Changes needed to Olympics events

From where I sit it looks like the Olympics has a couple too many sports...

via showtimetickets.com

As much as it pains me to say this, I really think women's hockey should be changed. Until the teams are closer in skills it's almost embarrassing. Canada blitzed Switzerland with 69 shots. If it wasn't for Florence Schelling pulling a Scrivens and keeping it close, this would have been worse. Even in the US-Finalnd game it wasn't until the 3^rd that Finland began to show signs of life. How about 2 teams from Canada and the US, dilute the talent pool a bit for both nations. Something, anything, to keep the North American teams from look at the women's hockey tournament as the 'free' space on the bingo card.

Meanwhile, figure skating is already a joke...

via cbc.ca

It didn't take 36 hours for the conspiracy stories to begin. And given the history in all levels of the sport it's hardly surprising. Is there a solution? Not easily. How about judges from non-competing countries? Hell, train a bunch of judges from non-participating countries. Jamaica, for example. They already have athletes at the games. Send a couple judges too. I know that's not a great solution, but the current system is terrible. Out of all this, I honestly feel bad for Davis and White. They are a great ice dance team and quite possibly will deserve to win, but if they do there will be questions. And, even more than the unfair judging, that seems to be the deepest problem. A worthy champion surrounded by debate as to whether it was earned.

At least that's how I see it...and I sit in the cheap seats.

Sochi security is watching everything

From where I sit it looks like Sochi is keeping a close eye on everyone...

via thestar.com

Maybe a bit too close. That's not just creepy, but scary. It's disgusting. It shouldn't be happening. Any where. All that being said, I can understand, at least partially, why they're doing it. Nobody wants a return to Munich. The terrorist threats are very real and Russia is doing everything it can to keep the world's athletes safe. And in that respect I'm fine with it. What would the outcry be like if there was an attack and it could have been prevented through tighter surveillance? At the same time, did we really hear the truth? Let's face it this isn't a transparent system. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out there are cameras in literally every room. It also wouldn't come as a big shock to find out that the 'leak' was simply a ploy to have people think there are cameras everywhere. With a budget ballooning to over 50-billion dollars it's not hard to think there are cameras every couple feet. And with so many logistical problems, it's not hard to think even if they do have cameras everywhere they probably don't work.

At least that's how I see it...and I sit in the cheap seats.

National Signing Day is a joke and the Olympics are underway

From where I sit it looks like National Signing Day should be scrapped...

via ncsasport.org

It's bad enough these kids are facing the pressure of a full-ride scholarship, but does there really need to be a day of media coverage? The vast majority of them won't make the NFL, there's probably a good number who won't even make their college team. Quite literally they are children. They are wined and dined, shown a lifestyle they have never experienced, and then expected to make a rational decision. I know all the crap from the colleges will continue, whether the media is talking about it or not, but the less attention drawn to this the better. There should be focus on getting an education and life after football, not playing. The only positive I saw yesterday, was from Texas A&M. That is a classy move that didn't get enough coverage. They didn't have to honour a verbal agreement, but for Cedric Collins, it's guaranteed not only an education, but a future.

Meanwhile, the Olympics are underway in Sochi...

Outside of Canada getting off to a great start in moglus and and slopestyle, I actually felt good for the host Russians. I watched Evgeni Plushenko skate as part of the team competition. Not only was Plushenko called washed up, but some thought he shouldn't be on the team period. But to see him skating was a reminder of the skill he still has. It was also fun to watch him play to his home crowd. It brought memories back for me watching Canadians get the same charge in Vancouver. It's a reminder, if only a brief one, that the Olympics are about the competition, not the organizing committee.

At least that's how I see it...and I sit in the cheap seats.

Sochi isn't ready and the Broncos should have been

From where I sit it looks like the race to Sochi is going to the wire...

via breitbart.com

No, not for the athletes, for the organizers. The games officially start on Friday and it looks like half the place isn't ready. I'm not surprised the beds are small. That's pretty normal for European hotels. It's more the colour of the water and herds of dogs that are a concern. Corruption is rampant. Add to that human rights concerns and this is a recipe for disaster. Once the games start, coverage of the problems will fade to the background. Unless something major happens the focus will be on the athletes. And it should be. Given all that, questions should be raised with the IOC. More to the point, what the hell were they thinking in awarding these games? None of these issues are a real surprise. So, why was Russia given a job they were clearly not able to handle from the outset? Hopefully nobody gets sick from the water, or attacked by the dogs. Those should never be worries at any Olympics. On the plus side Pyongchang has an easy act to follow.

