Olmypics 2006 Torino Winter Games

[geoffrey]

I would say that the primary hinderance to women's sport is that there just aren't enough viewers, and therefore the major networks are reluctant to carry the broadcasts.

Why would I go and pay to see Chris Evert play Martina Navratilova if, with minimal effort, I can always find a local junior or senior men's competition with much more talent ... and it's free.

Very good point. The women's national team trains competitively against male midget hockey players (midget being the level, not the size of people...).

[ex-hippy]

Hey! Only 22 more medals to get to the 25 previously predicted!

[geoffrey]

Hey! Only 22 more medals to get to the 25 previously predicted!

WRONG!!! 21 to Go!!!!

We just won a bronze in Ladies 500m Short-Track. Congrats to Anouk LeBlanc-Boucher!

We'll get there, I'm sure of it.

[Biblio Bibuli]

Hey! Only 22 more medals to get to the 25 previously predicted!

Isn't it sad to see super-talented individuals choke?

Emanuel Sandhu has got just as much talent as Evgeni Plushenko and Johnny Weir, yet he's sitting in seventh spot while those two are in spots 1 and 2.

I hope he pulls one out of the hat in the long program, he's great to watch. All three are.

[geoffrey]

Hey! Only 22 more medals to get to the 25 previously predicted!

Isn't it sad to see super-talented individuals choke?

Emanuel Sandhu has got just as much talent as Evgeni Plushenko and Johnny Weir, yet he's sitting in seventh spot while those two are in spots 1 and 2.

I hope he pulls one out of the hat in the long program, he's great to watch. All three are.

Yawn. Could there be a more boring sport?

[munsinger]

But some of the outfits are terrific!

Hard to beat fishnet, sparkles and a single red glove (J. Weir)

Sort of ......Michael Jackson meets Captain Highliner

[Biblio Bibuli]

Hey! Only 22 more medals to get to the 25 previously predicted!

WRONG!!! 21 to Go!!!!

We just won a bronze in Short-Track. Congrats to Anouk LeBlanc-Boucher!

WRONG!!! 20 to Go!!!!

We just won a bronze in Figure Skating. Congrats to Geoffrey Buttle!

[Slavik44]

your all wrong 17 to go

we have one gold, three silver, and four bronze now.

[fellowtraveller]

I would say that the primary hinderance to women's sport is that there just aren't enough viewers, and therefore the major networks are reluctant to carry the broadcasts.

Why would I go and pay to see Chris Evert play Martina Navratilova if, with minimal effort, I can always find a local junior or senior men's competition with much more talent ... and it's free.

Very good point. The women's national team trains competitively against male midget hockey players (midget being the level, not the size of people...).

IMO, there is a simple reason that womens sports overall are far less popular than mens.

Sports are activities to determine who is bigger, faster, stronger... and women aren't any of those things overall.

[RB]

I would say that the primary hinderance to women's sport is that there just aren't enough viewers, and therefore the major networks are reluctant to carry the broadcasts.

Why would I go and pay to see Chris Evert play Martina Navratilova if, with minimal effort, I can always find a local junior or senior men's competition with much more talent ... and it's free.

Very good point. The women's national team trains competitively against male midget hockey players (midget being the level, not the size of people...).

IMO, there is a simple reason that womens sports overall are far less popular than mens.

Sports are activities to determine who is bigger, faster, stronger... and women aren't any of those things overall.

First I think it is higher, faster, stronger it has nothing to do with bigger - a Freudian slip I imagine, sizing everyone

Women I believe still suffer from their Cinderella complex and men by far outperform the females.

However, the women will continue in the direction of the spirit of sports and close the gap of being fast, but you have to admit that the women are no where near the economics equivalent of men maybe thats what is meant by bigger.

I simply wish to cheer our women athletes on - way to go folks - even when you didn't make it to the top - be proud that you give it your best.

[Canuck E Stan]

First I think it is higher, faster, stronger it has nothing to do with bigger - a Freudian slip I imagine, sizing everyone

Unless we're talking curling, then it's got to be hurried and harder, I don't know if it has to be longer though.

[Spike22]

First I think it is higher, faster, stronger it has nothing to do with bigger - a Freudian slip I imagine, sizing everyone

Unless we're talking curling, then it's got to be hurried and harder, I don't know if it has to be longer though.

This looks like something spike22 would write

Spikette21

[Slavik44]

http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/02/259290.html

Somewhat odd but the first non-North American team to medal above bronze was Sweeden, this done in the third time mens hockey was played at the Olympics.

[fellowtraveller]

I would say that the primary hinderance to women's sport is that there just aren't enough viewers, and therefore the major networks are reluctant to carry the broadcasts.

