Voitto for USA!

Once the games had started, I went on a mission to help someone learn how to say “Go Finland!” in Finnish to cheer for Ruutu and Pitkanen. I finally got the answer (Hyvä Suomi!), but in the process found a bunch of websites and YouTube videos that teach you Finnish & it all went downhill from there. Thank you, Olympics, for giving me yet another country I want to visit before I die. 

Hockey was crazy last night with a ridiculous USA v Canada game. When 3 goals were scored within the first 10 minutes, I was excited at the prospect of a high-scoring game. Things evened out a little more on defense and the game was awesome to watch. The USA pulled off the 5-3 win (victory = voitto), but Staal got one of Canada’s goals, so it worked out ok for me.

The Finland v Sweden game was much more disappointing, especially for us Finland supporters. After looking really together in their first 2 games against Belarus and Germany, it looked like Ruutu was the only guy actually playing last night, and one guy can’t carry the entire team. He had some great hits (check = taklaus) and was all over the ice (ice = jää). Pitkanen had a crazy hit, too, that may have involved the elbow-ish region connecting with a Swedish dude’s face, sending him away for a 5 minute Sweden power play and game misconduct penalty, leaving one less Cane to cheer for in the quarterfinals while he serves a 1 game suspension. Ouch. Sweden won 3-0.

PATs:

--My Yankees/Giants friend keeps trying to bet me for various sports, and my NBA pick was Cavs over Nuggets in 5 games. While I’m way more of a Celtics than Nuggets fan (Chris Andersen creeps me out almost as bad as Pau Gasol), their win over Boston is at least one step closer to my pick being right. The Magic beat the Cavs, which I’m fine with even though it’s against my pick, cause I’m sure the Cavs will still pull it off & the Magic is my team.

--The Gators got another win over Ole Miss this weekend, but we still have to make it through

the last 4 games to see if the faint hope of brackets will work out. The Duke v VT game was much closer than the final score made it look, and UNC’s not so hot season continued with a loss to Boston College. Less than a month till brackets!

--Curling is awesome. Now that I’ve figured out it’s like bocce ball on ice with stones and brooms, it makes total sense. And I’m hooked. There will definitely be a curling withdrawal period after the Olympics are over. My NYC Gator says it isn’t a real sport and got me to watch the biathlon yesterday. Strapping a rifle on your back while you ski seems about as Olympic sport-like as curling, if you ask me… 

--NFL combine is this week! Analysis and scouting reports coming soon :)