Update!

The Jamaicans have enough money! It's been less than three days and already over $126k has been donated to them here.

To be clear, the money wasn't to fund them going to Sochi, their federation does that, it's for the extra training, equipment, etc. Looks like people are still feeling the rhythm and the rhyme.

Feel the rhythm. Feel the rhyme.

Get on up...it's bobsled time!

I hope everyone has seen Cool Runnings. If you haven't, you're missing out. But even so, I think most people know the history of the Jamaican bobsled team.

While they might be one of the most famous bobsled teams ever, they actually haven't qualified for an Olympics since 2002. That was until this past weekend. The Jamaicans are back! It's only in the two-man competition, but nonetheless, they will be competing in Sochi.

IF they can raise $80,000 to cover their costs to get to Sochi. In order to do this, they've started a Crowdtilt account to help get the money. Anyone can go on and donate. I feel like they'll get it. But it sure would be disappointing if they don't.

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like Disney should at least give them a little bit of money? I mean, they did make plenty of money off Cool Runnings. I really think they should even sponsor the team. How great would that be?

Well, here's to hoping we see them marching in during that opening ceremony on Feb. 7!

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U.S. Figure skating team.

Warning: long, rambling post below

The U.S. Olympic Figure Skating team was announced on last Sunday but it was not without some DRAMA! As to be expected in a sport that brought us the infamous Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding saga.

This Olympics, U.S. Figure Skating switched to a committee selection process to determine the athletes that will represent the U.S. in Sochi. It's important to remember that the national championships for skating is no longer considered the trials. This is unlike a typical racing sport (i.e. swimming, speed skating, track) where your performance at the Olympic trials, and at the trials only, determines whether or not you will compete in the Olympics. That also makes sense in an objective sport. But skating is a subjective sport. So what this meant was that the "trials"for Sochi were based on performances at major national and international competitions over the last two years to give the U.S. the best shot at winning medals. The most consistent and proven competitors would get the nod to go.

This is the same type of process that U.S. gymnastics has been doing since 2004. It's worked pretty well as the women's gymnastics team is basically the best and deepest program in the world and hasn't finished worse than second in the Olympics since then.

There are four disciplines in figure skating - mens, ladies, pairs and ice dancing. The amount of competitors/teams that the U.S. gets to send is based on the combined finish of the athletes at the previous year's world championships. In 2010, the U.S. got to send three men and two women to the games in Vancouver because at the time the U.S. men's field was deeper and more talented. That's shifted over the last four years and the two ladies competitors at worlds last year - Gracie Gold and Ashley Wagner - finished well enough to gain the U.S. women a third spot for Sochi, while the men now only have two. The U.S. has three ice dancing spots and two pairs spots for Sochi (same as Vancouver).

As I talked about in this post, Ashley Wagner was the last one out of the Olympics in 2010 by finishing third at the national championship, while Mirai Nagasu finished second and got to compete. Nagasu finished fourth overall at the Olympics and there was no argument that the U.S. sent the right athletes four years ago. But over the last four years, Wagner has skated with a fire to get back to this point and earn herself a spot on the team. She won the 2012 and 2013 national championships and finished fifth at the world championships the last two years. She also won a Grand Prix event in the fall and was the only U.S. lady to qualify to compete at the Grand Prix finals. For those of you that don't follow figure skating, those are all pretty impressive notes.

Going into the national championships last week, everyone thought it would easily be Wagner and Gold with a fight to determine the third spot among a handful of skaters that have been good but not great over the past few years. There were about three to four people I thought could end up taking this spot. Gold skated great in both the short and free skate programs and easily won the competition. Pretty much assuring her spot on the team. Wagner had a mistake in her short program and struggled in the free skate to end up placing fourth. NOT what people were expecting. Then, this 15-year-old named Paulina Edmonds burst onto the scene in her first senior national competition and finished second! What?! And then you have Nagasu come back from finishing seventh last year to place third. Holy cow! Who do you put on the team?!