Why would I go and pay to see Chris Evert play Martina Navratilova if, with minimal effort, I can always find a local junior or senior men's competition with much more talent ... and it's free.

Very good point. The women's national team trains competitively against male midget hockey players (midget being the level, not the size of people...).

IMO, there is a simple reason that womens sports overall are far less popular than mens.

Sports are activities to determine who is bigger, faster, stronger... and women aren't any of those things overall.

First I think it is higher, faster, stronger it has nothing to do with bigger - a Freudian slip I imagine, sizing everyone

Women I believe still suffer from their Cinderella complex and men by far outperform the females.

However, the women will continue in the direction of the spirit of sports and close the gap of being fast, but you have to admit that the women are no where near the economics equivalent of men maybe thats what is meant by bigger.

I simply wish to cheer our women athletes on - way to go folks - even when you didn't make it to the top - be proud that you give it your best.

But the topic I commented on was 'why are womens sports less popular?" Not 'let's cheerlead for the ladies". I'm a sports nut, and I will watch just about anything. The 'bigger' was a slip, I did mean higher - no need to obsess on this.

If I'm given the choice of watching hockey played by men or by women, I'll take the men every time. It's not that I'm mysogynist, but that the men are so much better, so much more talented. And that is why women will never catch up economically. Sports is about competion, and women just cannot compete and will never compete when 'higher, faster, stronger' is involved. It is less interesting to watch somebody compete in a 'relative' way: 'these are the greatest women players in the world' is to me much less compelling than 'these are the greatest players in the world'. I guess that the networks and viewers agree, sports like basketball and golf, with their own pro leagues, are still far behind the men in revenue.

[geoffrey]

But the topic I commented on was 'why are womens sports less popular?" Not 'let's cheerlead for the ladies". I'm a sports nut, and I will watch just about anything. The 'bigger' was a slip, I did mean higher - no need to obsess on this.

If I'm given the choice of watching hockey played by men or by women, I'll take the men every time. It's not that I'm mysogynist, but that the men are so much better, so much more talented. And that is why women will never catch up economically. Sports is about competion, and women just cannot compete and will never compete when 'higher, faster, stronger' is involved. It is less interesting to watch somebody compete in a 'relative' way: 'these are the greatest women players in the world' is to me much less compelling than 'these are the greatest players in the world'. I guess that the networks and viewers agree, sports like basketball and golf, with their own pro leagues, are still far behind the men in revenue.

I don't care about gender, its not sexist. I only watch the best players, why waste time watching an inferior product. Just happens to be men in every sport.

[RB]

But the topic I commented on was 'why are womens sports less popular?" Not 'let's cheerlead for the ladies". I'm a sports nut, and I will watch just about anything. The 'bigger' was a slip, I did mean higher - no need to obsess on this.

If I'm given the choice of watching hockey played by men or by women, I'll take the men every time. It's not that I'm mysogynist, but that the men are so much better, so much more talented. And that is why women will never catch up economically. Sports is about competion, and women just cannot compete and will never compete when 'higher, faster, stronger' is involved. It is less interesting to watch somebody compete in a 'relative' way: 'these are the greatest women players in the world' is to me much less compelling than 'these are the greatest players in the world'. I guess that the networks and viewers agree, sports like basketball and golf, with their own pro leagues, are still far behind the men in revenue.

I don't care about gender, its not sexist. I only watch the best players, why waste time watching an inferior product. Just happens to be men in every sport.

I don't believe that women in sports are top priority. Look, at the men lock out in hockey - women were still playing hockey but they never got coverage in the media. Men and sports and intertwined. Look, we continue to broadcast them so, bring in celebrities, give the athletes advertising contracts, showcase them in interviews, let them write a book and etc. Men promote Men.

The sports that do receive some coverage in relation to women are those where the women are scantily clad and showing off their bodies. Figure skating and skimpy outfits go together, volleyball with bikini played at night - maybe this teases the otherwise horny males and retire them for the night with hallucinative images, the tennis.

Women can succeed when they wear sexy appropriate outfits, showing their bodies.

Women entering into hockey are mostly threatening to men because women want to challenge what it means to be stronger, explosive and faster.

Men cannot handled women who can are seen as fitter, superior, and physically adept

That is why we don't see much coverage and audience.

[Spike22]

But the topic I commented on was 'why are womens sports less popular?" Not 'let's cheerlead for the ladies". I'm a sports nut, and I will watch just about anything. The 'bigger' was a slip, I did mean higher - no need to obsess on this.

