Team USA Knocks Off Russia In Sledge Hockey At 2014 Paralympics For Gold

“With every set back there’s a chance to come back.” 

The 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, Russia are now over.

Most importantly the gold medal match between USA and Russia was televised on NBC. 

I am given to understand that NBC used during the Olympic Games the duet “Incredible” by Céline Dion and Ne-Yo. Hell, if you want inspirational and incredible… they SHOULD have used it for the Paralympics.

However there was a lot involved and a lot on the line today as both gold and bronze medal matches went down. 

The semi-finals found USA against No. 1 seed Canada. And host nation Russia took on Norway. 

Team USA had previously lost to host team Russia and they had to take on their arch rivals Canada for the semi-finals. 

After the unusual and humiliating loss to Russia in the preliminaries, USA woke up and took their frustrations out on Canada winning  the match 3-0.

And so it was that Canada would play Norway for the bronze medal match. USA would again face Russia for gold. 

Let me explain why I said that a lot was on the line. 

• Team USA took the gold in 2010 in Vancouver with a win over Japan. The team actually went 5-0 and shut out everyone they played outscoring them 19-0. USA was playing both to defend their gold medal and to become the first team ever in the Paralympics to win back to back gold medals in sledge hockey. 
• Canada in 2010 on their home ice walked away with nothing, winning 4th place.
• Norway had earned a medal in every Paralympics sledge hockey tournament since the sport was introduced and inducted into the Paralympics back in 1994. It didn’t matter what color the medal was. They had won a medal in every tournament. 
• Canada had something to prove. They wanted their pride back after getting spanked by USA and being shutout. Norway’s medal streak was on the line. 
• Norway however (and unfortunately in my opinion) lost their streak as Canada won the match and earned the bronze medal for 2014. History was changed. 
• Not only was USA playing for back to back medals, but also taking into consideration that if they would win in Sochi, they would have the record of winning gold in the Paralympics three out of the last four times. 

Team USA’s Josh Sweeney (Texas) in the second period of the Gold Medal match was the one and only player that scored during the entire game. And that was enough for USA to become victorious. 

Josh Sweeney (#13) scores on Russia, making the game 1-0. The only goal scored.

 

Watching the … what was called.. the Victory Ceremonies where they handed out the gold, silver, and bronze medals to USA, RUSSIA, and CANADA.. it was an amazing sight to behold. 

Although I could not help but notice the depressing frowns on the faces of the Canadian team members. I didn’t get that at all. 

Russia was right there with their silver medals and in front of their home crowd. It was like THEY won the gold… considering that the one fact that Russia did not have a national team 3-4 years ago, then they end up hosting the Games, and then make it to the Gold Medal match their first time playing in the Paralympics? Holy crap on a cracker!! 

Yeah… “incredible” indeed. Again, THIS is where that song needs to be played. 

I’m actually proud of Team USA. I am also really proud that I know a lot of these players on the team, and I have met in person many more. These are your people who are incredible. 

These are the ones that should make you think twice if you think your life sucks from time to time and that things aren’t going the way you want them. Inspiration overload. 

2014 Paralympics Gold Medal Match- Sledge Hockey

 PBS Sled Hockey Documentary “ICE WARRIORS

Dumbass Award for October 2013

“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.”~Benjamin Franklin

I am astonished at how many times this Award has been given, according to this blog. You have no idea how much restraint I have to have before I give it, but this one was a No Brainer!!!!!

A teenage babysitter has been charged with endangering a child after the 5-year-old boy she was supposed to be watching accidentally shot himself with a gun she’d left on a coffee table.

Melissa Ann Ringhardt, 19, of Vidor, Texas, was arrested Tuesday and held in Orange County Jail on the felony charge, for which she could face six months to two years in prison.

According to authorities, Ringhardt fell asleep in a bedroom while babysiting for 5-year-old John Read and his 6-month-old sibling on Monday afternoon. She had left a .40-caliber handgun on a coffee table, and when she woke up, she discovered the child dead in the living room.

Since the home had no telephone, Ringhardt carried the 5-year-old and the infant to their grandparents’ home to call 911. The boy was declared dead when paramedics arrived. The infant was not injured.

The one thing that remains to be seen about this most ridiculous story is the rumor over whether or not Ringhardt was smoking marijuana and stoned, thus prompting her to take a nap and leave the child unattended.

It really just bothers me to pieces what had happened. And it was TOTALLY avoidable. This death did NOT need to happen!! Those of you who have children, probably can relate to this much more strongly than I can. Holy shit, this isn’t cool!!!! 

And she’s only up for a maximum jail term of a couple of years?? What’s wrong with this story??? She intentionally left something behind that she knew the child could harm himself with.

So congratulations, DUMB ASS!!!!!

 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/23/justice/texas-babysitter-gun-death/

Jaw Drop Award for September 2013

“I’m not going to take the bullet for everything.” — Penny Drossos

Real Housewives of New Jersey star, Melissa Gorga is under fire right now for a book she wrote that was just recently released.

I could not believe it when I heard about it. The messy details are right here and you can even get a sense of what is actually in the book:

http://jezebel.com/real-housewife-melissa-gorgas-new-book-advocates-mar-1371722729

That’s right!! MARITAL RAPE, and she stands by every little word.

Unbelievable.

And now I sit here and wonder how in the world these kinds of people are getting TV shows, music deals, and other financial endorsements. Its all just mind-boggling to me how some of the most heroic kinds of people are barely mentioned in the media, but we give so much to these kinds of moronic masses. Its the heroes of this country that should have the TV and endorsement deals, NOT these kinds of bozos!!!!

I’m going to take a guess, way out here in left field, and assume that Mrs. Gorga has never experienced a rape personally. And what she cares to lean towards in the bedroom that turns her on by her man, should actually stay in her bedroom.

I’ll take the guy who saved twenty kittens from a burning building over some blonde with fake boobs who can’t even spell “IQ” to be on television at any given time.