Gaffes make wrong kind of memories
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Bode Miller made the kind of mistake that happens in skiing, especially for a risk-taker like him.
The gaffe made by Dutch speedskater Sven Kramer? Unbelievable.
Kramer went through the grueling 10,000-meter race in what would've been record time, but was disqualified for not switching lanes while coming out of a turn about two-thirds into the race.
Here's the craziest part: Kramer actually made the switch but his coach missed it. Thinking his star was about to make an epic mistake, the coach animatedly motioned for Kramer to switch lanes. Kramer seemed to pause before deciding to follow orders.
Of all the kooky, costly mistakes made in popular North American sports, it's hard to find anything that compares. Maybe if Vikings coach Bud Grant had been the one telling defensive end Jim Marshall what to do when he scooped up a fumble and ran to the wrong end zone — and if that had been in the Super Bowl.
That's how off-the-charts this was.
"I've seen it once or twice in my career," former speedskating champion Dan Jansen said on NBC, "but never with a top skater and certainly never in the Olympic Games."
All Miller did was lose control and fail to finish his first run down the giant slalom course
He missed his chance for a record fourth Alpine medal at a single Winter Games. But he notched what could be called a Bode Slam: a gold, a silver, a bronze and a DNF (did not finish).
Elsewhere around the Vancouver Olympics on Tuesday, Americans won silver in the Nordic combined, making it 26 medals at these games, breaking their record at a Winter Olympics not held in the United States. Germany is closing in on the lead, though, with 23 medals.
With a silver in the women's skicross race, Norway became the first country to reach 300 Winter Olympics medals. Norway became the first country to reach 100 golds last week.
Nasty weather moved back into the area Tuesday, especially in the mountains, which could mess with the schedule today. There's a good chance the women's giant slalom will be delayed.
Giant SlalomMiller almost crashed during the top half of his run, straightened out, then couldn't stay on line coming out of a gate in the second half."I'm taking more risk than everyone else," Miller told The Associated Press. "That's partly why I'm able to get medals. It looks easy when you make it. When you crash like today, it's like, 'Oh, huh?"'His final event is the slalom Saturday.Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway got bronze, joining Miller with three Alpine medals. American Ted Ligety finished ninth.The women's event is scheduled for today, but rain and snow is forecast. That will be Julia Mancuso's final event in Vancouver. Mancuso, who already has won two silver medals, said she won't be competing in the slalom.
Nordic CombinedJohnny Spillane became the first American to win a medal in this event, getting silver earlier in these games. Now he's got another — and sharing it with his friends.The team of Spillane, Todd Lodwick, Billy Demong and Brett Camerota was a narrow second in the team relay event, which combined jumping off the large hill, then a 4 x 5K relay.
Figure SkatingSouth Korea's Kim Yu-na came in a huge favorite to win the women's gold medal, then exceeded expectations.Kim set a world-best score in the short program, giving her a huge lead over her top rival, Japan's Mao Asada. Canada's Jeannie Rochette, who's mother died Sunday, is next."It was hard to handle, but I appreciate the support," she said.American Rachael Flatt and Mirai Nagasu are fifth and sixth. Nagasu was thrown out of whack when her nose started bleeding halfway through her routine.
BobsledMidway through the women's competition, the USA-2 sled of Erin Pac and Elana Myers is in second place. The Americans set a track record in their second run, only to have the Canada 1 crew lower it by four-hundredths of a second.Two other U.S. tandems are tied for sixth.
SkicrossWhat a way to break in a sport: Ashleigh McIvor, who grew up in nearby Whistler and is ranked second in the world, won the final handily."The IOC is really interested in keeping up with the next generation, and keeping the Olympics cool, and skicross is a great way to do that," she said.
CurlingA day after the U.S. men were eliminated, the women were, too, following a loss to China. They lost their finale to Switzerland to finish 2-7, worst in the tournament.