In the past, it was the top two or three finishers, no matter what. But now they have this selection process. So if you choose the girl who has been the stronghold for the U.S. in competitions the last four years, but finished fourth, who do you leave out? The 15-year-old with no experience but finished second? Or the one with Olympic experience? Or do you leave Wagner off for succumbing to the pressure and not performing to her best ability when it counted? The Olympics are only one competition after all. The gold medal is not awarded based on your body of work over the last year. Just ask Michelle Kwan.

But they decided on this selection process to pick the most consistent skaters to give the U.S. the best chance at winning medals. And every "expert" agreed that Wagner deserved a spot on the Olympic team. So then who gets the third spot? Being 15 and new to this level of competition can be a great or terrifying thing. You either compete with reckless abandon because you don't know any better and have nothing to loose (i.e. gold medalists Tara Lipinski and Sara Hughes) or you just fall apart. Well, the committee decided that Edmunds skated well enough to earn a spot, even at 15, and leave the experienced Olympian out of the games. One could also think they're trying to give her experience now if she's the future of U.S. Figure Skating.

I have to admit, I watched the live official announcement, which was live streamed, with my heart beating so fast. I really wanted Wagner to make it. Just from watching on my couch the past few tears, I think she deserved it. They announced the names alphabetically, so it was...Edmunds...Gold...and....Wagner. I gave a little clap and cheer for her from the hotel room I was sitting in.

Ok, moving on. Can you believe there's more?!

The two pairs teams selected were the teams that finished 1-2. This wasn't that controversial because no one really knew who would rise to the occasion in the pairs competition. Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir, won the championship again this year and secured themselves a spot. The second-place team, Felicia Zhang and Nathan Bartholomay, did well, but honestly, no team from the U.S. has been that impressive in years. The team that everyone would have bet on two years ago, Caydee Denny and John Coughlin, missed last season to injury and just came back on the scene this season. They ended up finishing third after a fantastic free skate, but it just wasn't enough to give the committee faith in them for the games.

There were only two spots available for the men this time around and it was wide open for anyone. There hasn't really been two or even one American male to make a big enough impact recently to have a spot secure prior to nationals. So every male finish in this competition was important. I think the three that ended up finishing in the top three probably would have been the safe bet, but it really was so up in the air.

Jeremy Abbott ended up winning the title, his fourth, and was selected to his second straight Olympics. He was a really strong contender four years ago, he beat Evan Lysacek in the national championships prior to Vancouver, but just buckled under the pressure of the games. He's struggled since then and didn't even make the world championships last year after a terrible free skate. He had to prove at this nationals that he could skate two clean programs. He did that and even set a new U.S. record with his score in the short program. If he skates his absolute best in Sochi, he could be a medal contender.

The other spot was between Max Aaron and Jason Brown. Aaron won the U.S. title last year and has been the international face for the U.S. the last year but was not a sure bet. He's a fantastic jumper, that's how he won his title, but lacks a little in the artistic department. He's worked hard in that area and has gotten a lot better, but it's clear his strong suit is the athleticism and the jumps. Brown, an 18-year-old, does not compete a quad jump, which is pretty much something you have to have to be able to win internationally these days. Lysacek won without it in 2010 but that wouldn't be possible now.

What Brown does have is a performance quality that can't be matched. He just brings you in and you wonder all the sudden how it happened. So when the "jumpers" fall, he's there with his solid triples, performance and technical quality and can pick up the points the others lost out on. That's pretty much what happened this year at nationals. He ended up winning the free skate with an absolutely amazing performance. And that was against people that landed quads. So in the end, Brown got the second spot over Aaron, who finished third, and I think will be a good experience for someone who should be one of the top Americans over the next few years.

I like Brown. He is a beautiful skater. Like I said, he can really draw you in. But what I can't handle is his hair. It's probably shoulder length but he keeps it pulled back in a slick ponytail for competitions. I'm sorry, but it is so ugly and it does not compliment him. But hopefully with time will come more maturity for him, a quad jump and a hair cut.

Prior to nationals, there was one couple that could do absolutely terrible and still not have to worry about not making the team. Nationals was merely a formality for them. And that would be ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White. But they are perfect and amazing and won their sixth straight national title and extended their two-year undefeated competition streak. They are the (slight) favorites to win gold in Sochi and I can't wait to watch!

