ShareTweet

I don’t know how it’s been for you, but for me, it seems like the Winter Olympics have gone on longer than the 2008 Summer Games in Communist China. Perhaps it was the Winter and the longer hours of night or just the fact I’ve been totally focusing on these games, I don’t know, but it has felt like the 2010 Olympics have lasted for over a month. But of course, that’s not the case.

Here’s your quotage from Universal Sports yesterday.

UNIVERSAL SPORTS AT THE VANCOUVER GAMES:

NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010

Friday, February 26, 2010 — On the fifteenth day of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Universal Sports at the Vancouver Games continues its five-hour programming block, starting at 10 a.m. ET and continuing daily until the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, February 28. 

Vancouver Olympic News Center and Morning Buzz:

News Alerts:

·       The United States currently has 32 medals.

·       For the first time since 1964, no American woman was on the podium in Ladies’ Figure Skating.

·       Norway’s Marit Boergen becomes a triple gold medal winner in Vancouver with a gold Friday in the women’s Cross Country Skiing relay.

Paul Wylie, 1992 Olympic Figure Skating Silver Medalist (on Kim Yu-Na’s gold medal performance in the Ladies’ Figure Skating event): “Jumps that she executed on were all clean. She had a sense of mastery on the ice.”

Wylie: “The U.S. needs big ticket items in our performances: triple lutzes, triple toe loops, triple Axels (jumps) and speed. They’ve done a great job of perfected their spins, now we just need the jumps.”

Tom Steitz, former U.S. Nordic Combined Team Coach (on the success of the U.S. Nordic Combined Team): “It’s a fairy tale. It took 86 years to get one medal and we got four in a week. I don’t know what to say.”

Steitz (on future success for the U.S. Nordic Combined Team): “The payoff will be seen for generations to come. This was a breakthrough moment. No one – not even me in my most insane moments – would have thought we’d get four medals. The real payoff will be in Sochi (2014 Winter Games) and future Games.”

Picabo Street, 1998 Olympic Alpine Skiing Gold Medalist (on the women’s slalom race continuing despite the foggy conditions in Whistler): “You have to be able to see past the end of your nose The slalom is the easiest race since visibility isn’t as much as an issue, but it’s still a tough event.”

Julia Mancuso (on her interrupted Super G run and ending up 8th): “To know that you didn’t have as fair of a chance as everyone else is definitely heartbreaking. You’re disappointed because you didn’t get a fair shot.”

Mancuso (on her relationship with Lindsey Vonn): “We’ve gotten to the point where we are doing completely different things…but, as an American, of course I’m happy when she does well.  We all want to see the American flag raised.”

Features: 

Call of the Day: Guest Picabo Street correctly guessed the Norwegian TV network’s call of the Men’s Nordic Combined race yesterday on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010. Host Terry Gannon: “I guessed ‘German’ when it was Norwegian, and I guessed ‘Norwegian’ when it was Korean. I’m not even in the ballpark.”

2010 Olympic Women’s Bobsled Gold Medalists Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse, of Canada, stop by to chat with Summer Sanders, Universal Sports’ Whistler sideline reporter, and to show off their medals.  Later, Summer immerses herself into the
world of crazy fans around Vancouver, trying to be the ultimate cheerleader for various countries.

NBC Today Show Weekend Anchor Lester Holt goes behind the science of ski jumping, learning how two different body positions create the ultimate take-off and jump. 

Kenan Harkin seeks out the longest line in Vancouver, meeting people who are dedicated enough to wait for more than seven hours.

MEET THE OLYMPIC PRESS:

Phil Hersh, Chicago Tribune reporter: “No one from this solar system would have beaten Kim Yu-Nu. She was out of this world. “

Hersh (on the interest from editors on Nordic combined stories): “Everyone is riveted. Might only last a few days, but it’s a big story here.”

Vicki Michaelis, USA Today reporter: There’s a good junior (Nordic) program in the U.S. This (success) is not going to end after these Games.

Jimmy Roberts, host of “Meet the Olympic Press” (on U.S. aerialist Jeret Peterson’s signature move “The Hurricane”): “It’s one of the most impressive things here (at the Games). You have no idea how high in the air it is unless you see it in person.”

Does last night’s lack of a medal for Team USA represent a failure for Ladies’ Figure Skating for the United States?

Guest Tara Lipinski, 1998 Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist: “It’s a rebuilding period. Girls who are 13 and 14 need to say ‘I need to go and do that and bring home a medal.’ Plus, the scoring system is difficult.”

