Who will be the Olympic stars for Finland?
Who will be the Olympic stars for Finland?
Who from Finland has the best chance of winning medals in the upcoming Winter Olympics? What events should I watch to see the best of Finland? There are a number of terrific NHL stars who will be playing on Finland's hockey team, but there are also a number of other good teams. Any good ski jumpers? (Or will the new movie about Matti The Nuke have to be sufficient?) Cross-country skiiers? What should I be watching for? Any medal predictions?
Hannu Manninen is the faivorite to win the nordic combine events, Janne Ahonen is expected to take at least one medal in ski jumping, as well as the team. Then there's a chance for a medal in women's cross country relay, as well as Virpi Kuitunen in individual events. There are also some (surprice) medal hopes for Tanja Poutiainen and Kalle Palander in slalom. Ice hockey being the most popular sports in Finland, team Finland's game is under a lot of focus during the games. Last time in the World Cup they lost only to Canada in the finals, after beating Sweden and USA, for example.
(just recalled) there are some chances for freestylers (Ronkainen, Lahtinen? etc.) and ski board (Arto Autti etc.).
(just recalled) there are some chances for freestylers (Ronkainen, Lahtinen? etc.) and ski board (Arto Autti etc.).
Is anyone else getting excited(or even mildly interested) about the ice hockey?
I can't wait to see the Koivu-Selänne-Lehtinen front line in action. I know they are getting on a bit but they have been on top form in this season's NHL. The only weakness Finland has is the goalie situation. I think 'Kipper' could have helped Finland go all the way. It's a shame he shows little allegience to his country, personally I hope he never gets picked for Finland again. If he is so 'injured' how can he be playing so well every game for his NHL team?
Still, I think(hope) Finland will make it to the semi's, whether they go any further will be down to whether Niitymäki or Norrena can perform miracles in goal.
I can't wait to see the Koivu-Selänne-Lehtinen front line in action. I know they are getting on a bit but they have been on top form in this season's NHL. The only weakness Finland has is the goalie situation. I think 'Kipper' could have helped Finland go all the way. It's a shame he shows little allegience to his country, personally I hope he never gets picked for Finland again. If he is so 'injured' how can he be playing so well every game for his NHL team?
Still, I think(hope) Finland will make it to the semi's, whether they go any further will be down to whether Niitymäki or Norrena can perform miracles in goal.
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One of my neighbour's daughters is playing in the Ladies Ice Hockey team..
It is her third Olympics..she already has two bronze medals from the last two... KAROLIINA RANTAMÄKI #29....
The Canadian and American girls always seem the fight out the gold and silver...She is hoping to win at least her third bronze.
http://www.torinokisasivut.fi/torino_20 ... ko_naiset/
It is her third Olympics..she already has two bronze medals from the last two... KAROLIINA RANTAMÄKI #29....
The Canadian and American girls always seem the fight out the gold and silver...She is hoping to win at least her third bronze.
http://www.torinokisasivut.fi/torino_20 ... ko_naiset/
I don't like at all that Kipper's "injury needs rest" -explanation. Not at all. I think it's clear that Kiprusoff and Calgary Flames put their NHL team as the top priority. Can you imagine that top Canadian goalie would refuse to his national olympic team like that? I can't. Kipper is playing top games, like last night. Then he states he needs a rest during olympics. Hah, in some teams and with some players it's the other way around - they take a rest because of injuries *before* the olympic games - look at Peter Forsberg. I think there's also Canadian "tactics" involved here: I know Canadians do everything for success, and I do mean everything. They are pleased now that Kipper is not playing for Finland, as they got scared during the last World Cup.
Then the second goalie choice, Toivonen of Boston Bruins said no in a similar way. Then Sami Kapanen said no, without injuries. Those two can be replaced, but I don't like it. The latest news was the new Finnish defence star, Joni Pitkänen of Philadelphia Flyers, telling the same injury storie while playing in his team.
I'm also disappointed that GM Jari Kurri has not made an impact getting players to the team Finland, growling on their knees if needed. It's like -4 on ice for Kurri.
Let's hope Niittymäki and the whole team would perform miraculous games, because that's what the need. As to the important 1st line, Selänne is in a good form (if not in his best), and Lehtinen is solid. But Koivu seems to have lost his spark. Let's hope Koivu gets inspired in Torino. This line has performed the best play ever in the past big games, and have been arguably the best line in the world. The second line is a big question mark, as how Jokinen-Jokinen-Peltonen will play together. I think Jokinen is a typical player of excellence when it comes to slower, regular European style hockey, but is in a wrong place among NHL stars. I hope I'm wrong.
