# 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 10, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985 "2014-02-10T17:31:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/141 "2014-02-20T23:48:02Z")
As a long time NHL fan, I’ve come to accept bad reffing is part of the hockey game. Players and fans have to deal with bad calls all the time. But the thing is the Canadians were done 2-0 with 3-1/2 minutes left and they found the heart and way to win. The refs didn’t cause 3 unanswered Canadian goals. Complaining about a particular bad call in this game is pretty lame. The US had this game but then gave it away to a team that wanted it more. ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/142 "2014-02-21T00:02:31Z")
Yeah…this one bad call would be easier to accept if the refs hadn’t also given Canada that goal in the prelim game. The whistle had clearly blown prior to that goal, and even after review, they allowed the goal. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/143 "2014-02-21T00:39:41Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Yeah, but you could also fit Scotland into the tiny tip of southern Ontario. Yes, but what does surface area have to do with it? 5 million people is 5 million people. This in no way demeans the quality of the teams that make it to this level - they’re road tested and without doubt among the best in the world - but the sport in other countries just does not compare in terms of popularity with how it does in Canada. There are just barely more curling clubs in Scotland than there are in Manitoba alone, which is barely over 1 million in population. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/144 "2014-02-21T00:40:48Z")
> [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](#): > > Yeah…this one bad call would be easier to accept if the refs hadn’t also given Canada that goal in the prelim game. The whistle had clearly blown prior to that goal, and even after review, they allowed the goal. That call was kind of blown both ways. The whistle was very clearly blown before the puck went in, but the whistle was also blown waaay too early. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/145 "2014-02-21T01:01:52Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > So we are going to blame the officials for this loss? We are above that, are we not? I’m not blaming them for the loss, I’m criticizing their shitty performance. Although you do have to admit that a 4 on 3 power play is a pretty good chance to score. I don’t get why people are calling it a “make up call.” The penalty against Canada wasn’t borderline, she skated right into the Americans head and knocked her on her ass. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/146 "2014-02-21T01:17:20Z")
The goalpost giveth (for the US men) and the goalpost taketh away (for the US women)… ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/147 "2014-02-21T01:24:49Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > I’m not blaming them for the loss, I’m criticizing their shitty performance. Although you do have to admit that a 4 on 3 power play is a pretty good chance to score. > > I don’t get why people are calling it a “make up call.” The penalty against Canada wasn’t borderline, she skated right into the Americans head and knocked her on her ass. If you are critizing the ref’s performance it goes both ways and is meaningless as to who won. Best counter-illustrated by seeing the ref block the Canadian defender who was trying to play the puck at the line, allowing the American player an open and clear shot onto an empty net - which barely missed and would almost certainly have entirely changed this game. In hockey ref’s make mistakes and bad calls all the freaking time - it is extremely frustrating - but winning teams overcome it. But it is a poor sport that goes on about penalties in overtime when the American’s blew a 2-0 lead with less than four minutes to go. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/148 "2014-02-21T01:45:42Z")
Koreans are going NUTS over the figure skating results. I don’t really care either way, but I teared up at the end of Asada’s program when she started crying. She was amazing, and I was really happy that she did so well since she choked so badly during her short program. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/149 "2014-02-21T01:48:35Z")
NUTS positively or NUTS negatively?? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/150 "2014-02-21T01:58:31Z")
I though snowboard cross was crazy, but ski cross is even more so. Plus they have poles. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/151 "2014-02-21T02:17:22Z")
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#): > > But it is a poor sport that goes on about penalties in overtime when the American’s blew a 2-0 lead with less than four minutes to go. A poor sport? Seriously? If you can’t complain about a potentially game changing blatantly bad call in overtime of the gold medal game, then what can you complain about? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/152 "2014-02-21T02:58:46Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > A poor sport? Seriously? If you can’t complain about a potentially game changing blatantly bad call in overtime of the gold medal game, then what can you complain about? You’re right. That cross check on Hayley Wickenheiser should have been a penalty shot. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/153 "2014-02-21T03:00:15Z")
