While NBC is focusing on speed skating and alpine skiing today, the real action is on its other networks, MSNBC and USA, where you can watch live hockey games all day long. The American men will play Finland in the quarterfinals at 11:30 this morning. Also, the American men's curling team is in the semifinal game against Canada. It airs on CNBC at 5 pm.

No figure skating tonight but the ladies will be back Thursday to determine the gold.

Here's the schedule:

Thankfully, we're getting a break from all forms of figure skating. Daytime events include women's Cross Country, men's and women's Biathlon, and a live match of hockey where the USA men take on Slovakia. Seriously consider catching a curling match on USA when the American men take on Germany.

Primetime coverage is where all the excitement is supposed to be. American speed skaters Chad Hedrick and Joey Cheek each have a gold medal and tonight they'll race each other, plus American Shani Davis, for another one in the 1000m. Apolo Anton Ohno also is in that is in a separate race. Skiers Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves hit the slopes in pursuit of that elusive gold medal.

Here's the schedule on all of NBC's networks:

Oh joy. Ice dancing begins tonight on NBC. That's one event that I just can't watch because it looks too much like high-school-drama-club-on-ice to me. They can't jump or do lifts, so they wear weird costumes and look longingly into each other's eyes. This is much more of an artistic event than a sport. Why is this still in the Olympics?

If you can stomach the ice dancing, there are some other interesting events on television tonight, including the premiere of women's snowboardcross. I saw the men's race last night and it was pretty darn cool. It's like motorcross on snow. Once again, the American women are the favorites.

As usual, there is plenty of hockey and curling on NBC's other stations:

The Russians are well on their way to winning a gold medal in pairs figure skating tonight. After a flawless short program, Totmiyanina and Marinin enter tonight's long program almost four full points ahead of the next team. Also tonight is the women's halfpipe snowboarding competition. The U.S. men already claimed a gold last night, thanks to an awesome run by Shaun White. Tonight, Americans Gretchen Bleiler, Hannah Teter and 2002 gold medalist Kelly Clark all have a good chance at getting on the podium. Also tonight, more speed skating as American Casey FitzRandolph races in the 500m, for which he won gold in Salt Lake City. And the American women and men each take on Norway in curling.

Here's tonight's schedule on all of NBC's networks:

Some big names in competition today. On the slopes, Americans Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves hope they can hold back Austrian hot shot Alpine Skier Hermann Maier, who is on a mission to win since he missed the Salt Lake City games due to a motorcycle accident. Seattle native Apolo Anton Ohno (and his soul patch) go for the gold in the same race that caused controversy in SLC when he won after a South Korean speed skater was disqualified for interfering with Ohno during the race. But, the real spectacle of the night will hopefully be top-rated, red-haired, American snowboarder Shaun White, a.k.a. The Flying Tomato, as he goes for the gold on the half-pipe.

Here's today's Olympic schedule:

The Olympics. An event where athletes from every country in the world gather to compete in sports. It's a time of unity. Of heroes. Of peace. Somebody needs to clue Brian Williams in.

He joined Bob Costas as the commentator for the Opening Ceremonies of the Turino, Italy Olympic games last night. And I almost through threw the remote control through the television set. Williams felt the need to share his news knowledge with the rest of us by mentioning some not-so-happy news events related to specific nations as they paraded into Olympic stadium. Denmark? Williams mentions the cartoon that triggered riots in Muslim nations. China? He talks about human rights and environmental standards. Iran? He says that country's leader has called for the destruction of Israel. I much prefer the interesting factoids about the nations, their Olympic history, and notable Olympians.

His comments were unfair to the athletes of those nations. The news and controversy surrounding certain nations lately are not representative of the athletes who are competing.

**Apparently, the Daily Nightly commenters agree.

By next fall, the Olympics will be long gone. But, NBC wants to remind you of the games by putting one athlete on The Apprentice. Which one? You get to choose. Online voting begins today, coincidentally, so do the Olympics, and ends on February 26, coinciding with closing ceremonies. The winning Olympian will join the other candidates in Los Angeles when shooting begins on season six of The Apprentice. I'm guessing that whichever team gets the Olympian will exploit him or her to the max until Trump fires the athlete. The press release that announces the cross-promotion doesn't mention any of the athletes' business experience. No matter. The Apprentice stopped being about business in season two, didn't it?

The list of candidates is after the jump:

The winter Olympics begin this evening with the opening ceremonies on NBC. That means, for the next two weeks, you'll hear a lot of people chanting, "USA! USA!"

Personally, I love the Olympics. I let myself get caught up in the drama and the action, even though I'm definitely not a sports fan any other time of the year. The most popular sport during the winter Olympics by far is figure skating, specifically women's or pairs skating. Here, I'm listing the other sports that I will definitely be watching: