Fathead Blog

Every four years we get an education in this country about sports other than football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey. (I specifically say ice hockey because much of the world thinks of hockey as a field sport.) While NBA isn’t likely to be confused with the National Bobsledding League any time soon or NCAA with the Nordic Combined Association of America, it does us good to break out of our four sided box.

 I’m pretty sure that Nordic Combined won’t be bumping one of the big four US sports from the TV schedule, but it’s refreshing to watch and learn about a sport that Norwegian soldiers were competing in three centuries ago. In fact, I’m actually looking forward to the Nordic Combined Team competition this year. In part it’s because the US might actually have a chance to medal, but it’s also because I don’t often get to watch a sport that so uniquely combines such technical mastery and style (ski jumping), with incredible endurance and sprinting ability (cross-country skiing).  I’m not saying that other sports don’t have these qualities, but you don’t exactly see a guy lay down a perfect bunt and then run up and down the court for 48 minutes in the same event.

If you’re interested in Nordic Combined or any of the other Winter Olympic competitions, Fathead.com has added a complete Vancouver 2010 module to our site so you can get the latest news, check out the medal count, and see the current schedule of events.  Take a minute to learn something about a sport you might otherwise never give a second thought.