An Olympic Entry…

I managed to get into work early and ate my breakfast while watching the first Men’s Hockey game from Turin while waiting for my shift to start. The Canadian Team got off to a slow start but kicked things up a knotch to take the game over Italy 7-2. Was a good game to watch, and I can clearly say I am impressed with how well Team Italy did on the Ice. They played well and opened a few eyes I’d say. Their goalie took a lot of shots and did really well… hats off to them for giving it a good go and holding their own against what is basically an NHL All-Star Team. It was a good game, but I’m eager to check out the later games like Cech Rep. or Sweden to see how far this team is capable of going. The Sackic, Iginla and Bertuzzi line is looking really good right now. I expect to see them light things up a lot more in the games to come. Brodeur looked a little shaky giving up two goals to the Italians, but expect him to warm up a little more as the tournament goes on.

I don’t know what people have against the Winter Games, but I actually find them more entertaining to watch than the Summer Games. So far the Games in Turin have been going rather well. I’ve enjoyed and liked what I’ve watched so far. Usually I skip the Opening Ceremonies and just move right on to the events and laugh my ass off while people wipe out in speed skating or the freestyle sking. I personally enjoy watching the winter games however for the same reason that people enjoying watching nascar, and it’s not to watch guys drive around in a circle for five hours. It’s for the crashes and to see car flip about half a million times. To watch someone mess up and lose their dream of winning anything is priceless to witness, no matter what sport and the Winter Games is known for doing that more than any other event, even the Summer Games. When someone wipes out at the Winter Games, there is no such thing as a small crash, they all make the highlight reel for a week. It’s one thing to watch someone trip up on a hurdle when running down a straight line, it’s another to see someone wipe out while bolting down a ski slope or doing the luge. The chance for injury is greater as is the chance of permanent damage.

You can’t deny how dangerous the Winter Games are and that is what makes it exciting to watch. The only thing that separates the winners from the people who wipe out and never make it down the hill are briains. You have to be smart to participate at these games and make it. Any moron can run in a straight line or swim in a pool… it takes brains for a person to drive a bobsled down the ice at over 100 miles per hour with out risking his safety and those of the three people riding along. While the Winter Games does have is wuss sports, (Cross Country Sking, anyone?)… most of the games here are fast and furious which cannot be said for the Summer Games which are a complete bore to watch. To emphasize my point… Golf is an event at the Summer Games. Yes, that fucking laszy ass sport is an olympic event! They let that boring as hell game be an event and ban baseball from the Games… how friggin’ lame is that? I’m waiting for the day when they let Chess or Checkers enter as an event. They’ll get that desperate and when they do… I’ll be waiting.

I don’t mind getting up early to watch live hockey at 8am, but I’m sure people will be more interested in the games when they come back to North American for Vancouver 2010. That should be fun to watch, especially when the NHL again shuts down for players to represent their nations. I love the fact that the pros allow their players to show up and make their country proud. Japanese Baseball leagues do this for the Summer Games as does Basketball… and only when these people are allowed to play can you boast about displaying the word’s greatest athletes.

It’s been a decent games so far, and I really wish those who didn’t like it wouldn’t bash them too hard cause they’re only once every four years. I don’t think that’s too hard to ask for, it’s only once every 1000 days and not every winter. If it were done every year, it would get old very, very quickly. This space between the games is good… and I like it. So I’m going back to work… the next Hockey Game for Canada is tomorrow against Germany. I think they’ll score more than 7 goals that time, but you never know. I think they are the team to beat for Gold… but the Cechs, Swede and Americans have a shot too. A slim one… but a shot none the less. Will be interesting to see how things turn out. Until then, everyone take care and keep watching! Someone is bound to fall before the day is out!

Peter