Shaun White doesn't medal

I did not enjoy that this news was announced seven and a half hours before the event was even televised. I felt that same way during the Summer Olympics when social media ruined how the Fab Four and Phelps won their gold medals way ahead of it being televised by NBC. I understand it's hard to keep news like that secret in this day and age with social media. I will have to do my best to stay away from Twitter and Facebook next week during the Hockey medal games. 

I don't think it was a huge disappointment that Shaun White didn't medal because it is very hard for athletes to win three straight Winter Olympic medals in the same event.  There is a reason why it has not been done before, I was one of those people who believed he would get the gold but these things happen for a reason. He is considered the best snowboarder and for him to not win the gold should be a way of saying he lost his mojo. He still has the highest jumps than the rest of the field.  If it wasn't for those two awkward landing he could have easily had at least the silver. This is probably one of the first times White goes in to his last run not having the Gold already locked in. It's hard when you have hug expectations as Shaun White does: he has won the Gold in the Superpipe 6 years in a row from 2008-2013, he did bow out of this years event to prepare for the Olympics. When you are that consistent of an athlete especially for that amount of time you are expected to never fail. This can be a good thing for him. He will probably come back with a vengeance in 2018.

This reminded me of the 2012 Summer Olympics when a lot of friends of mine assumed that Ryan Lochte was going to be the new Phelps, and that Michael was passed his prime. Especially after he didn't medal in his first event (men's 400 meter individual medley) of the Summer Games. Lochte ended the Games with 5 medals ( 2 Gold Medals, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze) compared to Phelps who had 6 medals ( 4 Gold and 2 Silver Medals). Many people would have considered Phelps medaling in six of seven events a failure considering he won eight gold medals in eight events in 2008. That takes a lot of energy out of anyone, the fact that he came back and still picked up six more medals should be commendable. Athletes have such high expectations when they are considered the best in their field such as Peyton Manning and LeBron James they aren't perfect in the Finals/ Super Bowl but will definitely go down as one of the best. Everyone can't be a Jordan or Montana going perfect in their Championship games. If it wasn't for these athletes they would not have motivated the next breed of atheltes. There will be a next Shaun White and Michael Phelps and it will be entertaining to compare and contrast their skills. 

I was not fond of watching the Super Pipe last night because they only televised five riders in the Final event: The top three Iouri "IPod" Podladtchikov, Ayumu Hirano, the youngest rider in the competition at age 15, Taku Hiraok, Shaun White and American Danny Davis. I understand that NBC has to cover over 30 different sports and it's impossible to go through every event and athelte. It makes sense to focus on the athletes in our country and the podium winners. I realize that the best event to watch when it comes snowboarding and Skiing is the Winter X Games since you get great access and detail from every round. I'm hoping for more exciting events in the next couple of days and it's time to wait about three years or so to see if White will return in 2018.

Gold Medal or Team Championship??

With the Winter Olympics on the way it gives everyone the chance to show their country pride. I tend to enjoy the competition more than anything else, the hard work that everyone puts comes down to a 5 minute routine or a 1 minute race, it makes for an entertaining event. In terms of the Winter Olympics I prefer watching the hockey games, speed-skating, skiing and snowboarding events. I didn't include figure skating mostly because I personally don't enjoy sporting events coming down to someone scoring you on your performance. Someone is always going to be biased even if they are following a scoring format. I do watch on occasion because as someone who used to dance can enjoy the creativity and amount of work that skaters put in to their routine.  I obviously have a biased opinion with snowboarding because I am a fan of Shaun White but the half pipe is entertaining even though it's judged upon.

I posted this question on Facebook during the 2012 Summer Olympics " would you rather win a GOLD Medal at any Olympic event of your choice or a Major team Championship (NBA Finals, World Series Stanley Cup, Super Bowl, etc). Most of my friends voted for a team championship which I understood because I am a huge baseball fan and would love nothing more than to be hoisting the Commissioners Trophy as a New York Yankee. playing a grueling 162 game season and three rounds of playoff baseball. I have a huge appreciation for what athletes go through in any sport especially Michael Phelps, how much they train and sacrifice to compete in the Olympics or their given sport. I started swimming after his remarkable 2008 Summer Games performance. Swimming for an hour is tiring and this man swims for about 5 or more hours at a faster rate than I do. Eight events and getting a gold medal in each one, watching him get that eight medal on the relay was a moment I definitely won't forget. Honestly I'll put it in my top 5 sports moments that I watched live on television.

I personally would want to win a Gold Medal at a butterfly individual medley or a Men's 4 x 100 meter medley relay. I think the idea of winning an Olympic gold medal trumps winning a team sport. Not only do you win a medal for your country but you will considered the best athlete in your talent for the next four years. The Olympics and World Cup is so huge in terms of an event that it can not be hosted every year, it makes these events more prestigious than any annual MLB, NHL, NFL or NBA Championship title. it may come as selfish to be someone who wants to win an award that only celebrates yourself but it is the best way to prove who is the best athlete in that specific selection. MVP awards are always voted upon but that's is no way to prove if that specific athlete is the best athlete, it's only going by statistics throughout a given year. Even NBA players say winning a Gold Medal in the Summer Olympics is a little bit more special than winning an NBA title just for the fact that you're playing the best from the whole world not just the United States. Winning a championship means a lot to that individual no matter what stage it is in but I clearly think a gold medal has more prestige in my eyes.