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Sochi Olympics 2014

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No doubt Shani and co need to step up or step off, but you're seeing the Swoosh on every medal winner and NBC reporter and UA only gets negative press for this stuff. Not a good international debut for a company that's 94% domestic sales right now.
 
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jlb1705 said:
I don't think it's the suits. I think it's time for the US speedskaters to just own the fact that they're not good enough right now.

Honestly, they look like they hardly trained for this. They all look gassed and sluggish as they come to the finish of their heats.
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Yep, most of them seem like they took a little too much time off. They have mentioned that the ice isn't as good for fast gliding (or something like that) and you have to keep pushing. Not sure if that's a variable you can train to or if its just a random thing you have to just go with on the fly, but maybe they don't train in a style that fits the method that works better with this ice? I think its more they took too much time off, personally, but meh, whatever.
 
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I can understand Shani Davis not performing as expected. I don't think he realizes it for himself yet, but he's been at it long enough that he has to be on the downward side of his career arc. Part of the issue is, who else is there besides him? Who's coming behind him to take the banner? The USA has a pretty decent speedskating tradition, but I haven't seen anybody new in these games that lives up to it. Not only are they not medaling, but they're not really close either.
 
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scarletmike said:
Yep, most of them seem like they took a little too much time off. They have mentioned that the ice isn't as good for fast gliding (or something like that) and you have to keep pushing. Not sure if that's a variable you can train to or if its just a random thing you have to just go with on the fly, but maybe they don't train in a style that fits the method that works better with this ice? I think its more they took too much time off, personally, but meh, whatever.
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The ice is harder at altitude than it is at sea level like Sochi is. That's what leads to the difference that you mentioned. Dan Jansen noted in the commentary before Davis's heat that there has been a significant difference between how he placed in events at altitude versus ones at sea level. The US team trained at altitude in SLC and in Italy before these games. The Dutch are dominating these events. They are always good, but they are on pace for e record medal haul for a single olympics in speedskating. Of course, they train primarily at or near sea level in their home country.
 
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This hockey tourney haas been thrilling. I've watched Sweden, Russia and USA play twice, Canada and Finland once. Really enjoying the quality of each team. Austria and Latvia look to be the weakest. Canada, Sweden, USA, and Finland look the best.
 
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jlb1705 said:
If you emigrate specifically for access to the Olympics, it's kind of a dick move to wrap yourself in the flag when you win something. If you're going to be a mercenary celebrate like one.
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I think he got like $125,000 for that gold medal too (from Russia), unless there's an out by only paying native-born Russians (i.e. the fine print).
 
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