Meanwhile, there should be questions raised about the Broncos offense...

via blog.seattlepi.com

For all Richard Sherman runs his mouth, this revelation sounds quite plausible. How many plays were receivers met within seconds of catching the ball? How could Seattle have dismantled the most potent offense in league history in under 60 minutes? Sherman is telling the truth. They knew what was coming. I want to know why Denver didn't feel the need to change anything in their offensive scheme in two weeks. They had the time to do it. Clearly Seattle had some new plays. But, no, the Broncos sailed happy down the river assuring themselves that the best defense in football wouldn't be able to figure them out. Hubris. Arrogance. Stupidity. They all fit.

At least that's how I see it...and I sit in the cheap seats.

Seattle hammers Denver in the Super Bowl

From where I sit it looks like the Super Bowl was fun, at least to Seattle fans...

via bleacherreport.com

And they were pretty much the only ones enjoying it. As a Seahawks fan, I sure did. I bet that Peyton Manning will get the lions share of the blame for this debacle. And he certainly deserves some, but everyone in orange deserves some. He didn't get enough protection from his offensive line. On the pick six, Knowshon Moreno was the intended receiver, Moreno made little to no effort to go after the ball. The Broncos defence couldn't figure out how to stop Seattle's passing. And the Denver special teams didn't show up. There is the other side of the coin to the blow out...Seattle is a really good football team. They dominated every aspect of the game. It was a stark reminder that defence wins championships. One thing that really struck me late in the game was both teams making a concerted effort to run the clock out. Denver ended with all 3 timeouts remaining. Seattle was running on basically every play, even putting in back ups to make sure everyone got some playing time. Yes, it was a lop sided game, but as a Seahawks fan, I'm just fine with that.

At least that's how I see it...and I sit in the cheap seats.

Namath admits to having brain damage

From where I sit it looks like the NFL is again facing facing questions about the long-term health of it's players...

via nydailynews.com

What makes this different is that this isn't some offensive lineman. This isn't a peripheral player, this is Joe Namath. And he's not holding back. The amount of lasting damage sports can do to the brain and body is staggering. And now the NFL is having to deal with more revelations on Super Bowl Sunday. Good. It's something the league has been running from for a long time. If Namath is having issues, I would bet at least one of Bob Talamini, Randy Rasmussen, John Schmitt, Dave Herman or Jeff Richardson does too. Who are those guys? The Jets offensive line. They were taking more abuse to keep Namath from getting creamed. For all today's athletes are well (and over) paid the long-term impacts of sports like football and hockey aren't well known. It's only in the very recent past that science is starting to realize the amount of damage that is done to a body and that it's irreversible. I don't know what can be done. Better protection? Better training? Eliminating the 'macho' culture? All of the above? Namath is right. The human body wasn't made to take this level of abuse. Sadly it will be up to the public to protect athletes from themselves.

At least that's how I see it...and I sit in the cheap seats.

Welker walks out on interview

From where I sit it looks like Wes Welker needs to grow up...

 

I can sympathize with the players in all this, at least a little. I can't imagine what it's like to have this long a wait to play, with that many cameras recording every move. The litany of inane questions. Reporters who seem to have no idea what's actually happening in the game. I'm sure it's frustrating. But guess what, it's part of the game. I'm not a big fan of Michael Landsberg either, but that doesn't mean you can act that unprofessional. Chael Sonnen did the same thing and looked like an idiot too. But that doesn't preclude that fact that you are representing yourself, your team and your league. Act like it. It shouldn't matter if you're getting fed up with the interviewer, you suck it up and answer the questions. For all Richard Sherman has been pilloried for his post game interview, Welker should be given the same for storming off. At least Sherman gave the interview. Welker rolled his eyes and stormed off like a sulky 6-year-old. He might be a great receiver, but should be reminded how to catch fans.

At least that's how I see it...and I sit in the cheap seats.