2010 Olympics - Vancouver

[Locutus]

USA beats Canada in hockey 5-3. 

[followsthewolf]

That'll really grind 'em, eh?

[Palehorse]

Yeah and those Canuks were really whooping it up before the game too. I bet they were drowning their sorrows in Molsen afterward! 

[Exterminator]

I cut myself shaving this morning but have been telling everyone that I wiped out on the downhill slalom course over the weekend.   

[Henry Hawk]

I cut myself shaving this morning but have been telling everyone that I wiped out on the downhill slalom course over the weekend.   

with a leg injury?...

[Exterminator]

I said I was shaving, not man-scaping.

[Henry Hawk]

I said I was shaving, not man-scaping.

have you tried Nair?

[Exterminator]

Uh, no.   

[Palehorse]

This afternoon a  man who used to work for me, and now works for my wife, stopped by the house to see me. During a conversation with my wife he heard I was watching the Olympics and about how fired up I was over the speed skating.

During the time he worked for me I had occasion to meet his father, although at the time I never put too much significance to it. He and I had a nice conversation though and I distinctly recall it.

Why am I putting this in the Olympic thread, you ask. . . This was his father:

Ken Henry was the first American to win an Olympic and a World Championship in speed skating. Henry actually twice won the World 500 meter championship, in 1949 and 1952, placing fourth in the overall championship in both years. In 1952 he added his Olympic gold medal in the short sprint. Henry also competed in the 1948 and 1956 Olympics without winning a medal. Ken Henry holds the distinction of being the first American Olympic athlete to light the Olympic Flame at the Opening Ceremony. This occurred in 1960 at Squaw Valley when he was handed the torch by skiing gold medalist, Andrea Mead Lawrence. Henry circled the ice rink before lighting the Olympic Flame. In 1968, Henry's Olympic connection continued when he was the head coach of the U.S. speed skating team. Henry stayed involved in sports with his job – for many years he was a golf professional at a club in a Chicago suburb.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Henry

Mr Henry died last year, and left his Olympic Gold Medal achieved in Oslo, Norway in 1952 for men's 500m speed skating to his son, along with all of the other medals and awards he had won.

His son stopped by to show it to me, and it was breathtaking to see and hold in my hands. I still cannot believe that he brought it up here to show me. I cannot believe I actually met an Olympic Champion and never even knew it at the time. . . 

You can see his records at the link below

http://www.skateresults.com/skaters/365

[Palehorse]

Oh, by the way - US Mens Hockey Team is playing for Gold on Sunday! They whipped Finland 6-1 this afternoon! 

[Palehorse]

Ohno disqualified for touching the hip of an opponent while trying to pass. The opponent went down thus the disqualification. Ohno would have won silver in the 500m! Crap. . .

[Palehorse]

If you are not watching the gold medal game in men's hockey you are missing a heck of a game. US vs Canada and it is about to go into overtime with a last minute goal by the US!!!! Hurry up and turn it on, its a barn burner and all tied up at 2!

[Palehorse]

Well, it ended with Canada taking the gold and the US the silver. . .

One thing they really ought to revisit is the ceremony immediately following the game. The US team was so down over losing that the fact that they had achieved silver medal performances in the tournament seemed to be totally lost upon them. . . A little time for reflection and to catch their breath would have been nice.
But I suppose the fact that 80% of them have to get onto a plane and to their respective teams by tomorrow night, doesn't leave much room for such things. . .

Congratulations to Team Canada and Team USA on an outstanding effort in showing the world what hockey is supposed to be like. Men and women's teams both!