If I'm given the choice of watching hockey played by men or by women, I'll take the men every time. It's not that I'm mysogynist, but that the men are so much better, so much more talented. And that is why women will never catch up economically. Sports is about competion, and women just cannot compete and will never compete when 'higher, faster, stronger' is involved. It is less interesting to watch somebody compete in a 'relative' way: 'these are the greatest women players in the world' is to me much less compelling than 'these are the greatest players in the world'. I guess that the networks and viewers agree, sports like basketball and golf, with their own pro leagues, are still far behind the men in revenue.

SPIKE22: The only time women get the recognition they deserve is at the olympics and some world games.

I don't care about gender, its not sexist. I only watch the best players, why waste time watching an inferior product. Just happens to be men in every sport.

SPIKE22 True, however womens golfers especially can play with men. I know I have been squashed by many of them.

I don't believe that women in sports are top priority. Look, at the men lock out in hockey - women were still playing hockey but they never got coverage in the media. Men and sports and intertwined. Look, we continue to broadcast them so, bring in celebrities, give the athletes advertising contracts, showcase them in interviews, let them write a book and etc. Men promote Men.

SPIKE22 People also want to see hitting and fighting in hockey. Womens hockey is excellent. They are hugely talented but no body contact. When they play the midget teams they have success because there is no body contact.

The sports that do receive some coverage in relation to women are those where the women are scantily clad and showing off their bodies. Figure skating and skimpy outfits go together, volleyball with bikini played at night - maybe this teases the otherwise horny males and retire them for the night with hallucinative images, the tennis.

SPIKE22 Anybody know when the women's beach volleyball season kicks off this year?

Women can succeed when they wear sexy appropriate outfits, showing their bodies.

SPIKE22 How true - what sexist pigs there are out there tsk tsk...

Women entering into hockey are mostly threatening to men because women want to challenge what it means to be stronger, explosive and faster.

Men cannot handled women who can are seen as fitter, superior, and physically adept

SPIKE22 I can - I've been dominated many times - grrr

That is why we don't see much coverage and audience.

SPIKE22 So what we need is more sexiness shown by the ladies in all sports...whereas men just need to perspire to garner ratings???

[threenorns]

In all of the athletic sports women are far far inferior to men. Thus there is never any real reason to watch them strictly for their athletic ability, is there?

You know, all winter sports where athletes have to bundle up and dress warm should be reserved strictly for the best among the best.

oh, please tell me you're being sarcastic and that you don't really have the IQ of a hockey puck?

first off, hockey is hockey but not all hockey is created equal. when you watch the minor leagues, i hope you're not sitting in the bleachers disparaging them because they're not as good as the majors? or is that different?

i'd like to see YOU up against any of the olympic women's players - how about that 15 yr old swedish goalie?

there are more than two olympic calibre teams. canada and states, sure - we usually let the states in because they have the biggest market share on viewership. no american team = not enough viewers = not enough dinero. it's the same reason you'll never see two canadian teams battle it out for the stanley cup unless there are some EXTREMELY extenuating circumstances.

sweden is nothing to dismiss lightly.

finland is better than sweden.

russia will do much better once they start getting some funding from their government (when they were over here for some game or other, the russian women players were literally trading vodka for hockey tape).

italy, well, okay - they only have a pool of 372 players from which to draw, but national pride will bring out more.

czech republich - this is a country KNOWN For fierce national pride and iron guts. if not the next olympics, then definitely the one after, this team will be a serious contender.

germany and switzerland - nothing to disregard lightly.

right now, canada is a juggernaut, fine - but this is the leading edge of the sport. once it becomes more firmly established, the playing will level out.

fyi: most of the *serious* hockey afficionados i know enjoy women's hockey more than men's because women play with skill and strategy, not just brute force and knuckles.

[August1991]

I heard the following on CBC radio this morning:

Despite having lost two games, the Canadian team has locked in a spot in the quarter finals.

Huh?

Has the Olympics turned into an elementary school sports track & field day where everyone wins a prize?

Vaguely trying to understand this, I find the following:

TURIN, Italy -- Team Canada is learning the hard way that winning the World Cup of Hockey doesn't exactly translate into winning at the Olympic Games.

That's because it's a different game. The World Cup uses NHL rules on smaller rinks, which has nothing to do with what it takes to win at the Olympics.

Edmonton newspaper

Huh (again)? "Different game?" Don't they play, like, hockey anymore? (If this were politics, I'd say this is pure spin... )

And what the hell is "skeleton"? I heard that Canada won medals in "skeleton"? When I google this, I get:

Skeleton made its Olympic return in 2002 after a 54-year absence. Like luge, the sport involves racing a sled down an icy track. Unlike luge, skeleton sleds are ridden face first.

The sport got its name after its first participant crashed horribly and all that was recovered was his skeleton. Just kidding! Here's the real story: the sport was named when someone commented that a new metal sled, first used in 1892, resembled a skeleton.

