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EXTRA: Netherlands and Norway dominate first medals day

By
Rich Perelman
-
The all-time winner among Olympic Winter Games women: Norway's Marit Bjoergen, with 11!

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TSX EXTRA – for Feb. 10, 2018: The Netherlands is supposed to win a lot of medals in skating and it did. Norway is supposed to win a lot of medals in the various kinds of skiing .. and it did.

That’s the summary of the first day of the PyeongChang Games, but there was plenty of excitement along the way:

  • A final-jump win in the men’s Normal Hill Ski Jumping;
  • A new record for the most Olympic Winter medals won by any woman;
  • A thrilling win for Korea in front of a packed house in Short Track;
  • More hard feelings from a Russian bronze medalist;
  • Possible medal for the U.S. in men’s luge after two runs!

Plus, the U.S. Soccer Federation found its new chief for the next four years, choosing someone it knows very well (and did not play goal for the U.S. women’s national team). It’s all in this EXTRA edition, with sport-by-sport coverage of medal events in Biathlon ~ Cross Country ~ Short Track ~ Ski Jumping ~ Speed Skating.

EXTRA: Netherlands and Norway dominate first medals day

By
Rich Perelman
-
The all-time winner among Olympic Winter Games women: Norway's Marit Bjoergen, with 11!

[wpdm_package id=3981 template=”5a3caadf84efa”]

TSX EXTRA – for Feb. 10, 2018: The Netherlands is supposed to win a lot of medals in skating and it did. Norway is supposed to win a lot of medals in the various kinds of skiing .. and it did.

That’s the summary of the first day of the PyeongChang Games, but there was plenty of excitement along the way:

  • A final-jump win in the men’s Normal Hill Ski Jumping;
  • A new record for the most Olympic Winter medals won by any woman;
  • A thrilling win for Korea in front of a packed house in Short Track;
  • More hard feelings from a Russian bronze medalist;
  • Possible medal for the U.S. in men’s luge after two runs!

Plus, the U.S. Soccer Federation found its new chief for the next four years, choosing someone it knows very well (and did not play goal for the U.S. women’s national team). It’s all in this EXTRA edition, with sport-by-sport coverage of medal events in Biathlon ~ Cross Country ~ Short Track ~ Ski Jumping ~ Speed Skating.

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EXTRA: Elegant Opening Ceremony starts the XXIII Olympic Winter Games

By
Rich Perelman
-

TSX EXTRA – for Feb. 9, 2018: There was cold, but there was also drama in a neat, compact Opening Ceremony in PyeongChang, Korea to start the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

We have the minute-by-minute description of the ceremony – including IOC President Thomas Bach’s complete address – and some observations on the meet-up of Korean tradition and technology. Plus our weekend previews of:

(1) ARCHERY: The Vegas Shoot brings together 3,500 archers for, among other things, the fourth stage and final of the World Archery Indoor World Cup.

(2) ATHLETICS: Good match-ups this Saturday in Boston for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, the fourth leg of the IAAF World Indoor Tour.

(3) JUDO: Outstanding fields for the first Grand Slam of the year, the Paris Grand Slam, with seven no. 1-ranked athletes and three potential 1-vs.-2 match-ups.

EXTRA: Elegant Opening Ceremony starts the XXIII Olympic Winter Games

By
Rich Perelman
-

[wpdm_package id=3975 template=”5a3caadf84efa”]

TSX EXTRA – for Feb. 9, 2018: There was cold, but there was also drama in a neat, compact Opening Ceremony in PyeongChang, Korea to start the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

We have the minute-by-minute description of the ceremony – including IOC President Thomas Bach’s complete address – and some observations on the meet-up of Korean tradition and technology. Plus our weekend previews of:

(1) ARCHERY: The Vegas Shoot brings together 3,500 archers for, among other things, the fourth stage and final of the World Archery Indoor World Cup.

(2) ATHLETICS: Good match-ups this Saturday in Boston for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, the fourth leg of the IAAF World Indoor Tour.

(3) JUDO: Outstanding fields for the first Grand Slam of the year, the Paris Grand Slam, with seven no. 1-ranked athletes and three potential 1-vs.-2 match-ups.

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CAS dismisses final Russian appeals plus 34 Winter Games previews

By
Rich Perelman
-

TSX HEADLINES – for Feb. 9, 2018: All the appeals are done now, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport swept aside the last set of appeals by Russian athletes demanding to be invited to the Winter Games after their doping suspensions were overturned.

This finally sets the stage for a cold opening to the Winter Games in the open-air Olympic Stadium in PyeongChang, so cold that that 43,000 spectators will be issued complimentary hats, blankets and hand and footer warmers!

We also have our final previews in Alpine Skiing, Curling, Figure Skating, Ice Hockey, Luge, Nordic Combined, Skeleton and Ski Jumping, covering 34 events in all in our Lane One commentary, plus:

(1) THE TICKER: The newest dust-up in the U.S. camp is the choice of who will carry the flag into the Opening Ceremony. The loser called is “dishonorable.”

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: The cold is a running problem in PyeongChang, but so are fears over winds coming through this weekend that could scramble the skiing schedule.

(3) ATHLETICS: More world indoor leaders at the Dusseldorf and Madrid meets on the IAAF World Indoor Tour, including sensational sprinting from China’s Bingtian Su, who thanks the Dusseldorf crowd … in English!

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; SCOREBOARD reports on Athletics, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

CAS dismisses final Russian appeals plus 34 Winter Games previews

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Feb. 9, 2018: All the appeals are done now, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport swept aside the last set of appeals by Russian athletes demanding to be invited to the Winter Games after their doping suspensions were overturned.

This finally sets the stage for a cold opening to the Winter Games in the open-air Olympic Stadium in PyeongChang, so cold that that 43,000 spectators will be issued complimentary hats, blankets and hand and footer warmers!

We also have our final previews in Alpine Skiing, Curling, Figure Skating, Ice Hockey, Luge, Nordic Combined, Skeleton and Ski Jumping, covering 34 events in all in our Lane One commentary, plus:

(1) THE TICKER: The newest dust-up in the U.S. camp is the choice of who will carry the flag into the Opening Ceremony. The loser called is “dishonorable.”

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: The cold is a running problem in PyeongChang, but so are fears over winds coming through this weekend that could scramble the skiing schedule.

(3) ATHLETICS: More world indoor leaders at the Dusseldorf and Madrid meets on the IAAF World Indoor Tour, including sensational sprinting from China’s Bingtian Su, who thanks the Dusseldorf crowd … in English!

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; SCOREBOARD reports on Athletics, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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IOC rejects Russia’s request for more plus 54 Winter Games previews

By
Rich Perelman
-

TSX HEADLINES – for Feb. 5, 2018: The International Olympic Committee’s bulky Russian-athlete invitation structure bowed up under pressure and rejected the request to allow 13 more athletes compete in PyeongChang.

This was a cool and correct decision, in which the IOC’s working groups politely averted what could have been a complete implosion of the 5 December decision that suspended the Russian National Olympic Committee, but allowed “clean” Russian athletes to be invited to the Games.

There’s a lot more work to be done, of course, but it was refreshing to see the IOC react well under pressure.

There’s also an Olympic Winter Games coming and we have 23 pages of event previews in Cross Country Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Snowboard, Speed Skating and Short Track, covering 54 events in all in our Lane One commentary, plus the weekend’s results:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: Lindsey Vonn is all the way back and stamped herself as the favorite in the women’s Downhill – and perhaps more – in PyeongChang by winning two World Cups in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

(2) ATHLETICS: Fabulous running by Ethiopia’s Ginzebe Dibaba, with the second-fastest 1,500 m in history in the IAAF Indoor World Tour opener in Karlsruhe, Germany, plus two world indoor records at the Millrose Games and Leonard Korir beats Galen Rupp for the USATF national Cross Country title.

(3) FENCING: The U.S.’s newest sword star is Eli Dershwitz after his second win in a Sabre World Cup this season!

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Athletics ~ Fencing ~ Nordic Combined ~ Nordic Sports ~ Rugby ~ Ski Jumping ~ Snowboard, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

IOC rejects Russia’s request for more plus 54 Winter Games previews

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Feb. 5, 2018: The International Olympic Committee’s bulky Russian-athlete invitation structure bowed up under pressure and rejected the request to allow 13 more athletes compete in PyeongChang.

This was a cool and correct decision, in which the IOC’s working groups politely averted what could have been a complete implosion of the 5 December decision that suspended the Russian National Olympic Committee, but allowed “clean” Russian athletes to be invited to the Games.

There’s a lot more work to be done, of course, but it was refreshing to see the IOC react well under pressure.

There’s also an Olympic Winter Games coming and we have 23 pages of event previews in Cross Country Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Snowboard, Speed Skating and Short Track, covering 54 events in all in our Lane One commentary, plus the weekend’s results:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: Lindsey Vonn is all the way back and stamped herself as the favorite in the women’s Downhill – and perhaps more – in PyeongChang by winning two World Cups in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

(2) ATHLETICS: Fabulous running by Ethiopia’s Ginzebe Dibaba, with the second-fastest 1,500 m in history in the IAAF Indoor World Tour opener in Karlsruhe, Germany, plus two world indoor records at the Millrose Games and Leonard Korir beats Galen Rupp for the USATF national Cross Country title.

(3) FENCING: The U.S.’s newest sword star is Eli Dershwitz after his second win in a Sabre World Cup this season!

