Olympic Snowboarders

They're spacey. They're goofy. If they're from the US, they compete in what look like New York Yankees jammies. But come on, they're by far the most entertaining thing about the Turin Olympics. Athletes from other events give you the same old robotic I'm-just-glad-to-go-out-there-and- play-the-game-the-way-I-practiced-it sports interview. Snowboarders talk about using their gold medals to pick up figure skating chicks.

Lindsey Jacobellis is getting talked about quite a bit for biffing her landing in the Women's Snowboardcross medal race, but I loved it (if you missed it, she essentially had the gold wrapped up until she tried--and messed up-- an unneccessary showboat move on the home stretch of the race). Hey, it's better to show some flair than to race like a bot. Modern athletics are largely a joyless affair, sucked dry of any spontaneity (look at the NFL, where the touchdown celebrations are pre-rehearsed).

Besides, anyone who can use terms like "fakey" and "goofy-foot" with a straight face is A-OK in my book.
--Keith Pille