Some web site

Right...

It seems to me that Canada is a rich country with money to burn. We win medals in weird new sports where there's no competition.

-----

I know that we've got another thread on this Gretzky gambling topic but I figure this comment can go here. Does Gretzky have the IQ of a fencepost? I mean, his assistant coach is running a numbers racket and his wife is making six digit bets and Gretzky says he didn't know about it. Is this a "Paul Martin didn't know" or a "Gerald Ford didn't know"? A curious mind wants to know...

[na85]

Congratulations to Canada's Women's Hockey Team. They played an excellent game against Sweden for a 4-1 victory and the Gold Medal.

[margrace]

Congratulations to Canada's Women's Hockey Team. They played an excellent game against Sweden for a 4-1 victory and the Gold Medal.

We did it, we did it and when the Flag went up I actually heard real Canadians singing our anthem. How wonderful after being told by Americans that the reason we didn't sing it was because it was too hard to sing.

[uOttawaMan]

In all of the athletic sports women are far far inferior to men. Thus there is never any real reason to watch them strictly for their athletic ability, is there?

You know, all winter sports where athletes have to bundle up and dress warm should be reserved strictly for the best among the best.

oh, please tell me you're being sarcastic and that you don't really have the IQ of a hockey puck?

first off, hockey is hockey but not all hockey is created equal. when you watch the minor leagues, i hope you're not sitting in the bleachers disparaging them because they're not as good as the majors? or is that different?

i'd like to see YOU up against any of the olympic women's players - how about that 15 yr old swedish goalie?

there are more than two olympic calibre teams. canada and states, sure - we usually let the states in because they have the biggest market share on viewership. no american team = not enough viewers = not enough dinero. it's the same reason you'll never see two canadian teams battle it out for the stanley cup unless there are some EXTREMELY extenuating circumstances.

sweden is nothing to dismiss lightly.

finland is better than sweden.

russia will do much better once they start getting some funding from their government (when they were over here for some game or other, the russian women players were literally trading vodka for hockey tape).

italy, well, okay - they only have a pool of 372 players from which to draw, but national pride will bring out more.

czech republich - this is a country KNOWN For fierce national pride and iron guts. if not the next olympics, then definitely the one after, this team will be a serious contender.

germany and switzerland - nothing to disregard lightly.

right now, canada is a juggernaut, fine - but this is the leading edge of the sport. once it becomes more firmly established, the playing will level out.

fyi: most of the *serious* hockey afficionados i know enjoy women's hockey more than men's because women play with skill and strategy, not just brute force and knuckles.

I disagree, people like women's hockey for its flow, not skill and strategy. If you watch European men's hockey, like the Slovakia vs Russia game, its insanely fast, lots of rocking hits, and man those guys can dangle! It's like women's hockey but faster, with hitting, and better.

It's when the North American hook and hold style gets blended in that the games get less entertaining. I still prefer watching the men because of the sheer level of talent they have, and some of the ridiculous plays that occur.

[tml12]

Congratulations to Canada's Women's Hockey Team. They played an excellent game against Sweden for a 4-1 victory and the Gold Medal.

We did it, we did it and when the Flag went up I actually heard real Canadians singing our anthem. How wonderful after being told by Americans that the reason we didn't sing it was because it was too hard to sing.

I second the congratulations to our team but was that last comment really necessary?

How many times I bite my tongue when I meet Americans on vacation and they say "tell us really do Canadians hate us" and I have to say that the odious minority doesn't speak for the moderate majority?

[uOttawaMan]

Congratulations to Canada's Women's Hockey Team. They played an excellent game against Sweden for a 4-1 victory and the Gold Medal.

We did it, we did it and when the Flag went up I actually heard real Canadians singing our anthem. How wonderful after being told by Americans that the reason we didn't sing it was because it was too hard to sing.

I second the congratulations to our team but was that last comment really necessary?

How many times I bite my tongue when I meet Americans on vacation and they say "tell us really do Canadians hate us" and I have to say that the odious minority doesn't speak for the moderate majority?

Well.. how many?!! cmon dont hold out on us.

[August1991]

Congratulations to Canada's Women's Hockey Team. They played an excellent game against Sweden for a 4-1 victory and the Gold Medal.

From what I understand, this has only been a sport since 1998 and there are only two countries with competitive teams: Canada and the US. What other countries field teams? Sweden, Finland, Germany, Russia, Italy and Switzerland?

Everything I dislike about the Olympics is contained in these facts. I see no reason that any of our tax money should be used in any way to support these kinds of sports. It is fraudulent if these players appeal to "national pride" to justify a government subsidy.