I feel it’s important to note here that “cross-checking” is the **least** plausible penalty to call on that play, outside of delay of game or too many men on the ice. ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/154 "2014-02-21T03:05:07Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > That call was kind of blown both ways. The whistle was very clearly blown before the puck went in, but the whistle was also blown waaay too early. I agree that the whistle was early. What makes the situation galling though is that early whistles happen all the time. It’s one of the most common errors…and calling it an error is probably overstating it. Refs tend to want to protect goaltenders in these situations and often stop play when the puck turns out to not have been actually frozen. Offensive players hate it, but it’s one of those things that happens with some regularity in hockey. In this situation though, the refs chose to review a play that shouldn’t have been reviewable and despite this fact, consciously chose to enforce a decision that was clearly contrary to the facts and the rules. When the refs did something similar again today…choosing to call a non-existent penalty because the felt they needed a make-up call…I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suspect bias. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/155 "2014-02-21T03:07:45Z")
> [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](#): > > In this situation though, the refs chose to review a play that shouldn’t have been reviewable and despite this fact, consciously chose to enforce a decision that was clearly contrary to the facts and the rules. This isn’t intended as a nitpick, but I don’t believe it’s the referee’s discretion as to what calls get reviewed. They don’t even get to see the replays (unless it’s a different set up from what I’m used to). There’s a booth over head with (in this case IIHF) officials who decide to initiate a review, view the footage and ultimately make the call. ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/156 "2014-02-21T03:22:42Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > …but I don’t believe it’s the referee’s discretion as to what calls get reviewed. They don’t even get to see the replays… I’m not sure if this is correct. The booth may initiate a review, but isn’t the referee on the ice the one that’s actually responsible for making the correct decision? Regardless of who actually made the decision though, it’s hard not to view this one as biased. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/157 "2014-02-21T03:22:46Z")
The regrettable fact is, guys, that there is not a ref in the world who doesn’t call that penalty there. We have the benefit of slow motion replay; the ref must call it in real time. In real time it appeared Wickenheiser was hauled down on a breakaway. I just watched it again in real time and it looks like Knight pulls down Wickenheiser. It looks like that from two angles. Of course, the puzzling part is not that it was called. That same play will be called 100 times out of 100. What’s puzzling is that it wasn’t called as a penalty shot, which of course it should have been if it was called at all; there’s no sane interpretation of the rules where that is a penalty, but is enforced as a two-minute minor - and that decision is obviously not in Canada’s favor, since the conversion rate on minor penalties is lower than on penalty shots. So if the ref was biased, why didn’t she go with the rulebook and award Wickenheiser a penalty shot? I’m thrilled our women won, but I would not wish a loss like that on anyone. Blowing a two-goal lead in the gold medal game with 3:20 left… they will take that to their graves, as Herb Brooks would have said. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/158 "2014-02-21T03:29:43Z")
Now back to really ridiculous judging, figure skating has once again come up with an epic of cheating and treachery. [http://www.canada.com/olympics/news/women-figure-skating-long-program-91959](http://www.canada.com/olympics/news/women-figure-skating-long-program-91959) ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/159 "2014-02-21T03:34:50Z")
Yeah, just watched the replay of the game and that was a supremely shitty way for a very good game to end. Neither of the first two penalties should have been called, and the third was clearly a penalty shot. At least the linesman’s bodycheck on the Canadian defender that enabled that long empty net shot didn’t make a difference. But really, they should have just let them decide the game properly\* playing 4 on 4. \*Properly should really mean 5 on 5 till someone scores, no shootout bullshit, but apparently that battle has been lost. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985/160 "2014-02-21T03:40:56Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The regrettable fact is, guys, that there is not a ref in the world who doesn’t call that penalty there. We have the benefit of slow motion replay; the ref must call it in real time. In real time it appeared Wickenheiser was hauled down on a breakaway. I just watched it again in real time and it looks like Knight pulls down Wickenheiser. It looks like that from two angles. > > Of course, the puzzling part is not that it was called. That same play will be called 100 times out of 100. What’s puzzling is that it wasn’t called as a penalty shot, which of course it should have been if it was called at all; there’s no sane interpretation of the rules where that is a penalty, but is enforced as a two-minute minor - and that decision is obviously not in Canada’s favor, since the conversion rate on minor penalties is lower than on penalty shots. So if the ref was biased, why didn’t she go with the rulebook and award Wickenheiser a penalty shot? > > I’m thrilled our women won, but I would not wish a loss like that on anyone. Blowing a two-goal lead in the gold medal game with 3:20 left… they will take that to their graves, as Herb Brooks would have said. Agreed, but I think the most egregious call was that non-existent slash to nullify the US powerplay. Canadian commentators are saying that the US was warned to not do that, and therefore when they did it, it was considered a penalty. It was a bullshit penalty. I’ve never seen that called in 40 years of watching hockey. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-sochi-olympic-winter-games/680985.md?page=9)