The other two spots went to the couples that finished second and third. These selections were not at all controversial and exactly what everyone thought would happen. The second couple is Madison Chock and Evan Bates. Bates competed in the 2010 Olympics with a different partner. Now Bates and Chock skate together and they are really lovely to watch. They skate with such a mature elegance. The other couple is Maia and Alex Shibutani, a sibling combo also known also known as the Shib Sibs. They are fun, vibrant and bring a young excitement to the ice.

Davis and White will either win gold or silver with the Canadian couple of Virtue and Moir taking the other color. But one of the other U.S. couples has a really good shot a bronze. The ice dance competition will be really fun to watch. Trust me!

I know many people don't think ice dancing is enjoyable (if they even know what it is), but just watch Davis and White below. They are so incredibly amazing. Look at the stuff that they do and then think about the fact that they're doing that on skates...moving across the ice...at that speed. It's really unbelievable.

We're getting closer.

Originally published on my "normal blog" on Jan. 10.

Alright y'all, it's getting close. Twenty eight days from today to be exact. You know what I'm talking about.

Just so there's no confusion, the Olympics actually start on a Thursday this time around. Because of the addition of new events, the games begin on Thursday, Feb. 6, while the opening ceremony is on Friday, Feb. 7.

I realize I have 27 days to change my mind, but I still don't think I'll do a full blog and daily update for these games. I just don't think I have the time to dedicate to it. But you can find thoughts and general updates here - as usual.

As we get closer, I saw this article on 23 U.S. Olympic stars to watch for. No surprise, I know of most of them, but you may not. You can read the full article here and I will bore you with some more below.

J.R. Celski - short track

He's pretty much taken the torch that Apolo Ohno has been carrying for the U.S. team since Salt Lake City in 2002. He won two medals in Vancouver and is seen as the top American in Sochi,

Kelly Clark - snowboarding

She's kind of like the Shaun White of women's snowboarding. She was the inaugural gold medal winner in the event in 2002 and took bronze in 2010. She's had a lot of recent success and is looking to be back on top of the podium.

Shani Davis - speed skating

If you've watched the past two games, you should know who he is. He's the two-time defending champion in 1000m and will also look to medal in the 1500m. He has gotten silver in the 1500m the past two games. He also currently owns the world records in both events. If he wins in the 1000m again, he'll be the first American male to win the same event in three different and consecutive Olympics.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White - ice dancing

Many people immediately change the channel when they see that they are watching ice dancing. It doesn't draw the same attention as the high-powered jumping of the individual and pairs skating. But let me tell you, watching Davis and White is like watching a painter work on his masterpiece. They are enchanting and just down right amazing. They've been the top pair in the U.S. for the past six years and one of the best in the world in that time as well. They finished second in 2010 behind friends and training partners Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada. Since then, it's pretty much been all Davis and White. They won both the world championship and grand prix last year and are the favorite for gold. However, it really could go either way. Virtue and Moir closed the gap at the grand prix final, so it's pretty much these two couples and then everyone else. I'll be pretty shocked if these two don't go 1-2. Both were amazing four years ago and I think the home crowd helped put the Canadian couple on top, so we'll see who gets it done in a more neutral field. So far it's been all Meryl and Charlie. Let's hope it stays that way!

Gracie Gold - figure skating

Gold burst on to the senior scene last year after winning the world junior title in 2011. And let's just get the obvious out of the way - she has the perfect last name for an Olympian. However, she probably won't be earning gold, at least not in Sochi. The U.S. is just hoping for a medal. Gold is great when she can be consistent. When she puts it all together, she's a really fun and lovely skater to watch.

Lindsey Jacobellis - snowboarding cross

You may remember Jacobelis from 2006. She was seconds away from winning gold when she decided to throw a trick, messed it up, fell and gave up her lead to finish second. I bet she can give a great speech now on why you shouldn't showboat. Four years later she didn't medal. Now eight years later, she is back and still working for that gold.

Sarah Hendrickson - ski jumping

Sochi will be the first time the women are allowed to compete in ski jumping. For whatever reason, it was seen as one of those "too dangerous for women" sports for the Olympics prior to this. Basically, it's dangerous for anyone that does it, no matter the sex. Anyways, Hendrickson is the reigning world champion and looks to become the first Olympic champion.