Did you know there's also another Finnish men's team on ice in Torino? Well, I was curling last evening at Oulunkylä (first time in my life, if slipping on ice in Calgary loong time ago does not count), and we were instructed by one of the top players in the world, Markku Uusipaavalniemi. I was surpiced he had time for that, as the games in Torino are starting tomorrow. I found curling as a fantastic game, and I learned it quite fast. Our team (me as a captain) won convincingly the other first timers team. Well, now I'm hooked like a kid (as you see) to curling, and I'll be watching those Torino curling games with a special interest, cheering also for my name's sake.
Then the second goalie choice, Toivonen of Boston Bruins said no in a similar way. Then Sami Kapanen said no, without injuries. Those two can be replaced, but I don't like it. The latest news was the new Finnish defence star, Joni Pitkänen of Philadelphia Flyers, telling the same injury storie while playing in his team.
I'm also disappointed that GM Jari Kurri has not made an impact getting players to the team Finland, growling on their knees if needed. It's like -4 on ice for Kurri.
Let's hope Niittymäki and the whole team would perform miraculous games, because that's what the need. As to the important 1st line, Selänne is in a good form (if not in his best), and Lehtinen is solid. But Koivu seems to have lost his spark. Let's hope Koivu gets inspired in Torino. This line has performed the best play ever in the past big games, and have been arguably the best line in the world. The second line is a big question mark, as how Jokinen-Jokinen-Peltonen will play together. I think Jokinen is a typical player of excellence when it comes to slower, regular European style hockey, but is in a wrong place among NHL stars. I hope I'm wrong.
Did you know there's also another Finnish men's team on ice in Torino? Well, I was curling last evening at Oulunkylä (first time in my life, if slipping on ice in Calgary loong time ago does not count), and we were instructed by one of the top players in the world, Markku Uusipaavalniemi. I was surpiced he had time for that, as the games in Torino are starting tomorrow. I found curling as a fantastic game, and I learned it quite fast. Our team (me as a captain) won convincingly the other first timers team. Well, now I'm hooked like a kid (as you see) to curling, and I'll be watching those Torino curling games with a special interest, cheering also for my name's sake.
Hopefully they will be dreadlocked iPod dudes with bones through their nose and baggy trousers. This will make for greater entertainment-value when they show up at the Independence Day Reception in December, rather than the usual Hannu-Janne Manninen-Ahonen-Kuitunen clones.
In fact the chances are that the boarders and moguls people WILL collect something, although these are very "volatile" sports with little room for error and often governed by the personal preferences and prejudices of the judges (kind of like the ice-skating in the Cold War era).
I'd like to see Kalle get some kind of medal, and he's in reasonable shape at the right time. Tanja Poutiainen will need to find another gear, however, or else get lucky with difficult conditions that cause attrition among the more fancied skiers.
It's a shame the Finns are so hopeless at biathlon, as to me this seems a pretty "perfect" sport: the combination of lung-busting endurance and precision is unique.
In fact the chances are that the boarders and moguls people WILL collect something, although these are very "volatile" sports with little room for error and often governed by the personal preferences and prejudices of the judges (kind of like the ice-skating in the Cold War era).
I'd like to see Kalle get some kind of medal, and he's in reasonable shape at the right time. Tanja Poutiainen will need to find another gear, however, or else get lucky with difficult conditions that cause attrition among the more fancied skiers.
It's a shame the Finns are so hopeless at biathlon, as to me this seems a pretty "perfect" sport: the combination of lung-busting endurance and precision is unique.
Yeah this Kiprusoff situation does leave a very sour taste. It is just too convenient that his employment contract is in Canada and with him out of the equation one of the main obstacles to Canadian gold is removed.MHH wrote:I think there's also Canadian "tactics" involved here: I know Canadians do everything for success, and I do mean everything. They are pleased now that Kipper is not playing for Finland, as they got scared during the last World Cup.
It was mostly down to his heroics in goal that little Finland got frighteningly close to severely embarrassing the mighty Canucks in the last World Cup Final.
It must have been such a hard decision for his Canadian team doctor to order him to rest and recover from a seemingly minor injury(it's not stopping him from playing - far from it, he's playing better) for 2 weeks while the Olympics are on.
