Final Standings

The Fantasy Winter Olympics closed today with two of the greatest events we saw at Vancouver. Norwegian Petter Northug (Zach Chromiak/Nordique Combined) took the Men's 50k Mass Start with a furious closing sprint. It was his second gold and fourth medal of the Games.
Northug edged out German Axel Teichmann (Adam Claus/Ice Lugers) by just 0.3 seconds. John Olsson (Brian Schwartz/Nordique Combined) took the silver, only one second behind.

And of course, in the gold medal hockey game, Team USA (Dave Spence/Paragons) mounted an unlikely comeback to force overtime on Zach Parise's goal with 25 seconds remaining in the third period. But of course it was Sidney Crosby scoring the golden goal for Team Canada (Brian Schwartz/Nordique Combined) in overtime.
The gold moved Nordique Combined into second, but Cornballers had already clinched the title last night. I'll double check the final standings tomorrow, but here they are. Their manager Ellis Kunka can celebrate while the defeated teams start working on their 2014 draft strategies.

FINAL FANTASY WINTER OLYMPIC STANDINGS

1. Ellis Kunka, Cornballlers
280.1 PointsAlpine Skiing 42.5 (2G, 3S, 3B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Curling 25 (1G)
Figure Skating 31.3 (1G, 1B)
Freestyle Skiing 8.4 (1S, 2B)
Ice Hockey 25 (2B)
Luge 25 (1G, 1S)
Nordic Combined 16.7 (1G)
Short Track Speed Skating 50 (4G)
Ski Jumping 16.6 (2S)
Speed Skating 35.4 (3G, 1S, 3B)

2. Brian Schwartz, Nordique Combined
257.1 PointsBiathlon 10 (2S)
Cross-Country Skiing 37.5 (3G, 2S, 2B)
Curling 6.3 (1B)
Figure Skating 25 (1G)
Freestyle Skiing 16.7 (1G, 1S, 2B)
Ice Hockey 100 (2G)
Luge 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Skeleton 12.5 (1S)

3. Brittany B., Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches
233.5 PointsAlpine Skiing 20 (1G, 1S, 2B)
Biathlon 17.5 (1G, 1S, 1B)
Bobsleigh 20.9 (1G, 1B)
Cross Country Skiing 14.6 (1G, 1S, 1B)
Curling 12.5 (1S)
Figure Skating 6.3 (1B)
Freestyle Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Nordic Combined 41.6 (1G, 3S)
Short Track Speed Skating 25 (2S, 4B)
Ski Jumping 25.1 (1G, 2B)
Snowboarding 12.5 (1S, 1B)
Speed Skating 33.3 (3G, 2S)

4. John Binz, Da Nang Dynamos
212.8 PointsAlpine Skiing 22.5 (1G, 2S, 1B)
Biathlon 40 (3G, 2S)
Cross-Country Skiing 16.7 (1G, 1S, 2B)
Curling 6.3 (1B)
Figure Skating 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 12.5 (1G, 1S)
Short Track Speed Skating 56.4 (2G, 4S, 2B)
Speed Skating 20.9 (1G, 3S)

5. Tim Lavoie, Fightin' Ovechkins
208.2 PointsAlpine Skiing 10 (1G)
Bobsleigh 29.2 (1G, 1S, 1B)
Cross Country Skiing 4.2 (2B)
Figure Skating 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 6.3 (1S, 1B)
Skeleton 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Ski Jumping 33.4 (2G)
Snowboarding 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Speed Skating 18.7 (2G, 1B)

6. Zach Chromiak, Banker's Club
205.7 PointsBiathlon 27.5 (1G, 2S, 3B)
Bobsleigh 33.3 (1G, 1B, 1S)
Cross Country Skiing 54.1 (5G, 2S, 2B)
Figure Skating 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Luge 4.2 (1B)
Nordic Combined 20.9 (1G, 1B)
Short Track Speed Skating 3.1 (1B)
Ski Jumping 8.3 (1S)
Snowboarding 16.7 (1G)
Speed Skating 18.8 (1G, 2S, 1B)

7. Dave Spence, Paragons
204.6 PointsAlpine Skiing 10 (2S)
Biathlon 10 (1G)
Bobsleigh 4.2 (1B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Figure Skating 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Ice Hockey 50 (2S)
Luge 8.3 (1S)
Nordic Combined 4.2 (1B)
Short Track Speed Skating 40.7 (2G, 2S, 1B)
Skeleton 25 (1G)
Snowboarding 4.2 (1B)
Speed Skating 25 (2G, 1S, 2B)

8. Adam Claus, Ice Lugers
143.5 PointsAlpine Skiing 5 (2B)
Biathlon 30 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Cross-Country Skiing 25.1 (1G, 4S)
Curling 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 20.8 (2G, 1S)
Ski Jumping 4.2 (1B)
Snowboarding 16.7 (1S, 2B)
Speed Skating 4.2 (1S)

9. Joy Sadaly, Olympic Ring Worm Wood Stock Market District Attorney
131.3 PointsAlpine Skiing 22.5 (2G, 1B)
Biathlon 27.5 (2G, 1S, 1B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (2B)
Freestyle Skiing 8.3 (1G)
Skeleton 25 (1G)
Snowboarding 41.7 (2G, 1S)
Speed Skating 2.1 (1B)

Ellis Kunka Clinches Championship

Cornballers clinched the Fantasy Winter Olympics when Team Finland defeated Slovakia 5-3 in the bronze medal hockey game. What a great run for the team that has led for the past week. And an amazing managing job by Ellis Kunka.
Just as I have admitted that Derek Jeter is a Hall of Famer, so too must I admit that Ellis Kunka is the best Fantasy Olympic manager.

Nordique Combined manager Brian Schwartz - the only team remaining in contention - texted Cornballers with a conciliatory message just minutes ago. "Congratulations on winning the Fantasy Olympics. I couldn't have lost to a better man," he wrote.

"Thank you," replied Kunka. "The party will be extraordinary."

I really don't think that Chase Utley attended the 2009 Yankees' World Series celebration. Of course, as a multimillionaire, Chase Utley had less of an interest in drinking for free.

Ellis Kunka's team had an amazing run. Critics be damned, he is a great champion. I hope the champagne tastes good.

Standings Update

Pending the result of the Slovakia-Finland bronze medal game which Slovakia leads 3-1, here are the standings. Brittany B.'s team made a huge charge into second today but is mathematically eliminated from contention.

STANDINGS THROUGH SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27

1. Ellis Kunka, Cornballlers
267.6 PointsAlpine Skiing 42.5 (2G, 3S, 3B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Curling 25 (1G)
Figure Skating 31.3 (1G, 1B)
Freestyle Skiing 8.4 (1S, 2B)
Ice Hockey 12.5 (1B)
Luge 25 (1G, 1S)
Nordic Combined 16.7 (1G)
Short Track Speed Skating 50 (4G)
Ski Jumping 16.6 (2S)
Speed Skating 35.4 (3G, 1S, 3B)

2. Brittany B., Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches
233.5 PointsAlpine Skiing 20 (1G, 1S, 2B)
Biathlon 17.5 (1G, 1S, 1B)
Bobsleigh 20.9 (1G, 1B)
Cross Country Skiing 14.6 (1G, 1S, 1B)
Curling 12.5 (1S)
Figure Skating 6.3 (1B)
Freestyle Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Nordic Combined 41.6 (1G, 3S)
Short Track Speed Skating 25 (2S, 4B)
Ski Jumping 25.1 (1G, 2B)
Snowboarding 12.5 (1S, 1B)
Speed Skating 33.3 (3G, 2S)

3. John Binz, Da Nang Dynamos
212.8 PointsAlpine Skiing 22.5 (1G, 2S, 1B)
Biathlon 40 (3G, 2S)
Cross-Country Skiing 16.7 (1G, 1S, 2B)
Curling 6.3 (1B)
Figure Skating 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 12.5 (1G, 1S)
Short Track Speed Skating 56.4 (2G, 4S, 2B)
Speed Skating 20.9 (1G, 3S)

4. Tim Lavoie, Fightin' Ovechkins
208.2 PointsAlpine Skiing 10 (1G)
Bobsleigh 29.2 (1G, 1S, 1B)
Cross Country Skiing 4.2 (2B)
Figure Skating 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 6.3 (1S, 1B)
Skeleton 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Ski Jumping 33.4 (2G)
Snowboarding 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Speed Skating 18.7 (2G, 1B)

5. Brian Schwartz, Nordique Combined
205 PointsBiathlon 10 (2S)
Cross-Country Skiing 35.4 (3G, 2S, 1B)
Curling 6.3 (1B)
Figure Skating 25 (1G)
Freestyle Skiing 16.7 (1G, 1S, 2B)
Ice Hockey 50 (1G)
Luge 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Skeleton 12.5 (1S)

