I get like this every other year; every year of the games. I don't know what gets me more. It's a toss-up between the emotional and awe-inspiring opening and closing ceremonies, the drama-soaked stories created by NBC, the showmanship and camaraderie of the athletes, or the actual sports. Everything from downhill to short track to figure skating, hockey, and even snowboarding just seems to get me all the time. For the two weeks of the games I find myself totally gripping with anticipation as U.S. team members race to finish lines, or choking back tears as I hear the heart-tugging stories about struggle and redemption.
On the flip, it also turns into a forum for controversy. "Artistic" sports always trudge the fine line between objectivity and subjectivity. Case in point: figure skating. For many, the "sport" is probably the least "sporty." But for many still, it is the crowning jewel of the games... the epitome of what the games have become. Olympic figure skaters are pretty much like vampires compared to lycans... the princes/princesses compared to the paupers... they order the filet, and not the "chopped" steak --you get the point. I'm not sure how much I believe that myself, but when you look at it from the outside, that's what it looks like. It's probably the make-up and costumes. (...and the bows and standing ovations. Ha.)
Year after year, though, it finds its way to controversy. Some blame the new judging system, others blame tactical antics of the athletes themselves. Yes, that means you - Tonya Harding. This year's competition was definitely a dog fight for the men. Usually, an Olympic year gives way to a dramatic ladies' or pairs' competition. And in Torino back in '06 the fight on the ice was with the ice dancers. In 2010, however, the draw went to the fellas.
Evan Lysacek, the current U.S. champion, edged out reigning Olympic gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko from Russia. The last time a U.S. man won the gold in the sport was back in 1988 (Brian Boitano). The controversy in Vancouver: Evan didn't have a quad.
While Plushenko has acquiesced, and offered his congratulations to Lysacek, it was done with much talk against the direction the sport is headed towards, as well as with much questioning of the overall system of judging and scoring. Issue is, Lysacek didn't include a quad in his program because of a foot injury. Plushenko landed his quad, although he did it with a lot less smoothness than we're used to seeing from him.
So is it fair to say that skating, and winning, without a quad lessens the integrity of the sport? Well, that's what Plushenko is crying. And he's not alone. Veteran Canadian skater, and Olympian, Elvis Stojko, agrees (see here). While I see where they are going with this, I can't say that I - personally - agree. If you breakdown their performances during the free skate, Plushenko was tough... but not in the way you'd think. He was hard-edged, and almost heavy with his jumps. Lysacek, on the other hand, was steel... remaining straight-bodied with his jumps, and landing them almost perfectly. If you were to pare down each performance, Evan's was 99% flawless. Evgeni, who is capable of 110%, seemed to only muster a measly 95 --which should say a lot about his talent since he's been out of international contention for a few years leading up to these games. That differentiating factor: Evan had a great-great skate.
Evgeni can't win all the time. Winning a silver medal after years away from the sport? That's not too shabby.
Plushenko & Lysecek on the podium in Vancouver (Photo: AFP) I am in awe at how true the idea is about having "6 degrees of separation" from a complete stranger.
My games sort of started off with the return of Apolo Anton Ohno, and his band of short track speed skaters. I noticed he had two other Asian Americans as team mates: Korean American Simon Cho, and Polish/Filipino American JR Celski. Ohno and Celski finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the 1500m race, earning their spots on the podium.
Living the dream: JR Celski (Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)As I started to follow the duo and their teammates, a friend of mine pointed out 3-degrees of separation from JR; his two brothers were active members of YFC (Youth For Christ) in Seattle back in the day. But my sister shortened the gap when she told me that I actually know one of JR's older brothers, who is one of her friends through YFC. After putting two and two together, I finally figured it all out... and this whole thing goes to show that we do live in a small world after all. (Check out JR's story here.)
Now I'm totally caught between feeling star-struck, and feeling like that's my little brother there on the short track!
You gotta love these Olympic games. Here's to Evan Lysacek, Evgeni Plushenko, and the Asian American short track triad of Apolo, Simon, and my Filipino brotha JR Celski!
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