Podium Pandemonium

The Drama continues in short-track speed skating in the Women’s Relay.

The Koreans made a controversial pass bumping into the Chinese skater and were after review of the video disqualified. The Koreans would have taken the gold, but for the disqualification. I have several
problems with this ruling:

1. I am under the belief that rubbing is racing this was a minor
infraction especially when compared to the contact that I will gripe about in #3.

2. China would likely have not passed Korea and certainly Canada and
the U.S. would not have. In fact the Americans were still skating to
finish after the Chinese were back at the Olympic Village. They
almost disqualified the official for interfering with the U.S. team
while he was making his way to the replay booth. The U.S. finished
almost 10 seconds behind the Koreans. In short-track that is almost a
full lap. If they wanted to knock the Koreans down for the bump give
the gold to the Chinese okay, but for them not to medal when they
could have skated an extra lap and still beat the U.S. is ridiculous.

3 Okay before the hate mail starts from the American fans, the U.S. without the Korean disqualification should have gotten the bronze regardless and with the DQ should have gotten silver. A Canadian Skater who had just finished her lap while making her way off the track completely ran into the active American Skater. This is a violation of the Short-Track Code for International Affairs and Relays Article 4 §3.15(D)(i)(b)(2) states: THOU SHALT NOT RUN INTO RACERS SKATING IN THE RACE WHEN YOU ARE NO LONGER RACING—The Penalty is described in subsection (c) as death and/or automatic disqualification.
 
My solution is simple those with the most knowledge and expertise select the winners.  Based on fan votes from their couches and friends of mine who never saw the actual race here are the results.
 
THE NEW PODIUM
Chinese - Gold
USA - Silver
Korea - Bronze
Canada -A Pizza Box

Roller Derby on Ice

If you like compelling edge of your seat action where anything can happen at any time buckle up I have the show for you. Full of twists and turns, just when you have resolved yourself that it is over, a shocking accident changes the fortunes of countless individuals.Throw in high speeds, danger of bodily harm, and compelling personalstories and you have yourself a hit TV drama.

This is not 24 or Lost or even a reality show like Survivor. This is actual reality and it is short-track speed skating. It is a combination of everything we love and hate from the world of sports, reality shows, and action thriller. There is pushing, bumping, grabbing, shoving, and even hitting with no clear line of what is afoul and what is not. There are wild wipeouts into walls that can take out four or five competitors at a time. Something so wild and unpredictable can only determine a winner by who crosses the linefirst unless there is a disqualification. This adds to the drama as we all watch the possible infraction over and over. Throw in instant replay and sharp blades and this is about as good as it gets. Theonly thing missing is a chance to phone in and vote.

It gets better-- the super stud of this sport is a former dancing king. Seriously, Apollo Ohno won the hit sensation Dancing with the Stars, not after he retired from his sport like former NFL stars, but while he is in the middle of his career. Other skaters might want to heed former Baltimore Ravens coach, Brian Billick’s advice never to trust a man that likes to dance.

In the first event finals for the men three Koreans looked to sweep the medals when inexplicably the third-place skater crashes taking out the second-place skater on his spill into the wall. This allowed the two Americans, Ohno included, to take the silver and bronze.The US women’s relay team qualified for the finals thanks to an Italian skaters tumble.

 Relays can only be described as synchronized chaos. There are four teams of four skaters on a surface the size of a pee-wee hockey rink. Instead of a baton being passed the skater shoves the next skater to propel him or her forward. It is as fun to watch as a yo-yo in a blender or cds in a microwave (kids do not try these at home).*

Two new sports compare, snowcross and skiercross are similarly rollerderbies on snow, but there is something about the drama of the ice. Maybe, it is the shiny reflective surface or the fact that the skaters go around and around the oval taking the turns with their bodies almost parallel to the ice. Whatever it is it is fantastic.

*The Four6Three takes zero, zilch, absolutely no responsibility forthe idiotic things kids, single men, or married men when their wivesare out of town do regardless of where they got the idea. The ideas, thoughts if any, opinions, prejudice, or stupidity is that of theauthor alone and does not represent the views of the blog itself. TheFour6Three does not promote or endorse the destruction of yo-yos or compact discs and believe equal rights should be extended to all musical discs or string operated toys. No yo-yos or cds were harmed in the making of this article.