Sure thing

Austrians took the team event as expected. Germans with no stars but no duds- silver. Norwegians were thankfully not shut out at the venue and squeaked ahead of the Finns for bronze. Tight, though, and FIN Ahonen's absence due to injury from fall in trial round on Saturday was probably the difference.

Today's event was taped and re-voiced later in the afternoon. We didn't find out what the deal was until after leaving the hotel this morning and the assumption was it would be a live to tape with a little post event editing and mop-up. In the end we decided to make all the calls after the event. The opening on-camera was a blindside, particularly for Matt who had not shaved and, as a professional and young, eligible male, needs to look good for both professional and personal reasons. No razors in sight but one of the runners got to the XC venue and found that XC color dude Chad Samela had brought his NBC-issued make-up "man bag" (un-used, I might add, but isn't it like an XC guy to be so prepared). Matt's complexion didn't do well with off the shelf make-up (cadaver look according the Michele), but rubbing most of it off beat down the 5 o'clock shadow to maybe a 2:15 shadow.

Great dinner last night with Nick Alexander. Very impressive what he and the other special jumpers Peter Frenette and Anders Johnson have done here with completely self-funded efforts. Not only do they have do buy their own plane tickets, but even their own equipment, which I can't believe. College racers in the US get free equipment but the top US jumpers in the nation pay full retail (and no doubt get the bottom of the barrel when it comes to quality). Even the suits they bought from an Austrian source were a hassle as Austrian program director Toni Innauer was upset that the manufacturer had sold to non-Austrians. The Americans have shown here that they're passionate, committed, capable, and within striking distance of the top. They are diamonds in who have been through and been strengthened by a de facto hazing. It's time to get them some resources (and their parents some financial relief).

Caught some of the skier cross last night. Are you kidding me? First curling and now this... and women's ski jumping still on the sidelines. Unbelievable. What's next- Olympic scavenger hunt? Thank heavens they have a chair lift to get those dudes back to the top or it could really be a dangerous sport (need an AED and strong cardiac staff on site).