The Nuclear Winter Olympics, Day 9: The USA Medal Count Is Like California

• When the drought mitigates, it only mitigates some for the United States.  Yes, they got their first medal in over 48 hours on the short track last night (John-Henry Krueger snared silver, only the fourth non-gold medal for the USA), but their total of nine (with a very non-promising day and night upcoming Sunday in Korea) leaves them an increasingly-distant tied for fourth on the total table with Austria, Japan, and the Olympic Athletes from Russia.
• We appear to be headed for another "split title", as Germany leads under the Olympic table standard of golds with nine, but Norway (7 golds) has a significant total medal lead with 22 to Germany's 17.  Canada (5 golds, like the USA) has 15 total medals.
• Seventeen countries have won gold medals, seven more and the Olympic Athletes from Russia (even though they are tied with the USA, Austria, and Japan at 9 total, they have the opposite situation as the USA.  USA is 5-2-2.  OAR is 0-2-7!) have medaled.
• As of present reckoning, 21 countries (including Russia, who still tops the table) won gold medals (Russia and Norway are now considered tied with 11 golds after four Russian medals (two gold, two silver) have been so far yanked.  Five more countries medals, for a total of 26, one more than right now for PyeongChang.
• No country, as of yet, has won their first medal in a Winter Games in PyeongChang.
• Speaking of the USA and OAR, the "Cold War" with the OAR athletes continues, as the largely KHL OAR team reasserted itself as favorites to win the men's hockey gold with a 4-0 schooling of the USA (which I'm surprised wasn't worse!!) -- and the sportsmanship of the OAR was brought into question.  (Yahoo!)  Psst...  Hey, Americans...  They're PISSED.
• Many Trump-Humpers got LOL's at Lindsey Vonn's expense after she became the latest high-profile USA crash-out of these Games in the giant slalom.  Made me wonder:  As hard as these people have worked -- could we actually be seeing some of these athletes losing their edge because they are not 100% committed to representing Trump's America?
• Thomas Bach has announced the IOC will aid North Korea in appearing at the Tokyo Games in 2020.  (Inside the Games)
• And let's keep pouring gasoline on the fire, United States!  Next week, the Helsinki Commission, an independent European security agency of the US government, will tackle issues raised by the Russian doping scandal.  (Inside the Games)
• Elise Christie of Great Britain had to be stretchered off the ice last night when she took a skate from a Chinese skater to the leg -- and SHE was the one disqualified!  (Yahoo!)