6. Zach Chromiak, Banker's Club
197.4 PointsBiathlon 27.5 (1G, 2S, 3B)
Bobsleigh 33.3 (1G, 1B, 1S)
Cross Country Skiing 45.8 (4G, 2S, 2B)
Figure Skating 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Luge 4.2 (1B)
Nordic Combined 20.9 (1G, 1B)
Short Track Speed Skating 3.1 (1B)
Ski Jumping 8.3 (1S)
Snowboarding 16.7 (1G)
Speed Skating 18.8 (1G, 2S, 1B)

7. Dave Spence, Paragons
179.6 PointsAlpine Skiing 10 (2S)
Biathlon 10 (1G)
Bobsleigh 4.2 (1B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Figure Skating 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Ice Hockey 25 (1S)
Luge 8.3 (1S)
Nordic Combined 4.2 (1B)
Short Track Speed Skating 40.7 (2G, 2S, 1B)
Skeleton 25 (1G)
Snowboarding 4.2 (1B)
Speed Skating 25 (2G, 1S, 2B)

8. Adam Claus, Ice Lugers
139.3 PointsAlpine Skiing 5 (2B)
Biathlon 30 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Cross-Country Skiing 20.9 (1G, 3S)
Curling 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 20.8 (2G, 1S)
Ski Jumping 4.2 (1B)
Snowboarding 16.7 (1S, 2B)
Speed Skating 4.2 (1S)

9. Joy Sadaly, Olympic Ring Worm Wood Stock Market District Attorney
131.3 PointsAlpine Skiing 22.5 (2G, 1B)
Biathlon 27.5 (2G, 1S, 1B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (2B)
Freestyle Skiing 8.3 (1G)
Skeleton 25 (1G)
Snowboarding 41.7 (2G, 1S)
Speed Skating 2.1 (1B)

Nordique Combined Needs A Miracle

Without going into too much detail on the results, since not everything has been shown on NBC, it is looking to all but the most ardent Nordique Combined fans that a Cornballers victory is imminent.

For Nordique Combined to win, they need Slovakia to win the bronze medal hockey game, Sweden to sweep all the medals in tomorrow's 50k Mass Start, and Canada to win the gold medal hockey game tomorrow. Otherwise Cornballers will win the competition.

I have the utmost admiration for the Swedish cross country skiers. If I were the best in the world at skiing 50 kilometers, I still don't think I would register to actually do it. However, I don't think they're going to sweep tomorrow's medals.
Apparently the difference in the Fantasy Winter Olympics is that while Cornballers manager Ellis Kunka made good picks throughout, Nordique Combined manager Brian Schwartz got a lot of points from a few of his top teams. That and cloud seeding.

We will continue to report on developments, including: the Slovakia score, and any conciliatory text messages.

Cornballers Extend Lead

Cornballers extended their lead with a bronze medal for the Netherlands in the men's speed skating relay.

Although the medal was only worth 2.1 points, they now lead by 62.6 points. Cornballers missed out on a 6.3 point men's curling medal earlier today as the Sweden men lost the bronze medal game.

Second place Nordique Combined, the only other team in contention, can take a maximum of 64.6 points Sunday. So Cornballers will clinch the Fantasy Winter Olympics if they lead by more than that amount at the end of the day today. A Finland win in tonight's bronze medal hockey game would be enough.

Nordique Combined's best chance at any more points today appears to be the Swiss four-man bobsled team, which is currently in sixth. They missed a big opportunity when Swedish skier Charlotte Kalla failed to medal in the 30k mass start.

Overall this thing is 99% clinched for Cornballers. Of course it would be 100% clinched if not for Sven Kramer's famous loss in the 10,000.

Only Two Contenders Remain

With gold medals from Sweden women's curling and Chinese short track skater Wang Mung tonight, Cornballers probably did just enough to take the Fantasy Winter Olympics crown.

It was a horrendous collapse for Adam Claus's first round pick, Canada curling. Ice Lugers was going to be a bottom three team no matter what, but they looked like they would take the gold medal with the last shot, already leading in the tenth end. Instead, Cornballers ended up with an extra end victory and the 25 point medal from their tenth round pick.

I am not scared of many people but I must admit I am scared of every women's curling player for various reasons.
Nordique Combined (Brian Schwartz) is in second, 60 points behind, and took only 11.3 points today. They still are in the race by virtue of the fact that they could get 50 more points if Canada wins Sunday's gold medal hockey game. They need a good day tomorrow to keep things interesting. If they enter Sunday less than 50 points behind though, their chances look good as Canada will clearly be favored.

Barring an unbelievable turn of events, all the other teams are now eliminated. Da Nang Dynamos didn't get enough short track medals to mount a threat, while Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches were eliminated when Slovakia's furious comeback against Canada hockey ended in a 3-2 loss. Fightin' Ovechkins and Banker's Club both were shut out Friday and are now too far behind to beat out Cornballers.

STANDINGS THROUGH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26

1. Ellis Kunka, Cornballlers
265.5 PointsAlpine Skiing 42.5 (2G, 3S, 3B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Curling 25 (1G)
Figure Skating 31.3 (1G, 1B)
Freestyle Skiing 8.4 (1S, 2B)
Ice Hockey 12.5 (1B)
Luge 25 (1G, 1S)
Nordic Combined 16.7 (1G)
Short Track Speed Skating 50 (4G)
Ski Jumping 16.6 (2S)
Speed Skating 33.3 (3G, 1S, 2B)

2. Brian Schwartz, Nordique Combined
205 PointsBiathlon 10 (2S)
Cross-Country Skiing 35.4 (3G, 2S, 1B)
Curling 6.3 (1B)
Figure Skating 25 (1G)
Freestyle Skiing 16.7 (1G, 1S, 2B)
Ice Hockey 50 (1G)
Luge 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Skeleton 12.5 (1S)

3. John Binz, Da Nang Dynamos
198.2 PointsAlpine Skiing 22.5 (1G, 2S, 1B)
Biathlon 40 (3G, 2S)
Cross-Country Skiing 16.7 (1G, 1S, 2B)
Figure Skating 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 12.5 (1G, 1S)
Short Track Speed Skating 56.4 (2G, 4S, 2B)
Speed Skating 12.6 (3S)

4. Tim Lavoie, Fightin' Ovechkins
191.9 PointsBobsleigh 25 (1G, 1S)
Cross Country Skiing 2.1 (1B)
Figure Skating 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 6.3 (1S, 1B)
Skeleton 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Ski Jumping 33.4 (2G)
Snowboarding 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Speed Skating 18.7 (2G, 1B)

5. Brittany B., Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches
187.7 PointsAlpine Skiing 20 (1G, 1S, 2B)
Biathlon 17.5 (1G, 1S, 1B)
Bobsleigh 4.2 (1B)
Cross Country Skiing 6.3 (1S, 1B)
Figure Skating 6.3 (1B)
Freestyle Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Nordic Combined 41.6 (1G, 3S)
Short Track Speed Skating 25 (2S, 4B)
Ski Jumping 25.1 (1G, 2B)
Snowboarding 4.2 (1B)
Speed Skating 33.3 (3G, 2S)

6. Zach Chromiak, Banker's Club
180.7 PointsBiathlon 27.5 (1G, 2S, 3B)
Bobsleigh 25 (1G, 1S)
Cross Country Skiing 41.6 (4G, 1S, 2B)
Figure Skating 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Luge 4.2 (1B)
Nordic Combined 20.9 (1G, 1B)
Short Track Speed Skating 3.1 (1B)
Ski Jumping 8.3 (1S)
Snowboarding 16.7 (1G)
Speed Skating 14.6 (1G, 1S, 1B)

7. Dave Spence, Paragons
166.3 PointsAlpine Skiing 5 (1S)
Biathlon 10 (1G)
Bobsleigh 4.2 (1B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Figure Skating 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Ice Hockey 25 (1S)
Luge 8.3 (1S)
Nordic Combined 4.2 (1B)
Short Track Speed Skating 40.7 (2G, 2S, 1B)
Skeleton 25 (1G)
Snowboarding 4.2 (1B)
Speed Skating 16.7 (1G, 1S, 2B)

8. Joy Sadaly, Olympic Ring Worm Wood Stock Market District Attorney
114.6 PointsAlpine Skiing 22.5 (2G, 1B)
Biathlon 27.5 (2G, 1S, 1B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (2B)
Freestyle Skiing 8.3 (1G)
Skeleton 25 (1G)
Snowboarding 25 (1G, 1S)
Speed Skating 2.1 (1B)

9. Adam Claus, Ice Lugers
107.6 PointsAlpine Skiing 2.5 (1B)
Biathlon 30 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Cross-Country Skiing 20.9 (1G, 3S)
Curling 12.5 (1S)
Freestyle Skiing 20.8 (2G, 1S)
Ski Jumping 4.2 (1B)
Snowboarding 12.5 (1S, 1B)
Speed Skating 4.2 (1S)

Binz's Last Stand Tonight In Short Track

Da Nang Dynamos, a top three team throughout the Games, needs an amazing night from Korea short track speed skating to come back to relevance. Dynamos manager John Binz has tried to seem nonchalant, eating pizza and watching hockey this afternoon. But the pressure is clearly getting to him, as he has made reference to working on a memo instead of watching the Olympics.

