From Russia with Love

Before I begin, please allow me to take a quick moment to explain to our fellow media agencies how time zones work. Sochi is in Russia. This means that Sochi is in a different time zone. In fact, Sochi is anywhere from 9 to 14 hours ahead of the United States, depending on where you are and if I did my math right. This is all to say that Olympic events have happened long before they air in the USA. Fine. There are people living in this very country who already know who won today’s events. Fine. But I shouldn’t have to fear going online because I might inadvertently discover who won the gold medal in ice dancing – especially when I’m trying to read an entirely unrelated story.

I understand that your job is to report the news. And who the medal winners are is most definitely newsworthy. However, until those medal-winning events have aired in our home country, could you please refrain from revealing anything unless I, the reader, have intentionally clicked on the story? (Did we learn nothing from NBC?) Saying spoiler alert and then immediately proceeding, in the same sentence, to reveal the unsought-after information isn’t much of an alert. Nor is posting a picture which clearly reveals as much as any written story ever could.

Do we understand each other? Good, then we can proceed.

I enjoy the Olympics. They always bring with them many heart-warming, sometimes heart-wrenching, oftentimes scandalous stories. History is made and countries are shamed. It’s good TV.

Here are just a few of what I think are the most heart-warming, heart-wrenching, history-making stories to come out of Sochi so far.

First there was the story about the U.S. bobsledder who got stuck in the bathroom. Johnny Quinn was just taking a shower, minding his own business, when the door to the bathroom somehow jammed. Not having a cell phone on his person – because, you know, he was in the shower and because, you know, he’s not 16; a 16-year-old would have had his cell phone with him regardless – he had to Hulk his way out and bust the door down. 

 Johnny Quinn: The man. The myth. The legend.  

Incidentally, Quinn spent approximately 15 seconds as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers in 2008, so I’m fairly certain that the moves he learned on the field also came in handy. I mean, seriously, Packer receivers aren't so different from the Hulk. They’re both large, muscular, and wear green outfits.

****************

American skier Bode Miller became not only the most decorated American Alpine skier in Olympic history, but also an internet sensation when he broke down in a post-race interview on Sunday after winning bronze in the men’s Super-G. He was asked about his brother who died suddenly last year at the age of 29 and became so emotional that he couldn’t even finish the interview. 

Don't cry for me, Mother Russia.

His overwhelming emotion is all being attributed to the loss of his brother, but what also bears mentioning is that his wife suffered a miscarriage last year. Knowing quite a few people who have found themselves in a similar situation, it seems to me that the loss of a pregnancy can be just as traumatic as the loss of a sibling. And of course we can’t forget the bitter custody battle that Bode currently finds himself in with baby mama #2.

I don’t necessarily care for the way he’s handled a lot of his personal business, but the point is, Bode Miller had a rough year last year and, unfortunately for him, that fact became all too clear on a very public stage.

 

****************

Forget silver, Daniel's cloud is lined in gold.

And since we’re on the topic of sad things, it seems appropriate to mention Swedish cross-country skier, Daniel Richardsson. In July of last year, he and a friend were standing on the side of the road with a flat tire when an RV drove past, hitting them both. Richardssdon suffered some ligament damage and bruising. His friend was killed. But somehow Richardsson was able to push past the pain – both emotional and physical – to land himself a spot on his country’s 4 x 10 km relay.

And on Sunday, they won gold.

****************

While we’re on the topic of gold-winning athletes from other countries, it seems appropriate to mention Viktor Ahn. Ahn made headlines when he provided Russia with its first men’s short track gold medal.

He’s also made headlines for not being (born) Russian.

Ahn was born and raised in South Korea, but after winning his native country a slew of medals in the 2006 Olympics, he injured himself and, feeling that he wasn’t provided with adequate support, he decided to move to Russia. He changed his name from Ahn Hyun-Soo to Viktor Ahn, started training in his adopted country, became a Russian citizen and the rest, as they say, is Olympic history.

V for Viktor(y)

 

I would also like to take this moment to applaud Ahn and all Olympic athletes – both Summer and Winter – who train in the country they compete for. If you’re living and training in a specific country, I feel you should also compete for that country. In my opinion, if it’s a good enough country to represent, it’s a good enough country to live in.

But maybe I'm just talking crazy.

****************

“Do you believe in miracles?!” Who doesn’t get chills when Al Michaels yells that line at the end of Miracle, a movie that is allegedly based on a true story. Unfortunately, I wasn't alive to witness this "Miracle on Ice" so I can neither confirm nor deny its authenticity.

But rumor has it that the  “Miracle on Ice” was a hockey game played between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics. Despite the enthusiasm of the spectators, however, it wasn’t even a gold-medal match. It also wasn’t a winnable game for the Americans. Or so the world thought. But win it they did, which gave them the opportunity to play Finland for the gold medal. 

They also won that.

And the Americans repeated history on Saturday by beating the Russians yet again; but, just like in 1980, it wasn’t easy. TJ Oshie became a household name (sort of, I still had to Google it) and future Wheaties cover model when he led the United States to a 3-2 win over Russia. It came down to a shoot-out – and much like soccer shoot-outs, it involved no guns or dusty ghost towns. I know what you’re thinking: false advertising.

The only guns here are in the bicep area.

The team played again today, but apparently NBC only felt the need to show “highlights” of the game. So in case you missed the 30 seconds they dedicated to it tonight, let me be the first to tell you that the U.S. beat the Czech Republic today, which means they will play Canada in the semifinals. This also means that the United States is guaranteed a spot in either the bronze- or gold-medal game.

****************

The American men swept the ski slopestyle medals, with Joss Christensen winning the gold. My understanding is that Christensen was a bit of a dark horse and a controversial addition to the team. But he won the spot and the gold, despite the fact that his dad died last August. I’m starting to see a correlation between personal tragedy and Olympic skill. I don’t like it.

Gus Kenworthy (L), Joss Christensen (C), Nick Goepper (R)

 

****************

Finally, some history-making. On Monday night, Meryl Davis (when your name is Meryl, I’m pretty sure you either have to be an ice-skating phenom or an Oscar-caliber actor, otherwise it’s just sad) and Charlie White became the first American ice dancers since the invention of ice dancing – and America – to win gold. And they looked very cute doing it. They’ve been skating together for 17 years, which is basically since they were in utero, and seeing the way she looked at him and how she’d grab his arm periodically, it was clear that she finds great comfort in his presence. They’re kind of adorable. I hope they get married someday and have lots of little Olympian babies.      

 Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other's, well, you know...  

And now it’s time for me to stop talking and for you to start. (You probably thought this moment would never come.) Are there any note-worthy Olympic moments so far that you would add to the list?