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Athletics ~ Fencing ~ Nordic Combined ~ Nordic Sports ~ Rugby ~ Ski Jumping ~ Snowboard, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Court of Arbitration for Sport decision may hurt Russia more than the IOC

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Court of Arbitration for Sport

TSX HEADLINES – for Feb. 2, 2018: The Court of Arbitration for Sport threw out 28 of the International Olympic Committee’s 39 disqualifications for doping from Sochi 2014 and shortened the suspensions of the other 11 to just the PyeongChang Winter Games.

A set-back for the IOC? Absolutely. But in the longer term, this could be the first step in a sequence that may have a bigger impact on Russian athletes than anyone else.

The issues and explanations are in our first-ever Lane Two commentary, because Lane One is devoted to our comprehensive Winter Games preview of Biathlon – and the one-on-one match-up of two greats in the sport – plus everything else happening in the Olympic world:

(1) THE TICKER: U.S. loses its best men’s Downhiller to an ACL tear, a Russian make-up Olympics for its uninvited athletes, Tokyo 2020 to cost $20 billion now? And Usain Bolt names the five best sprinters in history!

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: The CAS decisions are only a start, not the end; the U.S. Justice Department extends its corruption probe to the IAAF World Championships in 2019 (Doha) and 2021 (Eugene), and Hope Solo sues the U.S. Soccer Federation … while running to be its president!

(3) ATHLETICS: The U.S. Cross Country Championships are on this weekend in Florida, and previews of a major indoor meet in Karlsruhe and the 111th Millrose Games in New York.

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; ON DECK previews of Athletics ~ Nordic Combined ~ Rugby ~ Snowboard, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

Court of Arbitration for Sport decision may hurt Russia more than the IOC

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Court of Arbitration for Sport

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TSX HEADLINES – for Feb. 2, 2018: The Court of Arbitration for Sport threw out 28 of the International Olympic Committee’s 39 disqualifications for doping from Sochi 2014 and shortened the suspensions of the other 11 to just the PyeongChang Winter Games.

A set-back for the IOC? Absolutely. But in the longer term, this could be the first step in a sequence that may have a bigger impact on Russian athletes than anyone else.

The issues and explanations are in our first-ever Lane Two commentary, because Lane One is devoted to our comprehensive Winter Games preview of Biathlon – and the one-on-one match-up of two greats in the sport – plus everything else happening in the Olympic world:

(1) THE TICKER: U.S. loses its best men’s Downhiller to an ACL tear, a Russian make-up Olympics for its uninvited athletes, Tokyo 2020 to cost $20 billion now? And Usain Bolt names the five best sprinters in history!

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: The CAS decisions are only a start, not the end; the U.S. Justice Department extends its corruption probe to the IAAF World Championships in 2019 (Doha) and 2021 (Eugene), and Hope Solo sues the U.S. Soccer Federation … while running to be its president!

(3) ATHLETICS: The U.S. Cross Country Championships are on this weekend in Florida, and previews of a major indoor meet in Karlsruhe and the 111th Millrose Games in New York.

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; ON DECK previews of Athletics ~ Nordic Combined ~ Rugby ~ Snowboard, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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PyeongChang preview no. 1: Bobsleigh

By
Rich Perelman
-

TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 31, 2018: The frantic pace of the winter World Cups has finally slowed down enough to start looking ahead to the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, Korea, coming 8 February.

We stop first at bobsleigh, expected to be dominated by Germany, especially in the absence of American star driver Steven Holcomb, who died unexpectedly last year.

But what about American Elana Meyers Taylor in the women’s bob. She owns a silver and bronze from 2010 and 2014; can she get her long-sought gold?

We size up her chances – and everyone else’s – including our picks for the medal stand in the first of our series in advance of the Games. It’s all in our Lane One commentary, plus what’s happening in the rest of the Olympic world:

(1) THE TICKER: The U.S. Olympic Committee announced its biggest team ever for a Winter Games, including seven sets of siblings and one married couple. Who are they?

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: The newest ruckus is over the decision of the International Paralympic Committee over Russia’s status – and that of its athletes – for its 2018 Winter Games.

(3) ALPINE SKIING: Last World Cup before the Winter Games could put Lindsey Vonn in position to capture another Crystal Globe in the Downhill!

PyeongChang preview no. 1: Bobsleigh

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 31, 2018: The frantic pace of the winter World Cups has finally slowed down enough to start looking ahead to the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, Korea, coming 8 February.

We stop first at bobsleigh, expected to be dominated by Germany, especially in the absence of American star driver Steven Holcomb, who died unexpectedly last year.

But what about American Elana Meyers Taylor in the women’s bob. She owns a silver and bronze from 2010 and 2014; can she get her long-sought gold?

We size up her chances – and everyone else’s – including our picks for the medal stand in the first of our series in advance of the Games. It’s all in our Lane One commentary, plus what’s happening in the rest of the Olympic world:

(1) THE TICKER: The U.S. Olympic Committee announced its biggest team ever for a Winter Games, including seven sets of siblings and one married couple. Who are they?

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: The newest ruckus is over the decision of the International Paralympic Committee over Russia’s status – and that of its athletes – for its 2018 Winter Games.

(3) ALPINE SKIING: Last World Cup before the Winter Games could put Lindsey Vonn in position to capture another Crystal Globe in the Downhill!

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Fencing ~ Ski Jumping; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing and speed Skating, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Russia is on suspension and the IOC is not going to let them forget it

By
Rich Perelman
-

TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 29, 2018: The International Olympic Committee confirmed last Saturday that 169 Russian athletes – from an original pool of 500 – will be invited to compete at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Korea.

Some think this is too many and the Russians think it’s too few. But the IOC is more interested now to make sure these athletes, and the 171 accompanying officials, toe the line the IOC has drawn through a remarkable four-page document called the “Olympic Athletes from Russia Conduct Guidelines.”

It’s pretty interesting and shows that that IOC isn’t deaf, dumb and blind to the more obvious actions that members of the “OAR” delegation can take to thumb their nose at the IOC. There’s no doubt that the IOC wants Russia back in good standing … but not if it’s not going to follow the IOC’s rules.

Get the details on the do’s and don’ts in our Lane One commentary, plus an unbelievable weekend for the U.S. at an Austrian resort:

(1) THE TICKER: The International Boxing Federation kicked out its former president for financial shenanigans. Now, they have elected an interim president that the U.S. Treasury Department calls “one of Uzbekistan’s leading criminals.” What next?

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: The next overwhelming issue in Olympic sport will be the upcoming Annual General Meeting of U.S. Soccer, where the organization will pick a new president!

(3) ALPINE SKIING: Bad news and good news … Mikaela Shiffrin is officially in a slump, pending Monday’s City Event in Stockholm, but Ted Ligety is back on the World Cup podium in the Giant Slalom!

(4) CROSS COUNTRY: Latest sign of the Apocalypse? Two U.S. women just beat the whole world – including Norway – twice over the weekend in two World Cup Cross Country races in an Austrian resort town called Seefeld. Am I dreaming? No: Seeing is believing!

(5) FIGURE SKATING: Well done: two gold and four total medals in three events for the U.S. at the ISU Four Continents Championships in Taipei City.

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Athletics ~ Cross Country Skiing ~ Cycling ~ Fencing ~ Figure Skating ~ Football ~ Luge ~ Nordic Combined ~ Rugby ~ Sailing ~ Ski Jumping ~ Snowboard and Tennis, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

Russia is on suspension and the IOC is not going to let them forget it

By
Rich Perelman
-

[wpdm_package id=3923 template=”5a3caadf84efa”]

TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 29, 2018: The International Olympic Committee confirmed last Saturday that 169 Russian athletes – from an original pool of 500 – will be invited to compete at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Korea.

Some think this is too many and the Russians think it’s too few. But the IOC is more interested now to make sure these athletes, and the 171 accompanying officials, toe the line the IOC has drawn through a remarkable four-page document called the “Olympic Athletes from Russia Conduct Guidelines.”

It’s pretty interesting and shows that that IOC isn’t deaf, dumb and blind to the more obvious actions that members of the “OAR” delegation can take to thumb their nose at the IOC. There’s no doubt that the IOC wants Russia back in good standing … but not if it’s not going to follow the IOC’s rules.

Get the details on the do’s and don’ts in our Lane One commentary, plus an unbelievable weekend for the U.S. at an Austrian resort:

(1) THE TICKER: The International Boxing Federation kicked out its former president for financial shenanigans. Now, they have elected an interim president that the U.S. Treasury Department calls “one of Uzbekistan’s leading criminals.” What next?

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: The next overwhelming issue in Olympic sport will be the upcoming Annual General Meeting of U.S. Soccer, where the organization will pick a new president!

(3) ALPINE SKIING: Bad news and good news … Mikaela Shiffrin is officially in a slump, pending Monday’s City Event in Stockholm, but Ted Ligety is back on the World Cup podium in the Giant Slalom!

(4) CROSS COUNTRY: Latest sign of the Apocalypse? Two U.S. women just beat the whole world – including Norway – twice over the weekend in two World Cup Cross Country races in an Austrian resort town called Seefeld. Am I dreaming? No: Seeing is believing!

(5) FIGURE SKATING: Well done: two gold and four total medals in three events for the U.S. at the ISU Four Continents Championships in Taipei City.

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Athletics ~ Cross Country Skiing ~ Cycling ~ Fencing ~ Figure Skating ~ Football ~ Luge ~ Nordic Combined ~ Rugby ~ Sailing ~ Ski Jumping ~ Snowboard and Tennis, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Why Scott Blackmun is right and Sports Illustrated is wrong

By
Rich Perelman
-
Former USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun

TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 26, 2018: All the commentators are chiming in about the Larry Nassar scandal and what should happen to Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee.

