The latest edition of 5WF contemplates the lack of hype around the upcoming Olympics, why Alex Trebek is an absolute treasure, and Super Bowl prop bets.

1 The XXIII edition of the Winter Olympics kicks off in one week. Where are we with the far less popular Winter Games compared to its more famous Summer Games?

Not great, in my mind. The Winter offering has always been the little brother but I can’t remember a time when it’s been such a disparate comparison. I think it’s due to a couple factors.

First, the latest venues haven’t been all that great. The previous games in Sochi were perhaps the worst location, certainly in my lifetime. In fact, since I’ve been alive you could say the locations were all really solid for the most part until Sochi.

We’re also approaching East Asia overkill. The next Winter games will be in Beijing after hosting the Summer games there only in 2008. Nearly half of the Olympics in one region of the world feels odd, plus East Asia doesn’t really scream winter games to me. I couldn’t tell you a single thing about Lillehammer but Norway feels like a more fitting Olympics country for the winter. Perhaps that’s my European-centric bias, though.

I also think America in general is in a weird place with patriotism at the moment, if you know what I mean.

2 What can be done to make the Winter Olympics better?

It would seem the Winter games could benefit from rotating through a small list of host cities but the options are really difficult to sort through. Just about half the time you’re getting a venue far away from a large metro area and if you’re one of the people willing to travel in the cold this has to limit the attractiveness. Shouldn’t the games return to Vancouver every 20 years at least?

I’ve had an idea of Toronto and Buffalo co-hosting the Olympics but I’m not sure the skiing locations would be right. Lake Placid is 6 hours away from Western New York and that’s so close yet so far away.

The Winter Games also feature just 15 sports which lowers the odds of an athlete or team grabbing American or international attention. This 2018 Games feels especially light on known quantities among the athletes. We have to accept that many of the sports (biathlon, cross-country skiing, luge, etc.) just aren’t going to crossover into mainstream America, so it’s an even smaller pool of athletes.

I’ve got Lindsey Vonn and I’m not sure I could name another American heading to PyeonChang. I guess we have Shaun White still around?

Another issue is that the “new” sports like snowboarding and freestyle skiing really haven’t had the impact some thought they would when they were added. Even a sport like women’s hockey seemingly has taken a step backwards as the NWHL has been beset with financial problems and a merging with the CWHL isn’t in the cards yet. Ten to 15 years ago there were a handful of prominent women’s hockey players and now it’s not as strong.

3 Speaking of hockey, was it a mistake for the NHL to refuse to participate in the Olympics for 2018?

Yes, and no.

Taking a look at the United States roster it’s flat out depressing. We are sending a group of D and E-list players! It’s a bunch of cast-offs from all over the world which is sad and not at all what the spirit of the Olympics should be about. Unbelievably, the most prominent member of the team is 39-year old Brian Gionta who hasn’t even been playing professional hockey this year and signed a 1-game contract with the AHL’s Rochester Americans so he could “tune up” for the Olympics.

If it’s a choice between NHL talent and that, well, yeah give me the NHL talent.

However, using the NHL players is pretty absurd. Imagine if the Notre Dame football season stopped so players from all over the roster had to go play a couple games representing their home states. It’s ridiculous. The safest route for the future is to do something similar to men’s soccer and the Olympics: Impose an age-limit.

The level of play for hockey at the World Junior level is absurdly high. The soccer limit is 23 and under, while hockey could definitely get away with a 20 and under rule. All non-NHL players at this young of an age would inject a lot of fun into the Olympics. You’re not getting the absolute best in the world but you’re able to see some of the best young talent in the world.

4 Question: Is Alex Trebek one of the greatest living humans?

Without a doubt.

5 What are some of the best Super Bowl prop bets for Sunday’s big game?

Pink and the over (2 minutes) feels like a lock for the National Anthem. She’s originally from the Philadelphia area and will surely soak up every last second with the Eagles on the field.

It’s not s huge payout but Belichick wearing a blue shirt at kickoff is basically free money.

With the Patriots history you’d be foolish not to bet the under (9.5) for the total 1st quarter points. In fact, take the under for the whole game it’s sitting at 48 points.

Everyone should take the over for any and every Tom Brady passing stat. He’s averaging 50.25 passing attempts over the last 4 Super Bowls!