Lindsey Van - ski jumping

Not to be confused with Lindsey Vonn, Van won the ski jumping Olympic trials. Won over the above mentioned Hendrickson. The chances for the U.S. are looking good in Sochi. Van was one the people who really fought to get women's ski jumping included in the Olympics. Gold, silver, bronze or nothing, her hard work has allowed her to add the word Olympian to her resume.

Steve Holcomb - bobsled

Remember when the U.S. won the four-man bobsled in Vancouver with the "Night Train"? He's back as the pilot of "Night Train Squared" and has been very successful over the last year. He's also the pilot of the two-man team and will hope to win the U.S. it's first medal in that event since 1952.

Hannah Kearney - mogul skiing

Kearney won my heart in 2010 when she said she was just excited to be part of an Olympic montage after winning gold. She looks to become the first woman to win back-to-back golds in freestyle skiing.

Ted Ligety - alpine skiing

Ligety has been one of the best U.S. men's skiers over the past decade. He didn't do too well in Vancouver, which was hard since I kind of have a crush on him. However, he's been pretty awesome lately and won gold in three events at last year's world championships.

Julia Mancuso - alpine skiing

With Vonn out, Mancuso will have her chance to shine. She's considered the best big-race competitor out there and has three Olympic medals. She's been really successful during the same time span as Vonn but has always kind of been in the shadow because she struggles at World Cup races. But this is the Olympics, so there's no bigger race than that for the gamer. Some of you may more remember her as the skier that likes to wear a tierra on the medal podium. Whatever works Julia, just win yourself some medals.

Bode Miller- alpine skiing

Yep, it's still "Miller Time." This will be Miller's fifth Olympics and he has won five medals in those games - the most by any American skier. He's coming off a knee injury from last year, but had success in races at the end of 2013 and is looking good. And let's be honest, skiing is just more fun if Bode is competing.

Heather Richardson - speed skating

I'm hearing a lot about Richardson because she's from nearby High Point, N.C. Her strength is the 1000m, but she has a chance to medal in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m.

Mikaela Shiffrin - alpine skiing

Think of Shiffrin as the Missy Franklin of the Winter Olympics. She's 18-years-old and is the current world champion in the slalom. She is the favorite to win gold in the slalom and could also medal in the giant slalom. Expect her to then take over as one of the faces of alpine skiing for the U.S.

Ashley Wagner - figure skating

Wagner finished in that dreaded spot four years ago. She was the first woman out for the U.S. team in figure skating, watching Mirai Nagasu and Rachel Flatt go to Vancouver. Instead of quitting the sport, she has been the top skater for the U.S. the past several years and skates with a new passion and fire. Now 22-years-old, she has a noticeable maturity and beauty that seems to be what international judges are looking for these days. She is the reigning two-time U.S. champion and finished fifth at worlds the last two years. The hope is that she or Gold can get on the podium and give the U.S. its first women's figure skating medal since 2006.

Seth Wescott - snowboard cross

Wescott won his second straight gold in Vancouver in a nail bitter of a race where he came from behind to win. I remember it very vividly (no surprise). He's coming off an ACL injury from last year but is still the favorite to win another gold.

Shaun White - snowboarding

Along with Lindsey Vonn, he's probably the most well known U.S. winter Olympian. I don't need to say much except that he's going for his third straight gold in the event and is still the favorite (although I think the gap has narrowed a bit). He is also looking to medal in slopestyle, a new event, which is more like snowboarding tricks down a course, rather than the halfpipe.

I lied.

So, in the above post, which I copied over from my normal blog, I said I probably wouldn't create a special blog for Sochi. I totally lied. That is obvious to you already as you are reading this. I decided that I don't want fill up that blog with Olympic-related posts constantly.

Although, now I'm also wondering the point because I won't really be blogging about anything else but the Olympics during this time frame. I also don't think many people read that blog anyways. I guess it doesn't matter anyways. Too late now.

Anyways, here it is. The Sochi blog. Still not promising daily updates, but there will be stuff leading up to the games. And of course stuff during the times when I somehow manage to find the time.