Even if you’re not a big hockey fan, this game is worth your attention. The Canadians are under enormous pressure to win this game in front of their home crowd while the U.S. team is loosey-goosey. Ryan Miller, pictured above, is Team USA’s goalie and a Buffalo Sabre so, of course, my sympathies are with him. I expect plenty of hitting and scoring. NBC and the CBC are scheduling this game in Prime Time tonight so they must feel the same way!
Bob Costas and Al Michaels are trying to draw as many parallels (there aren’t many!) with the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team as possible.
The Olympics is all about hype, Jeff. The CBC does less of it which is why we’re watching their coverage.
I just wish it wasn’t about countries winning medals. Phil says what else could it be about, but I think there must be something else.
I’m with Phil on this one, Patti. During the Cold War, the Olympics was a political event about which countries were “better.” Now, it seems to be more about marketing hype with most of the athletes’ costumes sporting the Nike “swoosh” or some other advertising logo.
The Olympics have always been about national pride, but they used to be almost as much about athletic excellence. Now it’s about ratings. Every winter Olympics I’m amazed at what a big deal they make of hockey, as if every American has a life-or-death interest in the results. Of the four NBC affiliates, three have nothing but hockey and curling on them. THAT’S RIDICULOUS! Sure there are some hickey fans, but not 3/4 of the viewers! Of all my friends and personal acquaintances here, a total of ONE of them gives a hoot about the sport. Sorry, George.
Your analysis is correct, Rick. Hockey, in all its forms, is a minor sport. But, it’s up to NBC to hype the event tonight to drive ratings.
Speaking of the Olympics, last night while we watched the women’s super G, it seemed there were a lot of commercials. But there always are, right? Still, I decided to keep track of them. For every minute of skiing coverage there were just about two minutes of commercials. One run, 11 commercials was the typical pattern. Good Grief! I remember when 45 minutes per hour was actual programming. I’m just about ready to give it up.
We are all “commercialed-out,” Rick. That’s one reason why I don’t watch much TV, and when I do, I almost always tape it so I can skip the commercials.
The hockey game is in prime time? If it’s on NBC and not MSNBC, CNBC or Lifetime, then I guess we’ll be watching Amazing Race.
I’m amazed the other networks aren’t counter-programming the Olympics. For those of us who can only endure about five minutes of ice dancing, it would be nice if there were some other interesting programs to compete for our attention. But, nooooooo. There are only re-runs and junk programs.
PBS has a show about giant pythons in Florida tonight, Rick. I’m going to be watching that.
Like Indiana Jones, I’m not fond of snakes, Jeff.
I was most amused that MSNBC is calling it’s timezone/market specific Olympics-free coverage “the Vanilla Feed”–echoing backward a complaint of some that the athletes are all too vanilla. For me, the WO is missing the primary attraction of Olympic events, indoor women’s volleyball (with women’s basketball, women’s soccer or, in a pinch, women’s beach voleyball serving).
Women’s beach volleyball sounds good to me, Todd. I have little interest in most of the winter Olympic sports. I’ll be interested to see the Olympics ratings for NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC. I’m guessing they may not be all NBC hoped.
Ice dancing or pythons? I’d watch the pythons, thanks for the tip, Jeff. We are pretty dedicated Amazing Race watchers though (Wife loves it and I sorts got sucked in) so that will be on at 8:00 our time.
The first AMAZING RACE ended about 20 miles from my house in Lewiston, NY near Niagara Falls, Rick.
I like women’s beach volleyball, but the gals wear too much damned clothing.
I think there’s a regulation bikini they’re required to wear, Drongo.
For those who need that extra added push, here’s the NY Times on the python show.
Still not tempted, Jeff. Snakes are icky!
BTW, the US won, 5-3.
Ryan Miller had to stand on his head to stop those 45 Canadian shots, Bob. All of Canada is in mourning this morning.
The pythons really won; they showed one eating an entire live alligator!
Better stay out of the Everglades.
Maybe Crider would be interested in that python eating an entire live alligator, but not me, Jeff. I’m just happy Team USA defeated the favored Canadian team.
When you outshoot someone 2-1 you expect to win, George. Miller did an amazing job.
Ryan Miller, in my subjective opinion, is the best goalie in the NHL, Jeff. The Buffalo Sabres would be lost without him. Now, the world is learning how good Miller is.