey is unparalleled! (Perhaps only way the sport could improved is going back to the amateur team days, a la Miracle on Ice.)</p>
<p>Per today’s sports page: “It’s finally here. Super Sunday! Three great games, three great rivalries, six great teams.”</p>
<p>This is absolutely the best day ever for hockey. Fang Jr is a goalie and I even played hockey for a while when I was in my 40s, so we’ll be glued to the set. </p>
<p>I’m rooting for the US. I’m expecting a Canada blowout :(</p>
<p>Me, to Fang Jr, hopefully: Hey, the US won the World Juniors.</p>
<p>Fang Jr: Yeah, and they brought the same team to the Olympics.</p>
<p>It’s true, the Canada team is stacked with superstars (if I never hear the name Sidney Crosby again it’ll be too soon) and the US team has plucky youngsters.</p>
<p>As USA fans, Fang Jr and I want the Czechs to win, and we want the score of the Sweden-Finland game to be something like 47-1. That way the US would be guaranteed a bye in the next round even if they lose this game.</p>
<p>Croquet was once an official Olympic sport, as was tug of war in six early Olympics. I’m sorry, but I’d find either of them more exciting than curling. </p>
<p>Golf was once an Olympic sport, too. How is golf less worthy than curling?</p>
<p>Why not juggling and the flying trapeze? They require more impressive talents than lots of Olympic sports.</p>
<p>And bowling was, in fact, a demonstration sport at the 1988 summer games.</p>
<p>Cardinal, the US team has its share of superstars including, arguably, the best goalie in the NHL today, Ryan Miller. Tim Thomas would love to be called a plucky youngster at age 35. :)</p>
<p>Seriously, though, they do have many young players but almost all are NHL players. These aren’t inexperienced juniors we’re talking about here. I hope it’s a great game tonight! These young guys are having the time of their lives and it certainly was time for guys like Modano, Chelios, and Guerin to pass the torch.</p>
<p>I thought curling was right there with bowling but I actually sat down to watch it yesterday. I was impressed with the strategy of the game. It just doesn’t look “cool”, I suppose.</p>
<p>No to rifle, curling, bowling, chess and chinese (or not) checkers at the olympics. No to hearts, solitaire, jacks or pin the tail on the donkey.</p>