Ice Dancing *********SPOILER**************

[joeybee12]

I tend to avoid watching this one because it really is all fixed--the Russian mafia controls it. But apparently lots of couples were falling all over the place this afternoon--it usually doesn't happen because the moves aren't difficult as pairs. The Americans moved from 6th to 2nd, but, of course, the Russians are in first. I was surprised to read that the Americans were 6th before this--they won silver at last year's worlds, and the judges have already made up their minds so they just place the top three the same in the Olympics as the previous worlds.

[sk8tenn]

1. ice dance

There was only 1.5 points separating 1st from 6th, so lots of moving was possible in the OD.

I am so glad they moved up and began pulling away (N&K and B&A now have several points on the field), but some of those falling were wonderful teams. I was really disappointed and alarmed by Dubreuil and Lauzon's fall (Canadian champs); they had been skating so well, and their fall was so fast and freakish, and it looked so painful for her that they might not be able to finish the competition.

[joeybee12]

2. Welcome to DU...

...were they on tv this afternoon? I read about it, and figured it would be on this evening--hate seeing people screw up, so I may skip it. Couldn't watch the men's because I knew how badly most of them did!

[sk8tenn]

3. Other countries' Olympic coverage is on-line.

I've seen some of the clips off of the Internet. It is coming on American TV on NBC at 6:00 p.m. central (7:00 p.m. eastern), um now.

[joeybee12]

4. Thanks...I figured the skating would be a night thing...

..as opposed to afternoon coverage.

[frylock]

5. the Russian mafia controls it...

shouldn't this be in the 9/11 forum?

[joeybee12]

8. Hey, there were arrests made a couple years back...

...the Russian Mafia really is involved. The story didn't get a lot of play over here. Apparently ice dancing is very big in other parts of the world, and champions get paid a fortune for exhibitions. So, the results are decided beforehand so that these people can make a lot of money and the Russian Mafia gets their cut.

[Yavin4]

6. Is Ice Dancing Even A Sport?

Or just an exhibition.

[Berry Cool]

7. Yes, it's a sport.

It's been competed at the Olympics since 1976 with real medals being awarded.

And if you don't think it's a sport, try doing what some of those people do knowing that with the kind of close footwork they do at the speed they do it, and the lifts they do, you could go splat at any moment if your blades and your partner's get crossed or your timing is off. Or you could end up with a blade in a part of your anatomy that you would not like.

[joeybee12]

10. I think it's a sport, yet I doubt those medals are real...

...it's probably the most crooked sport around.

[northzax]

11. no, it's a competition.

an athletic competition, certainly, like ballet. Sport isn't subjective, or shouldn't be. The dancers are certainly athletes, world class athletes, but it isn't a sport. Now the new judging system is bringing it closer to a sport, with the less subjective judging, but at the end of the day, the results are from pleasing a human being, not a subjective standard.

take cross country skiing, you don't need to be pretty to win, you simply need to be fast. There is no doubt, at the end, who won, it was the fasted person out there.

other things that aren't 'sports' by this definition: halfpipe snowboarding, ski jumping, freestyle skiing.
things that are 'sports' by this definition: bobsleigh, curling, biathalon, boardcross.

[underpants]

9. And some people say there is no GOOD time to watch Ice Dancing

I switched the channel last night and didn't watch the spill fest and the DIVA GLARE-off.

DaMN!

[joeybee12]

12. ********SPOILER******** Results!

Russians take gold, Americans win silver--first medal in 30 years--Ukranian duo takes bronze. Apparently the skating was fairly clean this evening, unlike the crash-fest of yesterday!

[northzax]

13. good thing Congress took the time

to pass that special citizenship exemption, huh?

[joeybee12]

14. I think they just waived the time limit...

...there was an article in today's Denver Post about how there are so many athletes competing for other countries in which they aren't even citizens.

[northzax]

15. oh, I know it's a common practice

but since the waiting list is years (literally, I know someone in the UK who is on a 14 year waiting list for a green card, her application is approved, but it will take 14 years to get the card, she applied in 1996, they expect her to get her card in 2009.) it's still fucked up.

[joeybee12]

16. I can only assume that since 9-11 "changed everything" the time wait

is even longer!!!