The biggest question mark is how much($$) was he persuaded to stay in Canada? Or were there other ways of making him stay?
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Xochiquetzal
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Doesn't look like Manninen will do it for the combined this year. It's a high altitude location and he drops like a rock in the out-run. He'll be lucky to make the K Point with his size :/
Looks like the medals will go to the tiny guys again (as happened in the ski jumping with the tiny Ammann, who had a huge advantage in Salt Lake's high altitude).
Looks like the medals will go to the tiny guys again (as happened in the ski jumping with the tiny Ammann, who had a huge advantage in Salt Lake's high altitude).
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Xochiquetzal
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Xochiquetzal
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Terry Pyhtila
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Who will be the Olympic stars for Finland?
Wouldn't it be GREAT if it was Markku Uusipaavalniemi?
Lord, I secretly hope nobody else gets gold and the curling team does... that would set the cat among the pigeons come December and Sports Personality of the Year...
...but have no fear, even if they win, there'll be some frigging wrestler who gets a bronze in the European Leotard-Farting Championships, and he'll win the title.
Curling ROCKS!
Wouldn't it be GREAT if it was Markku Uusipaavalniemi?
Lord, I secretly hope nobody else gets gold and the curling team does... that would set the cat among the pigeons come December and Sports Personality of the Year...
...but have no fear, even if they win, there'll be some frigging wrestler who gets a bronze in the European Leotard-Farting Championships, and he'll win the title.
Curling ROCKS!
otyikondo wrote:Who will be the Olympic stars for Finland?
Wouldn't it be GREAT if it was Markku Uusipaavalniemi?
Lord, I secretly hope nobody else gets gold and the curling team does... that would set the cat among the pigeons come December and Sports Personality of the Year...
...but have no fear, even if they win, there'll be some frigging wrestler who gets a bronze in the European Leotard-Farting Championships, and he'll win the title.
Curling ROCKS!
Exactly!
I suppose many Finns have trouble thinking curling as a sport, as it actually requires high intelligence, tactical know-how - quite opposite of the most admired sports like x-country skiing, wrestling, ski jumping, etc, where it seems brains are just an extra weight.
BTW, absolutely great job by Markku & Co., beating absolute top teams of Sweden and Canada yesterday. Especially Canada game was fantastic. Now it looks much more likely that they'll reach the final four.
Has U-15* been interviewed on the box yet? He LOOKS pretty dull, but maybe he's a charismatic prankster with a massive collection of Grateful Dead bootlegs behind that Vanhanen-clone exterior. I particularly like the fact that you can hear everything the players are saying. I'm waiting for the v-word if things go tits-up against Italy or GB, but I still really hope these guys bring something home: they also left the Norwegians with egg on their face today,MHH wrote:otyikondo wrote:Who will be the Olympic stars for Finland?
Wouldn't it be GREAT if it was Markku Uusipaavalniemi?
Lord, I secretly hope nobody else gets gold and the curling team does... that would set the cat among the pigeons come December and Sports Personality of the Year...
...but have no fear, even if they win, there'll be some frigging wrestler who gets a bronze in the European Leotard-Farting Championships, and he'll win the title.
Curling ROCKS!
Exactly!
I suppose many Finns have trouble thinking curling as a sport, as it actually requires high intelligence, tactical know-how - quite opposite of the most admired sports like x-country skiing, wrestling, ski jumping, etc, where it seems brains are just an extra weight.
BTW, absolutely great job by Markku & Co., beating absolute top teams of Sweden and Canada yesterday. Especially Canada game was fantastic. Now it looks much more likely that they'll reach the final four.
although it was mostly the Norwegian skip who gifted it to them. * Apparently that's what the other players on the circuit call him. They don't even bother trying to pronounce his name.
Curling rocks!
All we need now is to get a decent women's team going. I'm sure we could match the Poles.
Polish national team lead Kasia Selwand is seen in an undated handout photo of a Curling calendar.
We need xtreme curling, full-contact curling, beach curling... bring the hammer down!
err... but Markku...keep your gear on, please (the man's a hero already).
All we need now is to get a decent women's team going. I'm sure we could match the Poles.
Polish national team lead Kasia Selwand is seen in an undated handout photo of a Curling calendar.
We need xtreme curling, full-contact curling, beach curling... bring the hammer down!
err... but Markku...keep your gear on, please (the man's a hero already).