PETA isn't going to like this Olympic Sport

As the second week of Olympic competition is now in full swing the training runs for a new addition to the games are now underway. The Nordic Combined Downhill Feline Shooting Relay is set to have the preliminaries tonight in prime time and the medal round on Saturday.
You haven't heard of this event? Well it's new to the Vancouver games this year. It works like this. There are two components the down hill and then the shooting. The skier at the top of the hill does a downhill run with a .30-06 rifle strapped to their back. At the bottom he passes off to the shooter who then has to kill a Cougar, a Lynx, or a Mountain Lion that has been caged up. When the skier crosses the finish line the cage springs open and the cat makes a run for it. Lowest combined time wins. (The picture to the right shows one of the training runs)
Now NBC hasn't exactly been promoting the heck out of this competition (kind of like the way they are burying curling on MSNBC) mostly because of reports that Bob Costas is actually a covert member of PETA. Costas is "outraged" at those "Blood thirsty savages" as he calls the Canadians and plans on removing himself from the coverage. The competition will have a new host and commentator in the person of renowned big game hunter Ted Nugent. Mary Carillo however has no qualms about broadcasting the event even though she is known to be a cougar herself.
Not surprisingly the Canadians are favorites to medal in the competition and there has been much controversy because the Americans has accused them of rigging the course to let the cats get away. Be sure to tune in as this is sure to be a ratings winner. It's got to be better than ice dancing right?

-Doc

How have I posted twice this week on curling?

With apologies to Jay who also has a post on the same subject today (give it a read if you haven't yet) I simply have to post about curling again this morning. If you haven't met John Shuster yet by all means let me introduce you. Shuster who is the Skip (team captain) for team USA has managed to guide them to a stunningly abhorrent 0-4 record in round robin play. Only a miracle will allow them to continue on in the tournament. The issue that I have with Shuster isn't that they got beat it's his cavalier attitude about it. Last night I watched an interview where he says the reason they lost wasn't his poor shooting ability but in fact "The curling gods were against them." Oh really? Another quote from Skip John "I've always said everything happens for a reason and for some reason it just apparently isn't meant to be," Shuster said. "If it was meant to be we'd be 3-1 right now instead of 0-4" I am sorry John but athletic competitions are won on good performance NOT on the fates of the gods or other mystical entities. I think you are just a choke artist. People who perform in the clutch don't make excuses like this. Your teammates may not be willing to tell you this but I will.
USA curling has had a great opportunity this week to make their case to the country that their sport is relevant and deserves to be followed. It's compelling and has some interesting characters worth following but the teams are a combined 0-7 in Vancouver. Unfortunately I would rate their performances as a gigantic fail.

-Doc

**BTW - Just a caveat here. The social media coordinator from Team USA has been e-mailing me asking me to blog and tweet about Team USA and the Olympics. (and provided me that sweet banner ad above and access to their site) Not sure this was what you wanted Liza... Sorry but I call them like see them.**

That Special Girl and Her Special Curl Debbie McCormick

It only took about 6 minutes and 45 seconds and I was hooked. Or should I say I was curled. What am I talking about? I am referring to my new fascination women's curling. Last night I sat down and turned on the Olympics and that's when I saw her. Debbie McCormick.

Debbie is the 'Skip' (which is what my heart did) for Team USA in the ice cold sport of curling. Curling from the best I can ascertain is a cross between chess, shuffleboard, and bowling all done on ice. Don't ask me the rules of even how you score because to be honest I am not sure. If I'm being even more honest I don't even really care I just like it a lot!

Last night unfortunately my new ice queen and her team lost to Japan in their match up by like an eighth of an inch or less and I was saddened, but as my twitter friends can attest I did offer to console my new favorite female athlete Skip Debbie.

This morning I stared doing some research on curling and Skip Debbie to try and learn some more and found out first of all that she is married. Oh well so am I but a boy can dream can't he? She works at Home Depot and was born in Canada even though she moved to Wisconsin as a child. Her favorite TV show is the Price is Right and her other hobbies are scrap booking, kayaking, and playing something called chicken foot. (maybe I need to learn what this is too) She is also a minister at her Catholic Church.

Hopefully I can convince her to start reading YJKOBT. Until then enjoy a few pictures of Skip Debbie that I dug up and I will do my best to learn more and keep up with team USA curling!

Here's hoping she and Team USA make it to the medal round...

-Doc

Weekly Poll - Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics in Vancouver kicked off in grand fashion this weekend and the craze it on. It seems to me that most of these "winter" sports like luge, skiing, and figure skating only catch our interest every 4 years when there is National Pride on the line. It may just be NBC and their expert production but every four years it seems that I find myself rooting like hell for the poor guy from South Dakota whose parent passed away last year and whose sibling has a rare disease to compete in frozen pond gumball shooting or some other obscure sport. It's compelling even though I have no idea about some of the sports.
I wanted to take the pulse of blogger on this issue. Are you into the Winter Olympics? Has it hooked you in or could you care less? vote in the poll and let me know what you think.

-Doc