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Saturday Night Open Thread: Apolo Ohno Makes History

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 06:33:02 PM EST
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Update: Apolo Ohno sets Winter U.S. Olympic history with his 7th medal. He took bronze in the short-track 1,000-meter final.

Tonight at the Olympics: Watch Lindsay Vonn take bronze in the Super G.

Plus U.S. speedsters (live ET/CT) on tracks both short and long compete, as Apolo Ohno goes for a record-breaking seventh Winter Olympic medal (1000m) and Shani Davis tries for a second gold medal of the weekFeatured coverage includes Lindsey Vonn in the super-G, U.S. speedsters (live ET/CT) on tracks both short (Apolo Ohno, 1000m) and long (Shani Davis, 1500m).

It's cold and snowy here, not a good night to go anywhere. Instead I'm reading mounds of discovery with a fire going and the Olympics on in the background. What's on your agenda this weekend?

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Saturday Night Open Thread: Apolo Ohno Makes History | 38 comments (38 topical)

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    Count me as pretty disappointed (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 08:03:34 AM EST
    in the Sarah Palin abuses Trig debate that I have seen.  I'm reading that because Palin flew in her last Trimester that she was hurting the baby. Jeebus Cripes, you don't fly in the last trimester in case you go into labor or something occurs requiring immediate medical attention and they would have to land the plane off schedule and off course due to YOU.  And I'm reading that she abused Trig because she lugged him around to all those crowded places and lights and people and stuff.  What a bunch of B.S.  I have spent 10 years now in different therapies with Joshua and met families all over the spectrum dealing with disabilities and the one thing we are told to do is desensitize our children to the reality out there.  They will function better as adults in this often obviously vile blaming freaking out world the more they are exposed to it and deal with it.  I might think Palin ought to be triple ashamed of herself for giving Rush a pass to ridicule her child, but "lugging" Trig all over the world is unlikely to damage him.  People saying some of the things they are about this ought to really be ashamed of themselves.  Talk about wanting to find any reason under the sun to thump on someone.

    Glorious weekend of sun in Seattle (none / 0) (#1)
    by shoephone on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 07:21:32 PM EST
    It's been like this for most of the past week, and everyone seems to have spring fever. Last night I went to see "Glengarry, Glenross," at the Rep. The play is very different from the movie; it feels like a 90-minute smack in the face, and then it just abruptly ends. John Aylward (who some may remember as the CoS on "ER") was so good. His stage performances over the years have always been excellent. My friend and I found a cool new bar near the theater too.

    Today was all yard work, with more to come tomorrow. Then work on a writing project, and finishing my take-home midterm for class Monday.

    As luck would have it, gray skies and rain are slated to return on Tuesday. Such is life in the Great Northwest.

    When spouse gets home (none / 0) (#7)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 08:53:43 PM EST
    we are supposed to visit a Dr. Vincent Mosca with Joshua in your neck of the woods.  I've never been to Seattle.  It will be my first time.

    Parent
    You will be amazed (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 09:23:21 PM EST
    at how beautiful Western Washington is. Hopefully, it will be blue skies and sunshine when you visit...you don't want your first impression to be the rain.

    Parent
    Remind right before you come, MT (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by shoephone on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 09:23:41 PM EST
    It would be great to meet up, if possible.

    Is Dr. Mosca at Children's Hospital?

    Parent

    I'm not exactly sure where he is out of (none / 0) (#17)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 09:36:33 PM EST
    at this time.  What I do know about him is that he is the world's foremost authority on the foot and how to put one together and keep it together.  Joshua's old surgeon in C Springs knows who the top of the top is on everything.  He has arthogryposis in his hands too but it is very mild.  Because hands are so important she sent Joshua to the hand specialist Bach when he was about two years old just to make certain there wasn't anything we needed to attend to in the future and thankfully we were good to go on hands.  But Bach is the probably the leading hand man in the world.  I get the name first...I figure out the rest second :)  I suppose that is the only bargaining I'm decent at, where Joshua is concerned.  And I always know what my goal is and I keep my eye there and all movements I make I intend to take me there one way or another.

