A Viewer's Guide
By William Tynan
SAT., FEB. 13*
2:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Opening Ceremony
8 p.m.-11 p.m. Hockey: U.S. vs. Austria; U.S.S.R. vs. Norway
Tip-top pageantry for all but the most committed parade hater. -- To skate into the medal round, the U.S. team must (and probably will) win its opening game.
SUN., FEB. 14
Noon-6 p.m. Skiing: Men's Downhill
Ski Jumping: 70 m
7 p.m.-11 p.m. Speed Skating: Men's 500 m
Figure Skating: Pairs Short Program
For couch potatoes, a monster mash.
-- Alpine skiing blasts off with the sheer fun and sheer craziness of the downhill. The mighty Swiss, led by Pirmin Zurbriggen, are the ones to watch for. -- Ski Jumper Matti Nykanen, Finland's bad boy, takes off for the first of two hoped-for golds. -- U.S. speed skaters came up empty-handed at Sarajevo, but at this distance Americans Nick Thometz and Dan Jansen are both good bets.
MON., FEB. 15
8 p.m.-11 p.m. Hockey: U.S. vs. Czech.; U.S.S.R. vs. Austria
A tough night for ultrapatriots. Very likely, the Americans will offer little resistance to the Czechs, while the Soviets dominate their opponents. -- On tape: the downhill run of the men's Alpine combined, a new event this year.
TUES., FEB. 16
8 p.m.-11 p.m. Figure Skating: Pairs Free Program
Lanky Sergei Grinkov should throw tiny Ekaterina Gordeeva around with so much zip that the gold is a snap. The U.S.'s Peter Oppegard and Jill Watson have to be at their best to take the bronze.
WED., FEB. 17
8 p.m.-11 p.m. Hockey: U.S. vs. U.S.S.R.
Another "miracle" for the Americans? It certainly would be, say the experts. -- On tape: Women's luge final. Bonny Warner could slide in among the powerhouse East Germans to become the first U.S. luge medalist.
THURS., FEB. 18
8 p.m.-11 p.m. Speed Skating: Men's 1,000 m
Figure Skating: Men's Short Program
Hockey: Canada vs. Finland
In the TV Games, it's Calgary vs. Cosby & Co., with ABC tossing a formidable array against NBC's stronghold lineup. -- A speed-skating battle royal as the U.S.'s Thometz and Jansen sprint against a passel of contenders, including Canada's Gaetan Boucher, winner of the gold in 1984. -- The U.S.'s Brian Boitano and Canada's Brian Orser each skate electrifying, near perfect two- minute programs. Even Cliff Huxtable wouldn't miss tonight's head-to-head: 6.0s could be in the air. -- On tape: Swiss Downhillers Michela Figini and Maria Walliser (one-two at Sarajevo) renew their pell-mell, icy-cool rivalry.
FRI., FEB. 19
8 p.m.-11 p.m. Hockey: U.S. vs. Norway
If it has lost to the Soviets and Czechs, the U.S. must win this to stay alive.
SAT., FEB. 20
Noon-6 p.m. Biathlon: 20 km
Hockey: Finland vs. Sweden
Ski Jumping: 90 m
7 p.m.-11 p.m. Speed Skating: Men's 1,500 m
Figure Skating: Men's Free Program
Another blockbuster day. -- Josh Thompson could be the first U.S. medal winner in the ski-and-shoot sport of biathlon. -- Nykanen jumps for gold again, possibly achieving the unprecedented double. -- Weekend high: triple jumps galore from Boitano and Orser in the men's final.
SUN., FEB. 21
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Two-Man Bobsled: Final Runs
Skiing: Men's Super Giant Slalom
Hockey: U.S.S.R. vs. Czech.
Freestyle Skiing: Aerials
7 p.m.-11 p.m. Hockey: U.S. vs. West Germany
The longshot U.S. bobsled team looks for its first medal since 1956. -- The U.S.S.R-Czech face-off could ultimately determine the gold. -- Freestyle skiers demonstrate their heels-over-head, heart-stopping acrobatics. -- If the U.S. hockey team is still in contention, this could decide whether it makes the cut.
MON., FEB. 22
8 p.m.-11 p.m. Speed Skating: Women's 500 m
Ice Dancing: Original Set Pattern
U.S. Speed Skater Bonnie Blair has a good shot at gold in the first of her encounters with East Germany's powerful Karin Kania and Christa Rothenburger. -- On tape: Figini and Walliser duke it out in the super giant slalom. -- The Canada-Sweden hockey victor will probably take home a medal.
TUES., FEB. 23
8 p.m.-11 p.m. Ice Dancing: Free Program
Though no Torvill and Dean, Soviet Dancers Natalia Bestemianova and Andrei Bukin should win in a waltz.
WED., FEB. 24
8 p.m.-11 p.m. Hockey: Medal Round
Lotsa hockey, live and taped. Also on tape: women's giant slalom.
THURS., FEB. 25
8 p.m.-11 p.m. Figure Skating: Women's Short Program
The time is prime for Debi Thomas, America's current sweetheart, and Katarina Witt, East Germany's coquettish "workers' hero." -- On tape: Italy's Alberto ("la Bomba") Tomba will give Zurbriggen a run for his money in the giant slalom.
FRI., FEB. 26
8 p.m.-11 p.m. Speed Skating: Women's 1,000 m
Hockey: Medal Round
Kania is considered unbeatable here. Blair may skate to a bronze.
SAT., FEB. 27
Noon-6 p.m. Skiing: Men's Slalom
Hockey: Medal Round
7 p.m.-11 p.m. Speed Skating: Women's 1,500 m
Figure Skating: Women's Free Program
Slalom Specialist Tomba should dominate today. Sentimental favorite: Sweden's Ingemar Stenmark, the aging (nearly 32) double gold winner at Lake Placid. -- The grand battle of the Car mens. Thomas and Witt both skate a final program to the same opera's music -- the foray a d'or each must win.
SUN., FEB. 28
Noon-6:45 p.m. Four-Man Bobsled: Final Runs
Hockey: Medal Round
7 p.m.-11 p.m. Figure-Skating Exhibition; Closing Ceremony
Last chance for the U.S. bobsledders. -- Plus two last, presumably great hockey games. -- Then the figure skaters have some fun. -- And goodbye.
FOOTNOTE: *Times are EST. Weather may change outdoor schedules. Unless otherwise noted, events are broadcast live. Half an hour of recaps and features is set for 11:30 nightly except opening and closing days.
With reporting by Brian Cazeneuve/New York