[skippy the wonder dog]

Tiger, more money won't guarantee that someone won't choke on the day, but there are no guarantees in sports.

More money will be reflected in better overall performance, though. Sports funding supports not just individual athletes but their federations, so you get better training facilities, better coaching, more competitions, etc. And yes, that helps with the mental side, too.

But guarantees? There are never guarantees.

[tigerthelion]

Tiger, more money won't guarantee that someone won't choke on the day, but there are no guarantees in sports.

More money will be reflected in better overall performance, though. Sports funding supports not just individual athletes but their federations, so you get better training facilities, better coaching, more competitions, etc. And yes, that helps with the mental side, too.

But guarantees? There are never guarantees.

They are all very good points and may all be true. Let me just say that if government funding wasn't increased, I wouldn't shed a tear over it and leave it at that.

As for Wotherspoon, I suppose I didn't have to post it. I certainly wasn't seeking out info on his perfomance. I went to tsn.ca and saw his mug plastered all over the front page and remembered that the same thing happened to him in 2002. I certainly could care less about his career records. In this particular event, he has no gold to show for it. I guess he's the Peyton Manning of speed skating. :lol:

[j-monster]

and i still say that pro atheletes should not be a part of the olympics!!! and yes..i know i'm the only one in canada who feels this way

Actually, I would not be opposed to a system that I think is used for the soccer competition in the Summer Olympics. That is, pros are allowed, but an age limit of something like 23 or 24, with maybe exceptions for one or two older players (at least I think it's something like that, I could be wrong). Whether hockey would go for a system like that in the future, I don't know. But it would be neat in that it would basically be the young guys competing, maybe some NHLers but maybe some other young guys too.

Aw heck, I'd probably watch regardless of what they do, I love the Olympics too, especially the Winter games, they are a lot of fun to watch. Besides the hockey, the element of danger in a lot of the sports (downhill skiing, bobsled/luge/skeleton, etc.) make it really interesting viewing.

[tigerthelion]

Whoa....Not what the US and Russia had in mind in hockey. I can see Slovakia winning but the US tying Latvia? The US players have a lot of improving to do. It's still early though.

[j-monster]

Yeah tiger, those were a couple of interesting results. I caught a bit of the Russia-Slovakia game, it was some pretty good hockey. If Slovakia gets any kind of goaltending at all, they are a darkhorse candidate for sure.

In other Olympic hockey news... Uh-oh. I can hear the screaming in Ottawa from here...

Hasek injured in Olympic opener

http://www.tsn.ca/olympics/news_story/?I...4&hubname=

[skippy the wonder dog]

Aw heck, I'd probably watch regardless of what they do, I love the Olympics too, especially the Winter games, they are a lot of fun to watch. Besides the hockey, the element of danger in a lot of the sports (downhill skiing, bobsled/luge/skeleton, etc.) make it really interesting viewing.

The cool thing about the Olympics is that they are the only time many sports ever get coverage.

You wouldn't know some of this stuff even existed if it weren't for the Olympics every four years.

[lilbones]

4 Medals for Team Canada today:
2 team pursuit speed skating silvers, bronzes in skeleton and figure skating. Good stuff.

[j-monster]

Aw heck, I'd probably watch regardless of what they do, I love the Olympics too, especially the Winter games, they are a lot of fun to watch. Besides the hockey, the element of danger in a lot of the sports (downhill skiing, bobsled/luge/skeleton, etc.) make it really interesting viewing.

The cool thing about the Olympics is that they are the only time many sports ever get coverage.

You wouldn't know some of this stuff even existed if it weren't for the Olympics every four years.

And maybe that's why people who are so eager to rip athletes in those sports who underperform (and I sometimes have to fight off that urge to rip them myself) need to keep that in mind.

Basically they are going from having a few people watching to having a worldwide audience of mega-millions watching. You think that doesn't have a chance to mess with their head a little?

[tommygunn]

US and Sweden are headed for OT in Women's hockey semi-final action!

[tommygunn]

US and Sweden are headed for OT in Women's hockey semi-final action!

Shootout now!

[tommygunn]

US and Sweden are headed for OT in Women's hockey semi-final action!

Shootout now!

Wow, Sweden won!

[habsfan19]

Wow....Not Canada-US in Women's final...bout time I guess, last 10 years have been Canada-US all the time

[direwolf74]

Wow....Not Canada-US in Women's final...bout time I guess, last 10 years have been Canada-US all the time

I think this shows that the field is finally starting to get more competitive. Canada will most likely roll over Finland today, but I'm hoping the Swedes make things interesting in the final. I don't think anybody wants to see a blowout in the gold medal game.

[tommygunn]

Canada, Gold & Silver in Men's skeleton! :thumb:

Another Canadian finished 4th, almost a medal sweep!

[farmerdan]

Canada, Gold & Silver in Men's skeleton! :thumb:

Another Canadian finished 4th, almost a medal sweep!

yeah i was just watching that, it was awesome!!
(the silver medal guy almost lost it at the bottom...yikes!)