Don't mess with Texas

Chad Hedrick (the exception) blazed his way around the oval for gold on Saturday. As a matter of fact, USA's first gold of these Olympics. You really couldn't help but cheer on this Texan. Four years ago, Chad was sitting in Las Vegas at a Blackjack table watching Derek Parra skate at the 2004 Olympics and he decided that was what he wanted to do. He was a rollarblader turned speed skater. I think the best quote I have heard from him is about his dad. "I was known around town because my dad owned the local skating rink. So when people would talk about me it was 'Oh yeah, his dad owns the skating rink.'" Doesn't get much simplier than that.