Horizontal Snow

Michelle Kwan

replaced by
Emily Hughes









Well, this storm's living up to the hype. If only the hype were a little less hysterical:

WaPo:
Got Milk? And Bread and Shovels?
Washington Region Braces For Biggest Snow in 3 Years

Boston Globe:
With snowstorm looming, residents take action
Many stocking up as winter of calm appears doomed

The snow blowing by my windows is completely horizontal. Of course, it's not like we're getting the snowstorm to end all snowstorms. I have a problem with the use of the word "doomed" in the Boston Globe article, sarcastic or not. A foot or a foot and a half of snow is not unusual. This happens in the winter. Last year we got 114 inches. I live in New England, for crying out loud. I expect it. I have shovels, scrapers, gloves, hats, boots, skis, snowshoes, and big fat down coats. I'm prepared.

So it's a good day to watch the winter Olympics. Too bad the coverage doesn't start until this afternoon. I'm spoiled by the wall-to-wall coverage of the World Cup.

Michelle Kwan had to withdraw with an injury. Who could have predicted that? She was too injured to compete in the trials, but she was given special treatment by the USOC. She was given a special tryout after the trials were over, and knocked Emily Hughes, who earned the third place on the squad at the trials, off the squad.

Injury Forces Kwan to Withdraw in Turin

Hyperbole, thy name is Peter Euberroth:

"Michelle Kwan means more to the United States Olympic Committee than maybe any athlete that's ever performed for the U.S. Olympic Committee," Ueberroth said. "She's been a leader, she's been gracious, she's somebody that cares for so many youngsters that are training in our country.

"She's a real loss to all of the United States Olympic Committee and to the United States of America, and I think to the world. She's made a courageous decision."

Really, Pete, more than Bonnie Blair, Mark Spitz, Wilma Rudolph, Eric Heiden, Carl Lewis, Jim Thorpe? Really a ridiculous statement. I'm sorry she wasn't able to get her gold medal, but most important athlete in Olympic history? Please.

I hope Emily Hughes was able to get a plane out of New York City before the snow shut down the airports.

Update: Coach Mom's take: "Michelle Kwan means more than Jesse Owens? More important than Babe Didrikson? Are you kidding me?"