USA Hockey Should Play for Gold

Forget about the Men’s Hockey win over Canada, the real tournament starts today. If USA Men’s Hockey is to see Canada again, it won’t be until first or third place games this weekend. The US has a great chance to medal, all they have to do is win one, yes win their next game and they’ll play for a medal. Remember there are only 12 countries playing hockey in the Olympics. The US is on the right side of the bracket, Canada, Russia, and Sweden the three favorites are all on the lower half of the bracket meaning the US only has go though one of them for gold. The USA in all likelihood will need to beat either the Czech Republic or Finland to reach the gold medal game. Based on this bracket, at least a Silver Medal should be the goal.

Hannah Kearney Gold in Moguls

Hannah Kearney, of Vermont won the first Gold Medal for the USA in the 2010 Winter Olympics. She was the first ever phone in guest on RSW, back in 2006.

2010 Winter Olympic Weekend Preview

Tonight the Winter Olympics get under way in Vancouver; snow covered Kittanning would probably make a better venue. Of course all the cameras are focused on Lindsey Vonn and her bad leg. I’m not buying it, as it looks more like a convenient fall back excuse should she not win multiple gold medals. On Saturday one of the men’s marquee events, the Alpine Downhill takes place. Europeans are the favorites, but long forgotten Bodie Miller could be in the mix. Sidney Crosby and Canada will get hockey underway, albeit on NHL not Olympic size ice rinks. Also Saturday my first ever phone-in guest Hannah Kearney (pictured) will compete in Women’s Moguls. Don’t forget the ever entertaining USA vs. South Korea in short track skating. Finally Sunday will be all about Vonn in the Ladies' Slalom.

Is Lindsey Vonn Faking?

Lindsey Vonn’s busied shin seems like the perfect injury to down play her now enormous expectations.

I don’t know Lindsey Vonn and certainly don’t have anything against her. I’m also not a professional sports writer. I will say sports writers are hardly known for their ahead of the curve investigative journalism, (see Steroids/HGH in Baseball/Football), however I do work in the PR / marketing world.

This Lindsey Vonn injury on paper looks like a classic example of down playing out of control hype. As I mentioned in this commentary no American is as appealing or has received half as much pre-Olympic hype as Vonn. She is the Michael Phelps of the Winter Games, and as the hype is only growing.

Someone in her team of “Handlers” will call them, surely recognized the hype has been growing out of control. Remember Vonn has never won an Olympic Medal, and despite being the best women skier in the world, nothing is for certain on the ski slopes. A lot of things can go wrong out there.

It looks to me – the Vonn Team yesterday laid the ground work for an excuse should Lindsey not bring home the medals.

Let’s look at the facts.

1. No Xrays – This is 2010, they have xray machines in stadiums, athletes are always getting these things checked.

2. By her own admission, she can walk fine, but it hurts with her a ski boots on, I’m not a doctor, but this seems like a little convent if you’re trying to fake an injury.

3. No Pictures

4. No Doctors – She has been the only one from her camp talking about the injury.

5. Can’t be proven wrong – How can you prove she doesn’t have a bused shin, even if someone calls her out, how can they prove it. 99% of skier have bruised shins

I’m not trying to smear Vonn here, but as I said being in the PR world everyday, this sure does look like a downplay on the hype. Her mom didn't even know about hte injury until yesterday, why the hush, hush? The facts still don’t prove one side or the other, but they certainly have yet to rule out she not faking.

What do you think???

The Lindsey Vonn-couver Olympics

Is Lindsey Vonn, a bit over exposed in the build up to the Olympics?


Okay, Lindsey Vonn has a good chance to become the greatest female skier in US history. However one might think the US is only sending Lindsey Vonn to Vancouver. I wouldn’t be surprised if she also drove bobsled, curls, and is the first line center for the Hockey Team. No one is putting much faith behind the rest of team USA. There is no one man or women from the US getting half the amount press Vonn has received during the Olympic build up. I’m not necessarily blaming Vonn, because as an Olympian you only get one chance, and she is cashing in every penny she can. As much as the Summer Olympics were about Michael Phelps the Winter Olympics are about Vonn. We’ll see if she can live up to the hype, or if someone else cashes her party.

WVU Basketball Title Contenders?

West Virginia is starting to look like a contender in NCAA Basketball. They’ve only lost two games all season, and both opponents were ranked in the top five when those games were played. They host Villanova in a big game tonight. Villanova is coming off a lost in a wild game Saturday at Georgetown and will be looking to bounce back. Pitt will get another chance at West Virginia as WVU travels to Pittsburgh on Friday Night. WVU might be missing a true center, but they start essentially one guard and 4 forwards. They pose more match-up problems for their opponents. If they win tonight then, you’ll have to start considering WVU as having a legitimate chance for a title. For those of you who are waiting to hear my Super Bowl thoughts, make sure you grab the paper on Wednesday.