Someone writing on the Sports Illustrated Web site said his “calm and reasoned conclusion” was “Burn it all down.” Boy, there’s some insight for you.

The head of the USOC, Scott Blackmun, didn’t take his advice. He sent the federation an action plan that includes getting rid of the USA Gymnastics Board in six days, but he also did something that no one else has done so far: remember all the gymnasts — USA Gymnastics has more than 156,000 of them – that weren’t part of the Nassar horror, and their future in the sport.

The details are in our Lane One commentary, plus your update to keep you current in Olympic sport:

(1) THE TICKER: Powerful Alpine and Snowboard teams announced for the U.S. for PyeongChang; Russia tries to hijack the International Olympic Committee’s announcement of who will be invited to compete; remembering Steve Prefontaine, who would have been 67 on the 25th, and more doping positives in weightlifting.

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: The 17 types of evidence the IOC’s invitation panel used to decide who was a clean Russian athlete and who wasn’t.

(3) ATHLETICS: Sensational race records – 2:04:00 and 2:19:17 – by now-top-10 performers in a great Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon Friday morning!

(4) FOOTBALL: U.S. Soccer will take a look at its future with a team of youngsters in its friendly against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Carson on Sunday.

(5) LUGE: U.S. star Summer Britcher has a chance for a seasonal bronze medal in the FIL World Cup finishing this weekend in Latvia!

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; SCENE & HEARD on women & testosterone, Russian track & field athletes and cross country’s future; ON DECK with news on Athletics ~ Cross Country ~ Cycling ~ Football ~ Luge ~ Rugby ~ Snowboard; SCOREBOARD report on the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

Why Scott Blackmun is right and Sports Illustrated is wrong

By
Rich Perelman
-
Former USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 26, 2018: All the commentators are chiming in about the Larry Nassar scandal and what should happen to Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee.

Someone writing on the Sports Illustrated Web site said his “calm and reasoned conclusion” was “Burn it all down.” Boy, there’s some insight for you.

The head of the USOC, Scott Blackmun, didn’t take his advice. He sent the federation an action plan that includes getting rid of the USA Gymnastics Board in six days, but he also did something that no one else has done so far: remember all the gymnasts — USA Gymnastics has more than 156,000 of them – that weren’t part of the Nassar horror, and their future in the sport.

The details are in our Lane One commentary, plus your update to keep you current in Olympic sport:

(1) THE TICKER: Powerful Alpine and Snowboard teams announced for the U.S. for PyeongChang; Russia tries to hijack the International Olympic Committee’s announcement of who will be invited to compete; remembering Steve Prefontaine, who would have been 67 on the 25th, and more doping positives in weightlifting.

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: The 17 types of evidence the IOC’s invitation panel used to decide who was a clean Russian athlete and who wasn’t.

(3) ATHLETICS: Sensational race records – 2:04:00 and 2:19:17 – by now-top-10 performers in a great Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon Friday morning!

(4) FOOTBALL: U.S. Soccer will take a look at its future with a team of youngsters in its friendly against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Carson on Sunday.

(5) LUGE: U.S. star Summer Britcher has a chance for a seasonal bronze medal in the FIL World Cup finishing this weekend in Latvia!

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; SCENE & HEARD on women & testosterone, Russian track & field athletes and cross country’s future; ON DECK with news on Athletics ~ Cross Country ~ Cycling ~ Football ~ Luge ~ Rugby ~ Snowboard; SCOREBOARD report on the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Could the Larry Nassar scandal bankrupt USA Gymnastics?

By
Rich Perelman
-

TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 24, 2018: The Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State involved perhaps 33 victims and cost the university more than $220 million … so far. The sexual-abuse scandal surrounding Dr. Larry Nassar has about 150 victims identified … and USA Gymnastics doesn’t have Penn State’s money.

The reality that this scandal could potentially bankrupt USA Gymnastics and the key players who decide whether the federation lives or dies could be the very athletes who were Nassar’s victims, and America’s Olympic medalists.

The details are in our Lane One commentary, plus news, previews and reports on what’s going on right now:

(1) THE TICKER: Apparently the Russians are feeling the sting of being suspended by the International Olympic Committee, as some of their star athletes are apparently not going to be invited to the Games.

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: Someone important doesn’t think the sanctions on Russia are tough enough. Guess who? Plus, a powerful U.S. team is named for PyeongChang.

(3) ALPINE SKIING: Mikaela Shiffrin will be back in action this weekend in Switzerland after failing to finish in two straight races. Time to start a new streak?

(4) FIGURE SKATING: One of figure skating’s key events – the Four Continents – is on in Taipei City, with good chances for American entries.

(5) FOOTBALL: The four-time defending champion U.S. women’s U-20 team is undefeated and headed to the semifinals of the CONCACAF women’s U-20 Championship in Trinidad.

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; ON DECK with news on Alpine Skiing ~ Fencing ~ Figure Skating ~ Nordic Combined ~ Sailing ~ Ski Jumping; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Football ~ Short Track, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

Could the Larry Nassar scandal bankrupt USA Gymnastics?

By
Rich Perelman
-

[wpdm_package id=3889 template=”5a3caadf84efa”]

TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 24, 2018: The Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State involved perhaps 33 victims and cost the university more than $220 million … so far. The sexual-abuse scandal surrounding Dr. Larry Nassar has about 150 victims identified … and USA Gymnastics doesn’t have Penn State’s money.

The reality that this scandal could potentially bankrupt USA Gymnastics and the key players who decide whether the federation lives or dies could be the very athletes who were Nassar’s victims, and America’s Olympic medalists.

The details are in our Lane One commentary, plus news, previews and reports on what’s going on right now:

(1) THE TICKER: Apparently the Russians are feeling the sting of being suspended by the International Olympic Committee, as some of their star athletes are apparently not going to be invited to the Games.

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: Someone important doesn’t think the sanctions on Russia are tough enough. Guess who? Plus, a powerful U.S. team is named for PyeongChang.

(3) ALPINE SKIING: Mikaela Shiffrin will be back in action this weekend in Switzerland after failing to finish in two straight races. Time to start a new streak?

(4) FIGURE SKATING: One of figure skating’s key events – the Four Continents – is on in Taipei City, with good chances for American entries.

(5) FOOTBALL: The four-time defending champion U.S. women’s U-20 team is undefeated and headed to the semifinals of the CONCACAF women’s U-20 Championship in Trinidad.

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; ON DECK with news on Alpine Skiing ~ Fencing ~ Figure Skating ~ Nordic Combined ~ Sailing ~ Ski Jumping; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Football ~ Short Track, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The IOC takes a holiday from sport to work on politics

By
Rich Perelman
-
The IOC's signing ceremony with the two Koreas (courtesy IOC/Greg Martin)

TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 22, 2018: The International Olympic Committee took a break from worrying about the technical details of the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Games and played politics.

President Thomas Bach held a conference and signed an agreement to allow North Korea to participate in the Winter Games and there was finally some movement (and details) on the invitation process for Russian athletes considered free of doping to the Games. But not everyone was impressed.

We examine the IOC’s position – as it sees it – in our Lane One commentary, plus news and results of 18 sports in this 40-page issue:

(1) SCENE & HEARD: A world record from U.S. sprint star Christian Coleman; will Tour de France & Vuelta a Espana winner Chris Froome be suspended; a sudden loss for USA hockey; four-time Olympic medalist Julia Mancuso retires.

(2) ALPINE SKIING: If you had any doubt about Lindsey Vonn being ready for the Games, forget it. See what she, Mikaela Shiffrin and Jackie Wiles did in Cortina d’Ampezzo!

(3) BOBSLEIGH & SKELETON: A seasonal World Cup silver medal for U.S. driver Elana Meyers Taylor, and now on to PyeongChang.

(4) FOOTBALL: Good start for the U.S. women in 2018: a 5-1 pounding of 12th-ranked Denmark in San Diego.

(5) LUGE: A sensational, world-class victory for American luger Summer Britcher! What does it mean?

Plus plenty of coverage of U.S. Olympic qualifying in Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard!

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; SCENE & HEARD with news on Athletics ~ Cycling ~ Ice Hockey ~ Skiing; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Archery ~ Biathlon ~ Bobsled & Skeleton ~ Cross Country ~ Curling ~ Cycling ~ Fencing ~ Figure Skating ~ Football ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Judo ~ Luge ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping ~ Snowboard ~ Speed Skating ~ Table Tennis, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

The IOC takes a holiday from sport to work on politics

By
Rich Perelman
-
The IOC's signing ceremony with the two Koreas (courtesy IOC/Greg Martin)

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 22, 2018: The International Olympic Committee took a break from worrying about the technical details of the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Games and played politics.

President Thomas Bach held a conference and signed an agreement to allow North Korea to participate in the Winter Games and there was finally some movement (and details) on the invitation process for Russian athletes considered free of doping to the Games. But not everyone was impressed.

We examine the IOC’s position – as it sees it – in our Lane One commentary, plus news and results of 18 sports in this 40-page issue:

(1) SCENE & HEARD: A world record from U.S. sprint star Christian Coleman; will Tour de France & Vuelta a Espana winner Chris Froome be suspended; a sudden loss for USA hockey; four-time Olympic medalist Julia Mancuso retires.

(2) ALPINE SKIING: If you had any doubt about Lindsey Vonn being ready for the Games, forget it. See what she, Mikaela Shiffrin and Jackie Wiles did in Cortina d’Ampezzo!

