I have Olympic Games withdrawl

Pressing the recall button on my remote control tonight had a strange effect. First, I saw the evening news. Recall. Then it was an ESPN film? What the heck? Where were the Olympics?

Yes, I watched the closing ceremonies just like everyone else. I realize the Games are over. But now, I was forced to do something I hadn't done for two weeks. I had to press the "Guide" button, and explore what else was on TV.

No skiing, no bobsleigh, no curling, no speed skating. What a rip off. NBA basketball seemed like a cheesy participation ribbon. It seemed like TSN was sending me a message saying, "thanks for tuning in, unfortunately, this is all we have for you."

The Vancouver Olympics were a truly great event and displayed the outstanding power of sport. 14 gold medals were won by Canada, more than any nation in the history of the Winter Olympics. More importantly, millions went back to work following the closing ceremonies feeling refreshed, proud, and excited.

Don't worry sports fans, there are a few things for us to look forward to. We have March Madness, the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the World Cup of Soccer. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait a few years before the Olympics re-appear and much longer before we are able to experience another Olympic Games on Canadian soil.

It was good while it lasted, I just wish it had lasted longer.

Let the games begin.

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Stop blaming Sven Kramer's coach

After Sven Kramer lost a gold medal due to his disqualification from a lane violation in 10,000m long track speed skating, all fingers instantly pointed at his coach Gerard Kemkers.

As Kramer headed for a corner, Kemkers yelled from the sidelines "inside lane" despite the fact Sven Kramer should have remained in the outside lane.

Kramer crossed the finish line well ahead of second place skater Lee Seung-Hoon, but was disqualified for his lane violation.

Everyone, media, fans in the Netherlands, and those in the skating community are pointing fingers at Sven Kramer's coach Gerard Kemkers. Personally, I think this is utterly ridiculous. Kemkers did not reach out and push Kramer into the wrong lane. Kramer is an athlete at the top of his sport, likely the best in the world. His mistake is his and his alone.

If a slalom coach yells to miss a turn, or if a hockey coach yells to go offside, the player would not listen. It is the athlete who is competing for a gold medal, not the coach. Sven Kramer should have been fully aware of his situation and remained in the correct lane.

This is the athlete's mistake. Yes, a certain level of trust is held between coach and athlete, but in the end, it is the athlete's responsibility, especially one who is the world's best in a sport, to compete within the rules.

When the music stops in figure skating, the skater stops; no amount of yelling from a coach would keep that skater moving beyond their routine. No amount of yelling should cause an athlete of Sven Kramer's calibre to break such an integral rule.

If the long track speed skating community wants to point judgement at someone, it should be Sven Kramer, he is the one who changed lanes illegaly. He is the one who lost the gold medal. And the fact that he is publicly denouncing his coach, and complaining to the media, brings doubt to the quality of his character and judgement.

Stop blaming Sven Kramer's coach. It was Kramer alone who broke the rules.

Let the games begin.

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Hamelin brothers are an Olympic family

For a parent to watch their child succeed in the Olympics, it is a dream come true. For the Hamelin family of Levis, Quebec, Canada, they got to watch both of their sons race in an Olympic final.

Brothers Charles and Francois Hamelin found themselves racing as opponents in the mens 1000m short track speed skating final.

Their father and team leader, Yves Hamelin, sat watching in the stands as his two sons battled for Olympic supremacy.

Unfortunately for the Hamelin family, older brother Charles Hamelin and younger brother Francois Hamelin both missed the podium finishing 4th and 5th. The day belonged to Lee Jung-Su of South Korea, but that doesn't take anything away from the Hamelin brothers.

Obviously they would have liked two Olympic medals, and they in fact led the race until the final few laps, but their accomplishments as a family are incredible. Imagine lining up beside your brother in an Olympic final. The epitome of your sport.

Any parent able to witness that would be extremely proud as I'm sure father Yves Hamelin was. Congratulations to the Hamelin family for their accomplishments at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. The brothers will get another shot at an Olympic medal later this week in short track speed skating.

Let the games begin.

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Christine Nesbitt is golden in speed skating

Canadian athlete's continued to wash away any memory of struggles on home soil with yet another Olympic Gold Medal. Speed skater, and London, Ontario native, Christine Nesbitt struck gold in the womens 1000 metre long track speed skating event.

Nesbitt, 24, narrowly defeated a contingent of skaters from the Netherlands. In fact, her golden time was only two one-hundredths of a second faster than the Netherlands Annette Garritsen.

The intense crowd at the Richmond Oval seemed to encourage Nesbitt around the last turns of her race after she appeared to get off to a start slow.

The medal marked Canada's first gold in speed skating at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, a sport in which the country held high hopes in entering the Games. Canada will likely win a few more Olympic medals in speed skating before the closing ceremonies of the games.

Congratulations to Christine Nesbitt for winning Canada's first speed skating gold. Nesbitt has proven to be a classy competitor on and off the ice and is one of Canada's most deserving medalists.

Let the games begin.

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