    Parent
    His primary office is (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 09:42:25 PM EST
    Children's Hospital - his creditials are fantastic. Top Doctors List since 1996! Children's Hospital is a truly wonderful facility with exceptional doctors and staff.

    It's in an older part of town near UW.

    Parent

    Why did you reveal the outcome of the race? (none / 0) (#2)
    by tigercourse on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 08:00:29 PM EST
    It hasn't aired yet.

    it's been on the news all day (none / 0) (#4)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 08:11:54 PM EST
    you couldn't miss it.

    Parent
    I hadn't heard . . . (none / 0) (#6)
    by nycstray on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 08:29:17 PM EST
    maybe it's because I was watching the Olympics? And I don't recall our news mentioning it. Ours sports was mostly spring training and a mention of already televised winners. Perhaps because it was NBC?

    Parent
    Agreed, and hopefully no more spoilers (none / 0) (#12)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 09:18:32 PM EST
    Apolo and JR are like family to the PNW, and we won't see them skate until hours after they have aired on Central TV time....I was crushed when the Silver was announced here after his first race...two hours before we got to see it.

    I've been watching NBC and they are not announcing anything before it airs.


    Parent

    Avoid (none / 0) (#13)
    by waldenpond on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 09:22:02 PM EST
    It's a challenge to miss announcements.  I keep trying to avoid the news.  Watching curling on CNBC.... the match of the Olympics: Canada v Great Britain.  Apparently an ongoing rivalry.  No points on the first end.

    Parent
    JR? (none / 0) (#20)
    by nycstray on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 10:38:47 PM EST
    sorry, brain isn't working well and I'm gettin' zero rec on JR.

    I love watching speed skating. I would be terrified to try short track though! I value my fingers too much ;) The 1on1 races are relaxing imo, and the short track just fires up my competitive sports nature.

    Parent

    Celski (none / 0) (#21)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 11:11:22 PM EST
    Short track...won bronze behind Ohno's silver last Wednesday...he's as captivating as Apolo.


    Parent
    Ah yes. That he is. (none / 0) (#22)
    by nycstray on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 11:29:39 PM EST
    Young also, right?

    I don't think this is a spoiler :) His brother is there tonight to see him skate. He redeploys for his second tour in a month and hadn't seen him skate before tonight (I'm guessing they are talking Olympics/top events).

    I like Celski's recovery "story".  And his skating of course :)

    Are they showing anything live there? For instance, the women who are racing now?

    Parent

    No, the spoiler is Jeralyn's headline (none / 0) (#24)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 12:11:22 AM EST
    before the race has been televised here on the west coast....despite being asked not to do that!


    Parent
    Watch it anyway (none / 0) (#26)
    by nycstray on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 12:43:56 AM EST
    lots of skill displayed and a tight field :)

    Sorry the results were posted in advance though. I know that I would be bummed if I were on your coast. I did still enjoy watching LV though. The Olympics seem easier to watch with an advance score vs baseball/football, for me anyway. The skill level is great this year.

    Parent

    not true (none / 0) (#29)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 01:23:35 AM EST
    I held it until the race was over here, it had already been over a hour before on the east coast. Everyone had seen the race before it went up. It was all  over the news and the internet.

    Parent
    Not true (none / 0) (#33)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 09:19:27 AM EST
    The race aired at 11:20 PM West Coast time. The qualifications were just starting when I posted that we were still waiting to see it.

    You watch on Central time, which is an hour earlier than Eastern and Pacific (i.e., program that we see at 9:00 in our zone, you see at 8:00 in yours), then you have to add the actual hour difference in zones. West Coast sees what you see two hours later. The Olympics are not being broadcast live.


    Parent

    mountain time (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 04:31:31 PM EST
    is not central time.