(3) BOBSLEIGH & SKELETON: A seasonal World Cup silver medal for U.S. driver Elana Meyers Taylor, and now on to PyeongChang.

(4) FOOTBALL: Good start for the U.S. women in 2018: a 5-1 pounding of 12th-ranked Denmark in San Diego.

(5) LUGE: A sensational, world-class victory for American luger Summer Britcher! What does it mean?

Plus plenty of coverage of U.S. Olympic qualifying in Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard!

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; SCENE & HEARD with news on Athletics ~ Cycling ~ Ice Hockey ~ Skiing; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Archery ~ Biathlon ~ Bobsled & Skeleton ~ Cross Country ~ Curling ~ Cycling ~ Fencing ~ Figure Skating ~ Football ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Judo ~ Luge ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping ~ Snowboard ~ Speed Skating ~ Table Tennis, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Your Winter Games TV guide, continued: 24 events to watch in week two

By
Rich Perelman
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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 19, 2018: NBC will offer you the entire Olympic Winter Games from Korea if you want it, but no one can watch that much video.

So we’ve combed the schedule to pull out the week two highlights – 24 events – to mark on your calendar as the best bets for American fans. Check out the list of Alpine, Bobsleigh, Cross Country,Curling, Figure Skating, Freestyle, Ice Hockey, Short Track and Speed Skating events to check out.

We break down week two day-by-day in our Lane One commentary, plus previews of major events coming up this weekend:

(1) THE TICKER: A group of 19 National Anti-Doping Organizations ripped the International Olympic Committee for not following up on its suspension of the Russian National Olympic Committee with clear decisions about which athletes can compete at the Winter Games. Oh yes, in a track meet in Siberia, 19 Russian athletes suddenly withdrew once it was know that drug testers were in attendance.

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced its procedures for next week’s hearing of 39 Russian athletes disciplined by the IOC. Surprise: both Prof. Richard McLaren and whistleblower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov will testify remotely!

(3) ALPINE SKIING: Lindsey Vonn led both the Downhill training runs this week in Italy, but Mikaela Shiffrin is also there. Will this week’s results determine which races Shiffrin will enter in PyeongChang?

(4) BOBSLEIGH & SKELETON: Final World Cup of the season in Germany, with American Elana Meyers Taylor chasing Canada’s Kaillie Humphries for the seasonal title. Can she do it?

(5) FOOTBALL: Top-ranked U.S. women start critical 2018 season with friendly against European runner-up Denmark, on Sunday in San Diego.

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Archery ~ Bobsled & Skeleton ~ Cross Country ~ Cycling ~ Fencing ~ Football ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Judo ~ Luge ~ Nordic Combined ~ Snowboard ~ Speed Skating; SCOREBOARD reports on Cycling ~ Figure Skating, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

Your Winter Games TV guide, continued: 24 events to watch in week two

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 19, 2018: NBC will offer you the entire Olympic Winter Games from Korea if you want it, but no one can watch that much video.

So we’ve combed the schedule to pull out the week two highlights – 24 events – to mark on your calendar as the best bets for American fans. Check out the list of Alpine, Bobsleigh, Cross Country,Curling, Figure Skating, Freestyle, Ice Hockey, Short Track and Speed Skating events to check out.

We break down week two day-by-day in our Lane One commentary, plus previews of major events coming up this weekend:

(1) THE TICKER: A group of 19 National Anti-Doping Organizations ripped the International Olympic Committee for not following up on its suspension of the Russian National Olympic Committee with clear decisions about which athletes can compete at the Winter Games. Oh yes, in a track meet in Siberia, 19 Russian athletes suddenly withdrew once it was know that drug testers were in attendance.

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced its procedures for next week’s hearing of 39 Russian athletes disciplined by the IOC. Surprise: both Prof. Richard McLaren and whistleblower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov will testify remotely!

(3) ALPINE SKIING: Lindsey Vonn led both the Downhill training runs this week in Italy, but Mikaela Shiffrin is also there. Will this week’s results determine which races Shiffrin will enter in PyeongChang?

(4) BOBSLEIGH & SKELETON: Final World Cup of the season in Germany, with American Elana Meyers Taylor chasing Canada’s Kaillie Humphries for the seasonal title. Can she do it?

(5) FOOTBALL: Top-ranked U.S. women start critical 2018 season with friendly against European runner-up Denmark, on Sunday in San Diego.

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Archery ~ Bobsled & Skeleton ~ Cross Country ~ Cycling ~ Fencing ~ Football ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Judo ~ Luge ~ Nordic Combined ~ Snowboard ~ Speed Skating; SCOREBOARD reports on Cycling ~ Figure Skating, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Get ready for Winter Games TV: 27 events to watch in week one!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 17, 2018: NBC is planning to offer 2,400 hours of Olympic Winter Games programming, including live streaming of every event and more than 631 hours on television. Which events should you watch?

We’ve gone through the 102-event schedule and picked out the highlights for U.S. fans for the first week of the Games: 27 events in all. Check out the list with the U.S. times for each recommended session and who to watch for.

A suggestion: figure out how to set up more than one television in your living room, or have a big-screen, a computer and a tablet all available as there will often be more than one event to watch at the same time!

We break each day’s highlights down in our Lane One commentary, plus previews of major events coming up this weekend:

(1) THE TICKER: Austrian skiing superstar Marcel Hirscher says he doesn’t need to win an Olympic gold to validate his career; that “an American mindset.”

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: Usain Bolt says he’s not coming back to track & field, but does have one regret from his career achievements list …

(3) FIGURE SKATING: European Championships are starting in Moscow and appropriately showcase Russia’s potential Winter Games medal winners … but will they be invited to compete in PyeongChang?

(4) FREESTYLE SKI & SNOWBOARD: Final U.S. qualifying event comes this weekend at Mammoth Mountain. Who’s in and who can still make the Halfpipe and Slopestyle teams?

(5) SKI JUMPING: World Ski-Flying Championships on in Germany, with jumps off a 235 m Hill. What if they take off and never come back?

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; ON DECK previews of Biathlon ~ Curling ~ Cycling ~ Figure Skating ~ Freestyle Skiing & Snowboard ~ Ski Jumping ~ Table Tennis; SCOREBOARD report on Curling, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Get ready for Winter Games TV: 27 events to watch in week one!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 17, 2018: NBC is planning to offer 2,400 hours of Olympic Winter Games programming, including live streaming of every event and more than 631 hours on television. Which events should you watch?

We’ve gone through the 102-event schedule and picked out the highlights for U.S. fans for the first week of the Games: 27 events in all. Check out the list with the U.S. times for each recommended session and who to watch for.

A suggestion: figure out how to set up more than one television in your living room, or have a big-screen, a computer and a tablet all available as there will often be more than one event to watch at the same time!

We break each day’s highlights down in our Lane One commentary, plus previews of major events coming up this weekend:

(1) THE TICKER: Austrian skiing superstar Marcel Hirscher says he doesn’t need to win an Olympic gold to validate his career; that “an American mindset.”

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: Usain Bolt says he’s not coming back to track & field, but does have one regret from his career achievements list …

(3) FIGURE SKATING: European Championships are starting in Moscow and appropriately showcase Russia’s potential Winter Games medal winners … but will they be invited to compete in PyeongChang?

(4) FREESTYLE SKI & SNOWBOARD: Final U.S. qualifying event comes this weekend at Mammoth Mountain. Who’s in and who can still make the Halfpipe and Slopestyle teams?

(5) SKI JUMPING: World Ski-Flying Championships on in Germany, with jumps off a 235 m Hill. What if they take off and never come back?

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; ON DECK previews of Biathlon ~ Curling ~ Cycling ~ Figure Skating ~ Freestyle Skiing & Snowboard ~ Ski Jumping ~ Table Tennis; SCOREBOARD report on Curling, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The Olympic Winter Games is worth $1,420,000,000

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 15, 2018: Back in 1924, the “Chamonix Winter Sport Week” was simply an attachment to the Olympic Games coming later that year in Paris. From that small seed, a behemoth has grown.

The Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang will have – for the first time – more than 100 events and about 3,000 athletes from around 90 countries. That’s a far cry from the 16 events and athletes from 16 countries who showed up 94 years ago.

Thanks to new numbers in the International Olympic Committee’s recently-released Marketing Fact File, the one-time winter afterthought to the summer Games is now a billion-dollar property in its own right.

That number isn’t shown anywhere; you have to assemble it and we did, in detail. The elements of a $1.42 billion event are broken down in our Lane One commentary, plus a sensational weekend for U.S. athletes:

(1) SNOWBOARD: Shaun White scored a perfect 100.0 to come from behind and win the Toyota Grand Prix Halfpipe at Snowmass and put himself on his fourth Olympic team. We take you through the action-packed final round to set up White’s face-off with history.

(2) ICE HOCKEY: Never mind what the U.S. women’s team does in PyeongChang; the future is bright. The U.S. U-18 women just won their fourth IIHF World U-18 Championship in spectacular fashion. You’ve got to read how they got past Canada after being down 3-1 in the second period!

(3) BOBSLED: World Champion Elana Meyers Taylor wins her first World Cup race of the year, but then is “gutted” when her teammate fails to make it to PyeongChang. Plus, her brakeman for the win in St. Moritz is left off the U.S. team! What?

(4) FREESTYLE SKI: Sochi gold medalist David Wise has come all the way back and clinched his place in PyeongChang by leading a U.S. sweep at the Toyota Grand Prix Halfpipe at Snowmass.