There are three short track events tonight, with each gold worth 12.5 points. The Dynamos need all three golds and probably a couple other medals as well.

Psragons (Dave Spence) need these medals just as much. They have played terribly and trail by 90 points, but a big night from Canada speed skating could get them close enough to win with a 50 point men's hickey gold. But ominously, the league leading Cornballers have a chance to spoil everything with their China short track team favored in the women's 1000.

The men's 5000 meter relay is the most likely gold for Da Nang Dynamos. Korea's relay team qualified first and won gold at the 2006 Olympics and the 2007 and 2008 World Championships. Canada qualified second and is the only team with much of a chance to beat them. China and the USA (Brittany B./Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches) should battle for the bronze. France (undrafted) is also in the final but won't win unless all four other teams fall or get disqualified.

The Men's 500 should split its medals between Canada and China. Canadians Charles Hamelin and Francois-Louis Tremblay are my picks for gold and silver. South Koreans Ho-Suk Lee and Si-Bak Sung should be in the final too and also could win it, though I'm just picking Lee for bronze. American Apolo Ohno will be in the mix too and will take full advantage if any of the favorites make a mistake. Ohno, surprisingly, leads all Olympic athletes of any gender in topless Google Image Search results.
The Women's 1000 is the event that I think will end the hopes of the Dynamos and Paragons. Wang Meng of China is my pick to take what would be a huge gold for the league leading Cornballers. Another Chinese skater, Zhao Yang, is my pick for silver. Ha-Ri Cho and Park Seung-Hi are good skaters for Korea, but I think the USA's Katherine Reutter, my pick for bronze, is the only other skater in the same league as the Chinese.

Cornballers Routed By USA Hockey

Cornballers, traditionally considered the Yankees of Fantasy Winter Olympics, are looking a lot more like the Mets. Cornballers manager Ellis Kunka failed to take even the smallest step to prepare his Finland hockey team for a game that could have locked up the Fantasy Olympic title. Was today's 6-1 USA win the start of an epic Cornballers collapse?

Canada Hockey has played exceptionally well since Nordique Combined manager Brian Schwartz reportedly skipped Evidence to coach the team in Vancouver. Faced with the same decision, an overconfident Ellis Kunka attended Evidence - a decision which directly led to six first period goals today by Team USA (Dave Spence/Paragons).
Cornballers still lead Nordique Combined by 33.3 points, but Nordique Combined could more than make up that difference if Canada takes the men's hockey gold medal.

Even if Canada gets upset by Slovakia tonight, Cornballers are not out of the woods. Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches trail by 59 points but could make up most of that difference with a Slovakia gold medal. Bitches manager Brittany B. skipped Cyberspace and the Law yesterday to plan her defensive pairings in hopes of stopping Canada's offense in tonight's game.

Overall, today's game was just a devastating loss by a team whose manager apparently thinks the Fantasy Olympics ended Wednesday.

Cornballers Hold On To Standings Lead

Cornballers (Ellis Kunka) continued to lead the standings, taking 21 points Thursday, but there was a major shakeup below them.

Nordique Combined (Brian Schwartz) moved into second with the biggest day of the Games for any team so far, winning 79.2 points last night. As was speculated on this site last night, Canada took the 50 point gold in women's hockey and South Korea won 25 with the figure skating gold. A silver from USA Freestyle Skiing completed the comeback. With Canada men's hockey still alive, they're now only 33 points behind Cornballers.

Our former second place team, Fightin' Ovechkins (Tim Lavoie), got just a cross country bronze and moved down to third. Da Nang Dynamos (John Binz), a top team throughout the past two weeks, was totally shut out and moved down to fifth. Banker's Club (Zach Chromiak) remained in fourth by taking gold with Norway's cross country relay and silver with Japan figure skating.

Also winning gold was Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches (Brittany B.) who took a surprising gold/silver combo with USA Nordic Combined.

STANDINGS THROUGH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25

1. Ellis Kunka, Cornballlers
228 PointsAlpine Skiing 42.5 (2G, 3S, 3B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Figure Skating 31.3 (1G, 1B)
Freestyle Skiing 8.4 (1S, 2B)
Ice Hockey 12.5 (1B)
Luge 25 (1G, 1S)
Nordic Combined 16.7 (1G)
Short Track Speed Skating 37.5 (3G)
Ski Jumping 16.6 (2S)
Speed Skating 33.3 (3G, 1S, 2B)

2. Brian Schwartz, Nordique Combined
194.7 PointsBiathlon 5 (1S)
Cross-Country Skiing 35.4 (3G, 2S, 1B)
Figure Skating 25 (1G)
Freestyle Skiing 16.7 (1G, 1S, 2B)
Ice Hockey 50 (1G)
Luge 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Skeleton 12.5 (1S)

3. Tim Lavoie, Fightin' Ovechkins
191.9 PointsBobsleigh 25 (1G, 1S)
Cross Country Skiing 2.1 (1B)
Figure Skating 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 6.3 (1S, 1B)
Skeleton 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Ski Jumping 33.4 (2G)
Snowboarding 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Speed Skating 18.7 (2G, 1B)

4. Zach Chromiak, Banker's Club
180.7 PointsBiathlon 27.5 (1G, 2S, 3B)
Bobsleigh 25 (1G, 1S)
Cross Country Skiing 41.6 (4G, 1S, 2B)
Figure Skating 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Luge 4.2 (1B)
Nordic Combined 20.9 (1G, 1B)
Short Track Speed Skating 3.1 (1B)
Ski Jumping 8.3 (1S)
Snowboarding 16.7 (1G)
Speed Skating 14.6 (1G, 1S, 1B)

5. John Binz, Da Nang Dynamos
172.5 PointsAlpine Skiing 22.5 (1G, 2S, 1B)
Biathlon 30 (2G, 2S)
Cross-Country Skiing 16.7 (1G, 1S, 2B)
Figure Skating 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 12.5 (1G, 1S)
Short Track Speed Skating 40.7 (2G, 2S, 1B)
Speed Skating 12.6 (3S)

6. Brittany B., Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches
168.8 PointsAlpine Skiing 14.6 (1G, 2B)
Biathlon 17.5 (1G, 1S, 1B)
Bobsleigh 4.2 (1B)
Cross Country Skiing 6.3 (1S, 1B)
Figure Skating 6.3 (1B)
Freestyle Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Nordic Combined 41.6 (1G, 3S)
Short Track Speed Skating 15.7 (1S, 3B)
Ski Jumping 25.1 (1G, 2B)
Speed Skating 33.3 (3G, 2S)

7. Dave Spence, Paragons
138.2 PointsAlpine Skiing 5 (1S)
Biathlon 10 (1G)
Bobsleigh 4.2 (1B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Figure Skating 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Ice Hockey 25 (1S)
Luge 8.3 (1S)
Nordic Combined 4.2 (1B)
Short Track Speed Skating 12.6 (2S)
Skeleton 25 (1G)
Snowboarding 4.2 (1B)
Speed Skating 16.7 (1G, 1S, 2B)

8. Joy Sadaly, Olympic Ring Worm Wood Stock Market District Attorney
112.1 PointsAlpine Skiing 22.5 (2G, 1B)
Biathlon 25 (2G, 1S)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (2B)
Freestyle Skiing 8.3 (1G)
Skeleton 25 (1G)
Snowboarding 25 (1G, 1S)
Speed Skating 2.1 (1B)

9. Adam Claus, Ice Lugers
95.1 PointsAlpine Skiing 2.5 (1B)
Biathlon 30 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Cross-Country Skiing 20.9 (1G, 3S)
Freestyle Skiing 20.8 (2G, 1S)
Ski Jumping 4.2 (1B)
Snowboarding 12.5 (1S, 1B)
Speed Skating 4.2 (1S)

Possible Nordique Combined Comeback?

Brian Schwartz's Nordique Combined team, which has fallen far back of the leaders, needs a big night to get back into contention. Golds from Canada women's hockey and South Korean figure skating could provide the team 75 points, and medals from USA freestyle skiing would help. Otherwise Schwartz's squad is finished.

11 AM & 3:30 PM PST - Ice Hockey
Ice hockey was covered in our medal round preview. Both women's games are important today, as the bronze medal game features our first and third place fantasy teams. Ellis Kunka, managing Cornballers (Finland) takes on John Binz's Da Nang Dynamos (Sweden). The gold medal game shapes up as a virtual elimination match between Brian Schwartz's Nordique Combined (Canada) and Paragons, managed by Dave Spence (USA). Both teams trail by nearly 100 points and need double gold in hockey to win the Fantasy Olympics.

5 PM PST - Figure Skating
The final figure skating medal is the women's individual, worth 25 points for gold. Ranking first after the short program is the favorite Yu-Na Kim (Brian Schwartz/Nordique Combined). Kim, the favorite going in and clearly the best skater during the free skate, leads by almost five points and will win gold unless she falls. She won't.

