Olympic Chit Chat Day 1 Recap

 

Per the demands of such luminaries as Archaeologuy and RossCreek "(Make) and a daily general Olympic blog … then those who don’t really care don’t have to read through a bunch of comments they otherwise wouldn’t." Your wish is our command: here is your very first OCC article for these here Olympiads.

Don’t let it be said that we can’t turn on a dime here at the Nation and deliver what you ask for. It’s like that time the Nations turned into that LOST chat room for several days back in June 2009. Weren’t those heady days? What was the smoke monster doing in Kate’s tent? We never did find out did we? Huh? HUH?

*nudge, nudge*

Because real life (read: the depressing NHL seasons in Edmonton and Calgary) will continue during these here games, we will toss up an OCC every day for people to dissect the latest Pairs Figure Skating scandal or what have you. Those who want to talk about the Canadian Men’s Ice Hockey Games will be able to on OGDBs which will launch game days.

Everyone who wants to talk strictly NHL Ice Hockey play will also be able to get their fill as all the writers will continue to write about whatever the hell they want on any given day.

Which includes us too, and we wuv the Owympics:

Now we don’t have the brains of a TSN analyst crew, descending on the games in 45 black Apache Helicopters fyling in perfect formation and invisible on Radar. And we certainly don’t have the opposible thumbs required to do any actual research into what is happening in any other sport save the Men’s Ice Hockey. But we do watch an incredible amount of Olympic Coverage and we do like to yell and scream on the interwebs.

As such we will start out the Olympic conversation each day with some light hearted observances and sharp criticisms of what we have seen.

We will start out with sincere condolences to the entire Games and the Republic of Georgia over the death of Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili. That is just a horrific crash and we really have to wonder if it has been necessary to show the footage over and over on all of the TV networks.

To us, this is a terrible accident in a sport that seems mind bogglingly dangerous for all involved. The fact we have seen footage of the crash a half dozen times since is disrespectful to the memory of Kumaritashvili and to the Republic of Georgia, not to mention the other Lugers who probably fly down the track on the edge of sanity to begin with.

On a lighter note, these Opening Ceremonies couldn’t have been more hilarious. Technical failures, the best entertainers Canada has to offer awkwardly dragged on stage using their Patriotism as a leash, random people running along side Gretzky in the back of a truck while he wondered "how on earth did I find something more demeaning to do than Coach the Coyotes?"

It was just grand in our opinion. Between all of the hilariousnessity we thought the ceremony was actually quite wonderful. We don’t get to see Canadians being Patriotic more than once or twice every 4 years, so seeing the Flags come out warmed the very cockles of our heart.

It has been great to settle back into the Olympic TV watching routine that we last dusted off back in 2006. Our day has been filled with "Normal Jump" ski jumping so far. We have already become an instant expert, thumbing our nose at anything less than a 105 metre jump and laughing heartily at anyone who isn’t part of the juggernaut Swiss program. Especially the Austrians and their awful 102 metre jumping.

What is this? The World Championship qualifiers back in ’09? Just wait till the top 15 arrive on the scene, well rested from their bye in the Qualifying round.

As a final query: Who’s bright idea was it to throw the Greatest Canadian since John A MacDonald into the back of a white GMC fleet pickup truck, drive him to Whistler and back while he was deluged with driving rain while trying to look happy and wave to the dozens of fans who lined his 1,678 km route to light the outdoor torch?

Poor Wayne, he always is put through hell by people. For the millionth time in our lives we salute you again Sir.