    It was up for hours on the NY Times, HuffPo, the AP Olympics site, all over Twitter, etc. You shouldn't read open threads with pictures of the Olympics in the title if you don't want to know. While I purposefully waited to post the picture or the update until after I saw Ohno win the medal on TV.
    I can't keep track of what time it's airing in every time zone. And it was impossible to be online and avoid it if you read the news.

    This is a blog, I check the news all day/nite looking for things to write about. I wasn't trying to do a spoiler, had I known I would have indicated it. But I don't feel badly given that it was all over the place well before I wrote about it.

    Parent

    It's February and 46. (none / 0) (#3)
    by scribe on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 08:01:12 PM EST
    A good 15 or 20 degrees above normal.

    It has snowed all of about 3/4 inch in the last frickin' month.  [TL - you can send me all the snow you don't want.]

    The lakes are thawing out, so much so that the Warden Service is taking out PSAs to tell people to stay off and putting up aerial photos showing all kinds of open water where ice should be.

    My snowshoes have grown moss (or so it seems) in the trunk of the car.  

    Where's my winter?

    Just put in a call (none / 0) (#5)
    by Zorba on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 08:17:15 PM EST
    to Washington, DC, Scribe- I'm sure they'd be happy to ship you all their excess snow if they could!

    Parent
    And here we are in Maryland with almost (none / 0) (#8)
    by Anne on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 08:58:01 PM EST
    eighty inches of snow since just before Christmas - over four feet in two storms just days apart - the storm of 2/5-2/6 and the storm of 2/9 - 2/10.

    It's been just ridiculous, really, and very expensive.  My firm, which NEVER closes, was closed on the 8th, 9th and 11th; schools were closed for over a week, and even though they are back, opened two hours late most of last week.

    And there is something headed this way for Monday...oh, joy!  It might be rain, which could cause flash flooding since we are still blanketed with snow, and there's nowhere for the run-off to go.

    On the bright side, this is great for the water table - and our well - but I am really looking forward to spring!

    Parent

    You can have mine! (none / 0) (#30)
    by mmc9431 on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 06:40:38 AM EST
    Chicago is expecting around a foot of new snow Sunday night. Around this time of year, I get really disgusted with the dreery gray world of winter. I'm starved for greenery and blue skies!

    Parent
    Just hanging out (none / 0) (#9)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 08:59:24 PM EST
    It has been cold here.  Usually the azaleas are already blooming, but not yet.  Should start soon though.  It is still so cold here at night though.  Pretty sure this winter killed the lime tree at the top of the driveway.  I wonder if winter's have been permanently changed around here making citrus growing a thing of the past?  Friday was a rough day around here, today Joshua isn't feeling well...fever and cough.  Spoke to his dad on the other side of the world and he is down with something similar too.  Must suck to be trying to conduct this Marja thing, and the fighting gets hot now....and then you are sick with a cold or flu.

    I was watching reruns of the Tudors though (none / 0) (#10)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 09:00:40 PM EST
    and they changed the actress who played Jane Seymour in between seasons didn't they?  I did not notice until tonight.

    Parent
    Your lime tree may live . . . (none / 0) (#11)
    by nycstray on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 09:15:53 PM EST
    and I doubt your winters have perm changed :) There was a heavy El Nino effect this year. Which most should have seen coming after the couple of heavy fire years in Ca. We just had to have the torrential downpours and the accompanying mudslides after the hills burned all their cover. I can't wait to get where I'm moving. Moderate temps year round with some fog thrown in! {happy dance} Down coat is staying on the east coast as I have been informed there's one at the cabin :) Reducing my heavy sweaters waaaaaaaay down along with all my east coast winter wear.

    Hope your boys get better quick!!!

    Parent

    The outer limbs look really rough (none / 0) (#16)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 09:26:15 PM EST
    Maybe I should prune it back, and then it can put its energy into saving the rest of itself?  I'm so glad you are happy with your move.  Best to you and your spotted child while I nurse my little guy.

