Word: crosses
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...heart of the problem is the challenge Renoir set for himself: to reconcile classical and Renaissance models with the 18th century French painters he loved. To synthesize the force and clarity of classicism with the intimacy and charm of the Rococo is a nearly impossible trick. How do you cross the power of Phidias with the delicacy of Fragonard? The answer: at your own risk - especially the risk of admitting into your work the weaknesses of the Rococo. It's a fine line between charming and insipid, and 18th century French painters crossed it all the time. So did Renoir...
...Granted, in snowboard cross, the Olympic sport in which athletes race four at a time down a mountain on a narrow, twisting track that's filled with perilous jumps, crashes are part of the game. But on Tuesday, things were getting ridiculous. Riders weren't just wiping out during their races (incidental contact with other athletes is bound to cause some spills); they were falling even during their qualifying runs, in which boarders speed to the finish line alone to determine their seeding for the actual contest. (Watch a video about training for snowboard cross...
...Consider it a miracle. Monday's men's race, won by American Seth Wescott for a second straight Olympics, was another insane crashfest that could have resulted in serious injury. At some point, however, the laws of probability will prevail. During the 2006 Winter Games, snowboard cross - making its rookie debut in the Olympics - was a charming hit. Without question, it's one of the more spectator-friendly events; the races are fast, unpredictable and dramatic at the finish. Since the death of luger Nodar Kumaritashvili last week, however, it hasn't been that much fun to witness such dangerous...
...Despite all the crashes, several boarders refused to admit that their sport was unsafe, pointing out that the weather was beyond their control. But if inclement conditions put Olympians at risk, doesn't that make their sport inherently perilous? Two World Cup athletes have died competing in snowboard cross over the past five years. The winner of Tuesday's women's race, Maelle Ricker of home country Canada, had to be airlifted to a hospital after crashing during the final of the 2006 Games (she suffered no serious injuries...
...Although the cross competition is now complete, snowboarding has some hazards to offer. Over the next two days, men and women will flip and McTwist off the 22-ft. (6.7 m) half pipe during that popular, perilous event. The snowboarding world is still sobered by the frightening recent incident involving Kevin Pearce, the American medal hopeful who struck his forehead on the pipe in December, resulting in a serious brain injury. The Flying Tomato himself, Shaun White, narrowly escaped grave injury while practicing a complicated trick last month. The Americans are favored to win gold. But is that medal worth...