Whine & Cheese

The Art of Short Track

No April Foolin' here... I'm delivering the goods today!

Nearly a month ago I did a Hunks of Vancouver post and received a comment (Thanks Loraine, if you ever find your way back here!) letting me know the source of one of the photos I used in that post, more often than not, I simply "borrow" these photos from a simple Google/Yahoo search and really never know their origin. 

While I thought the pic of short track speed skater JR Celski in his undies (again, check out the Vancouver post) had an artistic flair to it (certainly not a pre-shower, dirty mirror iPhone pic!), again, thanks to Loraine I learned it was Ewoud Broeksma, who does these incredible sports photographic portraits that show off the human body at its peak. 

Here are few more. In order: Apolo Anton Ohno, JR Celski (from the same shoot of that original photo), and a member of what seems to be the first family of Canadian short track, Francois Hamlin. His brother Charles was the big medal earner in Vancouver, but Francois did take home a gold as a member of Team Canada in the 5000m relay.

Here's a link to a lot more... just a friendly warning, that much like Francois, the non-Americans in particular do not have (m)any qualms about taking it all off... but it is all very tasteful and (I think!) there is really nothing risque-r than a butt.

The Big Picture: 2010 Winter Paralympics

Over 500 athletes from 44 countries around the world have once again descended on Vancouver Canada, for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games, (officially known as the X Paralympic Winter Games). After a separate torch relay and opening ceremony, competitors faced off in five different sports: Sledge hockey, Wheelchair curling, Alpine skiing, Biathlon, and Cross-country skiing - the last three broken into classes of sitting, standing and visually impaired. Currently Russia is leading the medals race, with Canada and Ukraine tied for second place. The Winter Paralympics continue until the Closing Ceremony on Sunday March 21st. Collected here are some scenes from this year's games.

via www.boston.com

I suspect none of these athletes would want our sympathy, but it was difficult not to get a little choked up or get chills while looking through this inspirational photoset (click above link).

Hunks Of Vancouver

As promised in a post earlier this week, here is my compilation... or should I say awarding the hunks of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, no surprise that I couldn't just narrow it down to three medalists.  We'll start with a couple of expected suspects, then take a walk down the proverbial road not taken.

This first one may be a bit unexpected.  While I don't like to limit myself to having a "type," I will admit it typically doesn't often include redheads or guys with really long hair.  But alas, there is always that exception to the rule and as one of the faces of the Games and of snowboarding itself, it was just too hard to ignore Shaun White. While I was quite prepared to hate him going in the games (along with fellow darlings Lindsay and Bode), I found his combination of "duuuude!-ness" and well-spoked-ness to be quite charming.  And look, despite having to wear those Winter Wonderland pajamas to "work" Shaun is showing off in the latest Rolling Stone that there is quite a nice body underneath it all.

Google: Shaun White Shirtless, Shaun White Rolling Stone

Next up is the guy that fueled W&C during the Olympics... Apolo Anto Ohno.  I had close to 26,000 visitors in February (10k more than January!) and each day during the Games, it seemed that 80% of the search hits were for Apolo, more often that not hoping to see him in some state of undress.  Thankfully, I did deliver on those goods during his stint on DWTS, which included a shirtless pic and the naked GAP ad. Unfortunately, in that same post the YouTube of his cha-cha to "Push It" (and one of my all-time favorite dances from the show) is no longer available.  You can see those pix if you haven't already clicked on the link above, but here's a "new to me" smoldering Apolo pic:

Next, is Apolo's likely heir apparent in short-track, Filipino-Polish American J.R. Celski.  How's that for mix?  If you watched him race, you probably heard about his fairly recent scary accident where he sliced his leg with his own skate and almost bled out on a track, yikes!  But he is pretty darn adorable and despite looking like jailbait he is 19 going on 20, which I realize is still ridiculously young, but...

Google: JR Celski shirtless, JR Celski underwear

This next guy was my first "Who is that?" double-take of the Vancouver Games, the Gold Medalist in 5000M Speed Skating... Sven Kramer from The Netherlands. Kramer made news later in the Games when he had the best (gold medal winning + and Olympic record!) time in the 10000M, but since his coach directed him to the wrong lane during a switchover and he was disqualified.  Needless to say this Dutch Treat was pretty pissed about it, but seemed good later in the week for the team event... but certainly not much to angry about here:

It was while I was doing The Big Picture post, that Canadian ice dancer Scott Moir provided the spark for this very Hunks of Vancouver post.  I'll say again that one of my personal highlights of the Games was their medal ceremony and joyous singing of "O Canada!" with Moir being simply adorable!  It was virtually (ha!) impossible to get a picture of him without his equally charming partner, Tessa Virtue (get it now ? Virtue... virtually)... let alone one of him scantily dressed, but we don't always have to go for the skin shots now do we?  I think this series of pictures perfectly sums up his appeal.

Finally, you didn't think I'd get through a Winter Olympics-related post without a little curling now did you?  And you didn't think I was simply obsessed with it because of.. well, the actual curling?  Ok, I was actually riveted, but having cute to hot guys yelling "Haaaaaaaaarrrrrdddd!" increased the appeal of it. !

While they didn't do very well, but ince it was NBC here, obviously the American team received a lot of air time.  But even despite their poor record, it was still fun watching the young team which included Jason Smith and Chris Plys (left photo order, than the reverse of  Plys / Smith in the right pic). Plys was definitely the hunk of the team. I was hoping to stumble upon some screen caps where he showed off his many tattoos to NBC (lifting and even taking off his shirt), but alas could not find any (and anyhow, some of them were of a religious nature, ugh!).  Json Smith, however, is just adorkable! :-)

Now, if you want some real curling hunks... yes, I used "curling" and "hunks" in the same sentence... I suggest you look no further than John Morris of Canada (left two pix) and David Murdoch of Great Britain (tho he's Scottish, have learned from tennis' Andy Murray that distinction likes to be made). But these guys had the good looks and the bods too!

I am sure I have left out plenty of other candidates.  But as Vancouver is slipping from my memory and I am now forced to try and retain the names of the kids that are still on Idol, these are the ones that left a lasting impression on me.  Though I'd be more than happy for you to play along and let me know you own hunks of the Games. 

The Big Picture: Vancouver 2010 (Part 2)

Here's the second (and final) round from The Big Picture's look at the 2010 Vancouver Games:

Seventeen days after it began, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver are now complete. A total of 258 medals were awarded, with the United States, Germany, and Canada collecting the most medals. The second half of the games went much smoother than the glitchy first week, with many memorable performances by athletes from all over the world. Last night, a crowd of 60,000 filled BC Place in Vancouver for the Closing Ceremony, which took place shortly after the final event - a Gold Medal win by host nation Canada's ice hockey team over the U.S. The Olympic flame will next pass to London, England in 2012 for the Summer Games, and to Sochi, Russia in 2014 for the next Winter games. Collected here are photos from the second half of this year's events in Vancouver

via www.boston.com

As with the first set, I just won't limit this "sharing" to my favorite photo but a few that were in fact great photos, but also ones that I can share some thoughts too! 

While there were many athletes I (we?) knew plenty about going into Vancouver, my star of the games was Canadian figure skater, Joannie (don't call me "Joe-nee") Rochette, who just about broke my heart and had my eyes welled up every time she was on the screen whether it was on the ice, being interviewed, or carrying the Canadian flag at Closing.  For those who don't know, Joannie's (pronounce Schzo-an-nee) mother unexpectedly died of heart attack (age 55) at the start of the Games, but Joannie decided to skate on and quite remarkably won bronze.  Her strength and will to hold it together and perform at the highest ability during this time was beyond amazing and inspiring.

I was a out-of-out fan of American ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White, but I think this photo is just beautiful.  I know she is just a very shy person, but it just always seemed like she had a stick up her ass, while Charlie was just a happy-go-lucky guy.  Though I did like their "Phantom" long program even over the ultimate gold medalists, the Canadian team of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (who was just ADORABLE!  Note to self: need to do "Hunks of the Winter Olympics" post)... but I still put Virtue/Moir's medal ceremony and "O Canada" as one of the most memorable moments of the Games.  I find such joy and so darn celebratory.

I am not sure there is anyone who doesn't like short-track speed skating... consistently the most thrilling and amazing event of the Winter Games.  Very cool composition in the above photo.

I hardly shut up about curling, once I understood how it worked.  It is a cult-classic and incredibly addictive once allow itself to enter your psyche... though I'll admit I often would skip ahead to the last "rocks" of each "end"... three hours of anything, particularly curling takes up a lot of free time.  Above is one of the rock stars of curling and definitely at Vancouver was the Canadian skip, Cheryl Bernard.  Bernard was so popular that I saw one article that dubbed her a "curlgar" (combo of curler and cougar) or a "milfimpian" (MILF and Olympian), pretty impressive nicknames for a curler!  While the women couldn't quite get win that last match, the Canadian men were triumphant in a match that probably meant just a wee bit less than their gold in hockey.

Kind of got a little tired of "regular" speed skating ... and my preference for short-track, so have to admit I didn't watch any of the new-ish even to "team pursuit," but again the beauty of this formation so nicely captured in the above.

The Big Picture: Vancouver 2010 (Part 1)

Got it with a couple of The Big Picture sets... so since they are a bit of old news already, I am posting both of them today, so look for another entry just below this one.

After the Opening Ceremonies set, I was waiting for another from Vancouver and sure enough here is the wrap on Week 1:

Today is Day 8 of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver Canada, almost the halfway mark, and it's time to have a look at the activities in British Columbia. Over 100 medals have been awarded so far, with the United States, Germany, Norway and Canada leading the medal race. This year's event has been nicknamed by some as the Glitch Games, with more than its share of problems, from a malfunctioning cauldron on opening night to weather problems and course troubles. VANOC officials said they were working on the issues they could control, and were optimistic as athletes continued to deliver amazing performances in the many venues around Vancouver. Collected here are some photos from Days 1-8, with more to follow in another entry after the closing ceremony. (45 photos total)

via www.boston.com

Being such an Olympics nut, I couldn't just share one photo from this set.  But of the shots, this may be my favorite with one of my newer Winter Olympic events, Snowboard Cross.

Next up, there were apparently a lot of complaints about the inaccessibility of the Olympic flame with clear shots only from a distance and thru a chain-linked fence.  As a photographer this would have seriously pissed me off (kinda like our experience in Beijing where we couldn't get onto the Olympic Green or near the Bird's Next or Water Cube unless we had tickets to an event).  So while addressing security concerns, which I am sure are very valid, they moved up and cut a hole in the fence for obscured shots of the cauldron.  Not pretty, but a nice concession to us amateur photographers!

Finally, enjoy the whimsy of this photo of Norwegian curling team.  BTW, I've turned into a curling fanatic!  Once I understood what was going on, I couldn't stop watching it!

The Big Picture: Opening Ceremonies for Vancouver 2010

I knew we'd get some The Big Picture photos from the Olympics and the Opening Ceremonies, but I didn't think it would be this soon.

Last night, Vancouver, British Columbia welcomed the world, as over 2,600 winter athletes from 82 countries entered the BC Place arena, ready to compete in 86 events in 15 different sports. The opening ceremony focused on Canadian diversity and heritage, with emphasis on the many cultures of the First Nations. After the longest Torch Relay in history, the Olympic Flame has come to rest and now lights the cauldron of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. (30 photos total)

via www.boston.com

Click that link above to see the full set, though this I think was my favorite:

Here's a few more. One of the fun parts of the Ceremonies was following along on Twitter, even if East Coast folk were seeing stuff before I did (plus a bit of TiVo time-shift).

Having retired our lighted polar bear holiday yard display this past year, I told Todd that maybe we can try this one next year...

My friend Chris on Twitter said of this segment:  Do the Opening Ceremonies for every Olympics have to devolve into this Cirque du Soleil crap with some dude flying around like Mary Poppins?

This morning, screenwriter/comic writer Brian Lynch tweeted this: The Olympic Opening Ceremonies have the greatest floor ever. Previous champion: Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" video.

They didn't hhave a TBP shot of the stage, but I tweeted of that and ultimately of the cauldrons that they were:  "very Fortress of Solitude"   Of the lighting malfunction, RealityBlurred tweeted: Boston Rob made fire more rapidly than the Olympics did.

These ceremonies tend to be a bit too long (must they always start in the ice age?!), but it was spectacular... and not sure that it was "intimate" compared to Beijing, seemed like pretty big-scale production to me even if they didn't have tens of thousands cast members.  Let the games begin!

The Big Picture: Vancouver Olympic Torch Relay

Very excited for tonight's Opening Ceremonies and the start of the Vancouver Olympic Games!

While this sadly ends our days of being able to say we were at the last Olympics, we'll hold on for the next two years that we were still at the last Summer Olympics.  It is still a thrill of lifetime just thinking about it!

I am sure there will be many great photos coming out from the Games, but The Big Picture has already kicked things off earlier this week with a photo series of the Torch Relay:

With only two days left until the start of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, the 106-day, 26,000 km overland Olympic Torch Relay through Canada has nearly come to a close. Back in December, we featured 33 images from the first 44 days of the journey. Today, we bring you highlights from the last 73 days, as torchbearers bring the flame ever closer to its final destination, Vancouver's BC Place, to light the Olympic Cauldron and signal the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games on February 12th. (42 photos total)

via www.boston.com

I enjoyed the whimsy of this photos as the torches are passed off in front of the World's Largest Dinosaur (at 86 feet tall) in Drumheller, Alberta.  Note the dino is wearing official 2010 Vancouver Games mittens.

Express Lane: Issue 58

Kathy Griffin-Anderson Cooper New Year's Eve: Did she just say...? - I was kinda surprised that they had her back, but I think this reply to a heckler - where I think Kathy genuinely thought she was off-mic - will probably earned her a ban from CNN. (1/1/09)

Ballas Benched By Dancing Injury - I'm glad we didn't have tix to the tour stop in Phoenix on Sunday, would have been VERY disappointed. Mark's groin will just need some rest (biting tongue) and he and band buddy Derek Hough are expected back on the the next season of DWTS starting on March 9th. (12/29/08)

Creator of Usain Bolt's Olympic victory dance shot to death - I am not sure what is more shocking... the murder or that victory dances apparently now have choreographers?! (12/27/08)

Lindsay Davenport Expecting 2nd Baby - Just last week Lindsay announced she was headed to Australia for the first Grand Slam of the year, today word of "this unexpected but exciting surprise" - in other words, whoops! (12/18/08)

HBO, Winfrey's Production Company Reach Deal - Oprah signs a 3-year deal to make movies, documentaries, and series with the cable network. No word yet if the channel will be re-named HBOprah. (12/16/08)

Express Lane: Issue 57

Stevie Wonder In Talks To Join 'Dancing' - After moderate success with a deaf and an amputee "star," the first rumored contestant for the next season of DWTS is a doozy! (12/12/08)

Griffin on Clay: "He Was Not Very Nice" - The Gay-ken's diss of Kathy backstage at the Rosie Live show probably just got him back into her act in a big way! (12/4/08)

Grease Revival Will End Broadway Run in January 2009 - Yikes! According to my quick count, this will be the 10th Broadway show that will close up shop after the New Year. (12/4/08)

Olympian Kerri Walsh Expecting First Child - Those gold medal volleyball gals sure get the job done... Misty started dancing the minute she got home and now Kerri thinks she got knocked up even before she left Beijing. (12/4/08)

ABC Sets 'Dancing with the Stars' Return - With Brooke's win barely a memory, news that DWTS's 8th (!!) season will return in early March - no "stars" mentioned or, to my knowledge, even rumored as of yet. (12/3/08)

Amazing Race, Survivor Return February - After just one show per season of late (or so it seems), the Philiminator returns for his 14th trip around the world in mid-February. (12/3/08)

TAR13 Dallas is dating Starr, missed the finale because of lost passport, which was returned - I guess that pretty much says it all, except that Dallas also notes a mic change from the TAR production crew was partly to blame and bad editing that made it look like he just didn't run after the cab. (12/2/08)

Beijing Memories: Closing

While I certainly won't promise that this will be my last Beijing/Olympic-related post, now that the Games have closed this will likely mark the end of the daily "memories" posts ... believe me, I am experiencing Olympic fatigue myself!   It's certainly feels like we experienced two Olympics - one that we still very surreal-y experienced first-hand and the other much more typical experience from our armchairs!

We have found ourselves generally agreeing with many other wrap-up/memory type reports that we have read or watched on television.  That feeling of contradictions seems to be a universal experience - a true love affair having developed for the Chinese people, but still considerable reservations about the controlling nature and behavior of the government.  It will be fascinating to see what happens to China as a result of the Olympics - it was all a fascinating and quite delicate balance - the country is certainly progressing (to think in my lifetime, there was a point where I didn't even have the option of visiting China, let alone for a worldwide athletic competition) and moving rapidly to the future - but I have thought that it is "getting in its own way" quite a bit too.

Anyhow, as we prepared to leave Beijing we were thinking that a week was probably just enough time.  Surprisingly enough, I hadn't experienced much fatigue in the trip over (not nearly the 5 days it took to recover once I  get come).  I think it was just the excitement of being there and can I am confident pure adrenalin was to thank for getting me through much of our week and a very, very active schedule of activities.  But towards the end of the trip, you can see the fatigue start to set in with us and other in the group... and even mental, as patience with each other started to wane. 

It is an odd situation to be thrown in a group of strangers (Todd really was acquaintances with only one other person of the group size of nearly 20)... often I joked that it felt like we were on the Amazing Race, with the couples traveling together.  Needless to say, you know what TAR team demo we fulfilled... and w were joined by such common "teams" as married couples (of different nationalities), older couples, mother and son, father and son, two male co-workers, etc.   So, I'll just say it was probably a good thing our trip ended when it did...ha!

I'd be curious to hear if others have the same experience when they're all packed up and getting ready to head out of their hotel room one last time.   I always seem to have this somewhat glum... "well, this is it" moment... and I'll be man enough to admit that I have been emotional about it times.   There is so much anticipation for vacations/trips, that it is often hard to believe or digest that they are over ... this Beijing trip was certainly off the charts in that department...

But I had a big 'ole ... "get you when you least expected" or "thought it was all over" moment.  We found out about this unbelievable trip to the Olympics in the midst of what would end up being that very difficult time of losing Toby so unexpectedly.  In fact, I had one of the many vet appointments on the very day we received the Beijing news.  I am still grateful that we had hope for Toby on that particular day and were able to celebrate the news... it would be several days later that we would have to face the news that he only had a short time left.   

And when the end did come, I was worried that Toby's death and this Olympic trip would be helplessly intertwined.  But the adage that "time heals" proved true and it wasn't until we were getting ready to leave our Beijing hotel room that it crashed back into my mind... and again, I'll fully admit to having a bit of an extended "episode"... and poor Todd, though now quite familiar with what has become predictable teary-eyed departures, didn't have a clue where this 0-60 mph breakdown was coming from, nor could I effectively vocalize it for a bit.

OK, onto more fun/happy stuff!   On our Beijing flight to SF, again we weren't seated together.  We attempted to check online to see if we could change our seats... but no luck... and once we got to the airport, we also tried to see if we could swap with the agent - but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that any plane departing Beijing a week or two into the Games was heavily booked (or overbooked). 

The agent however did offer a "special rate" (but still gulp-worthy $$$)  to upgrade to business class - at first, we said "naaah"... but then we quickly started second-guessing ourselves and thinking "What the hell?" (ok, "hell" wasn't exactly the internal phrase used).   We thought about the 12 hour flight ahead and having been in the first row of economy on our flight over -- and witnessed first-hand the insane amount of sitting and breathing room, the non-plastic plates and "cutlery," the hot towels to freshen up with, etc... so we devilishly decided to be indulgent and take the upgrade... and boy, it is a decision we didn't regret.  It will certainly be difficult to think about flying economy again for any long flight in our future! 

And while I was probably one of the few people onboard who knew it, there was also a professional tennis player just a few rows ahead of us in business class -- Russian (but kinda American) pro, Dmitry Tursonov... who had the misfortune of drawing Roger Federer in the first round of Olympic tennis tournament.  I was planning on snapping a picture of him in baggage claim as proof, but he pretty much disappeared once we got off the plane.

Oh, our other "celebrity" run-in was... Matt Lauer!   Another story that got underservedly lost in big 'ole shuffle of all this was that we got to meet another blogger while in Beijing.  James of Life in Beijing stumbled on to my blog shortly after we received the big news, and was an invaluable resource leading up to the trip.  Thankfully we were able to meet up for dinner on what ended up being our one free night... James, and his partner James, are ex-pat Americans who now call Beijing home, and took us to this wonderful restaurant that was named one of the best in Beijing (and in the world by the NY Times, if I remember correctly) and... what you know, we walk in and  there was Matt Lauer being ushered off to a private dining room (quite common in Beijing we learned)!  So that was pretty cool... and we can only hope to find such wonderful dumplings here in the States!   I encourage you to check out James' blog for some serious first-hand accounts of lots of Olympic events!

So that's it for now -- like I said, you likely haven't heard the last of our Beijing adventures -- but I sense I'll be returning to "normal programming" in the days ahead.