Category: Sports Bar
So I spent a lot of time in these last two weeks checking out both the mens' and womens' olympic hockey tournaments. Needless to say, I was soundly disappointed in the entire USA hockey program in general, and the Canadian men didn't do much better. First off, let me congradulate the Canadian women for doing what they were supposed to do, and that is roll over everyone on there way to the gold metal. Now it's time for the real ranting to begin. The US women won brons, which I suppose is good enough, considering that the sport for women hasn't really gotten that much exposure, and it is always nice to see an upset. But the US men didn't do anything that was expected of them. The fact that they even showed up at the games at all was a surprise, or did they show up? Losing three games in the preliminary round, and tying Latvia as well as a very lack luster performance against Kasicstan kind of makes me wonder if the professional athletes that were out there competing really wanted to be there. This goes for the Canadians as well. They lost to of all clubs, Switzerland, who couldn't even beat Germany or Italy in there own bracket. It kind of makes you wonder, are the european players better? Or do they just want it more?
I just recently saw the movie "Miracle on Ice" about the 1980 U.S. hockey team that won the gold medal in the Winter Olympics. This was back when even though other countries were already using pro athletes, the U.S. was still sending true amateurs. It was so exciting the way the whole country rallied around those young college kids and rooted for them, and the players themselves wanted it so badly. It seems to me, there is no longer any patriotism involved in the U.S. Olympic athletes. You watch the skaters, skiers, and other athletes, and whether they are playing a team sport or going for individual medals, they are only doing it for themselves, not for the glory of winning for the U.S. I think the other countries still have athletes who want to do well for their country.
first of all, the olympics were a joke for america, and canada hockey teams, even the women for canada allowed 3 goals, lol, but seriously, the only time that american and canadian men care about hockey, is when they're hosting the games, notice that in 2002 the americans waited til the gold game to choke? and as for that "miracle" it wasn't nearly as much as the movie let it show, it was sooo much more than a hockey game, it was in the middle of the cold war, and no one seems to realize the importance of that game.
That's part of the point I was trying to make, Garret. It was so much more than a hockey game. It was all very patriotic. But just because the situation isn't the same now, I don't see why American athletes have to act like such jack asses at these international events. They don't have any team spirit at all.
Well, both points are very well taken, but if you think about it, the US choked in 2002 on there home ice yes, but in 98 Canada didn't lose until the gold metal game. Our professional athletes are very good at the sports that they play, and the russians, Sweeds, Swiss, and Fins were all using NHL players as well. So it can't be a problem with the level of training, it boils down to I think just what Becky is saying. Our athletes don't have heart. Mike Madano was too busy bitching about how US hockey wasn't pampering them enough instead of focusing on the fact that he was represanting his country. Kind of makes you wonder how many other team members are doing the same thing?