ervices of Koemans "calibre and status within the game." "Fro

Im writing this having just returned from the International Broadcast Centre in Sochi after watching and broadcasting a portion of the mens final in figure skating. It would be an understatement to say that I am still stunned by what has transpired here in Russia. Yuzuru Hanyu, a 19-year-old, has just become the Olympic gold medallist, the first for his country, in this individual discipline. Meanwhile, the three-time and reigning world champion, Patrick Chan of Canada, has taken the silver medal. Neither skated perfectly, far from it, but the drama of it all was breathtaking. And although I might have forecast a different result, I find myself unable to quibble with the bottom line. Someone came first and someone came second. The only call I took when I got back here to the hotel was from an old acquaintance and colleague named Dave Campbell at CHED radio in Edmonton. I had run into him during my Hockey Night in Canada days covering the Oilers. But tonight Dave didnt even mention the score of the Canadian mens hockey game versus Austria, a 6-0 shellacking by the maple leaf men. He wanted to talk figure skating. “You know, we were discussing Chan and the result in the office, and we were disappointed,” he said. “But then again we thought that figure skating must surely be the most difficult of the Olympic sports.” I would have to agree. Personally speaking, I cannot fathom what it must be like to go onto a sheet of ice in front of 12,000 people and to perform what appears to be a series of impossible acts without an overwhelming fear of failure. There is nowhere for these young people to hide. There is no mulligan for a bad jump, or second chance to eliminate the sting of a fall on ones ass. You cannot skip a shift and survive in figure skating. It is what it is. These athletes accept that they are required to stand and deliver and when the dust settles they must live with the result. In the end, they must go it alone. The thing is, I felt completely helpless for Patrick Chan as he skated with a chance to be the Olympic champion. I have followed his career since the time he first won the national title seven years ago. Ive been there for each of his three world championships. He has never dodged a question and never given an excuse for something less than a perfect performance. He is, in my experience, a conscientious and hard-working young man who is supremely talented. Tonight, he came up short, and I know he wishes he could do it all over again … but he cant. Dave Campbell may have been right when he suggested that figure skating is the most difficult of the sports. Im convinced it is simultaneously the most beautiful and brutal. The judges reward you lavishly when you succeed, and they punish you ruthlessly when you dont. And they make you sit by yourself to await your fate on a giant-sized television screen so that everyone in the arena and around the globe knows what they think of you. Those are the facts when it comes to figure skating. And while Im disappointed for Patrick Chan and happy for Yuzuru Hanyu, Im astonished that the result has affected me the way it has. Its not like I havent witnessed something like this before. “Its just so thrilling,” Dave Campbell said. “And its causing me to lose sleep, but I cant get enough of it.” I feel the same way. Its the savage beauty of sport and the incredible attraction that the brave hearts who dare to venture onto the Olympic field of play hold for me. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys China . Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane wanted to stay in Chicago and the Blackhawks wanted to keep the high-scoring forwards in the only NHL uniform they have ever known. Fake Soccer Jerseys .Airport spokeswoman Heather Lissner said that all departing flights were back on schedule. However, arriving flights were still trying to catch up.Super Bowl Sunday got off to an inconvenient start for hundreds of passengers trying to get to Phoenix for the game. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ . -- The way Ted Ligety carved into turns looked so easy. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . The Blue Jackets play Thursday night at New Jersey in their first game after the NHLs Olympic hiatus. A native of Trencin, Slovakia, Gaborik has represented his country at the 2006 and 2010 Olympics but was unable to play in Sochi because of his injury. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic . Bjoergen pulled away from Swedens Charlotte Kalla on the final straight to win in 38 minutes, 33.6 seconds and defend her title from the 2010 Vancouver Games. Kalla was 1.8 seconds back. Heidi Weng of Norway took bronze.Southampton hired Ronald Koeman as its new manager on Monday, hoping the former Netherlands defender can build on the south coast clubs success in the Premier League last season. The 51-year-old Koeman signed a three-year deal with the Saints. His brother, Erwin, has also joined Southampton as assistant first-team manager, while Jan Kluitberg will serve assistant first-team coach/physical coach. "I am thrilled to be the manager of Southampton football club," Koeman said. "Southampton have a talented first-team squad, a world-class academy and the infrastructure to sustain success in the Premier League." Koeman arrives following a three-year spell at Feyenoord, which he led to consecutive top-three finishes in the Dutch league. He replaces Mauricio Pochettino, who left to join Premier League rival Tottenham. Koeman has coached across Europe, winning the Dutch league twice with Ajax and domestic cups with Benfica in Portugal and Valencia in Spain. Les Reed, executive director of Southampton, said the club was delighted to attain the services of Koemans "calibre and status within the game." "From the moment we met with Ronald, it was clear he had the vision and ambition to take the club forward," Reed said.dddddddddddd "The club, players and fans will all be excited to have a man of Ronalds experience at the very highest level joining our club." A priority for Koeman will be retaining key members of the playing squad. England striker Rickie Lambert recently left to join Liverpool, and international teammate Adam Lallana is reportedly also a Liverpool target. Croatia defender Dejan Lovren is also reportedly seeking a move away. But Koeman is confident he will be able to continue Southamptons success from the 2013-14 Premier League season, where the Saints equaled their highest ever finish of eighth place with a club record total of 56 points. "The opportunity to continue the development of this famous football club was simply too good to turn down. I cannot wait to get started," he said. As a player, Koeman won the European Cup with PSV Eindhoven in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992. He scored the winning goal from a free kick as Barcelona beat Sampdoria 1-0 at Wembley. Koeman made 82 appearances for the Dutch national side. ' ' '