 

Alan Abrahamson, NBC Olympics and Universal Sports: “How did (Michelle) Kwan not inspire an entire generation of girls? It’s a mystery to me.”

Michaelis: “It’s just a down cycle combined with an incredible dominance of Asian figure skating.”

Hersh: “I think there’s a gap behind the Asian skaters.  There’s a cycle at work here, and it was the wrong cycle for the Americans.”

Lipinski (on winning gold at age 15): “A lot was put on my age, but at 15 you know everything that’s going on.”

Hersh: “We’re seeing older skaters winning as of late…Mirai (Nagasu) will be there again.”

Lipinski: “Age doesn’t matter. You need all these different components to come together, and it depends on the body type. Skaters peak at a certain time; you have to let it flow.”

Hersh: “I think if Sasha (Cohen) came back (from retirement) a year earlier, I think she would have won a medal here.”

Thumbs up/Thumbs down segment:

Michaelis: “Thumbs up to Canadian Goaltender Shannon Szabados for her incredible achievement in the Olympics.”

Hersh: “Thumbs up to Brian Orser (coach of Kim Yu-Na). It’s proof that nice guys do finish first.”

Roberts: “Thumbs up to the Canadian Olympic Team and their eight gold medals, the most ever for Canada at a Winter Games.”

…and the gold medal for the day goes to Phil Hersh.

VANCOUVER REVIEW/PREVIEW:

AJ Mleczko, 1998 Olympic Ice Hockey Gold Medalist and 2002 Olympic Silver Medalist (on Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin) “She’s the future for Canada. She scored both goals. She made a name for herself in that (gold-medal) game.”

Cammi Granato, 1998 Olympic Ice Hockey Gold Medalist (on the importance of the Olympic gold medal game): “They train so hard, so long for that one moment and then it’s over like that. You don’t get too many opportunities for women in this sport.”

Mleczko (on IOC President Jacques Rogge inferring that women’s ice hockey as an Olympic sport could be threatened by a lack of parity a
nd the domination of Team Canada and USA): “I think it’s very unfair (as to) the timing of those comments on the day of the gold medal game.”

Jeremy Bloom, NBC Olympic Freestyle Skiing Analyst and two-time Freestyle Skiing Olympian (on the Freestyle Aerials final): “History was made (by Jeret ‘Speedy’ Peterson landing the Hurricane) and I think the sport has progressed. Five full twists, three flips — the hardest jump ever thrown in the Olympics. (Russia’s) Alexei Grishin (the gold medalist) also stepped up with a full-full-double full. No one else is doing that trick. He did that because he knew Speedy was going to throw the Hurricane.

Bloom (on Peterson risking it all): “I’m glad he threw (the Hurricane) because he landed it. To have that confidence and do that trick when he hasn’t really been landing it, he deserves a ton of credit. That’s what the Olympics is all about is putting everything on the line.”

Bloom: “There’s a reason no one’s doing it (The Hurricane). Over the next four years, you’ll see aerialists push the envelope. Maybe you’ll see four flips in Sochi (2014 Winter Games).”

John Morgan, NBC Olympic Bobsledding Analyst (on the unity of USA I): “Its a tough, tough four years as they prepare for these Games. If they do as well as they should do, it’s because they are a great (cohesive) team.” 

Morgan (on The Night Train): He explained that the USA I sled was delivered in October 2008 in Park City for testing. It was an immediate hit with Holcomb & Co. because it was much faster than previous sleds. The manufacturer asked to ship it back to Connecticut for a full paint job as it was only coated in primer for testing. “They said, ‘No, we want it now!’ It’s so fast.”

Morgan (on USA I’s outlook for a medal): “If they don’t get on the podium it will be a huge disappointment.” 

Morgan also rates Germany and Russia as medal favorites.

Figure Skating Review/Preview:

In Ladies’ Figure Skating, South Korea’s Kim Yu-Na won the gold medal; Japan’s Mao Asada won the silver; Canada’s Joannie Rochette won bronze; and American Mirai Nagasu finished in fourth place.

On the Ladies’ Free Skate Final:

Kristi Yamaguchi, 1992 Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist: “From No. 1 to 8, to see that many clean programs, very few mistakes, shows the depth of women’s figure skating right now.”

Peter Carruthers, 1984 Olympic Pairs Figure Skating Silver Medalist: “It was amazing from a human drama standpoint. It was spectacular to see.”

Sandra Bezic, NBC Figure Skating Analyst (on Rachael Flatt’s performance and scoring): “The judges were really hard on her. She was downgraded on two triple flips. If you can land a double toe after landing a triple flip you should not be downgraded.”