(5) SWIMMING: American distance swimmer Zane Grothe set two U.S. short-course records at the Winter Nationals and now won three races at the Tyr Pro Swim Series opener in Austin. Double World Champion Chase Kalisz won three also, and double sprint winner Nathan Adrian explains why he swims at this event … in January!

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Biathlon ~ Bobsleigh & Skeleton ~ Cross Country skiing ~ Fencing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Luge ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping ~ Snowboard ~ Swimming, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The Olympic Winter Games is worth $1,420,000,000

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 15, 2018: Back in 1924, the “Chamonix Winter Sport Week” was simply an attachment to the Olympic Games coming later that year in Paris. From that small seed, a behemoth has grown.

The Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang will have – for the first time – more than 100 events and about 3,000 athletes from around 90 countries. That’s a far cry from the 16 events and athletes from 16 countries who showed up 94 years ago.

Thanks to new numbers in the International Olympic Committee’s recently-released Marketing Fact File, the one-time winter afterthought to the summer Games is now a billion-dollar property in its own right.

That number isn’t shown anywhere; you have to assemble it and we did, in detail. The elements of a $1.42 billion event are broken down in our Lane One commentary, plus a sensational weekend for U.S. athletes:

(1) SNOWBOARD: Shaun White scored a perfect 100.0 to come from behind and win the Toyota Grand Prix Halfpipe at Snowmass and put himself on his fourth Olympic team. We take you through the action-packed final round to set up White’s face-off with history.

(2) ICE HOCKEY: Never mind what the U.S. women’s team does in PyeongChang; the future is bright. The U.S. U-18 women just won their fourth IIHF World U-18 Championship in spectacular fashion. You’ve got to read how they got past Canada after being down 3-1 in the second period!

(3) BOBSLED: World Champion Elana Meyers Taylor wins her first World Cup race of the year, but then is “gutted” when her teammate fails to make it to PyeongChang. Plus, her brakeman for the win in St. Moritz is left off the U.S. team! What?

(4) FREESTYLE SKI: Sochi gold medalist David Wise has come all the way back and clinched his place in PyeongChang by leading a U.S. sweep at the Toyota Grand Prix Halfpipe at Snowmass.

(5) SWIMMING: American distance swimmer Zane Grothe set two U.S. short-course records at the Winter Nationals and now won three races at the Tyr Pro Swim Series opener in Austin. Double World Champion Chase Kalisz won three also, and double sprint winner Nathan Adrian explains why he swims at this event … in January!

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Biathlon ~ Bobsleigh & Skeleton ~ Cross Country skiing ~ Fencing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Luge ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping ~ Snowboard ~ Swimming, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

What you need to know about the worldwide carousel of sports is in The Sports Examiner, your all-in-one briefing on Olympic sport! Click below for our new issue:

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The Sports Examiner is a subscription journal. Thank you for your support; please tell your friends to subscribe now! For comments or questions, please click here.

 

The four-letter word that will determine how many medals Mikaela Shiffrin wins in Korea

By
Rich Perelman
-
Record-setter: American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin (courtesy U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association; copyright Reese Brown)

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 12, 2018: American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin can enter any event she wants at the 2018 Winter Games, but if she is going to maximize her medal total, she will need to factor in one key element.

It’s a four-letter word that rhymes with zest and mirrors the same problems as previously faced by Olympic legends Carl Lewis and Joan Benoit in 1984.

We review her options and how Lewis and Benoit handled the problem in our Lane One commentary, plus a busy weekend in Olympic sport that has already started:

(1) FREESTYLE SKIING: Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury sets his claim as the greatest Moguls skier of all time with two wins at Deer Valley, while American Jaelin Kauf wins two medals in two days to secure her Olympic team spot for Korea.

(2) ICE HOCKEY: Naturally, it’s the U.S. and Canadian women facing off in one of the championship semifinals at the IIHF women’s World U-18 Championships in Russia!

(3) SWIMMING: The Tyr Pro Swim Series opener has started in Austin, with double World Champion Chase Kalisz breaking his own pool record in the 400 m Medley and swimming his second-best time in another event; he was pleased …. for January.

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; ON DECK previews of Bobsleigh & Skeleton ~ Cross Country skiing ~ Fencing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Luge ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping ~ Snowboard; SCOREBOARD reports on Biathlon ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Swimming, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The four-letter word that will determine how many medals Mikaela Shiffrin wins in Korea

By
Rich Perelman
-
Record-setter: American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin (courtesy U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association; copyright Reese Brown)

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American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin (courtesy U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association; copyright Reese Brown)

TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 12, 2018: American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin can enter any event she wants at the 2018 Winter Games, but if she is going to maximize her medal total, she will need to factor in one key element.

It’s a four-letter word that rhymes with zest and mirrors the same problems as previously faced by Olympic legends Carl Lewis and Joan Benoit in 1984.

We review her options and how Lewis and Benoit handled the problem in our Lane One commentary, plus a busy weekend in Olympic sport that has already started:

(1) FREESTYLE SKIING: Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury sets his claim as the greatest Moguls skier of all time with two wins at Deer Valley, while American Jaelin Kauf wins two medals in two days to secure her Olympic team spot for Korea.

(2) ICE HOCKEY: Naturally, it’s the U.S. and Canadian women facing off in one of the championship semifinals at the IIHF women’s World U-18 Championships in Russia!

(3) SWIMMING: The Tyr Pro Swim Series opener has started in Austin, with double World Champion Chase Kalisz breaking his own pool record in the 400 m Medley and swimming his second-best time in another event; he was pleased …. for January.

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; ON DECK previews of Bobsleigh & Skeleton ~ Cross Country skiing ~ Fencing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Luge ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping ~ Snowboard; SCOREBOARD reports on Biathlon ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Swimming, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

What you need to know about the worldwide carousel of sports is in The Sports Examiner, your all-in-one briefing on Olympic sport! Click here for our new issue:

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This is the LAST free-to-view issue of The Sports Examiner. To keep reading next week, please subscribe now!

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Was the 2028 Olympics or the Dodger pennant the top 2017 sports moment in Los Angeles?

By
Rich Perelman
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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 10, 2018: What was the no. 1 moment in sports in Los Angeles in 2017? The award of the 2028 Olympic Games? The Dodgers winning the National League pennant for the first time in 29 seasons? USC’s stirring comeback in the Rose Bowl over Penn State?

One of the unique aspects of sports in Los Angeles is the annual Los Angeles Sports Awards, the yearly fund-raiser for the Los Angeles Sports Council, coming up on 6 February. And you can vote for the top moment!

We have the list of 10 nominations put forward by a blue-ribbon panel of Los Angeles sports media and you can help make the decision on which will be voted as the top moment of 2017.

We have all the details in our Lane One commentary, plus a dramatic, come-from-behind by the greatest skier in the world:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: Headline coverage of one of the greatest three weeks in World Cup history by American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, including stirring win in Austria on Tuesday night;

(2) ANTI-DOPING: Of the 43 Russians disqualified from Sochi 2014, 42 have filed appeals with the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Court’s statement on the procedure to be followed, in advance of PyeongChang;

(3) SWIMMING: Is it really time for the 2018 swimming season to begin? The Tyr Pro Swim Series starts in Austin on Thursday, with plenty of the U.S.’s top stars in attendance. We have the entries, including three stars intending to swim in six events each!

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a new, rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; HEADLINES coverage of Shiffrin’s newest World Cup win; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Biathlon ~ Curling ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Snowboard ~ Swimming; SCOREBOARD report on Cross Country Skiing, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Was the 2028 Olympics or the Dodger pennant the top 2017 sports moment in Los Angeles?

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 10, 2018: What was the no. 1 moment in sports in Los Angeles in 2017? The award of the 2028 Olympic Games? The Dodgers winning the National League pennant for the first time in 29 seasons? USC’s stirring comeback in the Rose Bowl over Penn State?

One of the unique aspects of sports in Los Angeles is the annual Los Angeles Sports Awards, the yearly fund-raiser for the Los Angeles Sports Council, coming up on 6 February. And you can vote for the top moment!

We have the list of 10 nominations put forward by a blue-ribbon panel of Los Angeles sports media and you can help make the decision on which will be voted as the top moment of 2017.

We have all the details in our Lane One commentary, plus a dramatic, come-from-behind by the greatest skier in the world:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: Headline coverage of one of the greatest three weeks in World Cup history by American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, including stirring win in Austria on Tuesday night;

(2) ANTI-DOPING: Of the 43 Russians disqualified from Sochi 2014, 42 have filed appeals with the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Court’s statement on the procedure to be followed, in advance of PyeongChang;

(3) SWIMMING: Is it really time for the 2018 swimming season to begin? The Tyr Pro Swim Series starts in Austin on Thursday, with plenty of the U.S.’s top stars in attendance. We have the entries, including three stars intending to swim in six events each!

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a new, rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; HEADLINES coverage of Shiffrin’s newest World Cup win; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Biathlon ~ Curling ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Snowboard ~ Swimming; SCOREBOARD report on Cross Country Skiing, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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O Canada! Will the red-and-white win more medals than the U.S. in February?

By
Rich Perelman
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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 8, 2018: If you have been reading the results in The Sports Examiner, than you know that Canada’s winter-sport athletes are having a pretty good time this season, and making lots of trips to the victory stand in sport after sport.

In fact, they’re making so many trips, they might make more in PyeongChang than … the United States?

