Sochi 2014

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Wednesday Link-Off: Gone but Not Forgotten

Even though the 2014 Sochi LOLympics are gone, I’m not done reinforcing the fact that they’re an absolutely farce. However, since there are other things happening in the world, it’s not a solely LOLympic edition of the Wednesday links.

So let’s get this show on the road by starting with likely SI Swimsuit rookie of the year Samantha Hoopes.

A Duke University freshman became a porn actress to help her pay tuition. She learned some things about herself and society in doing so. (XO Jane)

Arizona’s Republican Governor says that she will veto the state’s anti-gay bill. Granted, she cites economic reasons for planning to veto but it’s still a win for people who aren’t assholes. (Business Insider)

Bonnie Ford examines the dichotomy of these LOLympics. Everything was fine on the surface but terrible when you looked away from sports. (espnW)

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Olympic Fails of the Week

The 2014 Sochi LOLympics are so this is the last go at the Olympic fails. In my continuing efforts to point out how terrible the Sochi Organizing Committee and the IOC are as a result of everything happening at Sochi and in Russia, we once again look at some of the more embarrassing moments for the Sochi Olympics over the last week.

So here are eight pictures, tweets and GIFs of Sochi Olympic fails from the final week at the LOLympics.

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Wednesday Link-Off: Almost Time to Go Home

So with the SI Swimsuit Issue out yesterday, I’ve been wondering if I can say that I was right. I did predict a group cover, even if I called it an “All-Star Cover.” I think I should get double points because I had Kate Upton ranked second on the list and she was on the back cover.

However, today’s set of links isn’t going to feature any of the Swimsuit cover girls. Let’s start this off with the living legend Heidi Klum.

Russia isn’t the only place the world that hates gays. The Kansas government has created a law that allows business owners to discriminate based on sexual orientation. Not only is the law terrible but their reasoning is too. (The Dish)

Just because I’m boycotting the Sochi LOLympics doesn’t mean that others are. Some folks are tripping over themselves to praise these Olympics and Vlad Putin. (Toronto Star)

An Italian transgender former-MP was arrested for protesting that it was okay to be gay at the LOLympics. It is okay to be gay. Just not in Russia (or Kansas). (The Daily Beast)

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Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Humour, Sports

Olympic Fails of the Week

In my continuing efforts to point out how terrible the Sochi Organizing Committee and the IOC are as a result of everything happening at Sochi and in Russia, we once again look at some of the more embarrassing moments for the Sochi Olympics over the last week.

So here are eight pictures and tweets of Sochi Olympic fails from the week that was at the LOLympics.

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Sunday Link-Off: The LOLympic Dream

kate-mara-gq14-02We’ve reached the midpoint of the Sochi LOLympics and I understand that Canada is doing well which is nice. On the other hand, I’m mildly perturbed that people don’t take my boycott and the reasons for it seriously. Mostly family and coworkers at my day job but it’s still discouraging that sports trumps the rights of gays, dogs and the people of both Syria and Sochi.

Anyway, I suppose that since it’s Sunday, we should do the links. Let’s start with Kate Mara. You know, I really should watch House of Cards.

The US Labour Secretary has a good point. How can some smaller companies thrive despite paying livable wages while the big ones who make a mint thanks to low wages say they’ll go under if minimum wage gets to a livable level? (Daily Kos)

Subscribers to Newt Gingrich’s email list get an odd assortment of “news items” sent to them. These include stories about alleged cancer cures, Obama’s secret mistress (it’s Beyonce like the tabloids already told us so it’s not a secret) and The Illuminati. And you wonder why many people consider the GOP to be a laughing-stock. (Media Matters)

It’s kind of amazing how quickly a story disappears. One year ago, a kid on Facebook made a joke about shooting a school. He was quickly arrested because some people don’t have senses of humour. Now, he faces 10 years in prison. I know that’s a sensitive topic but some people just take life way too damn seriously. (Dallas Observer)

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Wednesday Link-Off: The Best of Times, The Blurst of Times

anais-pouliot-victoriassecret14-04Before any accuses me of breaking my Olympic boycott, I insist that stories embarrassing to the IOC and the Sochi Organizing Committee are in keeping in the spirit of the boycott. I am not supporting them with the Olympic links in this post.

Alright, it’s Wednesday which means that it’s time for the links. Since it’s the run up to Valentine’s Day, here’s a Valentine’s Day themed shoot from Canadian Victoria’s Secret model Anais Pouliot.

Occupy Wall Street protester Cecily McMillan is facing seven years in prison for being beaten unconscious by the NYPD. You can’t call it “the American justice system” because clearly there is no justice. (The Sparrow Project)

Michael Sam has a very good chance of being the first openly gay athlete in a major American team sport after coming out this weekend. Hopefully that doesn’t drop him right out of the upcoming NFL draft. (Outsports)

While we’ve been focusing on Russia’s domestic issues that have made these games morally unbearable, Putin’s backing of the Syrian government has allowed for them to slaughter thousands of innocent civilians. Why is Russia allowed to host these Olympics despite their near cartoonish villainy. (The New Yorker)

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Olympic Fails of the Week

While yesterday I said that I’m boycotting the Sochi Olympics, I believe that pointing out all that is wrong with the Sochi Olympics is in keeping with the spirit of the boycott. I’m not interested in supporting these Olympics or embarrassing the athletes. I’m interested in undermining the Sochi Organizing Committee’s efforts to make Russia look good in the eyes of the world when it should be looked down upon with scorn.

So here are five pictures and tweets of Sochi Olympic fails.

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Why I’m Boycotting the Sochi Olympics

sochi-olympic-boycott-headerThere was seldom a moment during the London Olympics that I was tuned away from live broadcasts, especially during handball. I was one of the two-thirds of Canadians who watched Sidney Crosby end the Vancouver Olympics with an overtime goal to win the men’s hockey gold medal.

This time, I won’t be watching. I don’t care if Patrick Chan sets another world record in figure skating or Canada plays Russia for the gold medal in a game that goes to overtime. I won’t be watching my Winter X-Games favourites, slopestyle and halfpipe, or the curlers from my hometown battle for gold.

While the Olympics are supposed to be about coming together, the spirit of unity, and a celebration of sport and national pride, none of that is on display in Sochi. The Russian government, Sochi Olympic organizing committee and the International Olympic Committee have created an Olympic games that does none of that and I want no part of these Olympics.

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Sunday Link-Off: End The Games Before They Really Begin

laura-vandervoort-maxim14-04I’m going to warn you that if you’re looking for coverage of Olympic sports, you’ve come to the wrong place. I am in no mood to celebrate “the world coming together.” There are bigger fish to fry in Sochi. There will be Olympic coverage but I promise that sports fans won’t be interested.

But since it’s Sunday, I’ll have the column tomorrow. For now, it’s time for the links. Here’s Laura Vandervoort.

Not all Russians are as heartless as Vlad Putin and cronies. A hastily assembled dog rescue effort backed by a Russian billionaire is trying to rescue as many strays from Sochi as possible before the government-hired contractor kills them. (New York Times)

So it turns out that Sochi is ready for sports but not ready for anyone or anything else at these Olympics. Hotels for media have been an utter embarrassment for a supposed first-world country that was supposedly ready to host the Olympics. Then again, it’s probably just a way to distract the media from Russian gay bashing and dog killing. Why are you supporting these Olympics by buying the merchandise and watching the events? (Washington Post)

By the way, how did we all miss the symbolism of Germany’s rainbow uniforms? (Sports Grid)

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