Sochi Update – NBA & NASCAR

Some good and some bad when talking about the Sochi Winter Olympics over the weekend. The U.S. Hockey team brought an intense weekend.  Saturday night saw the Americans fight to beat Russia in an epic Olympic game which ended in an 8-round shootout.  The teams were locked at two a piece heading into overtime.  T.J. Oshie scored the deciding goal in the shootout beating Russian goalie Sergei Bobrovski from Columbus Ohio and the Columbus Blue Jackets.  Despite the high intensity game, the U.S. Olooked like they were ready to play during the fight with Slovenia.  Phil Kessel became the first U.S. player to get an Olympic hat trick in over ten years.  U.S. beat down on Slovenia 5-1 Sunday.  This win guarantees the United States a spot in the quarter finals.

Like I mentioned, not everything went as planned.  Lindsay Jacobellis, the 8 time X-Games winner, fell out of the top spot on Sunday.  During the snowbardcross semifinals, she washed out and ended up coming in dead last.  The Olympics have always been a tough challenge for the 28 year old.  During her runs she for sure was thinking about some of the past Winter Olympics where things didn't go as planned.

As of Sunday night in Sochi, The U.S.  sit tied in the second place spot with Russia at 16 medals each.

Medal Standings.

NED - 17 Total

RUS - 16 Total

USA - 16 Total

NOR - 14 Total

CAN - 14 Total

GER - 12 Total

SWE - 9 Total

SUI - 7 Total

AUT - 7 Total

FRA - 6 Total

NASCAR NEWS

For the first time sine Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001, the famed Number 3 will be back on the track for Cup racing.  Austin Dillon, ran a lap at 196 MPH at Sunday's Coors Light Pole Qualifying, won the pole for the Daytona 500 while driving Number 3.  Richard Childress has refused to race the Number 3 since 2001, but has allowed Dillon, his grandson, to do so this year.  Martin Truex Jr. Qualified second, filling the front row for this year's season-opener.

NBA NEWS

The All-Star Game was last night and the score was a wonder 163-155 as the East beat the West.  The 63rd annual NBA All-Star-Game featured Kyrie Irving scoring 31 points and getting 14 assists as well as walking away with the MVP title.  His Teammate Carmelo Anthony went 8 for 13 from behind the 3-point line while Blake Griffin and Kevin Durant both scored 38 points for the West.  Multiple records were set during the game, including most combined points (318) most points scored by one team, previously 155 set in 2003 by the west in double overtime.  Most combined field goals made (135) and most combined 3-pointers made (30).