Its arguably the first marquee event of every Winter Olympics, and the mens downhill in recent Olympics has provided surprising storylines. Vans Scarpe Vendita Online . “The one thing about the Olympics especially in the speed disciplines, it so very rarely goes to the favourite, the favourite has so much pressure, and the variables are greater in downhill,” says CBC alpine analyst Kerrin Lee-Gartner, a 1992 downhill winner. “ Its not to say its a flukey thing, its just that everything has to align right, its harder for the favourite to make it align right in downhill.” In the last 20 years there have been four Olympic downhill winners who had fewer than three World Cup victories before making history: Tommy Moe of the U.S., Frenchmen Jean-Luc Cretier and Antoine Deneriaz, and 2010 winner Didier Defago of Switzerland. The Canadian Cowboys - Erik Guay, Manuel Osborne-Paradis and Jan Hudec - wouldnt qualify as surprise winners from an individual standpoint, but breaking a 20-year Olympic medal drought for the country in alpine skiing certainly would make fans take notice. No Canadian man has ever won a gold or silver medal in alpine. Steve Podborski (1980) and Ed Podivinsky (1994) each won bronze in the downhill. Guay is the likeliest contender to break through. Hes achieved two of his three career goals after winning a Crystal Globe season title in the super-G in 2010 and winning a world championship in downhill a year later. The Mont-Tremblant, Que., native is only missing an Olympic medal, preferably gold, after three separate top five finishes at the Winter Games. Guay has battled back this season from a knee injury to break Podborskis World Cup podium record for Canadian men. He finished seventh in the opening training session on Thursday. Hudec, he of the seven knee surgeries and more recent back injury, has also reached the podium this season. The Calgary native took silver in the super-G in Val Gardena, Italy in December. Osborne-Paradis is waiting to take that next step. Since coming back in late 2012 from a knee injury, the North Vancouver native has had top 10 finishes, but has been unable to reach the podium. Ben Thomsen of Invermere, B.C., finished second on a slightly different Sochi course two years ago, but hes struggled mightily this season.There are two strong international contenders to buck the recent trend of surprise Olympic downhill champs. Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway, who won a medal of every colour in Vancouver, has run his total of World Cup downhill wins to eight this season with a pair of victories. Bode Miller of the United States has wowed ski fans again this season, coming back at the age of 36 after more than a year off to reach the World Cup podium once each in downhill, super-G and giant slalom. Millers yet to win since his comeback, but coming up golden for a sixth career Olympic medal would be just his style. The following men would also not be surprise winners: Dominik Paris and Christof Innerhofer of Italy, Adrian Theaux of France and Patrick Kueng of Switzerland. Even 36-year-old Didier Defago put his name into consideration again after his first victory in over two years last month, a super-G at Kitzbuehel. The lengthy course has received mostly positive feedback from the skiers, with many remarking on the "big air" jumps. 2010 Olympic downhill: Didier Defago, Switzerland (G), Aksel Lund Svindal, Norway (S), Bode Miller, USA (B) Olympic alpine skiing schedule: Sunday, Feb. 9: Mens downhill Monday, Feb. 10: Womens super-combined Wednesday, Feb. 12: Womens downhill Friday, Feb. 14: Mens super-combined Saturday, Feb. 15: Womens super-G Sunday, Feb. 16: Mens super-G Tuesday, Feb. 18: Womens giant slalom Wednesday, Feb. 19: Mens giant slalom Friday, Feb. 21: Womens slalom Saturday, Feb. 22: Mens slalom Vans Scarpe Online Saldi . John Albert Elway, 24, was booked into jail early Saturday morning after an incident near a college campus in downtown Denver, according to jail records. Scarpe Vans Offerte Online . And I wanted to take this opportunity to share some of my experiences gained through International competition and the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Seven NHL referees and six linesmen will be assigned upcoming games in Sochi by the IIHF as part of their 28-man officiating roster comprised of 14 refs and 14 linesmen. http://www.vansitalia.it/ . LOUIS -- David Ross never expected to be on a World Series podium.ORLANDO, Fla. - Looking for their first home win of the season, the Orlando Magic got a big lift from a pair of rookies.Aaron Gordon had six of his 17 points in overtime, and the Magic beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-103 on Friday night.This is why they drafted me, said Gordon, a 19-year-old reserve forward who also had six rebounds. They know what I can do. My number was called and I was ready to go. I dont want to hear about (age). That would be a crutch, and I dont want any part of it.Gordon was the fourth overall pick in this years draft. Elfrid Payton was selected by Philadelphia at No. 10, and then traded to Orlando.Payton also had two big jumpers in the extra period. He finished with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists.Im just trying to bring something to the team. I never think about being a rookie, I dont think anyone cares, Payton said. Coach is counting on me to make plays, make big plays and be ready. Your age doesnt really matter. This was a sign of good things to come.The Timberwolves (2-3) lost point guard Ricky Rubio to a sprained left ankle late in the first half.Kevin Martin scored 21 points for Minnesota, but missed a short jump shot in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. Nikola Pekovic and reserve Corey Brewer scored 16 apiece.The Magic (2-4) had six players score in double figures and enjoyed a 52-38 rebounding edge. Evan Fournier had 20 points, and Tobias Harris finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds.Gordon opened overtime wiith a three-point play, lifting Orlando to a 97-94 lead. Vans Scarpe Italia. He also made a 3-pointer to make it 106-99 with 1:35 left.Minnesota led 48-45 when Rubio was fouled on a drive to the basket with 2:28 left in the first half. He was helped off the floor and taken to the locker room after scoring four points and handing out six assists in 13 minutes.Were going to evaluate it tomorrow, coach Flip Saunders said. They took X-rays; there are no breaks, but he popped it pretty good so were going to have to wait and see where its at.Fournier made a 3-pointer to give Orlando a 92-90 lead with 2:49 to go. But Fourniers shot was Orlandos last basket in regulation.Thaddeus Young then had a tying layup for Minnesota, and Mo Williams made two foul shots to give the Timberwolves a 94-92 edge. Young finished with 13 points.Nikola Vucevic made two free throws for Orlando with 11.9 seconds remaining, sending the game to overtime. Vucevic had 14 points and nine rebounds.NOT THEIR FAVORITE SPOTThe Timberwolves have lost seven straight in Orlando. Their last road win against the Magic was a 102-101 victory on April 1, 2008.TIP-INSTimberwolves: Gorgui Dieng had 11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. ... Rookie Andrew Wiggins scored six points in 21 minutes for Minnesota. ... Rubio played in all 82 of Minnesotas games last season.Magic: Orlando had 21 turnovers, but none in overtime.UP NEXTTimberwolves: At Miami on Saturday night.Magic: At Brooklyn on Sunday. ' ' '