Tuesday’s TV best bets for Sochi Olympics

PAIRS FIGURE SKATING

The rich history of Russian pairs skating will once again be on display. Its dominance was so great that some incarnation of Russia won 12 straight golds from 1964 until 2006. Then it was shut out in Vancouver in 2010. This Games pair of Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov should regain gold.

WOMEN’S SKI JUMPING

It’s a showdown in this first Olympic event for women. On one side is 17-year-old Sara Takanashi of Japan. On the other, 19-year-old Sarah Hendrickson of the U.S. It was unknown if Hendrickson would even make it here after suffering a training injury. But she was cleared and was granted a spot on the team.

MEN’S HALFPIPE

Shaun White is hoping to win this event for the third time. But the story is all the complaints the halfpipe is getting. White called it “frustrating” and another snowboarder called it a “junk show.” There was even some talk of postponing the event until things could be fixed. That’s not likely.

WOMEN’S LUGE

The U.S. may pick up its first medal in women’s luge if things go right. After two of the four runs, Erin Hamlin sits in third place behind two women from Germany. Hamlin finished 12th in Turin in 2006 and 16th in Vancouver in 2010.

EARLY BEST BETS

WOMEN’S DOWNHILL

Can Julia Mancuso win her second medal of the Games? It’s certainly possible. Mancuso surprised everyone with a bronze in the super combined but now she gets to race her better discipline. This was Lindsey Vonn’s race to lose until she was injured. Now it’s anybody’s race to win.

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