USA

I must confess gushing over excitement the U.S. Olympic stars engendered is captivating and honorable. The well-deserving praise is seen globally, bracing the particular U.S. stars that represented our nation with dignity, zealous of competing on such a prestigious platform. Wasn’t Canada supposed to own the podium, vowing to win the most gold?

What a surprise seeing the Americans conquer the unforeseen in a monumental sequence of conquests, becoming a replica on a day the U.S. amassed a total of six medals. In the homeland of Canada, the United States were on a mission and imprinted a wonderful journey tormenting the Canadians.

It’s frustrating and disappointing after spending $117 million the last five years to upgrade the medal count, having pride in trusting that owning the world-class games was logic. Therefore, the neighbors residing on the south of the border aren’t a mirage, but an incredible theme of the 2010 Winter Games.

In the last two weeks, the United States have defied logic, pulverizing the Canadians and rising on the podium to accept medals amid a ceremony when the well-deserving flag and country’s national anthem is heard. From gold, to silver, to bronze, the Americans have inherited superb applause pleasing a sporting nation with true passion of embracing the charming images of sports.

Badly needed were American icons, to strengthen the notion of the Winter Games. And because of the sterling performance of Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White, Bode Miller, Apolo Ohno, Shani Davis, Evan Lysacek, and the men’s hockey team’s latest version of the Miracle on Ice, the U.S. has popularized and uplifted an ailing every-four-year event.

For the longest, no one cared of the Winter Games, but was more interested in counting down to the Summer Games, where in recent memory the Americans are more solid. The masses were careless and clueless of our cultures talent, unsure whether we could entice a massive audience. Since our athletes consist of a strong-range of star power, we are fascinated with their performance earning the nod over all countries competing.

Our nation has excelled all temptations, taking control with its impressive adrenaline as the world persists in watching the world’s greatest athletes compete. There hasn’t been much to celebrate since the 1932 Games at Lake Placid, when the U.S. garnered the most medals at the Winter Games. But as sports continue to expand globally, the U.S. retains the leverage. The games are coming to a closure gradually, in which a close race with Germany is probably the only country putting fear in the hearts of average Americans.

The U.S. had us fooled. Believe in America after proving to an entire continent of its invaluable sporting icons, winning seven gold medals, nine silver, 10 bronze, and 26 totaled. With five days remaining the U.S. is on pace to surmount pass a total of 34 medals, a record the U.S. endured at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. Of late, the Olympics stirred up a minor controversy, regarding the medal count. For a long time, the games have expressed political discussions, a conspiracy tattering the meaning of the Olympics.

To all the prejudice and skeptics out to destroy the games, the U.S. constituted an inspirational tale uplifting from the darken crisis of letdowns and hideous stains that left faulty memories. The entire nation is proud of our athletes, capping supremacy and regenerating a magnificent brand name in foreign territory. The average citizen will remember the games as the most triumphant moment in American history.

Of all the star power, the U.S. made us proud erasing all the poor images. We never cared or spent ample time watching the Winter Games, simply for the failures athletes had illustrated in the prior games, especially in the Turin Games where the stars were limited and reduced. There were a multitude of fallen stars and icons we tried believing in, groomed to compete at such a high level, but their lackluster performance and disastrous meltdowns inhibited gratification.

Television ratings are at an all-time high, intrigued to watch the never-before-seen tricks of White, who defied gravity by performing ridiculous flips on a snowboard. Around the nation, children are accustomed to witnessing him polish in the Winter X Games, an action-packed scene catching children’s curiosity and influencing them to attempt a daring challenge on snowboards. Praise the U.S. Olympic Committee, too. All eyes were set on these games, in which investing $58 million over four years was worth it.

By producing large profit, it turns out, the committee earns more bang for its buck whenever athletes inherits a medal. Even the channel, NBC is earning huge bang for its buck, turning on more viewers by virtue of the Americans’ triumph. The millions of athletes were underestimated, based on the prior history. Sure enough, everyone had forgotten that Vonn is the greatest U.S. women’s Alpine skier, everyone had ignored Seth Wescott in the snowboard cross event, and everyone had doubt in the U.S. hockey team.

Maybe the cohesive team was ignored because of its unpopularity within the sport. Given that the sport originated in Canada, most athletes are groomed to dominate in a cultural sport that symbolizes the brand of the country. The Canadians had the nod, but the U.S. exemplified that the sport is played and viewed from a global standpoint and stunned the Canadians in a 5-3 win. But there was no one more impressive than Lysacek, the U.S. men’s figuring skater. He performed with much artistry, balance and elegance, to unexpectedly obtain the unforeseen purging afterthoughts that has undermined men’s figuring skating. He won gold, slicing over Russia’s former gold-medalist Evgeni Plushenko.

While the Canadians point fingers, the Russian’s stare in despair, the American’s are celebrating and proud of capturing medals. Getting beat at home, where the British Columbia residences were coveted of Team Canada protecting its homeland, the Canadians still have a shot at redemption after surviving in a play-in game Tuesday night against Germany. However, they may find themselves eliminated with a loss against Russia tonight. Whether we are interested or not, most will probably watch to await the newborn rivalry of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. Otherwise there’s nothing to see.

Oh, I almost forgot. There’s much to see.

We’re still watching the U.S. make our nation proud. Believing in red, white, and blue seems surreal, but it’s happening before our very eyes.

Josh Dhani

Josh has been writing since January 2009 and founded FootBasket in April 2009. He also owns the websites, Hardcourt Mayhem and Gridiron Mayhem. For a full bio, check out JoshDhani.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshDhani