Olympics

SAN FRANCISCO--I have to admit, in the six weeks since I got back from covering the Winter Games, there has been a bit of post-Olympic letdown.

So, when British Columbia tourism officials set up a zip line in San Francisco and brought a few Olympians to town, I decided I had to check it out, even if the tech angle was a little weak (as my editor was quick to point out).

For the Canadians, it was a chance to show San Francisco some of what Vancouver has to offer. In addition to the zip line, British Columbia has filled … Read more

Although still in beta, the latest version of Sharepoint has already made it to the Olympics.

The United States Olympic Committee relied on the test version of Sharepoint 2010 to power the Web site used to deliver statistics, photos, news, and other information to the many journalists covering the Winter Games in Vancouver.

And the results, Microsoft says, were positive. A survey showed that 92 percent of the reporters said they found the site helpful--nearly half said very helpful--and almost three-quarters used the flash quotes (quotes gathered from athletes right after their performance or training) and press conference transcripts to … Read more

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--It's now about two hours until game time and all of Vancouver is staking out their place to watch the gold medal hockey game.

While lots of people think they deserve tickets, Gordon Robertson has a pretty good case. He was part of the 1952 Canadian gold medal-winning team.

The 83-year-old was popular outside Canada Hockey Place where hockey fans took pictures with him and rubbed his gold medal for good luck. But he didn't have a ticket for the big game.

"I wish they had invited our team, Robertson said. "I'm not … Read more

WHISTLER, B.C.--Steve Holcomb stood proud as he and his bobsled team were honored with the Americans' first gold medal in that sport in 62 years.

Then, offstage, he did his now famous Holcy dance. Unfortunately, CBS doesn't have broadcast rights, so I can't show you that. But I will put a YouTube video at the bottom so you can get the idea.

In an interview, Holcomb told me that he's done a lot of crazy things in his life, but said, "this is a better high than anything." The huge adrenaline rush makes … Read more

WHISTLER, B.C--Though clearly excited at winning a gold medal--the first U.S. bobsled gold in 62 years--Steven Holcomb wasn't quite sure what to say.

"I think I'm supposed to say I'm going to Disneyland."

In reality, the avid gamer and computer junkie is far more likely to go home and play Xbox than visit Mickey Mouse.

As for future plans, Holcomb said he wants to stay with bobsled as long as he can. "I'm a lifer," he told reporters here.

Teammate Steve Mesler also said it was impossible to describe the … Read more

WHISTLER, B.C.--Leading at the midway point of the four-man bobsled competition, the Night Train sled piloted by Steven Holcomb is aiming to help the United States break a 62-year-old streak without a gold medal in bobsled.

Holcomb and his teammates turned in track record times in both runs on Friday, giving the team a 0.4-second lead over Canada and a 0.44-second lead over a tough German team, piloted by Andre Lange, who is trying to become the first man to twice win the two-man and four-man events at the same Olympics.

As a world champion, Holcomb … Read more

WHISTLER, B.C.--American bobsled pilot Steven Holcomb, a master of sport and computers, put his four-man bobsled in strong position to win gold in Vancouver.

After two of four runs, Holcomb's USA-1 team leads by 0.4 seconds over Canada-1 and 0.44 seconds over bobsled legend Andre Lange, who is trying to be the first man to twice win the two-man and four-man events at the same Olympics.

Holcomb, who is a computer science major and Microsoft Certified Professional, has the U.S. two runs away from ending a 62-year gold medal drought in bobsled.

After the … Read more

VANCOUVER--Microsoft Business Division President Stephen Elop looked up as he delivered a presentation to his top managers on Microsoft's campus on Wednesday.

As Elop had been speaking, one of those managers, Kirill Tatarinov, had groaned several times.

"Was it something I said," Elop asked Tatarinov, who runs a division that creates business software for midsize companies.

Sheepishly, Tatarinov confessed that he had been watching the Russia-Canada Olympic hockey game. If Tatarinov worked for some other bosses at Microsoft, that could have been what is known in Redmond as a "career limiting move." Luckily, Tatarinov works … Read more

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--It's been 62 years since the United States claimed a gold medal in bobsled.

And this year, our best hope is piloted by a computer geek who trains by playing video games.

So our chances are pretty good. That's because, in addition to being a Microsoft Certified Professional and admitted PC nerd, Stephen Holcomb is also the reigning world champion in the four-man bobsled.

Plus, he's got this crazy "Holcy dance" that one just has to see to believe.

Holcomb hopes to dance his way on to the medal podium by the time … Read more