Japanese skater Mao Asada (Zach Chromiak/Banker's Club) had a very good short program and is in second, 2.5 points ahrad of the Canadian Joannie Rochette (Ellis Kunka/Cornballers). As I'm sure you know, Rochette's mother died yesterday and is on home ice, both advantages in the judging. Luckily I will not be watching so I don't have to hear NBC announcers imply that winning the bronze medal somewhat offsets her mother's death by saying that it doesn't.

Japan's Miki Ando is in fourth and the USA's Rachael Flatt and Mirai Nagasu (Tim Lavoie/Fightin' Ovechkins) are in fifth and sixth. As always, nobody below that has a chance to pick up a medal.

6 PM PST - Freestyle Skiing
Freestyle skiing wraps up with the Men's Aerials. The only countries represented in the final are China, Canada, the USA, Switzerland and Belarus. The field is wide open after Belarus's Anton Kushnir (undrafted), aerials champion in four of six World Cups this year, fell in qualifying and did not advance.

My pick to win is Canada's Steve Omischl (Adam Claus/Ice Lugers). He took silver in the 2009 World Championships and has 40 top three finishes in his career. Take the home team in a judged sport.
Canadian Kyle Nissen is my choice for silver. He has only won two World Cup aerial golds in his career but is always near the top. Guangpu Qi of China (Ellis Kunka/Cornballers) has three World Cup silvers this year in aerials and is my pick for bronze.

The U.S. (Brian Schwartz/Nordique Combined) has a couple of veteran athletes, Ryan St. Onge and Jeret Speedy Peterson, but I don't expect either to medal.

Thursday Fantasy Skiing Picks

9:30 AM PST - Alpine SkiingThe ladies' Giant Slalom finishes up after postponing their second run yesterday due to fog. Austria (Brittany B./Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches) has three of the top four skiers after the first run including first place Elisabeth Goergl. Tania Barioz of France (Zach Chromiak/Banker's Club) is in second only .02 seconds behind.
Undrafted Tina Maze of Slovenia is in fifth while two German skiers, also undrafted, are in sixth and seventh. Americans Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso (Ellis Kunka/Cornballers) are out of the running.

10 AM & 1 PM PST - Nordic CombinedNordic Combined finishes today with the Large Hill ski jump/10k cross country race. My pick to win the 16.7 point gold medal is Magnus Moan of Norway (Brian Schwartz/Nordique Combined), the strongest skier in the field. If he gets a decent jump he should be close enough to chase down whoever starts ahead of him in the 10k.

Jason Lamy Chappuis, born in Missoula, Montana, is competing for France (Ellis Kunka/Cornballers) and won the normal hill/10k event. He's my pick for silver. The USA's Bill Demong (Brittany B./Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches) of Saranac Lake, New York, is the defending World Cup champion and my choice for bronze.

11 AM PST - Cross Country SkiingLed by the top women's skier in the world, Marit Bjoergen, Norway (Zach Chromiak/Banker's Club) is a heavy favorite to win the Women's 4x5k relay.

The Germans (Adam Claus/Ice Lugers) won the team sprint and with a relay led by Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle and Claudia Nystad are my choice for silver. Russia (John Binz/Da Nang Dynamos) has two good skiers in Irina Khazova and Natalie Korosteleva and is my pick for bronze.

Finland (Tim Lavoie/Fightin' Ovechkins) was the favorite in this event going into the Games but hasn't won any medals yet in the individual events. Sweden (Brian Schwartz/Nordique Combined) is traditionally good in this relay too but I don't think they have enough strong siers behind Charlotte Kalla.

Curling Medal Rounds Start Today

While it has been overshadowed by the hockey tournament, curling nevertheless has two 25 point gold medals at stake. Our first place team, Cornballers, made both the men's and women's medal rounds with Team Sweden and hopes to add to their Fantasy Olympic lead. #3 Da Nang Dynamos are also alive in both rounds and need a couple of big wins by Switzerland to move up.

9 AM & 2 PM PST - CurlingOn the women's side the top four teams in the world all moved on to the semifinals. The first semifinal at 9 a.m. local time matches China (Brian Schwartz/Nordique Combined), 6-3 in the Games and ranked fourth in the world, with world #2 Sweden (Ellis Kunka/Cornballers), 7-2 in the Games. China lost 6-4 in their first match with Sweden, but has a higher composit score because of Sweden's 10-1 blowout loss to Russia. While Sweden is a traditional power, China has only recently become a major world team but is technically sound. China was the silver medal favorite going in and is a slight favorite in the semifinal.

The other semifinal on paper is more of a mismatch. World #1 Canada (Adam Claus/Ice Lugers) went 8-1 with their only loss to China, while world #3 Switzerland (John Binz/Da Nang Dynamos) went 6-3 including a 5-4 loss to Canada. Anything less than gold would be a major disappointment for the home team, and they should get past Switzerland again. Especially considering they have the hot chick who's mad all the time.
The men's finals start at 2 p.m. with world #1 Canada taking on world #8 Sweden. Canada went 9-0 in the round robin including an easy 7-3 win over Sweden. Sweden went 5-4 but got a huge upset of world #2 Great Britain to move on to the medal rounds. Canada is obviously a heavy favorite and has clearly been the best team so far with six easy wins among their nine matches.

In the other semifinal, world #3 Norway (Brittany B./Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches) plays world #5 Switzerland. Norway (7-2) won the teams' first matchup 7-4 but Switzerland (6-3) played well including a 7-3 win over Sweden a couple of days ago. Norway is a slight favorite.

Lavoie Narrows Standings Gap

Tim Lavoie got both the gold and silver from his Canadian women's bobsled team, and a gold in the women's 5000 from the Czech skater Martina Sablikova. The 33 point day moved his Fightin' Ovechkins into second place - but it may have been a Pyrrhic victory as his Russian hockey team was eliminated from medal contention. He'll need some help to move up to first, but the bobsled wins were the first step.
Continuing his penchant for controversy, Ellis Kunka got a disputed short track gold from the Chinese team in the women's short track relay. Korea appeared to have secured the gold for John Binz's Da Nang Dynamos but was disqualified for pushing, giving the 12.5 point gold to Cornballers. Replays showed that the push was a response to contact initiated by the Chinese. Cornballers' Chinese freestyle skiing team also took silver and bronze in the women's aerials. Ellis Kunka also advanced his Finnish hockey team to the semifinals and is the clear favorite to win.

Da Nang Dynamos was really hurt by the short track disqualification, which caused an 18.8 point swing between them and the league leading Cornballers. They did get a gold from Lydia Lassila, the Australian freestyle skier.
Banker's Club had a rough day, getting just a silver from Norway's cross country relay team. They failed to get expected medals from German bobsleigh and Zach Chromiak's squad was eliminated from contention in men's curling (Britain) and men's hockey (Switzerland). That could spell the end for Banker's Club, which will need everything to go right to have a shot at first.

Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches got only two bronzes today and at press time was hoping for an unlikely Slovak hockey gold to remain in contention. Along the same lines, Nordique Combined got a gold from Sweden's cross country relay and still is alive for both hockey medals, but is now so far behind that they could finish out of first even with 100 points. Paragons, who won a silver and bronze today, likewise need 100 points in hockey to have a chance and have both USA teams alive for gold.

STANDINGS THROUGH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24

1. Ellis Kunka, Cornballlers
207.1 PointsAlpine Skiing 42.5 (2G, 3S, 3B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Figure Skating 25 (1G)
Freestyle Skiing 6.3 (1S, 1B)
Luge 25 (1G, 1S)
Nordic Combined 16.7 (1G)
Short Track Speed Skating 37.5 (3G)
Ski Jumping 16.6 (2S)
Speed Skating 33.3 (3G, 1S, 2B)

2. Tim Lavoie, Fightin' Ovechkins
189.8 PointsBobsleigh 25 (1G, 1S)
Figure Skating 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 6.3 (1S, 1B)
Skeleton 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Ski Jumping 33.4 (2G)
Snowboarding 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Speed Skating 18.7 (2G, 1B)

3. John Binz, Da Nang Dynamos
172.5 PointsAlpine Skiing 22.5 (1G, 2S, 1B)
Biathlon 30 (2G, 2S)
Cross-Country Skiing 16.7 (1G, 1S, 2B)
Figure Skating 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 12.5 (1G, 1S)
Short Track Speed Skating 40.7 (2G, 2S, 1B)
Speed Skating 12.6 (3S)

4. Zach Chromiak, Banker's Club
155.7 PointsBiathlon 27.5 (1G, 2S, 3B)
Bobsleigh 25 (1G, 1S)
Cross Country Skiing 33.3 (3G, 1S, 2B)
Figure Skating 6.3 (1B)
Luge 4.2 (1B)
Nordic Combined 16.7 (1G)
Short Track Speed Skating 3.1 (1B)
Ski Jumping 8.3 (1S)
Snowboarding 16.7 (1G)
Speed Skating 14.6 (1G, 1S, 1B)