Bezic (on Nagasu’s growing stature in the sport): “The best spinner in the world, absolutely. She has an incredible future because she is good at everything.”

Yamaguchi (on Mao Asada of Japan, silver medalist and the first woman in Olympic history to land two triple Axel jumps in the same performance): “There is a quality about her skating that I love. The lightness, lyrical-ness. I felt like it (still) needs to be tapped.” 

On Olympic gold medalist Kim Yu-Na of South Korea:

Carruthers: “People don’t understand how hard it is to skate that fast and do jumps in a fearless way.”

Bezic: “Details. Subtleties. And flirtation. All (three) on top of the technique.”

Bezic: “She’s unique. She has brought something fresh to skating with her own interpretation, her shyness and, yet, fire. She’s still has just scrapped the surface as wonderful as she is. It would be wonderful if she can continue this and became the face of skating for the next 10 years.”

Guest Johnny Weir, former U.S. champion, 6th overall in Vancouver (on his time in Vancouver): “It’s been a beautiful experience.”

Weir (on his attitude toward the competition): “Coming in I knew politically I did not have as much support as the other two (U.S. men). I am very realistic. I knew coming in (a top finish) was something that was not expected of me.”

Weir (on the future): “I do want to continue skating. I am going to the World Championships (in March in Torino), and then I want to go on a vacation. I want to go to Mongolia and ride a yak!”

Nick Verreos, fashion designer and a former contestant on Bravo’s Project Runway (on the costume choice of Joannie Rochette): “I loved, loved, loved this costume. The beading was gorgeous. I wonder if she knew she would be matching the (rink) boards. And I am sort of old school. I loved the white skates.”

Dick Button, 1948 & 1952 Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist (on the peril of comparing skaters among different generations): “No great skater is ever like any other great skater.”

On The Button (questions posed to Dick Button from the audience):

Q: Does the lack of judging controversy in figure skating at the Vancouver Games suggest the system is a success?

A: “Of course there were no controversies here. It’s not only that the judges are anonymous. You don’t know bubkas about what’s going on here (with scoring decisions). That’s the problem with it… That’s why there are no controversies, because nobody knows who is doing what to whom.”

FUN FACTS AND QUOTES OF THE DAY:

**1984 U.S. Olympians Scott Hamilton and Peter Carruthers took their skating and choreography skills to a coin laundry, where they “performed” a pairs routine committed to style, grace and clean clothing. But, in the end, one of the three judges was not impressed and awarded them a 3.2 (out of 6). 

Hamilton: “It’s always the Russian judge!”**

Peter Carruthers and Kristi Yamaguchi also entertained everyone on the show by sporting some of their favorite costumes from their days as competitors.

SCHEDULE FOR UNIVERSAL SPORTS NETWORK – SATURDAY, FEB. 27, 2010:

11:30 AM – 12 PM                   Behind the Games

12 – 12:30 PM                          Meet The Olympic Press

1: 30 – 2 PM                               Vancouver Review/Preview

2 – 3 PM                                    Figure Skating Review/Preview

Now your quotage from yesterday’s USA-Finland men’s hockey semifinal game and coverage of other sports.

DAY 15 DAYTIME HIGHLIGHTS OF NBC WINTER OLYMPICS COVERAGE

“This is the equivalent of a football team leading another team 42-0 midway through the second quarter.”- NBC’s Al Michaels on the first period Team USA lead over Finland

VANCOUVER - February 26, 2010 - Daytime coverage of the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games continued today on NBC with live coverage of the men’s hockey semifinal game between Team USA and Finland. Team USA defeated Finland, 6-1, and will face the winner of Canada vs. Slovakia in the gold medal game. Also airing on USA Network, live coverage of the women’s curling bronze medal match between China and Switzerland and live on MSNBC speed skating pursuit men’s semifinals and women’s quarterfinals. 

Al Michaels hosted the daytime show live from Canada Hockey Place. Joining Michaels for analysis were Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick. Mike “Doc” Emrick provided play-by-play, Eddie Olczyk provided game analysis and Pierre McGuire reported from “Inside the Glass.” Below are highlights from the game.
Michaels also sat down with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman during the second intermission to talk about the NHL and its participation in the Olympics.
NBC
HIGHLIGHTS OF MICHAELS AND BETTMAN INTERVIEW
BETTMAN ON NHL PLAYERS IN THE OLYMPICS: “We worry about the disruption in our season by being here for two weeks and shutting down, but what you’re seeing is really NHL hockey.  This is a playoff atmosphere, this is an NHL arena, NHL ice, NHL rules, NHL officials, and NHL players so I’m very pleased with what we’re seeing out there.”
 