    Parent
    Ask at the nursery or a local college hort dept (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by nycstray on Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 10:08:37 PM EST
    my mom's the hort expert in our family and directs my dad where to cut and when. I know her citrus had experienced frost and below norm temps back when she had them. For some reason I think my dad used to cover them (on her directive). With the cold temps this year, they were spraying down the trees in Ca and Fla so they would be iced to save the fruit. Mom is raving (as is sis) about the citrus they are getting in their CSA shares (yes, I have corrupted the whole immediate family, lol!~)and I haven't heard of any major orchard losses.

    Right now I'm in serious panic mode over the move. But when I get there . . . it will be time to plant a garden! It's raining a lot there this week and I hope they get some next couple weeks also so when I get there I can plant and it will rain :) Give me something to do while waiting for the moving truck :) The Dot is going to love giving up the 3 flights of stairs for a backyard (and a park along the marina!) and the felines will have a new 6-7ft cat tree with a 7ft window to look out and a gas stove style heater next to it. I can't wait to see the fog roll in off the bay. Nature's AC.

    Parent

    Hey nycstray (none / 0) (#23)
    by cpresley on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 12:11:17 AM EST
    Welcome back to California. Are you moving to Calaveras county? We live in Santa Cruz county and have finally received some good rain this year after three years of dry weather. Here is to hoping fire season won't be as bad as the last two years have been.

    MT, I wouldn't cut back your tree at all until you see new growth start in the spring. Look all over the branches to see any green buds, then cut back the branches to just a little bit beyond the green buds. Don't rush it as we are still in winter for at least another month according to the groundhog:).

    Parent

    Thanks! (none / 0) (#25)
    by nycstray on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 12:36:01 AM EST
    I'll be along the San Pablo bay as a home base for now with lots of days spent up in Calaveras while waiting to see how things shake out with the family. I actually considered Santa Cruz, but until I learn to drive, where I'm going is easier on public transport to help with the family. It's also a bit closer to many, many long time friends. It won't be long before I show up in your neck of the woods though. Serious good memories from there :) And some pretty funny photos to back it up, lol!~ My main hope is fire threat is low and the word "drought" is sparse when I get there . . . my place isn't a wild fire threat, but the Calaveras cabin is, as is my parents place. Napa fault line doesn't seem to be a big threat and I'm going to be living on bedrock again. But as a native, I'll have my "to go gear" in place ;) When I lived in SF, I was the "go to" place in case of an earthquake. It was always kindof a joke until it hit and friends started showing up . .  . I'm so looking forward to the weather though :)

    Parent
    San Pablo Bay (none / 0) (#27)
    by cpresley on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 12:52:52 AM EST
    is good if you need to use public transportation, not so good where we live. We live in the Santa Cruz mountains, but if you need driving lessons come on over and see me. I had to do drivers training for 4 kids on the winding roads of the Santa Cruz mountains so I have expertise. One of my pupils even drives a great big firetruck so I must be a pretty good teacher.

    Parent
    Excellent winemakers (none / 0) (#28)
    by oculus on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 01:01:56 AM EST
    dinner in the Anderson Valley @ Boonville Hotel. Will try to do this again in the near future. One half inch of rain predicted starting Sun. afternoon.

    Hmmmm where is this my friend? (none / 0) (#32)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 08:05:47 AM EST
    This girl needs a vacation.  I'm due one!

    Parent
    SE of Mendocino CA (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by oculus on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 06:44:31 PM EST
    Very beautiful terrain.

    Parent
    Eric Heiden, of course, won 5 golds by winning all (none / 0) (#34)
    by jawbone on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 10:50:59 AM EST
    events in one Olympics, 1980 at Lake Placid. That is an amazing achievement.

