Highway|Dan

I can never trust whether the NBC commentators are being homers or honest.

Ok, that's enough competition. Time for the ice resurfacing discotheque party at the Speed Skating rink.

I don't think Cadillac meant for it to be redesigned THAT much.

Peacock's player is just the worst, too. Locks the controls whenever they play an ad, including volume. Barely can fast-forward or rewind, when you try it frequently just restarts. If you're not caught up to live when the event ends, too bad, can't watch AT ALL until they put up a different VOD.

Of all the things we are doing in MN, this one is just beyond. Imagine being released from hell alone in the cold. And a total stranger has waited all night with a blanket just to be ready to hug you and carry you home. Every job we do is crucial, but this one is what restores humanity and dignity.

That's NBC's MO through every Olympics tho. If the person they've invested the time in doesn't win, they don't care, they're going to just stick with that loss as the "big story". And give the medal winners short shrift, even if it's another American like Breezy Johnson.

I doubt it's holding out. Like we saw last year, it doesn't automatically make the other team good. And we also know that Santino could not stand the setups that Malukas (which were probably more like Team Penske setups) used on ovals. Plus, we just don't know their test programs.

All that said, tho, I'm glad they got it done, and it's been a good competition!

I can imagine a lot of stuff being not great with the design and construction, tho. I don't know the specific circumstances here, but we've definitely had issues with contractors,and it's also possible a reason they didn't get any bids to build at first was poor condition of the design plans.

Agree that the wood is by design, just figured they should have kept the track ice a little farther up farther around the track. I also wonder about what might have happened during design and construction, given what I've heard about the trials of getting this track built.

It looks like they were trying to make it look good, but just messed up the amount of taper on the exit of some turns, so the sleds get up out of the track.

As a highway designer, I've been wondering all season about the track design, like how they decide on banking transitions and run-in and runout, but my big Q about Cortina is if they made a mistake with those boards trying to make it look pretty. (cont.)

So I'm guessing that the bobsleds are the same sleds they used all year. Do they repaint them, or do they use wraps now like most auto racing series?

Was the unzipped suit a mistake, or something he does?

That was amazing. Having a huge lead, and then just showing "yep, I'm the best today" with fastest run.

Wesselink and Heinrich tied might be my favorite result, thanks to both of their stories this year.

We have that same yellow spring, down to the 1/3 bend that the cats have put in it...

Seems they messed up the audio on Peacock? I've got none (but the pre-roll ad does have audio).

I know he's getting ready for 2-man Run 3, but I just wanted to thank @thekenchilds.com for helping me get more invested in sliding sports. Catching up on Runs 1 and 2, and realizing I am aware of more than half the field, and even with some of the traits (like Tentea's ability to throw down a run).

But also I'm glad to generally see fewer drone shots. They were definitely the "new toy" the first week, and I think they're integrating them much better in the story, rather than "hey look what we can do now!"

Random 2026 Olympics thought: The second week, they seem to have figured out how to do audio that minimizes the buzzy drone sounds. Nearly every venue I was hearing it on the first week is much better, frequently to the point of not hearing it at all.

Figure-8 Short Track Speed Skating?

I can appreciate the technical skill, but something in me just revolts at having extra people actually on the competition surface, in any sport. The camera guys running onto the field in football after a touchdown may have started it, but I really feel like it's not a trend I want to see continue.

Even watching the non-broadcast sports events on US streaming provider, they put in random breaks where they don't even show commercials, just don't show you what's happening.

Are there configuration issues where they couldn't run a "Combined Sliding Sports" competition: 2-woman, 4-man, Skeleton Mens and Womens? Maybe have bobsled go first and last to give time to line up the next sled? Using the start lights like Skeleton is doing?

If it's wrong to not root for someone because they're engaged to Jake Paul, I don't think I can be right...

Totally agree. They were there all day, and great to see them get the win.

I think Marciello in the 46 could have, but Farfus can't.

I have to say that a lot of the teams that NBC has calling the Olympics are very good. Bill Spaulding and Joey Cheek doing a good job with the big track speed skating. Leigh Diffey and Erin Hamlin were great in Luge, and Bree Schaff good in Skeleton.

kitten lying on back on bed Luge cat practices in its sleep

It just happens that back in 2014 I made a bunch of Winter Olympic Lolcats. Let's have a look!