5. Brittany B., Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches
141.7 PointsAlpine Skiing 12.5 (1G, 1B)
Biathlon 17.5 (1G, 1S, 1B)
Bobsleigh 4.2 (1B)
Cross Country Skiing 6.3 (1S, 1B)
Figure Skating 6.3 (1B)
Freestyle Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Nordic Combined 16.6 (2S)
Short Track Speed Skating 15.7 (1S, 3B)
Ski Jumping 25.1 (1G, 2B)
Speed Skating 33.3 (3G, 2S)

6. Brian Schwartz, Nordique Combined
115.5 PointsBiathlon 5 (1S)
Cross-Country Skiing 35.4 (3G, 2S, 1B)
Freestyle Skiing 12.5 (1G, 2B)
Luge 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Skeleton 12.5 (1S)

7. Dave Spence, Paragons
113.2 PointsAlpine Skiing 5 (1S)
Biathlon 10 (1G)
Bobsleigh 4.2 (1B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Figure Skating 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Luge 8.3 (1S)
Nordic Combined 4.2 (1B)
Short Track Speed Skating 12.6 (2S)
Skeleton 25 (1G)
Snowboarding 4.2 (1B)
Speed Skating 16.7 (1G, 1S, 2B)

8. Joy Sadaly, Olympic Ring Worm Wood Stock Market District Attorney
112.1 PointsAlpine Skiing 22.5 (2G, 1B)
Biathlon 25 (2G, 1S)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (2B)
Freestyle Skiing 8.3 (1G)
Skeleton 25 (1G)
Snowboarding 25 (1G, 1S)
Speed Skating 2.1 (1B)

9. Adam Claus, Ice Lugers
90.9 PointsAlpine Skiing 2.5 (1B)
Biathlon 30 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Cross-Country Skiing 16.7 (1G, 2S)
Freestyle Skiing 20.8 (2G, 1S)
Ski Jumping 4.2 (1B)
Snowboarding 12.5 (1S, 1B)
Speed Skating 4.2 (1S)

Cornballers Favored For 2 Golds Tonight

6:15 PM PST - BobsleighCanada (Tim Lavoie/Fightin' Ovechkins) has the top team after two rounds in the two-woman bobsleigh, with the remaining heats at 5 and 6:15 p.m. local time. Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse are in first. I have no idea if this is them, but this is most certainly a Canadian bobsled team.
Team USA (Brittany B./Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches) has the second place sled with Erin Pac and Elana Meyers just 0.13 seconds behind. Canada could get two medals with Helen Upperton and Shelley-Ann Brown currently in fourth.

Germany (Zach Chromiak/Banker's Club), always a force in the gravity sports, is currently in third and fifth. They'll certainly be ready to move up if either of the top two teams make a mistake. The difference between #3 and #5 is 0.04 seconds, with the top two teams comfortably in front by bobsled standards.

6:26 PM PST - Short Track Speed SkatingThe final in the women's 3000 meter relay is an interesting event because there is no set distance per skater. The team of four skaters decides how many laps each skater will race, as long as the final laps are covered by the same person. There are usually seven or eight exchanges per team in the race.

My pick for gold is China's team of Linlin Sun, Wang Meng, Hui Zhang and Zhou Yang (Ellis Kunka/Cornballers). Having the top skater at the end is key, and the Chinese have exactly that in Meng. They set the Olympic record in qualifying and it would be a major upset if China lost. But remember, anythign can happen in short track. China similarly was a heavy favorite and was disqualified at Turin.

Korea's team of Ha-Ri Cho, Min-Jung Kim, Eun-Byul Lee and Seung-Hi Park (John Binz/Da Nang Dynamos) qualified with the second fastest time. They are the defending gold medal winner and finished less than a second out of gold at the 2009 World Championships. I'm picking them for second.

Team USA (Brittany B./Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches) is my choice for bronze. Kimberly Derrick, Alyson Dudek, Lana Gehring and Katherine Reutter skated in the qualifying rounds. Allison Baver, a Berks County native, will skate in the finals although I'm not sure who she's replacing. She appears to have at a minimum, bronze medal talent.
Team Canada (Dave Spence/Paragons) - Jessica Gregg, Kalyna Roberge, Marianne St-Gelais and Tania Vicent - has won the bronze at every World Cup event this season. St-Gelais, Gregg and Roberge all finished in the top 6 in the 500, but I think they'll get shut out in the relay.

7:30 PM PST - Freestyle SkiingOnly four countries have qualified athletes for the Women's Aerials final. Athletes can choose two of many different jumps that combine back flips and twists with differing degrees of difficulty. Athletes are judged on the quality of take off, height gained, form and body position, and how they maintain balance upon landing.

My pick to win is Nina Li of China (Ellis Kunka/Cornballers). She is a three time world champion and won the silver at Turin.

Lydia Lassila of Australia (John Binz/Da Nang Dynamos) is my choice for silver. She's already won two World Cup aerials events this year and would have medaled at Turin if not for injury.
Guo Xinxin of China is my pick for bronze. According to her Vancouver Olympic profile her hobbies are "Collecting personal accessories, shopping and spending time with her parents." It seems like she has a lot of time to practice.

Among other competitors, Jacqui Cooper of Australia returns at age 37. She crashed on both jumps at Turin but is a four time World Cup champion, and the greatest freestyle skier of all time. Team USA (Brian Schwartz/Nordique Combined) includes Ashley Caldwell (Hampton, Virginia), Lacy Schnoor (Draper, Utah) and Emily Cook (Belmont, Mass.). I think all but Cook are too inexperienced to medal this time around. Latvia (undrafted) is the only other country with skiers in the final.

Lavoie Favored in Speed Skating

1 PM PST - Speed SkatingWhenever the words 5000 and women are involved, you have to pick Tim Lavoie to win. In the women's 5000 speed skate, the Czech skater Martina Sáblíková should take gold for the Czech Republic and Lavoie's Fightin' Ovechkins. This is the longest women's race of the Games, and Sablikova took this event at the past three World Championships. She also holds the world record and won the 3000 easily. It would be a major upset if she lost.

The German skater Stephanie Beckert took silver in the 3000 and is my choice for silver in the 5000. This is her best event and she has a distance event medal at every World Cup event this year. However, she lost the 3000 by over two seconds which is too much time to make up in this race. Another German skater, Daniela Anschütz-Thoms, has three World Cup medals this year and is my choice for bronze.

A trio of Canadians, Clara Hughes, Kristina Groves and Cindy Klassen, are the other threats for medals.
1:15 PM PST - Alpine SkiingIn the women's giant slalom, each skier makes two runs down two different courses on the same slope. The times for both runs are then combined with the fastest total time determining the winner.

Brittany B. really needs the Austrians to take gold medals in the two remaining alpine events. Her first round Alpine pick has really been the undoing of a deep Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches team. They took 14 medals at Turin but have just two so far this year. Kathrin Zettel is her best hope with seven World Cup titles in this event, and is my pick for Olympic gold.

Keeping things in the Kathrin family, Kathrin Hölzl of Germany (undrafted) is my choice for silver. She was relatively unknown until a year ago, but won the World Championship in this event in 2009 and also won the giant slalom at two recent World Cup races.

Tina Maze of Slovenia (undrafted) has seven career World Cup wins in this event and was the flag bearer for her country, which has to be good for bronze.
Tanja Poutiainen of Finland (undrafted) won the season title in this event last year and is another contender. Finally, this is usually the worst event for the USA's Lindsay Vonn (Ellis Kunka/Cornballers) but she can't be counted out either.

Chromiak Favored In Cross Country Relay

11:15 AM PST - Cross Country Skiing
Today's daytime medals begin with cross country skiing. In the men's 4x10k Relay, each of four athletes skis 10 kilometers with the first two competitors racing in classic style and the last two skiers racing in freestyle format.

While this event is almost always dominated by the plus sign flag countries, 50 degree conditions have made cross country a bit more unpredictable this year. Nevertheless, my pick to win is Norway (Zach Chromiak/Banker's Club). Their team of Eldar Ronning, Odd-Bjorn Hjelmeset, Tore Rouud Hofstad, and Petter Northug won the 2009 World Championship and should take the gold despite some struggles in the individual events. That would be a big win for a program that finished just fifth at Turin after taking two consecutive gold medals previously in this event.
Apart from Norway the best distance skiers belong to Sweden (Brian Schwartz/Nordique Combined), as we saw in the 30k. Although Italy took a surprising win, Norway's archrival Swedes are the only real threat to beat them this year and are my pick for silver.

For bronze, the undrafted Canadians are hoping for their first cross country medal in this event after placing three skiers in the top 10 in the 30k. It won't happen. The bronze will come down to more traditional powers Germany (Adam Claus/Ice Lugers) or Russia (John Binz/Da Nang Dynamos) with my pick being Germany.

Standings Finally Updated

I have redone the standings from scratch. Not much difference but I apologize for the couple of errors. Basically I had been counting one freestyle skiing event as alpine which changed the point values.

These were compiled during a corporate law class at a top 71 USA law school making them as official as can be.