It’s possible and it has even happened once before – and yes, you were alive then. Get all of the details and Canada’s best medal prospects in our Lane One commentary, plus a dramatic weekend of Olympic qualifying events in the U.S.:

(1) FIGURE SKATING: The Prudential U.S. Nationals finished in San Jose and the good news is that the best U.S. medal prospects will go to Korea. Nathan Chen was just great and the ice Dance duo of Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue reached new heights, but there was also a lot that was messy.

(2) SPEED SKATING: The U.S. Olympic Trials were completed in Milwaukee and exactly the right athletes made the team, including Heather Bersgma, Brittany Bowe, Joey Mantia and Shani Davis. They are on a mission to erase memories of 2014; do you remember why?

(3) ALPINE SKIING: American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin is unconscious … in a good way. Not only has she blown open the World Cup points race, she may be on her way to vaporizing a 28-year-old record long thought to be untouchable. She reaching out and touching greatness …

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a new, rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; HEADLINES coverage of the Prudential U.S. National Figure Skating Championships and U.S. Olympic Speed Skating Trials; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Biathlon ~ Bobsled & Skeleton ~ Cross Country Skiing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Luge ~ Ski Jumping ~ Snowboard, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

What you need to know about the worldwide carousel of sports is in The Sports Examiner, your all-in-one briefing on Olympic sport!

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O Canada! Will the red-and-white win more medals than the U.S. in February?

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 8, 2018: If you have been reading the results in The Sports Examiner, than you know that Canada’s winter-sport athletes are having a pretty good time this season, and making lots of trips to the victory stand in sport after sport.

In fact, they’re making so many trips, they might make more in PyeongChang than … the United States?

It’s possible and it has even happened once before – and yes, you were alive then. Get all of the details and Canada’s best medal prospects in our Lane One commentary, plus a dramatic weekend of Olympic qualifying events in the U.S.:

(1) FIGURE SKATING: The Prudential U.S. Nationals finished in San Jose and the good news is that the best U.S. medal prospects will go to Korea. Nathan Chen was just great and the ice Dance duo of Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue reached new heights, but there was also a lot that was messy.

(2) SPEED SKATING: The U.S. Olympic Trials were completed in Milwaukee and exactly the right athletes made the team, including Heather Bersgma, Brittany Bowe, Joey Mantia and Shani Davis. They are on a mission to erase memories of 2014; do you remember why?

(3) ALPINE SKIING: American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin is unconscious … in a good way. Not only has she blown open the World Cup points race, she may be on her way to vaporizing a 28-year-old record long thought to be untouchable. She reaching out and touching greatness …

This issue includes THE BIG PICTURE, a new, rapid-read status report on Olympic sport; HEADLINES coverage of the Prudential U.S. National Figure Skating Championships and U.S. Olympic Speed Skating Trials; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Biathlon ~ Bobsled & Skeleton ~ Cross Country Skiing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Luge ~ Ski Jumping ~ Snowboard, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

What you need to know about the worldwide carousel of sports is in The Sports Examiner, your all-in-one briefing on Olympic sport!

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The future of The Sports Examiner rests with you: Please subscribe!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 5, 2018: Over the past 17 months, we’ve shared 225 issues of The Sports Examiner with you and been grateful for the positive response.

Now our future is in your hands; it’s time to subscribe. We’ll be finishing the free-trial period with next week’s three issues and then the subscriber-access period will begin. If you’re enjoying what you read, please sign up … and tell your friends.

We provide all of the details in our Lane One commentary, plus the latest on the unceasing march of international sport:

(1) FIGURE SKATING: The Prudential U.S. Nationals is underway and we have the Short Program results that show Nathan Chen, Bradie Tennell and the wife-and-husband team of Alexa Scimera Knierim and Chris Knierim leading in Pairs;

(2) SPEED SKATING: The U.S. Olympic Trials are on in Milwaukee and exactly the right athletes made the team in the 1,000 m: Heather Bergsma, Brittany Bowe, Joey Mantia and Shani Davis. Good for them and for U.S. medal hopes in Korea!

(3) ALPINE SKIING: Will Mikaela Shiffrin ever lose again? She won another Slalom race and could be on her way to eight World Cup wins in nine races by next Tuesday!

This issue includes GLOBETROTTING from Phil Hersh on a U.S. senator’s call for a U.S. boycott if North Korea attends the Winter Games; HEADLINES coverage of the Prudential U.S. National Figure Skating Championships and U.S. Olympic Speed Skating Trials; ON DECK previews of Bobsleigh & Skeleton ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Luge ~ Snowboard; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Cross Country Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Ski Jumping, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The future of The Sports Examiner rests with you: Please subscribe!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 5, 2018: Over the past 17 months, we’ve shared 225 issues of The Sports Examiner with you and been grateful for the positive response.

Now our future is in your hands; it’s time to subscribe. We’ll be finishing the free-trial period with next week’s three issues and then the subscriber-access period will begin. If you’re enjoying what you read, please sign up … and tell your friends.

We provide all of the details in our Lane One commentary, plus the latest on the unceasing march of international sport:

(1) FIGURE SKATING: The Prudential U.S. Nationals is underway and we have the Short Program results that show Nathan Chen, Bradie Tennell and the wife-and-husband team of Alexa Scimera Knierim and Chris Knierim leading in Pairs;

(2) SPEED SKATING: The U.S. Olympic Trials are on in Milwaukee and exactly the right athletes made the team in the 1,000 m: Heather Bergsma, Brittany Bowe, Joey Mantia and Shani Davis. Good for them and for U.S. medal hopes in Korea!

(3) ALPINE SKIING: Will Mikaela Shiffrin ever lose again? She won another Slalom race and could be on her way to eight World Cup wins in nine races by next Tuesday!

This issue includes GLOBETROTTING from Phil Hersh on a U.S. senator’s call for a U.S. boycott if North Korea attends the Winter Games; HEADLINES coverage of the Prudential U.S. National Figure Skating Championships and U.S. Olympic Speed Skating Trials; ON DECK previews of Bobsleigh & Skeleton ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Luge ~ Snowboard; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Cross Country Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Ski Jumping, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The top stories of 2018 – Part II: The Olympic Movement will be rocked

By
Rich Perelman
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Lamine Diack (SEN), former IAAF president and IOC member, whose trial on corruption charges in France has begun

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 3, 2018: If experience is any teacher, 2018 is going to be a rocky road for the Olympic Movement. Sure, the Winter Games come soon enough in February and there’s the FIFA Wold Cup in June, but those are about the highlights.

In the second part of our look ahead to the top stories of 2018, there’s the explosive trial of the former head of the IAAF, accused of bribery and cover-ups of Russian doping positives. And in June, a referendum which could turn the race for the 2026 Winter Games inside out. Oh, and did we mention doping?

We have the details of our top-five (projected) stories of 2018 in our Lane One commentary, plus the latest on:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: The unstoppable Mikaela Shiffrin won again, this time in Oslo, her fourth World Cup win in the last five races! Wow!

(2) CROSS COUNTRY: Sensational bronze in the Tour de Ski pursuit for Jessica Diggins, in position to make history by winning the U.S.’s first-ever Tour medal!

(3) ICE HOCKEY: The United States U-20 men’s ice hockey team turns back Russia to reach the IIHF World U-20 Championships semifinals in Buffalo, and USA Hockey names its men’s and women’s Olympic teams for PyeongChang.

This issue includes GLOBETROTTING from Phil Hersh on his awards for 2017; SCENE & HEARD notes on Anti-Doping ~ PyeongChang 2018 ~ Athletics ~ Ice Hockey; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Biathlon ~ Ice Hockey; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Cross Country Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Ski Jumping ~ Speed Skating, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The top stories of 2018 – Part II: The Olympic Movement will be rocked

By
Rich Perelman
-
Lamine Diack (SEN), former IAAF president and IOC member, whose trial on corruption charges in France has begun

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 3, 2018: If experience is any teacher, 2018 is going to be a rocky road for the Olympic Movement. Sure, the Winter Games come soon enough in February and there’s the FIFA Wold Cup in June, but those are about the highlights.

In the second part of our look ahead to the top stories of 2018, there’s the explosive trial of the former head of the IAAF, accused of bribery and cover-ups of Russian doping positives. And in June, a referendum which could turn the race for the 2026 Winter Games inside out. Oh, and did we mention doping?

We have the details of our top-five (projected) stories of 2018 in our Lane One commentary, plus the latest on:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: The unstoppable Mikaela Shiffrin won again, this time in Oslo, her fourth World Cup win in the last five races! Wow!

(2) CROSS COUNTRY: Sensational bronze in the Tour de Ski pursuit for Jessica Diggins, in position to make history by winning the U.S.’s first-ever Tour medal!

(3) ICE HOCKEY: The United States U-20 men’s ice hockey team turns back Russia to reach the IIHF World U-20 Championships semifinals in Buffalo, and USA Hockey names its men’s and women’s Olympic teams for PyeongChang.

This issue includes GLOBETROTTING from Phil Hersh on his awards for 2017; SCENE & HEARD notes on Anti-Doping ~ PyeongChang 2018 ~ Athletics ~ Ice Hockey; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Biathlon ~ Ice Hockey; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Cross Country Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Ski Jumping ~ Speed Skating, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The top stories of 2018 – part I: More tumult? More cheating?

By
Rich Perelman
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Simone Biles at the 2016 Olympic Games (by Agencia Brasil Fotografias via Wikipedia Commons)

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 1, 2018: If the problems of 2017 weren’t enough, more are coming in 2018. But there will be highlights, too.

Will Simone Biles make a triumphant return to gymnastics? What about her teammates?

