However, the NHL has decided to pass on the idea  saying they’d rather settle the Russia - NHL transfer agreement.   I think this can be deciphered into, “We’re passing because Canada and Russia weren’t even in the Olympic gold medal game in 2006.”

For example, what would the 2004 summer olympics be without the dream team (bronze)?   Or the 2006 Canadian Hockey team (no medal).      Either way it’s really nice to see a group of players compete in the Olympics. Especially when a single line makes more money in a year then the other athletes have been making during their 4+ years of training.

Still, these choices don’t seem to inspire much enthusiasm. Does anyone really want to go Pyeongchang? (Other than Kim Jong Il, of course.) What is in Pyeongchang? Is there an Applebee’s at least? And Sochi I’m sure is lovely. I understand that Russian president Vladimir Putin has a little place there. But still, Russia? If Mike Modano couldn’t get in the groove in Italy of all places, do you think he’ll enjoy trucking all the way into Russia? I think Austria is the only real choice here.

But is Austria really the best choice of all the possibilities? I’m sure it’s great, but it seems to be lacking a certain je ne sais quoi, a hipness, a cool vibe. Can Johnny Weir find sparklies for his costume there? The IOC really needs to be thinking more like a travel agent. Where would people have a good time, enjoy a little local flavor, and maybe see a few sporting events? Well, I have suggestion: How about America’s new hotbed of winter sports, the newly crowned capital of hockey fandom? That’s right Jacques Rogge, you need to choose Raleigh, North Carolina.

Under the terms of the new marketing agreement, Omega will continue to provide timing services for such events as running, swimming, and cycling, as well as sports and events not traditionally through of as having a time component such as gymnastics, diving, and weightlifting. “It will certainly change some of the dynamics of these sports,” said IOC chairman Jacques Rogge. “But even though he is being timed, a weightlifter will still be lifting weights, will he not?”

Omega and the IOC are continuing to negotiate expanding the role of time keeping at the Olympics following the 2012 games in London. Under consideration is a plan to put NBC announcer, commentator, and all around know-it-all Bob Costas on a clock.

Another city testing the Olympic waters is Philadelphia, and what better place to host an international competition dedicated to the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play than the City of Brotherly Love? Imagine the stands of Lincoln Financial Olympic Stadium filled with Boo Birds from the 700 Level. “Yo Ivan! Yeah you, douchebag. You run like a girl. Go back to Ivanstan where you belong, jerkoff!” I can only imagine that the USOC would prefer to not start World War III, so they might want to take a gander at Hustle’s Hot Corner for some other possible scenarios before considering Philly as the host city.

While the rest of us went into deep hibernation until March Madness — waking only to murmur prayers that the rock sliding Minnesotans, snowboarding hopheads, Miller-swilling Millers, and Cosby sweater-clad announcers might please, God, stop — oddJoe, almost single-handedly, brought readers daily coverage of the good, the bad, and the inebriated in Torino.

A modest Canadian, oddJoe’s not one to seek the spotlight. In fact, while he certainly deserves an employee-of-the-month-type photo, we were only able to secure an artist’s rendering of the enigmatic expert on sports involving ice. (Honestly, though, paint a bottle of Yukon Jack into this fella’s hand and it’s a scary likeness.)

So oddJoe, great thanks from your fellow snarks for all the hard work. Vive le Canada! Vive le curling! Vive le oddJoe!

In the end it was Germany winning the most medals with 29, including 11 gold, 12 bronze, and six silver. The USA pulled in second with 25 medals, followed closely by Canada with 24. Austria won 23 and Russia completes the top five with 22. At the other end of the spectrum, Belarus, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Japan, Latvia, and Slovakia each won a single medal in these games; Shizuka Arakawa of Japan won gold in women’s figure skating, while Latvia’s M?rti?š Rubenis won bronze in men’s luge. In all, athletes from 26 different countries won medals in Torino, a record for the Winter Games, which is good for sport and the Olympic movement. The increasingly level playing field should also be a wakeup call to US organizers that they should bring to the games more athletes willing to put forth their best effort rather than headline-grabbing divas looking for a world stage to party on. (Looking at you, Bode.)

So to all the cross-country skiers from Kenya, the curlers from Bemidji, and the luge sliders from Argentina, thanks for competing and making it a great Olympics for everyone. We’ll see you all in Vancouver in 2010.