1. Ellis Kunka, Cornballlers
188.3 PointsAlpine Skiing 42.5 (2G, 3S, 3B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Figure Skating 25 (1G)
Luge 25 (1G, 1S)
Nordic Combined 16.7 (1G)
Short Track Speed Skating 25 (2G)
Ski Jumping 16.6 (2S)
Speed Skating 33.3 (3G, 1S, 2B)

2. John Binz, Da Nang Dynamos
160 PointsAlpine Skiing 22.5 (1G, 2S, 1B)
Biathlon 30 (2G, 2S)
Cross-Country Skiing 16.7 (1G, 1S, 2B)
Figure Skating 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Short Track Speed Skating 40.7 (2G, 2S, 1B)
Speed Skating 8.4 (2S)

3. Tim Lavoie, Fightin' Ovechkins
156.5 PointsFigure Skating 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 6.3 (1S, 1B)
Skeleton 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Ski Jumping 33.4 (2G)
Snowboarding 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Speed Skating 10.4 (1G, 1B)

4. Zach Chromiak, Banker's Club
151.5 PointsBiathlon 27.5 (1G, 2S, 3B)
Bobsleigh 25 (1G, 1S)
Cross Country Skiing 29.1 (3G, 2B)
Figure Skating 6.3 (1B)
Luge 4.2 (1B)
Nordic Combined 16.7 (1G)
Short Track Speed Skating 3.1 (1B)
Ski Jumping 8.3 (1S)
Snowboarding 16.7 (1G)
Speed Skating 14.6 (1G, 1S, 1B)

5. Brittany B., Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches
134.3 PointsAlpine Skiing 12.5 (1G, 1B)
Biathlon 17.5 (1G, 1S, 1B)
Cross Country Skiing 6.3 (1S, 1B)
Figure Skating 6.3 (1B)
Freestyle Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Nordic Combined 16.6 (2S)
Short Track Speed Skating 12.5 (1S, 2B)
Ski Jumping 25.1 (1G, 2B)
Speed Skating 33.3 (3G, 2S)

6. Joy Sadaly, Olympic Ring Worm Wood Stock Market District Attorney
110 PointsAlpine Skiing 22.5 (2G, 1B)
Biathlon 25 (2G, 1S)
Cross-Country Skiing 2.1 (1B)
Freestyle Skiing 8.3 (1G)
Skeleton 25 (1G)
Snowboarding 25 (1G, 1S)
Speed Skating 2.1 (1B)

7. Brian Schwartz, Nordique Combined
107.2 PointsBiathlon 5 (1S)
Cross-Country Skiing 27.1 (2G, 2S, 1B)
Freestyle Skiing 12.5 (1G, 2B)
Luge 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Skeleton 12.5 (1S)

8. Dave Spence, Paragons
104.8 PointsAlpine Skiing 5 (1S)
Biathlon 10 (1G)
Bobsleigh 4.2 (1B)
Cross-Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Figure Skating 18.8 (1S, 1B)
Luge 8.3 (1S)
Nordic Combined 4.2 (1B)
Short Track Speed Skating 6.3 (1S)
Skeleton 25 (1G)
Snowboarding 4.2 (1B)
Speed Skating 14.6 (1G, 1S, 1B)

9. Adam Claus, Ice Lugers
90.9 PointsAlpine Skiing 2.5 (1B)
Biathlon 30 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Cross-Country Skiing 16.7 (1G, 2S)
Freestyle Skiing 20.8 (2G, 1S)
Ski Jumping 4.2 (1B)
Snowboarding 12.5 (1S, 1B)
Speed Skating 4.2 (1S)

Standings Delayed Amid Binz Appeal

Current standings are on hold while our staff considers an appeal by Da Nang Dynamos manager John Binz. Standings compiler "B.S." has become embroiled in controversy as it was also revealed that the number of points for Freestyle Skiing has been incorrectly calculated. This may or may not be related to last Thursday's "12 PBR and then some other beers" standings compilation.

It is of paramount importance to resolve this situation in the most professional and efficient manner possible, taking into account the specialization and transaction cost advantages of the corporate structure as explained by, inter alia, Ronald Coase.

Therefore I will wait and resolve this matter during Business Organizations tomorrow morning, at which time new standings will be posted. We have also removed last night's incorrect standings. Rest assured that Adam Claus will still, however, be in last, for we were not that far off.

Nothing But Shame for Ellis Kunka

What a disappointment for Cornballers fans everywhere.

Perhaps the pressure of being in the lead has gotten to Cornballers manager Ellis Kunka. The Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer, heavily favored to win the gold in the 10,000, finished the race in first and set the Olympic record. Then the word came: Kramer had been disqualified. His coach had incorrectly told him to change lanes.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports:

Kramer blamed his coach Gerard Kemkers* for giving him the wrong information.
*Ellis Kunka pseudonym

"Usually, I don't want to blame anyone else, but this time I can't do anything else. I wanted to go on the outer lane then just before the cone Gerard shouted 'inner lane,' I thought he's probably right and went to the inner lane," he said.

"At first I thought my skates passed the cone on the wrong side, I will be disqualified. Then I noticed in the stadium something was wrong.

"You have to decide in a split second. Afterwards I should have gone with my own thoughts, but I was brought into doubt. This really sucks. This is a real expensive mistake."

The DQ gave the gold to Korean skater Lee Seung Hoon (Brittany B./Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches). It was a costly mistake by a manager who has never really gotten the better of his nerves, even after moving into first place.

For this observer, Kunka's move brought back memories of former Eagles coach Rich Kotite, blaming the rain as he struggled to justify a clearly erroneous conversion/extra point decision. Only in a more speed skating/fantasy Olympic context.

In any event, this disqualification does not look good coming on the heels of American skier Bode Miller's DNF in Giant Slalom.

"This is the Olympic gods looking down and realizing that Ellis is the New York Yankees of Fantasy Winter Olympics," said Da Nang Dynamos manager John Binz.

Hopefully for Binz, he's more '79 Yankees than '78.

3 Skiing Medals Up Tuesday Afternoon

1 PM PST - Alpine SkiingCornballers (Ellis Kunka) have a chance to extend their lead if American Bode Miller can take another gold in the Men's Giant Slalom.

Historically this has been an Austrian dominated event. Austria (Brittany B./Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches) has won every gold since Nagano and have the two favorites again this year, Marcel Kirscher and Benjamin Raich.

However, I think the Austrians will settle for silver and bronze. Bode Miller clearly relishes the underdog role and would love to get another gold. He's my pick for gold. Italian Massimiliano Blardone (Tim Lavoie/Fightin' Ovechkins) is another strong contender. Suprisingly there are only two pictures online of Bode Miller in any kind of a compromising pose and I have already posted them, forcing me to run this Bode Miller political cartoon.

2 PM PST - Nordic CombinedNordique Combined (Brian Schwartz) needs a big rebound from their namesake team Norway in the Team 4x5k Relay. They won't get it.

The relay team consists of four athletes, each of whom jumps once on the large hill and skis a 5k. Team USA (Brittany B./Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches) hasn't medaled in this event since Nagano but has to be the choice for gold. They had three of the top six finishers in the individual Nordic combined event, Johnny Spillane, Todd Lodwick and Bill Demong.

Austria (Zach Chromiak/Banker's Club), the only other team which placed all of its competitors in the top 25 of the individual event, is my pick for silver.
In a shocking upset, I'm predicting that none of the plus sign countries will even medal. Germany (Dave Spence/Paragons) had all four team members in the top 28 of the individual event and is my choice for bronze.

2:03 PM PST - Freestyle SkiingOphélie David of France (inexplicably undrafted) is my pick to take gold in the Women's Ski Cross. This is the first time the event has been contested at the Olympics, but Ophelie has won gold at the last four Winter X Games.

After Ophélie David, the Canadians Ashleigh McIvor, Kelsey Serwa and Julia Murray (Adam Claus/Ice Lugers) are the best at this event. Normally I would pick Julia Murray to medal but her status recovering from an injury is questionable. I'm picking McIvor, the extremely talented defending world champion pictured at right, for silver.

Fanny Smith of Switzerland (Joy Sadaly/Olympic Ring Worm Wood Stock Market District Attorney) is supposedly a contender but I'm saying she won't medal because she's apparently at least 130 years old.

No llores, mi querida

Tuesday just became a good day to be at work or in class - today's women's biathlon relay will not include my favorite biathlete Magdalena Neuner. She withdrew citing fatigue, raising concerns that this will be her last picture on the blog.
The only other medal contested before 5 PM is speed skating's Men's 10,000, one of the toughest physical tests of the Olympics and also one of the toughest to watch on TV - consisting of two guys skating around a track 25 times.

11 AM PST - Speed Skating
The men's 10,000, the longest skating event at the Olympics, should be dominated by the Netherlands (Ellis Kunka/Cornballers). Sven Kramer, the current world record holder, has won three consecutive World Championships in the 10,000 and is my pick for gold. Kramer's world record is 12 seconds ahead of the best time of any other competitor, but he finished only seventh at Turin. If he falters again, Bob De Jong, my pick for silver, should win gold for the Dutch team anyway. De Jong won gold at Turin in this event and has three career world championships.