Can anyone get close to the U.S. women at the FIBA World Cup in Spain in September. The schedule might give some teams a chance.

And then there are the problems of “mechanical doping” in cycling, the IAAF’s re-shuffling of the calendar and a lot more. In the first of two parts, we nominate our top-10 stories of 2018 in our Lane One commentary, plus the latest on:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: The amazing Mikaela Shiffrin won gold and bronze over the weekend and could win four events this week!

(2) CROSS COUNTRY: Sensational skiing by the U.S. women with medals at the prestigious Tour de Ski for Sophie Caldwell and Sadie Bjornsen!

(3) FIGURE SKATING & SPEED SKATING: Previews of the U.S. Nationals in figure skating and the Olympic Trials in speed skating, going on this week in San Jose and Milwaukee.

This issue includes ON DECK previews of Figure Skating ~ Speed Skating; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Cross Country Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The top stories of 2018 – part I: More tumult? More cheating?

By
Rich Perelman
-
Simone Biles at the 2016 Olympic Games (by Agencia Brasil Fotografias via Wikipedia Commons)

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 1, 2018: If the problems of 2017 weren’t enough, more are coming in 2018. But there will be highlights, too.

Will Simone Biles make a triumphant return to gymnastics? What about her teammates?

Can anyone get close to the U.S. women at the FIBA World Cup in Spain in September. The schedule might give some teams a chance.

And then there are the problems of “mechanical doping” in cycling, the IAAF’s re-shuffling of the calendar and a lot more. In the first of two parts, we nominate our top-10 stories of 2018 in our Lane One commentary, plus the latest on:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: The amazing Mikaela Shiffrin won gold and bronze over the weekend and could win four events this week!

(2) CROSS COUNTRY: Sensational skiing by the U.S. women with medals at the prestigious Tour de Ski for Sophie Caldwell and Sadie Bjornsen!

(3) FIGURE SKATING & SPEED SKATING: Previews of the U.S. Nationals in figure skating and the Olympic Trials in speed skating, going on this week in San Jose and Milwaukee.

This issue includes ON DECK previews of Figure Skating ~ Speed Skating; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Cross Country Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The top stories of 2017 – part 2: Glory, greed, drugs and surprises

By
Rich Perelman
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The City of Los Angeles flag

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TSX HEADLINES – for Dec. 28, 2017: This was the year that Usain Bolt retired, but not the way he envisioned. Mo Farah won one and lost one at the World Championships, but no one saw the stunner of the women’s Steeplechase coming.

American Caeleb Dressel equaled Michael Phelps’s record of seven gold medals in one World Swimming Championships, but no else had ever won three golds in a single day.

Those were the competitive highlights of 2017, moments we will always remember. But there were other moments, about bribery and drugs and an Olympic bid process that ended up in a way not seen for a century.

Which was the no. 1 Olympic-sport story of 2017? We complete our list and you can review our selections in our Lane One commentary, plus what you need to know about:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: The unstoppable Mikaela Shiffrin might be on her way to breaking open the seasonal World Cup race starting this weekend. She’s the best Slalom skier in the world and Thursday starts a run of seven straight Slalom or Giant Slalom races; can she win them all?

(2) NORDIC COMBINED & SKI JUMPING: The winner-goes-to-Korea U.S. Olympic Trials for both sports are on Saturday in Park City, Utah. Our preview and the likely contenders!

(3) THE TICKER: Japanese organizers looking to use a facial recognition system to bolster access control for athletes, coaches, officials and news media for the 2020 Games in Tokyo!

This issue includes SCENE & HEARD on Anti-Doping ~ Athletics ~ Cycling ~ Judo; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Cross Country ~ Ice Hockey ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The top stories of 2017 – part 2: Glory, greed, drugs and surprises

By
Rich Perelman
-
The City of Los Angeles flag

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TSX HEADLINES – for Dec. 28, 2017: This was the year that Usain Bolt retired, but not the way he envisioned. Mo Farah won one and lost one at the World Championships, but no one saw the stunner of the women’s Steeplechase coming.

American Caeleb Dressel equaled Michael Phelps’s record of seven gold medals in one World Swimming Championships, but no else had ever won three golds in a single day.

Those were the competitive highlights of 2017, moments we will always remember. But there were other moments, about bribery and drugs and an Olympic bid process that ended up in a way not seen for a century.

Which was the no. 1 Olympic-sport story of 2017? We complete our list and you can review our selections in our Lane One commentary, plus what you need to know about:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: The unstoppable Mikaela Shiffrin might be on her way to breaking open the seasonal World Cup race starting this weekend. She’s the best Slalom skier in the world and Thursday starts a run of seven straight Slalom or Giant Slalom races; can she win them all?

(2) NORDIC COMBINED & SKI JUMPING: The winner-goes-to-Korea U.S. Olympic Trials for both sports are on Saturday in Park City, Utah. Our preview and the likely contenders!

(3) THE TICKER: Japanese organizers looking to use a facial recognition system to bolster access control for athletes, coaches, officials and news media for the 2020 Games in Tokyo!

This issue includes SCENE & HEARD on Anti-Doping ~ Athletics ~ Cycling ~ Judo; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Cross Country ~ Ice Hockey ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Ho Ho Ho: The top stories of 2017, a tumultuous year in Olympic sport

By
Rich Perelman
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TSX HEADLINES – for Dec. 25, 2017: This has been anything but a tranquil year in international sport, mixing great performances with uneasy politics, cheating and controversy.

What were the top stories in 2017? We’re starting our count-down from no. 10 to no. 1 over two issues, starting with a tie for no. 10 and working our way to no. 6. Along the way you will meet an unbeatable 6-8 “geant” and a precocious 22-year-old who’s a foot shorter, but who are both the best in the world.

These six stories take us to the worlds of alpine skiing, athletics, cycling football, gymnastics and judo and both breath-taking triumphs and stunning disappointments. Can’t tell you more; you’ll have to read it for yourself!

Review our selections in our Lane One commentary – and guess what nos. 1-5 will be – plus what you need to know about:

(1) ANTI-DOPING: The International Olympic Committee’s Oswald Commission finished its reviews of 46 athletes suspected of doping by issuing decisions disqualifying 11 more Russians. Get the list and which sports (and medals) are impacted.

(2) ATHLETE MARKETING: Germany’s Federal Cartel Office says it won some concessions from the German National Olympic Committee and the IOC regarding athlete advertising and the restrictions of Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter. Is this the first opening of the flood gates?

(3) FREESTYLE SKIING: First-ever World Cup medal for U.S. Moguls skier Troy Murphy and two medals for women’s Moguls star Jaelin Kauf scored a gold and silver in the competitions in China!

This issue includes GLOBETROTTING by Phil Hersh with an exclusive on a figure skating judge under investigation (again); SCENE & HEARD on Anti-Doping ~ Athlete Marketing ~ Cycling ~ Shooting; ON DECK previews of Ice Hockey; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Judo ~ Shooting ~ Snowboard ~Table Tennis, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

What you need to know about the worldwide carousel of sports is in The Sports Examiner, your all-in-one briefing on Olympic sport!

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Ho Ho Ho: The top stories of 2017, a tumultuous year in Olympic sport

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Dec. 25, 2017: This has been anything but a tranquil year in international sport, mixing great performances with uneasy politics, cheating and controversy.

What were the top stories in 2017? We’re starting our count-down from no. 10 to no. 1 over two issues, starting with a tie for no. 10 and working our way to no. 6. Along the way you will meet an unbeatable 6-8 “geant” and a precocious 22-year-old who’s a foot shorter, but who are both the best in the world.

These six stories take us to the worlds of alpine skiing, athletics, cycling football, gymnastics and judo and both breath-taking triumphs and stunning disappointments. Can’t tell you more; you’ll have to read it for yourself!

Review our selections in our Lane One commentary – and guess what nos. 1-5 will be – plus what you need to know about:

(1) ANTI-DOPING: The International Olympic Committee’s Oswald Commission finished its reviews of 46 athletes suspected of doping by issuing decisions disqualifying 11 more Russians. Get the list and which sports (and medals) are impacted.

(2) ATHLETE MARKETING: Germany’s Federal Cartel Office says it won some concessions from the German National Olympic Committee and the IOC regarding athlete advertising and the restrictions of Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter. Is this the first opening of the flood gates?

(3) FREESTYLE SKIING: First-ever World Cup medal for U.S. Moguls skier Troy Murphy and two medals for women’s Moguls star Jaelin Kauf scored a gold and silver in the competitions in China!

This issue includes GLOBETROTTING by Phil Hersh with an exclusive on a figure skating judge under investigation (again); SCENE & HEARD on Anti-Doping ~ Athlete Marketing ~ Cycling ~ Shooting; ON DECK previews of Ice Hockey; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Judo ~ Shooting ~ Snowboard ~Table Tennis, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

What you need to know about the worldwide carousel of sports is in The Sports Examiner, your all-in-one briefing on Olympic sport!

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Russia’s plan to embarrass the IOC for PyeongChang

By
Rich Perelman
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IN THIS ISSUE:  Sure, the Russian Olympic Committee was suspended by the International Olympic Committee, but whatever you think of Russia, they are resilient.

And they are already gaming the system the IOC has set up for allow only “clean” athletes to compete in the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang in February.

The background, details and the process are explained in our Lane One commentary, plus what you need to know about:

 ALPINE SKIING: Is Mikaela Shiffrin about to run away with a second straight World Cup overall title? She got a head start by sweeping the Courchevel races and the schedule is perfectly set up for her.

