Vonn in Vancouver: Missin' the Medal Attitude

I like the Olympics. A lot. My TV is constantly tuned into NBC, much to the chagrin of my roommate, who learns about a new sport every day. My iPod has the Olympics app, keeping me up to date on the events and news, even when I’m walking between classes. The only news that seems to catch my eye is that related to the Vancouver Games. For two weeks, my entire attention span is focused on the Olympics.


Perhaps it’s because they only come around so often, or that for two weeks, the world is concentrating on one single news story. The spotlight shifts to Vancouver and the world gives a decent attempt at unity and good sportsmanship. The athletes embark on the trip of a lifetime and hope to forego their individual glory for that of their country. Unfortunately, some athletes don't. All the hype surrounding them, the unique experiences, and the appeal of the gold medal hanging around their necks is just too much.


Sitting with my mom watching the women's Super-G competition on a Saturday night, I was impressed by the skill. Racing down a course they hadn't run before at inspiring speeds, and wiping out, leaving it all on the course was in and of itself an accomplishment in my eyes. And then there was Lindsey Vonn. Celebrating a time of 1:20.88, Vonn thought she had the gold locked up. Following Vonn was Tina Maze of Slovenia, who edged out the top time with a mark of 1:20.63. NBC’s omnipresent cameras panned to Vonn, seen with jaw dropped in disbelief. We were then in disbelief. This superstar Olympian, supposed to represent the spirit of the Games, didn’t exhibit a professional attitude, and didn’t exude behavior worthy of the Olympic spirit. A world-class athlete should show sportsmanship and class, but Vonn instead demonstrated that she thought no one was good enough to top her. Winning the bronze medal, any medal for that matter, at the Olympics, should be the cherished achievement of a lifetime, not a right.


This hasn’t been Vonn’s only misstep over the course of the Games, either. According to a TIME Magazine article, the Tiger Woods press conference was broadcast in the Team USA House in Vancouver while Vonn was giving an interview. In the presence of the American media, she joked, "Tiger, you're like my idol, and I too have a sex problem. That would be freaking funny." While athletes are observers of the same events the general public observes, they have the responsibility to uphold the Olympic ideals we aspire to. Perhaps mocking Tiger in public was an opinion she should have kept to herself. The focus, rather, should be on her success and that of Team USA. These athletes are role models, model citizens, and constantly in the public eye.


At international events with such upstanding caliber and character as the Olympic Games, what kind of athletes should we want representing our country? America, known for its bold successes and integrity, has recently seen a shift in the attitude its athletes emanate. Some Americans are embarrassed by this behavior, others indifferent, but certainly, a change must be made to preserve to spirit of the international event we all cherish as a global community.

The Revolution of Horse

As I sit here watching the NBA All-Star game's HORSE competition on TNT, I keep wanting more.

In a game that is based around hustle, determination, skill, and speed, the game of HORSE should be a perfect venue to display a player's true talent.

But in this version of the game, the athletes are restricted to a slow-paced and uninterested display of talent. Seeing the possibility of this type of competition, the NBA needs to add some flair. Here are a few things the NBA can do to make this competition more exciting:

1.) Don't play in a traditional arena:
--Play on a community playground, play on a rooftop, play in on ice, play in a mall.... something to change it up. When more obstacles are involved, the game gets more exciting, allowing for more innovative and interesting shots

2.) Allow props
--Get the fans, other players, or the commentators involved in the shots. Have a more interactive competition where other people can serve as props to the plays.

3.) Create an opportunity to get a shot back
--Allow players to bet multiple letters to get a letter back, or even give their letter to someone else by doing a fan shot or some other method.

4.) Allow at max 3 dunks per game
--I know they don't want it to become another dunk contest, but if you allow at least a few dunks a game, it would cause the speed and excitement level to go up. Also, how cool would it be to have people all trying to copy dunks they have never seen before??

5.) Get higher level players in the game
--Get the big names in the competition... Then see how exciting it gets

6.) Add competitors
--Have one less set of commercials and add 2 competitors. It would end up being the same amount of time anyways.

Whaddya think? Any other ideas to improve the HORSE competition?

Or do you not care enough to change it anyways?