Another strong skater is Havard Bokko of Norway (undrafted), who narrowly lost this event at the 2009 World Championships. But my pick for bronze is American Chad Hedrick (Zach Chromiak/Banker's Club), racing in what is probably the penultimate Olympic race of his career. Hedrick won silver at Turin and holds the American record in the 10,000.
11:30 AM PST - Biathlon
Rock and roll went on after the Beatles broke up, and boxing continued after Ali retired. OK, that second part was false. Anyway, the women's biathlon will go on without Magdalena Neuner.

Each of four players on a team must ski six kilometers and shoot twice, once prone and once standing. The top two teams are Germany (Adam Claus/Ice Lugers) and Russia (Joy Sadaly/Olympic Ring Worm Wood Stock Market District Attorney). Germany won the gold at Salt Lake City but settled for bronze at Turin. Russia is the defending gold medalist and current world champion, but Germany won the 2007 and 2008 championships. Also Magdalena Neuner's withdrawal brings both teams down to zero athletes I have heard of.

My pick is Russia for gold and Germany for silver. I just can't see a team winning an event without putting their best four athletes out there. France (Zach Chromiak/Banker's Club) took third at the 2008 and 2009 World Championships and is my pick to finish third again. Sweden is a good bet to take another aluminum medal for Dave Spence's Paragons.

Schwartz Skips Evidence After Hockey Loss

Fantasy Winter Olympics Blog has learned that Nordique Combined manager Brian Schwartz skipped his Evidence and Insurance classes Monday - the day after his Canadian hockey team was upset by the USA.
The class skip prompted Fightin' Ovechkins manager Tim Lavoie to text, "Alive?"

"Sure am. About to watch my Swedish X-country" replied Schwartz. But that claim failed to dispel speculation that he was in Vancouver coaching Team Canada, which now needs four consecutive wins to take the gold.

Well placed sources inside the University of Pittsburgh School of law confirmed that Schwartz had not missed those classes all semester before Monday.

It's a desperate move by a desperate manager. Nordique Combined has been playing poorly for almost a week and was shut out of the medals Sunday. The team dropped to sixth place Monday morning with Brittany B.'s ski jumping win.

With the 50 point men's hockey gold looking more and more necessary, Schwartz's assistance at Monday's Team Canada practice could provide a big boost to the team's chances. Sidney Crosby took a -3 on Sunday, a stat that's unheard of when he's in the same city as Brian Schwartz.

Skipping Evidence and Insurance proved to be a great decision last week for Cornballers manager Ellis Kunka, whose team is now in first place. But the move may be too little, too late for Schwartz.

Ice Dancing Could Extend Kunka's Lead

7:45 PM PST - Figure Skating
Russian couples have dominated ice dancing ever since it was introduced at the 1976 Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. This year, North Americans have the top two scores entering tonight's Free Dance - threatening to ruin Dave Spence's first overall Russian figure skating pick and keep the Paragons in the bottom of the standings. The top couple at the end of the Free Dance will win the 25 point gold for their fantasy team. As in all figure skating events, it's necessary to enter the medal event in the top five to have a real chance at a medal.

Amid complaints of biased juding, Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Weir (Ellis Kunka/Cornballers) lead the competition with 111.15 points. Ice dancing is really the only figure skating event left that depends mainly on the judges' opinion, and even the crowd reaction. So the Canadians will be hard to beat at home. A 25 point gold would be a major coup for the team that already leads Fantasy Winter Olympics.
Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White (Tim Lavoie/Fightin' Ovechkins) are second with 108.55 points. The Ovechkins are in third and really need the gold to make up some ground on the Cornballers. Another American couple, Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto, are in fourth and threaten to give Lavoie two medals should the Russians falter.

Speaking of the Russians, Dave Spence's first round pick of Russia Figure Skating has to be the worst ever opening pick of a Fantasy Olympics. That pick is a major reason why Paragons are in seventh. In their manager's defense, this is the only ever Fantasy Olympics. Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin were favored for gold going into the Games but are in third now with 106.6 points.

Italians Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali (undrafted), in fifth, are the only other couple with a realistic chance to medal. France (Adam Claus/Ice Lugers) has the sixth and seventh spots now but would need some major mistakes to move into the top three.

Team Ski Jump, Cross Country Monday

Although all of our Fantasy Olympic teams have used great teamwork even in the individual events, the actual Olympics move into team competition in the ski jump and cross country today.

11 AM PST - Ski JumpingSki jumping awards its final medal in the team ski jumping competition. The team contest is played on the larger K125 hill with the score being simply a sum of the four individual score.

Brittany B. no doubt hoped for more than one gold from her Austrian team, but I think the Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches will take the gold here. Switzerland took both individual medals but is really a one-man team, while Austria is the only country with four top ten jumpers.

Finland (Dave Spence/Paragons) is my pick for silver, and has the only group that even approaches the collective talent of the Swiss. Competing for bronze will be Norway (Adam Claus/Ice Lugers) and Germany (Zach Chromiak/Banker's Club), with Norway having the advantage in my opinion.

1 & 1:29 PM PST - Cross Country SkiingBoth the women's and men's team sprints will be contested today, an event that we will probably see 12 minutes of on NBC 11 hours after it takes place. This is a chaotic event where the two-person team takes turns completing the 1.6km sprint course three times per skier.
On the women's side the semifinal heats will begin at 10:45 a.m. followed by the finals at 1 p.m. local time. In a horrendous decision by their manager Zach Chromiak, Norway cross country announced Sunday that double gold medalist Marit Bjoergen will skip the team sprint to focus on the remaining long-distance events. Banker's Club will go with Celine Brun-Lie and Astrid Jacobsen instead, dropping them from a gold medal to a silver in my estimation.

I think the Swedish team of Charlotte Kalla/Anna Haag (Brian Schwartz/Nordique Combined will be the beneficiaries and take gold. Russia's duo of Irina Khazova and Natalia Korosteleva (John Binz/Da Nang Dynamos is also in the mix and is my choice for bronze.

The men's team sprint begins with heats at 11:35 a.m. local time with finals scheduled for 1:29 p.m. Nordique Combined continues to be plagued by injury as Sweden recently announced that their top sprinter Emil Joensson will not compete in the team sprint. While Marcus Hellner is a great sprinter, he's now partnering with Teodor Peterson, who has never finished above sixth in a World Cup. I think that duo will probably settle for bronze.

The Norwegian duo of Ola Vigen Hattestad and Petter Northug, already favored, now has an even better chance at gold. I think the only team that could upset them is the Russian duo of Alexander Panzhinskiy/Nikita Kriukov, despite clearly having a resurrected Cold War era Soviet leader on their team.

Women's Hockey Medal Rounds Begin

An incredibly important 50 point gold is at stake as the medal rounds begin Monday in women's hockey. As usual the favorites are Canada (Brian Schwartz/Nordique Combined) and the USA (Dave Spence/Paragons). Both managers need the 50 point medal as they're in fifth and seventh place respectively. Hoping to play spoiler are Sweden (John Binz/Da Nang Dynamos) and Finland Ellis Kunka/Cornballers). The winners will play for the gold Thursday while the losers will play for bronze.

Noon PST - USA vs. Sweden
Team USA, ranked first in the world, breezed through their preliminary rounds without really being challenged. They scored 31 goals and allowed just one. Their closest game was a 6-0 win over Finland in which they raced to a 4-0 lead by the first break, then killed 10:44 worth of Finnish power plays.

Team USA goalie Jessie Vetter is 2-0 with a decent 0.00 GAA in the tournament. Backup Brianne McLaughlin of Robert Morris University, pictured at right, so far is the most talented 7.50 GAA goaltender of all time. Their top forward is Natalie Darwitz who leads the team in ice time and has 4 goals and 7 assists with a +8. Jenny Potter has 6 goals and 3 assists and is a +7. Molly Engstrom led the defense corps in ice time and is a +11 with 3 goals and 2 assists.

World #4 Team Sweden started strong with a 3-0 win over world #5 Switzerland, then defeated Slovakia to ensure the quarterfinal berth. The wheels came off in a 13-1 loss to Canada in which Sweden was outshot 52-13.

For Team Sweden, starting goalie Kim Martin is 1-1 with an ugly 6.76 GAA thanks to the Canada disaster. Pernilla Weinberg leads the offense with 4 goals in the tournament and a team-high 17 shots. Elin Holmlov has 3 points and leads the team in ice time. Emma Eliasson leads the defense in ice time but is a -4.

So on paper this game couldn't look like more of a mismatch. But who could forget 2006, when Sweden lost their final pool game to Canada 8-1 before stunning the USA in the semifinal round. Certainly Team USA hasn't forgotten. Look for them to come out inspired and put Sweden away early. As in any game with a heavy favorite, the key for the underdog is to keep the game close enough that the favorite starts to feel pressure. I doubt that will happen.

5 PM PST - Canada vs. Finland
World #2 Team Canada made a mockery of their bracket with a 10-1 win over Switzerland being their closest game. They have a solid +39 goal differential (41-2) over their three games.

