I've always thought that hockey was a violent sport, nasty,a sport only about hitting and bumping and hurting members of the other team. It IS physical for certain, and the bumping or 'checking' as I found out from my friend Cal, is a vital part of the game. Players even deliberately throw themselves against the boards at times. In this game the major fist fights came in the last 20 minutes of play when the pressure was on. [I'm told that its against the rules to fight in the Olympics]
My goal watching the Philly Flyers and the Atlanta Thrashers (what kind of name is that for a sports team. It sounds like a horror movie) was to learn as much as I could about the sport from Cal the Calgary hockey buff, who played hockey as a kid (He also took a turn for the heat and sea when he lived in Hawaii part of his life.) The other missions were 1)to have a good time, 2)to scream when the Flyers got goals, 3)to marvel at some of the intricate plays, 4)to eat really bad food, and 5)smile when the folks behind me yelled "The refs suck, the refs suck". I wonder how you say, "The refs suck" in Latvian, or Ukranian. I could tell from the Flyers gear that the folks around me were clearly fans, as they constantly commented on all the mistakes that the refs made. And as can be imagined, they disagreed with most of the decisions unless they were favorable to our side.
Okay, there WAS violence towards the end. A player from each side ended up on the ground pummeling each other. The refs seemed to lose control of the situation, but did send them packing to the penalty box for 5 minutes. The fighting,though, wasn't as distressing as the fans reactions. During the fight, the whole crowd stood up and cheered. Loudly. Alot. Modern gladiators?
Cal's comment about the game: We ouplayed them but we didn't outscore them. 'nough said.
During the game, I was daydreaming about being in a stadium with people talking other languages, cheering on a national team. I won't know who will be competing, because the game is the best of a playoff. But I know that whoever wins, if the game is half as entertaining and exciting as the one last night, I'll have fun.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Hockey anyone? Go Flyers
Hockey was one Olympic ticket that I bought because I could! There were so many available, and since It is the sport I am least familiar with and perhaps even the most uncomfortable with, I thought, "what the heck". When I talked about my lack of real enthusiasm about hockey to my friend Elyse, she said, "I love hockey, and I have a friend who has tickets". Soon enough I got an email that 2 tickets were available. I didn't jump on them right away, still a bit hesitant. How darn coy of me, after being so bold to plan this trip.
In the 11th hour I decided to take the two. Who would enjoy going with me? First, I invited a friend's son who I used to skate with at the local community center. When he couldn't go, his father,Cal, a native Canadian and hockey skater, jumped on the chance. In all his hockey playing he'd never seen a pro game. so both of us virgins! I went to find out about the atmosphere, but I knew he'd be able to tell me how to follow the team and the individual players. Great match!
In the 11th hour I decided to take the two. Who would enjoy going with me? First, I invited a friend's son who I used to skate with at the local community center. When he couldn't go, his father,Cal, a native Canadian and hockey skater, jumped on the chance. In all his hockey playing he'd never seen a pro game. so both of us virgins! I went to find out about the atmosphere, but I knew he'd be able to tell me how to follow the team and the individual players. Great match!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Curling videos Olympic trials and others
Gotta love this sport. This one is of Jennifer Jones final shot. Gorgeous.
Curling anyone?
Curling? I've been fascinated by it ever since my sister- in- law's cousin came to visit from Utah, and talked with great passion about the sport. She had made it her mission to teach the elementary school kids where she lived, and had set up many teams.
If, like me, you've ever wanted to know what the heck is happening with that big rock and the broom, here is what the Potomac Curling club has to say:
___________________________________________
Seemingly simple. A granite rock, a sheet of ice, a target 42 yards away. Finish with your rocks closer to the target than your opponents', and your team of four wins a game in which keen competition mixes with a wonderful social atmosphere.
But wait: this is an Olympic sport, played by people across the world from ages 8 to 80. There must be more to it.
And there is. The rocks curl (or curve) down the sheet, traveling over an ice surface rife with nuances thanks to specially applied 'pebble' of frozen mist that lets the 42-pound rocks move with surprisingly little effort. Finesse and control of how hard rocks are thrown (the 'weight') become the important factors, not strength. The weight of a thrown rock affects the amount of curl, but a rock's progress can be altered by judicious sweeping to polish the ice in front of it, making a rock move both farther and straighter. Added complications are crafty opponents who place their stones in positions to block your access to the center of the target (the 'house'). You have to think several rocks ahead to make sure that, at the completion of each end of 16 rocks, your rocks are closest to the button, the center of the house.
So curling is a game of strategy, of finesse, and yes of fitness. A team's sweepers travel up to two miles in a game and, at the highest levels of the sport, expend the same energy as a sprinter in a 200 meter dash.