BETTMAN ON NHL PLAYERS IN SOCHI 2016: “It’s an open question. I know the media is making a big deal over the fact that we haven’t made a decision yet. It’s great to be here and these Olympic Games have been

fabulous. The hockey has been great. That doesn’t take into account that there are count-availing issues that we’re going to have to deal with in deciding what makes sense going forward. You talk about Nagano in 1998, Czech played Russia for the gold medal game, and we didn’t get much of an impact being halfway around the world. What’s interesting to me is, we haven’t said no.”
 
“We have to sit with our Player’s Association. It’s a joint decision. We’ll meet with the IIHF and the IOC, to make sure that on things that we’ve learned about participating in these Games over the last four Olympics, three and this one, whether or not we can do things better. Then  it’ll be a balancing act, and it’s something ultimately that the clubs will decide, not me.”
FIRST PERIOD
EMRICK: “It’s now the semifinal. Excitement across the country gets higher. The competition from the opponent gets stiffer.”
OLCZYK ON USA’S PATRICK KANE: “He has the ability to be a difference maker. I think the pace of this game hits Patrick Kane right between the eyes.”
OLCZYK ON USA’S ERIK JOHNSON: “Erik Johnson has really been a pillar of strength for Ron Wilson and Team USA.”
MCGUIRE ON SWEDEN’S GOALTENDER MIKKA KIPRUSOFF: “This is a monumental meltdown by Mikka Kiprusoff.”
OLCZYK AFTER USA’S SIXTH GOAL: “Six goals and we’re not even fifteen minutes into the first period.”
MICHAELS ON TEAM USA’S PERFORMANCE: “This is the equivalent of a football team leading another team 42-0 midway through the second quarter.”
SECOND PERIOD
MCGUIRE: “Fearless shot blocking by all American players in this tournament.”
OLCZYK ON TEAM USA’S GOALTENDER RYAN MILLER: “He’s probably the most consistent American player in this Olympics.”
MCGUIRE ON TEAM USA AFTER SIX GOALS: “The team’s still paying attention to little details."
EMRICK ON TEAM USA: “It is still two perfect periods for Ryan Miller and Team USA defensively."
THIRD PERIOD
 
EMRICK ON SLOVAKIA TAKING ON CANADA: “Never underestimate a Cinderella team that doesn’t know any better than to just keep going like Slovakia has been.”
EMRICK ON FINLAND’S ONLY GOAL: “Antti Miettinen has scored a scorcher.”
EMRICK ON TEAM USA’S WIN: “There was no anesthetic, this was surgical this afternoon.”
ROENICK ON THE U.S.-CANADA RIVALRY: “There’s no bigger rival for the United States in international hockey than Canada.”
ROENICK ON THE GOLD MEDAL GAME: “Everybody should show up to watch this game on Sunday.”
USA NETWORK
WOMEN’S CURLING BRONZE MEDAL GAME: CHINA VS. SWITZERLAND
Fred Roggin (Host), Andrew Catalon (Play-by-Play), Don Duguid (Analyst), Colleen Jones (Analyst), Elfi Schlegel (Reporter)
China: 12 Switzerland: 6
 
JONES ON CURLING: “Curling is a fickle game.  A lot like how you see different winners on a PGA golf tour. Curling is the same thing.  Some weeks are absolute magic and some days drive you crazy.”
“In curling, the bronze medal game is the hardest one to get psyched up for.”
JONES ON TEAM CHINA “The rise of this team has been nothing short of phenomenal.”
 
“It’s an incredible success story how far they’ve come.”
 
“When they’re on, they’re on.”
JONES ON SWITZERLAND’S MIRJAM OTT: “I’m sure she didn’t sleep much last night and she’s tortured today over the coulda’s, shoulda’s, woulda’s of yesterday’s game. This is a tough game for her to play.”
MSNBC
SPEED SKATING
Dan Hicks (Play-By-Play), Dan Jansen (Analyst), Andrea Kremer (Reporter)
MEN’S TEAM PURSUIT SEMIFINALS
CANADA VS. NORWAY
Advances to Gold Medal Round: Canada
HICKS: “Canada with another Olympic record!”

USA VS. NETHERLANDS
Advances to Gold Medal Round: USA
JANSEN: “Really smart skate by the Americans.”
HICKS ON TEAM USA: “For the second straight time, they have knocked off the clear favorites!”
JANSEN ON TEAM USA ADVANCING: “Is it going to be gold? Is it going to be silver?”
HICKS: 
ShareTweet