not so spectacular winter games

So the Winter Olympics are over and did anyone watch any of it? It’s hard to want to watch the events when everyone already knows the outcome. There was no real star of these Olympics for the US. Bode Miller drank more than he skied, Lindsey Kildow crashed, the hockey team was brutal and Sasha Cohen couldn't finish the deal. Shaun White, the Flying Tomato, along with Hannah Teter are probably the best known names to come from the games and both were gold medal winners in the snowboarding halfpipe. The snowboarders won 1/3 of the US gold medals and should have had one more had Lindsey Jacobellis not decided to showboat just a little too soon and fallen on her butt for silver instead of gold. How bout that Gretchen Bleiler... probably the hottie of the US olympic team followed closely by her snowboard teammates Teter and Jacobellis. So does the US just suck in Alpine skiing? Two medals in 10 events is a pretty poor showing, even if both medals were golds. Hated to see Finland (aka Dallas Stars Euro) lost to Sweden. The Fins were the best team all olympics but just didn't produce in the gold medal game on Sunday.

make up your mind already

So this is going to be Barry Bond's last season... no wait, maybe not. Barry can't seem to make up his mind, not that I really care if he ever plays again. He doesn't deserve to break Aaron's HR record and has clearly been playing most of his years in SF on steroids. Good riddence, I say.

nba all-star musing

About to watch the NBA all-star game... wouldn't you think the Mavs with the best record in the Western conference would have more than just one all-star??? And how does Yao Ming make the all-star game, let alone start the game as the leading vote getter?!? The dude has no game. Lucky for him most of the voting is done via the internet. He wont do anything tonight. I suspect either Kobe Bryant or Dwayne Wade will win the MVP. I didn't realize this is Kobe's 8th all-star game! That's a lot for a guy who's only 27.

simply incredible beauty

Does it get any better? Throw in Maria Sharapova and Heidi Klum... simply amazing.

hockey and the halfpipe

It was difficult to watch. The Stars 3rd period collapse against the Kings Sunday was of epic proportion. Four goals given up in the period and 3 within 2 minutes and 12 seconds. You CANNOT give up a 5-2 lead ever, let alone in the 3rd period. I cant decide which was worse, Turco's goaltending or the Stars porous defense which gave up a whopping 40 shots! The last 2 goals were definitely stoppable by Turco. Those are goals he cant give up in the playoffs, especially if I'm shelling out my cash to be there to see it. I'll be at the remaining home games this year which don’t resume until March due to the Olympic break (one which the Stars decided to take a period too early). They're 6-0 this year when I've gone so hopefully I didn't just jinx that. Hopefully the Stars come back refreshed and ready to play as they have a difficult schedule leading up to the playoffs and are only 2 points behind Detroit for the best record in the West. With Guerin starting to score, if the Modano line can get it in gear, the Stars will be a force to recon with come playoff time.

I'm now a big fan of the halfpipe. First the men go 1-2 and now the women as well.

Hannah Teter with a golden pose

Gretchen Bleiler and Hannah Teter

Gretchen, Hannah and Kjersti Buaas

the hanger goes from ice to hardwood

Time-lapse photography of transforming the American Airlines Center from hockey rink to basketball court on 01/28/05... the Stars/Red Wings game started at 1pm and ended in a Stars shootout win (which I attended) shortly after 4pm. The AAC ice was covered and the court was ready for hoops team warm-ups shortly before 6pm, less than two hours after the hockey game ended. The Mavs game vs Utah tipped off at 8pm, in which they beat the Jazz.

Check it out here.

the olympics

I think I've found a reason to watch the winter olympics, other than for hockey... her name is Lindsey Kildow. Maybe I've found two... ahh Sasha.

random thought

Kevin Mench made $345k in 2005. He hit 25 HRs and had 73 RBI while hitting .264 (not much higher than his weight). Somehow that entitled him to a $2.5M raise. Mench will make $2.8M in 2006! You've got to be kidding me. He's average at best... I wish I could make almost $3M for being just average.

dallas sports random musings

• The Stars won their sixth game in a row with a 2-1 win over Nashville tonight. It's their second 6-game win streak of the year, generating some good momentum going into the Olympic break.

• The Mavs squeaked out an 81-80 win in Memphis tonight to push their winning streak to 10 games.

• The Aggies had a good, but not spectacular signing day that ranked 22nd in the nation. The potential for a top 15 class dissipated within the last 12 hours preceding signing day with Mesquite Horn RB Mon Williams choosing Florida over the Aggies and Skyline LB Michael Morgan deciding to go to USC. The recruiting class met most of the Aggies needs and includes several impact players that could see immediate playing time come next fall.

• Southlake Carroll had an area high (possibly state high) 12 players sign Division I Letters of Intent.

• Chris Chelios will be the captain of the US Olympic hockey team. WHY? At 44, he skates with a walker. Watched him live vs the Stars the other day and he's a fossil of the player he used to be with only 5 points on the year.