_______________________________________________________
I didn't know any of this when I went for a lesson that they graciously set up on Thursday nights. The club itself consists of a lounge area for spectators. This area is separated by windows from the main ice.. The rink has the feel of a 4 lane shuffleboard court on ice. It IS much like Shuffleboard and bowling and bocci rolled into one.
To start, we were given a teflon 'slider', half slippers to put on the foot that slides out. And slide you do. If you put your foot down without support, off you go.
THe other foot is set against a stand much like runners use in track and field. The main fun that I experienced was the pushing, which produced a gliding motion producing a deep lunge forward. ( Take a look at the video of Jennifer Jones in the next post for a glimpse). The stone releases from your hand and slides ever so slowly down the lane. Between holding the rock and a broom, there is balance and finesse. For us beginners,Falling became part of the experience, and now I know why they ask people to bring Clean sneakers or rubber-soled shoes and A good nature and sense of humor.
I didn't get to stay for a match, but that is next week when I travel to the Philadelphia Curling club in Paoli, PA to watch some actual matches.
If, like me, you've ever wanted to know what the heck is happening with that big rock and the broom, here is what the Potomac Curling club has to say:
___________________________________________
Seemingly simple. A granite rock, a sheet of ice, a target 42 yards away. Finish with your rocks closer to the target than your opponents', and your team of four wins a game in which keen competition mixes with a wonderful social atmosphere.
But wait: this is an Olympic sport, played by people across the world from ages 8 to 80. There must be more to it.
And there is. The rocks curl (or curve) down the sheet, traveling over an ice surface rife with nuances thanks to specially applied 'pebble' of frozen mist that lets the 42-pound rocks move with surprisingly little effort. Finesse and control of how hard rocks are thrown (the 'weight') become the important factors, not strength. The weight of a thrown rock affects the amount of curl, but a rock's progress can be altered by judicious sweeping to polish the ice in front of it, making a rock move both farther and straighter. Added complications are crafty opponents who place their stones in positions to block your access to the center of the target (the 'house'). You have to think several rocks ahead to make sure that, at the completion of each end of 16 rocks, your rocks are closest to the button, the center of the house.
So curling is a game of strategy, of finesse, and yes of fitness. A team's sweepers travel up to two miles in a game and, at the highest levels of the sport, expend the same energy as a sprinter in a 200 meter dash.
_______________________________________________________
I didn't know any of this when I went for a lesson that they graciously set up on Thursday nights. The club itself consists of a lounge area for spectators. This area is separated by windows from the main ice.. The rink has the feel of a 4 lane shuffleboard court on ice. It IS much like Shuffleboard and bowling and bocci rolled into one.
To start, we were given a teflon 'slider', half slippers to put on the foot that slides out. And slide you do. If you put your foot down without support, off you go.
THe other foot is set against a stand much like runners use in track and field. The main fun that I experienced was the pushing, which produced a gliding motion producing a deep lunge forward. ( Take a look at the video of Jennifer Jones in the next post for a glimpse). The stone releases from your hand and slides ever so slowly down the lane. Between holding the rock and a broom, there is balance and finesse. For us beginners,Falling became part of the experience, and now I know why they ask people to bring Clean sneakers or rubber-soled shoes and A good nature and sense of humor.
I didn't get to stay for a match, but that is next week when I travel to the Philadelphia Curling club in Paoli, PA to watch some actual matches.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The place that I am staying-Chapter 3
As I looked daily for listings on the Vancouver Craigslist, I found one that was intriguing: Home for the Games. Here is what I found:
http://www.homeforthegames.com
Home For The Games is a web-based system that matches Olympic Games visitors with Metro Vancouver hosts for short-term home stays. We create opportunities for hosts, to share an unforgettable Olympic experience with guests from around the world while earning modest income.
At the same time, we assure both groups that at least 50% of their rental fee will go directly to registered charities helping Metro Vancouver’s most vulnerable citizens. Hosts will receive a tax receipt for the portion of the rent that goes to charity.
So, that is what I decided to do. For a very reasonable rate, I will be staying with 2 women who live in Vancouver, and helping out a bit. Seemed like a good solution.
http://www.homeforthegames.com
Home For The Games is a web-based system that matches Olympic Games visitors with Metro Vancouver hosts for short-term home stays. We create opportunities for hosts, to share an unforgettable Olympic experience with guests from around the world while earning modest income.
At the same time, we assure both groups that at least 50% of their rental fee will go directly to registered charities helping Metro Vancouver’s most vulnerable citizens. Hosts will receive a tax receipt for the portion of the rent that goes to charity.
So, that is what I decided to do. For a very reasonable rate, I will be staying with 2 women who live in Vancouver, and helping out a bit. Seemed like a good solution.
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