    Bonnie Blair and Ohno are more closely comparable, both winning their medals over 3 different Olympics, while Ohno's Olympic career spans two more years due to the change in 1994 which moved the winter tournament up by two years.

    Blair won 500M Gold and 1000M Bronze in 1988
    500M Gold and 1000M Gold in 1992.
    500M Gold and 1000M Gold in 1994.
    So, she has a total of 5 golds and one bronze.

    Ohno has won 1000M Silver and 1500M Gold in 2002.
    500M Gold, 1000M Bronze, and 5000M Relay Bronze in 2006.
    So far, he has the 1500M Silver and last night's 1000M Bronze.

    So, he has a total of 7 medals:
    2 Gold, 2 Silver, and 3 Bronze.

    Surely, he may win more this Olympics.

    Short track is much more volative and less based on individual time, effort. There's much more chance involved.

    I kept wishing NBC would mention that, yes, he has surpassed in total medal numbers, but that Heiden and Blair had more wins.

    This is not to take anything away from Ohno's achievements. I love the guy and I've found short track fun, exciting, and, also, infuriating given its chanciness. It is a very different critter from long track.

    Within long track, for the most part longer distance racers don't do as well in the sprint distances.  Amazingly, Heiden won in both, and is the only athlete in the history of speedskating to win all 5 events in a single Olympics and to win at both sprint and distance racing.  While he was competing, he had almost 1500 days at the top skater.

    I like Ohno's career bcz he has had self-imposed ups and downs. And he has trained hard to stay competitive.  

    Kudos all round!

    Thanks goodness for Elvis Stojko who (none / 0) (#37)
    by bridget on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 06:59:28 PM EST
    knows what he is talking about when it comes to mens figure skating.

    http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/figure_skating/news?slug=es-thoughts021810&prov=yhoo& amp;type=lgns

    The Night They Killed Figure Skating

    Elvis writes:

    Sorry, Evan Lysacek.
    You're a great skater and all.
    But that wasn't Olympic champion material.
    .... read on

    The judges scoring was ridiculous, writes Elvis, and by rewarding a "safe playing" Oly program like Lysacek's with Gold they the judges killed figure skating and put the sport a step backwards. Why even bother about the hard jumps, the Champion jumps in future? Since the junior skaters can do now what Lysacek put on Oly ice in 2010. And So did Brian Boitano in 1988.

    Elvis discusses the Mens long program and his criticism and analysis ... well, if you read Thursday night's Oly blog ...you know that I totally agree with him and pretty much wrote the same thing. Elvis Stojko truly cares about figure skating. Forget about the biased critics like Dick Button et al. who have always shown their biases and dislikes when their favorite skaters (i.e. American) skated in international competitions. I could write a novel about it. I Have been a figure skating fan for decades and never missed a competition.

    Btw. I also completely agree w. Elvis when he writes that Daisuke Takahashi had an awesome program and he tried the quad. He had the guts. A true champion. He should have been ahead of Lysacek.

    And Weir? Outskated Canadian Chan by a mile.

    I am glad Canadian Elvis Stojko spoke out.  And anyone who saw him skate the 1998 Olys with a severe groin injury and still win the Silver medal, knows what a great figure skating champion he always was. Elvis is the first skater who put the quad on the ice on a regular basis and successfully. Ilia Kulic won the Gold that year, with the Quad - and I am sure Elvis who skated in terrible pain was disappointed but never felt wronged by the judges.

     

    Interesting viewpoint (none / 0) (#38)
    by christinep on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 09:02:25 PM EST
    But, my family and I always preferred the elegant skating brand when compared with the Stojko brand. In many ways, it is a matter of style preference. Of course, looking back, skaters like Brian Boitano combined both schools. So, for me, Evan Lysacek was inspiring and superior from the form of his hands and arms to the placement of his feet and footwork. Again, people look at these things differently...that is what art is about.

    Parent
    Saturday Night Open Thread: Apolo Ohno Makes History | 38 comments (38 topical)

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