Did you catch the Sochi Winter Olympics? Was it all a win or a bust for our Team USA athletes? Personally I call it a draw. Why? Simply because the expected winners just did not show up. Most went about with nonchalant attitudes; somewhat cocky at times. Way too many of our U.S. athletes seemed as if they just did not want to be there. For some reason they were spiritually and/or mentally and most times physically AWOL from this year's 'winter antics'! The saving grace (if I dare reference it in that regard) were the U.S. athletes who were under-the-radar --not expected to medal at all. Those latter athletes who won spots on respective teams for respective sporting events with no hopes of ever stepping on a medal's stand, well...they showed up big-time. Cheers and kudos to them. The USA came in second in total medals count while host-nation Russia won overall and won more of the gold medals than the others. USA mostly won bronze which technically placed them fourth overall in medal's count since they did not garner more of the gold.
This person found herself drawn to almost every event and would often get up extra early or stay up much too late to see many events. The 14-hour-time-gap was gruesome, but I triumphed. Most times I just relaxed and had every game on every channel available. I was on Twitter for updates and to post my own comments. Live streaming via the Internet when needed as well.
This time around the sport of curling did not enthrall me as much as it has in past Olympics. Not sure why but maybe I should admit that a part of me was just so disappointed in our women's and men's USA curling teams --both exited much too early. The sport this time around just lacked in real interest and was too lack-luster. I know the logistics of it (it took years, but I learned). I did watch some of it, though. I tried to support our neighbors to the north: Canada. But only in curling...not at all in hockey.
Which brings me to the heart-breaking performances by both of our USA men's and women's hockey squads! Twitter was on fire during every hockey match. Especially trending was any U.S. hockey match. Of course because Americans still 'own' the social media highway; not meaning to be a braggart, but the U.S. just does. But seriously, many other people from other nations were glued to our (USA) games. I should just say that all ice hockey games trended on Twitter during the Olympics. Russia, Norway, Sweden, Canada...all these countries cheering loudly for their countrymen/women. However, both of our USA teams were expected to win gold. Wow, were we all let down when the men failed to medal and our women allowed Canada to come back as they did to win that gold medal; USA women settled for silver.
Then we had the victors whom alone and via a collaborative effort in a sense, who made America proud: Charlie White, Meryl Davis, Mikaela Shriffin, Noelle Pikus-Pace, Ted Ligety, Elana Meyers, Lauryn Williams, and the list goes on and on so I will try to find the best story from which to link it here: Team USA's Sochi Winners and Losers
Memories made not forgotten. It was all good.
"Goodbye, Russia and Putin!"
"Прощай, Россия и Путин!"
"Прощай, Россия и Путин!"