NHL Power Rankings: Week 19

1. (2) Capitals-11 straight wins, a franchise record, and the Capitals are rolling. They are effectively dispatching of any team in their path.
2. (1) Sharks-Losses to Chicago and Detroit really set them back. They only thing that kept them from dropping further is Chicago's recent slip-ups.
3. (3) Blackhawks-They looked poised to take move up the rankings after beating the Sharks,. Then they lost to the Hurricanes and Blues. They elite teams are not supposed to do that.
4. (4) Canucks-A tough loss against the Canadiens broke up a seven game win streak. The Canucks have played very solid hockey, while managing to do much of their work on the road.
5. (7) Penguins-Despite their streaky play the Penguins are right there in the hunt. Dispatching of perennial playoff contenders, Buffalo and Detroit, has moved them up the board.
6. (9) Kings-The Kings have played phenomenally compiling their own 7 game win streak; including wins against Buffalo, at Detroit, and at New Jersey.
7. (13) Coyotes-Their wins have not been the most impressive, but all they do is continually win. The same cannot be said for the trailing Sabres and Devils.
8. (8) Sabres-They managed to beat the Devils before stumbling to Pittsburgh and Ottawa in back-to-back games.
9. (6) Devils-They blew up in Toronto, blowing a third period lead to escape in Toronto. Then they lost their other three matchups last week, including a 3-0 loss at the hands of Toronto. It may be a miracle they are this high.
10. (11) Senators-They are on a franchise-best ten straight wins. I doubt that their success will last much longer but the power rankings are supposed to represent the present and in the present they aren't losing.
11. (10) Flyers-The Flyers were playing excellent hockey winning eight of their last twelve. Then they went to Edmonton. Any team that wants to consider itself a serious contender cannot afford mistakes such as that.
12. (5) Avalanche-The Avalanche rewarded my high ranking of them with three straight losses. Now they have put themselves in a position where winning the division is just as easy as missing the playoffs all together.
13. (12) Red Wings-Yes we all know when this team gets healthy to watch out. Well right now they are tied with Calgary for that final playoff spot. They better start winning of a fully healthy team won't matter much.
14. (16) Flames-Just last week this team was in panic mode. Well it still should be winning only two of its last twelve this team is lucky to even be in the playoff hunt.
15. (14) Predators-They hit a rough patch this week. Only problem is these kind of rough patches (five in a row) are extremely damaging to any teams playoff hopes.
16. (18) Wild-The Wild were surging before getting beat by a clearly superior Sharks team. A playoff birth look tough at this point, but not unreasonable.
17. (20) Stars-I wonder how many teams have made the playoffs in NHL history without winning three straight games at any point in the season. The Stars may become the first.
18. (24) Panthers-They really could be a lot higher up this board due to their recent play. I just think they will are sorely missing Nathan Horton's play and it is only a matter of time before it catches up to them.
19. (23) Blues-The Blues may have won just enough to prevent them from being sellers came trade deadline time. They are in that limbo where the playoffs are still reasonably possible.
20. (15) Ducks-The Ducks are hoping the additions of Jason Blake, Jonas Hiler, and Vesa Toskala gives them a reasonable shot at the playoffs.
21. (25) Lightning- They have been playing a little better than I gave them credit for that accounts for their rise in the rankings. It had very little to do with yet another mediocre week.
22. (21) Canadiens-The loss of Mike Cammalleri ends any hopes of the playoffs. It is probably better they faced the reality now before the trade deadline anyway.
23. (26) Hurricanes-Unlike some teams they have not thrown in the towel. Despite the fact they have no real shot at the playoffs they continue to play hard.
24. (27) Thrashers-Now we are just counting the days till Ilya Kovalchuk is traded. I mean they have had this huge cloud looming over the players heads that they have to trade him now.
25. (28) Blue Jackets-At least they are winning some games now. They could not say that before.
26. (19) Bruins-A team that desperately needs a playmaker like Ilya Kovalchuk. As unrealistic as their playoff hopes are now, the addition of Kovalchuk would definitely give this team a more than legitimate shot.
27. (17) Islanders-Once, a team that appeared to have playoff hopes just last week. Now, a team that would settle for mediocrity.
28. (22) Rangers-A team that had playoff aspirations did everything wrong by only winning one of their four matchups last week.
29. (29) Maple Leafs-They have gotten good at one thing, putting up abysmal performances regularly.
30. (30) Oilers-They may just have perfected the art of losing and losing badly.