¶ ATHLETICS: New accusations from a British newspaper about coach and former U.S. sprinter Dennis Mitchell, but The Telegraph’s headline was about World 100 m Champion Justin Gatlin!

 GYMNASTICS: Lawsuit filed by Olympic medalist McKayla Maroney to open up a confidential settlement from last December that paid her $1.25 million to say nothing about sex abuser Dr. Larry Nasser!

This issue includes GLOBETROTTING by Phil Hersh on the “I, Tonya,” movie from one who reported it;   SCENE & HEARD on Anti-Doping ~ Athletics ~ Football ~ Gymnastics; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Snowboard; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Diving ~Table Tennis, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Russia’s plan to embarrass the IOC for PyeongChang

By
Rich Perelman
-

TSX HEADLINES – for Dec. 21, 2017: Sure, the Russian Olympic Committee was suspended by the International Olympic Committee, but whatever you think of Russia, they are resilient.

And they are already gaming the system the IOC has set up for allow only “clean” athletes to compete in the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang in February.

The background, details and the process are explained in our Lane One commentary, plus what you need to know about:

 ALPINE SKIING: Is Mikaela Shiffrin about to run away with a second straight World Cup overall title? She got a head start by sweeping the Courchevel races and the schedule is perfectly set up for her.

¶ ATHLETICS: New accusations from a British newspaper about coach and former U.S. sprinter Dennis Mitchell, but The Telegraph’s headline was about World 100 m Champion Justin Gatlin!

 GYMNASTICS: Lawsuit filed by Olympic medalist McKayla Maroney to open up a confidential settlement from last December that paid her $1.25 million to say nothing about sex abuser Dr. Larry Nasser!

This issue includes GLOBETROTTING by Phil Hersh on the “I, Tonya,” movie from one who reported it;   SCENE & HEARD on Anti-Doping ~ Athletics ~ Football ~ Gymnastics; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Snowboard; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Diving ~Table Tennis, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Smoking guns, beautiful people and Spandex: the life of biathlete Susan Dunklee

By
Rich Perelman
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U.S. Biathlon Olympian and World Championships medalist Susan Dunklee

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IN THIS ISSUE – “A policeman taps me on the shoulder and says he had a report of a ‘mad woman with a gun’ that he needed to investigate. … Luckily, he was very friendly and understanding.”

A typical day in the life of World Championships silver medalist Susan Dunklee of the U.S., preparing for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang. We asked her about what goes into being a biathlete and how her silver medal last year has changed her outlook … and that of others. After all, the U.S. has never won an Olympic biathlon medal …

Dunklee had lots to say and we outline her busy schedule upcoming next February in Korea in our Lane One commentary. Plus the results of a wild weekend of sports highlighted by the naming of new U.S. Olympians:

= p. 6/The Main Event: U.S. Short Track Trials with new stars John-Henry Krueger & Maame Biney!
= p. 9/Alpine Skiing: Lindsey Vonn not a “hag,” logs 78th World Cup win in Val d’Isere!
= p. 14/Bobsled: Elana Meyers Taylor & Kehri Jones on the podium again in Innsbruck;
= p. 17: Curling: Hamilton siblings win U.S. Mixed Doubles Trials & head to Korea;
= p. 21/Handball: France’s women take World Championships title from Norway;
= p. 23/Luge: U.S. names Olympic team after best-of-season results in Lake Placid;
= p. 27/Snowboard: Chloe Kim, Jamie Anderson & Chris Corning secure Olympic berths!

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Smoking guns, beautiful people and Spandex: the life of biathlete Susan Dunklee

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. Biathlon Olympian and World Championships medalist Susan Dunklee

PALM DESERT, December 18, 2017 – “A policeman taps me on the shoulder and says he had a report of a ‘mad woman with a gun’ that he needed to investigate. … Luckily, he was very friendly and understanding.”

A typical day in the life of World Championships silver medalist Susan Dunklee of the U.S., preparing for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang. We asked her about what goes into being a biathlete and how her silver medal last year has changed her outlook … and that of others. After all, the U.S. has never won an Olympic biathlon medal …

Dunklee had lots to say and we outline her busy schedule upcoming next February in Korea in our Lane One commentary. Plus the results of a wild weekend of sports highlighted by the naming of new U.S. Olympians:

= p. 6/The Main Event: U.S. Short Track Trials with new stars John-Henry Krueger & Maame Biney!
= p. 9/Alpine Skiing: Lindsey Vonn not a “hag,” logs 78th World Cup win in Val d’Isere!
= p. 14/Bobsled: Elana Meyers Taylor & Kehri Jones on the podium again in Innsbruck;
= p. 17: Curling: Hamilton siblings win U.S. Mixed Doubles Trials & head to Korea;
= p. 21/Handball: France’s women take World Championships title from Norway;
= p. 23/Luge: U.S. names Olympic team after best-of-season results in Lake Placid;
= p. 27/Snowboard: Chloe Kim, Jamie Anderson & Chris Corning secure Olympic berths!

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Launching at last: The Sports Examiner goes to subscriptions

By
Rich Perelman
-

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IN THIS ISSUE: This is the 215th issue of The Sports Examiner and the one comment that we have most often received from readers is “This is great. You should charge for this!”

After months of planning, programming and software testing, our subscription program is now ready and The Sports Examiner Web site has been converted into a portal for subscriptions.

Find out about the subscription plans and how you can still access the current issues for free for about four weeks, after which time our issues will be for subscribers only.

Our pricing is modest and we have great plans for the future, which we’re eager to share with you. Get the details in our Lane One commentary, plus previews of the last full weekend of winter sport before the holiday break:

= p. 5/The Main Event: U.S. Olympic Trials in Short Track on at the Utah Olympic Oval;
= p. 7/Anti-Doping: Oswald Commission disqualifies 2014 Russian women’s hockey team!
= p. 13/Bobsled: Elana Meyers Taylor to drive four-man sled in Innsbruck;
= p. 23/Snowboard: World champ Lindsey Jacobellis takes charge of U.S. Olympic qualifying;
= p. 26/Handball: Women’s World Championship heads for semifinal round in Hamburg.

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Launching at last: The Sports Examiner goes to subscriptions

By
Rich Perelman
-

PALM DESERT, December 15, 2017 – This is the 215th issue of The Sports Examiner and the one comment that we have most often received from readers is “This is great. You should charge for this!”

After months of planning, programming and software testing, our subscription program is now ready and The Sports Examiner Web site has been converted into a portal for subscriptions.

Find out about the subscription plans and how you can still access the current issues for free for about four weeks, after which time our issues will be for subscribers only.

Our pricing is modest and we have great plans for the future, which we’re eager to share with you. Get the details in our Lane One commentary, plus previews of the last full weekend of winter sport before the holiday break:

= p. 5/The Main Event: U.S. Olympic Trials in Short Track on at the Utah Olympic Oval;
= p. 7/Anti-Doping: Oswald Commission disqualifies 2014 Russian women’s hockey team!
= p. 13/Bobsled: Elana Meyers Taylor to drive four-man sled in Innsbruck;
= p. 23/Snowboard: World champ Lindsey Jacobellis takes charge of U.S. Olympic qualifying;
= p. 26/Handball: Women’s World Championship heads for semifinal round in Hamburg.

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U.S. national federations graded on governance … and get a D

By
Rich Perelman
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IN THIS ISSUE: With scandals emerging left and right in international sport, good governance is becoming an increasingly critical issue.

The University of Colorado is establishing a new study center for sport governance and as part of that effort, constructed an “good governance” index for 22 of the 47 U.S. national federations … and the average grade was a “D.”

That’s hardly impressive, but a lot better than most of the international federations do! Get the details, methodology and scores – and one important group which seems to be paying attention to all this – in our Lane One commentary, plus a crazy weekend of bad weather, medal performances by the U.S. and four world records in speed skating in Salt Lake City:

= p. 9/Bobsled: U.S. women earn silver in miserable conditions at Winterberg World Cup;
= p. 10/Cross Country: Kikkan Randall back on the Sprint podium for the U.S. in Davos!
= p. 13/Figure Skating: Nathan Chen holds on for ISU Grand Prix Final win in Nagoya!
= p. 15/Freestyle Skiing: Sochi gold medalist David Wise back on top at Copper Mountain;
= p. 20/Snowboard: Chloe Kim leads 8-medal U.S. splurge in Toyota Grand Prix!

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U.S. national federations graded on governance … and get a D

By
Rich Perelman
-

PALM DESERT, December 11, 2017 — With scandals emerging left and right in international sport, good governance is becoming an increasingly critical issue.

The University of Colorado is establishing a new study center for sport governance and as part of that effort, constructed an “good governance” index for 22 of the 47 U.S. national federations … and the average grade was a “D.”

That’s hardly impressive, but a lot better than most of the international federations do! Get the details, methodology and scores – and one important group which seems to be paying attention to all this – in our Lane One commentary, plus a crazy weekend of bad weather, medal performances by the U.S. and four world records in speed skating in Salt Lake City:

= p. 9/Bobsled: U.S. women earn silver in miserable conditions at Winterberg World Cup;
= p. 10/Cross Country: Kikkan Randall back on the Sprint podium for the U.S. in Davos!
= p. 13/Figure Skating: Nathan Chen holds on for ISU Grand Prix Final win in Nagoya!
= p. 15/Freestyle Skiing: Sochi gold medalist David Wise back on top at Copper Mountain;
= p. 20/Snowboard: Chloe Kim leads 8-medal U.S. splurge in Toyota Grand Prix!

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