The good
The bad
And the ugly
The Games are officially underway and we have a lit torch to prove it. Of course, if this torch's history is any indication, it will have to be re-lit at least seven times before the Closing Ceremony, but still.
The Opening Ceremony was what Opening Ceremonies always are: a combination of self-congratulations for the host politicians and the IOC; a parade of nations that swings back and forth from quaint (Daww, Bermuda wears shorts even in the winter!) to ridiculous (So, um, Germany. Nice jackets.); a local child serving to represent the host country's youth or innocence or development or to hide some less attractive child backstage; confusing dance routines and stretched representations of culture ("The red balloon represents the end of the 20th century dream." Obviously.). And because this is Sochi, there were also malfunctions, like the Olympic ring display that only showed four rings. And the World's Creepiest Mascot.
Still, even though no events happened yesterday, we somehow still got our heart-wrenching story of the day when U.S. moguls skier Heidi Kloser blew out her knee during a qualifying run on Thursday and ended her Olympic experience before it started. As she was carried off the mountain, Kloser asked her dad if she was still an Olympian even though she didn't compete. But when the U.S. delegation came into the stadium during the parade of nations, there was Kloser, hobbling on crutches while someone followed behind with a wheelchair. Only Olympians can do that, Heidi.
Medals Awarded Yesterday
None
Medals To Be Awarded Today
Biathlon - Men's 10km Sprint
Cross Country - Women's Skiathlon
Skiing - Women's Freestyle Moguls
Snowboarding - Men's Slopestyle
Speedskating - Men's 5000m
U.S.'s Best Chance to Medal Today
Hannah Kearney is the favorite to take gold in the freestyle moguls, assuming she can overcome the Canadian Dufour-Lapointe family (sisters Justine, Chloe and Maxime are all competing and the first two are also favored to medal in the event).
Other than that, we're looking for upsets.
Televised Coverage
3 a.m. - Women's Hockey: USA vs. Finland (NBC Sports)
5:30 a.m. - Cross Country: women's skiathlon
Speedskating: men's 5000m (NBC Sports)
8 a.m. - Women's Hockey: Canada vs. Switzerland (MSNBC)
9:30 a.m. - Figure Skating: team short dance (NBC Sports)
11 a.m. - Figure Skating: women's team short program, pairs free skate (NBC Sports)
2:30 p.m. - Ski Jumping: men's normal hill
Biathlon: men's 10km sprint
Speedskating: men's 5000m
Cross Country: women's skiathlon (NBC)
8 p.m. - Snowboarding: men's slopestyle
Skiiing: women's freestyle moguls
Figure Skating: team event (NBC)
Interesting Reads
Dan Wetzel watched the Opening Ceremony in a gay bar in supposedly gay-free Sochi.
Bruins captain Zdeno Chara is pretty much the most popular Olympian in Sochi right now. When he's not carrying the Slovakian flag with the most charming smile on his face, he's sleeping on a combination twin-sized-bed-and-ottoman and posing for photos with tiny figure skaters.
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