Canada's starting goalie Kim St-Pierre has a 2-0 record with an 0.00 GAA. Amazingly, four players already have double di git points in the tournament. Hayley Wickenheiser is the greatest player in the history of women's hockey and has 2 goals an 9 assists with a +14. Meghan Agosta has 8 goals and 4 assists with a +11 despite playing fewer minutes than any other forward. Jayna Hefford has 5 goals and 5 assists, and Caroline Ouellette has a goal and 9 assists. Catherine Ward led the defenders in minutes and has four points and a +12. Meagan Mikkelson is pretty talented as well.
Finland, ranked #3 in the world, went 2-1 with their only loss to Team USA. Goalie Noora Raty has played every minute of the tournament and has a 2.67 GAA. This is an incredibly balanced team with five players having two points each. Expect their top defenders, Heidi Pelttari and Jenni Hiirikoski, to be quite busy.

I'd like to say this is not a foregone conclusion, but I can't imagine defending gold medalist Canada losing this one on home ice. Canada should score early and often and will likely get a shutout.

Kunka Reclaims Lead

John Binz's Da Nang Dynamos were shut out today, allowing Ellis Kunka's New York Yankees Cornballers to move into first. Cornballers continue to be a force to be reckoned with. Today they picked up gold medals from USA Alpine's Bode Miller and Netherlands speed skating (Ireen Wust).

German biathlete Magdalena Neuner picked up her second gold of the Games, as she continues her unsuccessful attempt at leading our last place team, Adam Claus's Ice Lugers, out of last.
The best day belonged to Joy Sadaly, whose team name I choose not to repeat. Sadaly scored nearly 30 points including golds from Russian biathlete Evgeny Ustyugov and Swiss freestyle skier Michael Schmid. Their efforts were instrumental in moving Sadaly's team from eighth all the way up to eighth.

Zach Chromiak's Banker's Club moved into fourth. As expected Chromiak picked up 25 points as the German bobsled teams won both gold and silver.

STANDINGS THROUGH SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21

1. Ellis Kunka, Cornballers
153.5 PointsAlpine Skiing 43.8 (2G, 4S, 3B)
Luge 25 (1G, 1S)
Speed Skating 31.2 (3G, 1S, 1B)
Nordic Combined 16.7 (1G)
Ski Jumping 16.6 (2S)
Short Track Speed Skating 25 (2G)
Cross Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)

2. John Binz, Da Nang Dynamos
149.6 PointsShort Track Speed Skating 40.7 (2G, 2S, 1B)
Figure Skating 37.5 (1G, 1S)
Biathlon 27.5 (2G, 1S, 1B)
Alpine Skiing 12.5 (1G, 1S)
Cross Country Skiing 12.5 (1G, 1S)
Freestyle Skiing 6.3 (1S)
Speed Skating 8.4 (2S)

3. Tim Lavoie, Fightin' Ovechkins
140.8 PointsSnowboarding 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Ski Jumping 33.4 (2G)
Figure Skating 25 (1G)
Skeleton 18.8 (1S, 1G)
Speed Skating 10.4 (1G, 1B)
Freesyle Skiing 3.1 (1B)

4. Zach Chromiak, Banker's Club
125.4 PointsBobsleigh 25 (1G, 1S)
Biathlon 17.5 (1G, 1S, 3B)
Snowboarding 16.7 (1G)
Cross Country Skiing 20.8 (2G, 2B)
Speed Skating 14.6 (1G, 1S, 1B)
Figure Skating 6.3 (1B)
Luge 4.2 (1B)
Short Track Speed Skating 3.1 (1B)

5. Brian Schwartz, Nordique Combined
109.2 PointsLuge 50.1 (2G, 1S, 2B)
Cross Country Skiing 22.9 (2G, 1S, 1B)
Freestyle Skiing 21.8 (1G, 2B)
Skeleton 12.5 (1S)
Biathlon 5 (1S)

6. Brittany B., Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches
96.8 PointsBiathlon 17.5 (1G, 1S, 1B)
Short Track Speed Skating 12.5 (1S, 1B)
Speed Skating 12.5 (1G, 1S)
Alpine Skiing 10.4 (1G, 1B)
Nordic Combined 8.3 (1S)
Ski Jumping 8.4 (2B)
Speed Skating 8.3 (1G)
Cross Country Skiing 6.3 (1S, 1B)
Figure Skating 6.3 (1B)
Freestyle Skiing 6.3 (1S)
Speed Skating 4.2 (1S)

7. Dave Spence, Paragons
93.5 PointsSkeleton 25 (1G)
Figure Skating 12.5 (1S)
Speed Skating 14.6 (1G, 1S, 1B)
Biathlon 10 (1G)
Luge 8.3 (1S)
Cross Country Skiing 6.3 (1S, 1B)
Short Track Speed Skating 6.3 (1S)
Alpine Skiing 4.2 (1S)
Bobsleigh 4.2 (1B)
Snowboarding 4.2 (1B)

8. Joy Sadaly, Olympic Ring Worm Wood Stock Market District Attorney
90 PointsSkeleton 25 (1G)
Snowboarding 16.7 (1G)
Freestyle Skiing 12.5 (1G)
Alpine Skiing 10.4 (1G, 1B)
Biathlon 15 (1G, 1S)
Snowboarding 8.3 (1G)
Speed Skating 2.1 (1B)

9. Adam Claus, Ice Lugers
69.2 PointsFreestyle Skiing 18.8 (1G, 1S)
Biathlon 27.5 (2G, 1S, 1B)
Snowboarding 12.5 (1S, 1B)
Alpine Skiing 4.2 (2B)
Cross Country Skiing 4.2 (1S)

A Neil Young Song For Every Event

Due to Canada's failure to have Neil Young light the torch, or even to acknowledge that he is from Canada (No "Needle and the Damage done" during breaks in hockey?) I have decided to assemble the definitive Neil Young Winter Olympic playlist. Definitive because there's no way anyone else has had this idea.

Alpine Skiing - Heart of Gold. Neil Young's enduring classic. Maybe not the most popular song now, but the quintessential favorite that really caused his solo career to take off.



Biathlon - Powderfinger

Bobsleigh - Motorcycle Mama

Cross Country Skiing - Cowgirl in the Sand. Possibly the only Neil Young song that could last for an entire 50k race.

Curling - Albuquerque. Understated yet eloquent. Unfolds slowly but evolves with every note in its place.

Figure Skating - Looking Forward

Freestyle Skiing - After the Garden

Ice Hockey - Rockin' In The Free World



Luge - Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown. An exhilerating and upbeat song, but also a commemoration of a life ended too soon.

Nordic Combined - Song X

Short Track Speed Skating - The Losing End (When You're On)

Skeleton - Out of My Mind

Ski Jumping - Sugar Mountain



Snowboarding - Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black). Neil Young's punk-influenced song could describe a sport that is still gaining mainstream acceptance.

Speed Skating - Country Home. An homage to the kind of town most skaters move to to train for the sport.

Spence, Chromiak Picked For Gold Tonight

It is tough to write through the tears caused by the emotional NBC/Ovechkin Valentine Honeymoon Angel Sweetheart Celebration. Nonetheless here are the evening medal previews.

3 PM PST - Speed Skating
The Canadians (Dave Spence/Paragons) have the strongest skaters in tonight's Women's 1500. I'm picking Kristina Groves, the 3000 meter bronze medalist, for gold. The difference will be her Kinesiology degree from the University of Calgary. That's one of my favorite Kinesiology programs in western Canada.

Canadian skater Christine Nesbitt won gold in the 1000 and is my choice for silver. She's a great skater but loses points for being in a relationship with a Dutch speed skater, who is of course competing for Ellis Kunka's universally hated Cornballers. I'm sure if she had waited two weeks Alex Rodriguez would have been available.

Ireen Wüst of the Netherlands finished a disappointing eighth in the 1000 but is the Cornballers' best hope in this one. I'm picking her for bronze. Another skater who should be in the finals is German Anni Friesinger (John Binz/Da Nang Dynamos), the Salt Lake City gold medalist. She's also married to a Dutch skater. At least it's becoming apparent why every Dutch boy wants to grow up to be a speed skater.
5:20 PM PST - Bobsleigh
The world's #1 bobsledder Beat Hefti of Switzerland (Brian Schwartz/Nordique Combined) has withdrawn after being concussed by Canada's unsafe track. The remaining Swiss B team is in fifth, which only makes it more disappointing that we didn't get to see what their A team would do.

The beneficiaries are the two German teams (Zach Chromiak's Banker's Club) which currently rank first and second. Andre Lange/Kevin Kuske are .11 seconds ahead of Thomas Florscheutz/Richard Adjei. Those teams should take gold and silver for the resurgent Chromiak. Germany's grasp of math has really helped them in the gravity sports, as unlike most Americans they clearly understand what 9.8 meters per second squared means and may even be able to increase it to 9.9.

The Russian team of Alexsandr Zubkov/Alexey Voevoda (Dave Spence/Paragons) is in third and will try to hold off the USA's Steven Holcomb/Curtis Tomasevicz (Brittany B./Buck-Toothed Rabbit Bitches).