While I must admit that I enjoyed numerous matchups throught these Olympic winter games, including Slovakia v. Russia and both rounds of USA v. Canada, the injustice the USA team suffers from winning only the silver establishes a fundamental shortcoming of Olympic hockey.
The USA ended the preliminary round tied with Sweden for the lead in points (9) while Canada had a disappointing record of 1 win, 1 loss, 1 overtime win, and only 5 points. Five teams finished that round with more points than Canada, who eventually figured it all out in the playoff rounds.
So what's the beef? It just feels rather odd comparing the two team's final records and points. Counting the playoffs USA finished with 5 wins, 0 losses, and 1 overtime loss, totaling 16 points. Canada's final record finished at 5-1-1 with the same 16 points.
Before continuing I want to say that I think it is obvious the better team won the Gold medal yesterday, and this isn't blind red, white and blue loyalty-- I was actually rooting for Russia. Each team, USA and Canada, was the only opponent to beat the other; USA beating Canada in regulation in the first round and Canada winning the Gold Medal game in overtime.
However, when you note that Canada had to win one first round game in overtime and that Canada only tied the USA in points by having to play in the first round of the playoffs (which the Americans avoided due to their superior record) it kind of seems like team USA dominated the entire Olympics and finished with the Silver.
All I am saying is that this is why Olympic hockey sucks; because I enjoyed the competition, but in the end I wind up feeling like a tool after getting sucked in and then feeling gyped even though I know the better team won.
If the hockey games played during the Olympics are supposed to grant the Gold medal to the team which played the best during entire tournament, then the USA should have been awarded the Gold. But then again, how often does the best team really end up winning the Gold? If we Americans statistically claim the Gold yesterday, I suppose we have to forfeit that delicious treat of 1980.
...Well, let the Canadians enjoy it then. The Russians were by far the best team in the 1980 games and USA stole the whole performance with two clutch games. The Americans proved to be the best team this year, but Canada's star-studded roster came together to dominate the playoffs and proved to have just enough to beat the Americans... once.
For Hawks fans its fantastic too; we've survived the Olympics injury free! Not to mention the Kane and Toews both shined on new spotlights for different teams, something which was nice to enjoy in the absence of NHL hockey. Let's hope our American and Canadian stars stay hungry for the real goal of the season despite these Olympic victories.
But wait. Hossa won nothing.
That being said, I predict that Hossa will be on a massive tear of vengence from now until he hoists the Stanley Cup with his Chicago team around him. Hossa's Slovakia lost the Bronze medal game to Finland, and this may be the best thing to happen for Hawks fans during the Olympics. I will provide the NHL with the necessary press release:
TO: All Players and Coaches
FROM: NHL Human Resources
ATTN: Hossa angry!
As most of you may now know, team Hossa failed to win a medal during the Olympics. While the Bronze medal was likely to be enough to set him off on a trail of hockey-driven vengence, losing the Bronze medal game may have snapped his nerves completely, and has caused serious alarm throughout the NHL.
Right now we are unsure of his whereabouts, but he is sure to turn up tomorrow agains the Islanders. For this team there is just too little time to prepare. We apologize to the Islanders for our lack of disaster planning.
To the remaining teams who may stand some chance to react, the resulting scenario remains grim, but we advise all teams playing the Blackhawks to be wary of Hossa. He is armed with magical wrists and is considered highly dangerous. With that we say good luck, and god bless.
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Ha! We can have the ultra-sappy and dramatically, wrongly overdone 2012 and Day After Tomorrow director Roland Emerich direct the movie; HOSSA: 2010.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Tags: Blackhawks, Hockey, Hossa, Olympics
This says a lot about the tapestry of hockey on the typical Canadian...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TevktQeSYQ4&feature=youtube_gdata
Wow, I had not seen that yet. If I had seen that before the game I probably would've really been rooting for the US.
Thanks for the link
To be fair, it is representatives of the coca-cola corporation (a US-owned company) that decided to air that commercial, which clearly plays on the stereotypical Canadian focus on hockey, to promote their product... It would be unfair, I think, to hold the commercial against Canadians if team Canada had lost.
Also, just to clarify, you wrote that Canada lost two games? I was only aware of the one loss (to the US). They had a game that went to the shootout, but Canada won that one.
Completely agreed. There are an endless amount of American TV commercials that I'm sure do more than inspire sports rivalries for foreigners that are unfortunate enough to view them.
I completely spaced on the 2 loss stat as well. Thanks for noting it.
Hello... I agree with you.... but why do you say Canada lost two games? "But when you note that Canada's lost two games..."
They lost only one game to the U.S. Your argument is stronger if you get the facts straight. Also, spelling Canadians correctly helps also.
You are totally correct on Canada only losing the one game, and I'm not sure what I was thinking at the time. I must have been dreaming about Sunday's game finishing a bit differently.
Your stats as to why Olympic Hockey sucks are not only misleading, but clearly define your lack of knowledge of the game. Point standings don't define the best team. Bad teams win over other bad teams. This increases their point standings, but both teams are still bad teams. You could take four great NHL teams and 10 junior B teams and match them up in a round robin tornament. The forth level NHL team might not finish forth in the point standings, but they will definately beat the top level junior B team. Hence your entire article is a flawed arguement.
Thank you for explaining the point system to me, except none of that really matters to my argument.
While I can't argue that it isn't at least somewhat flawed, most of my argument centered around the fact that USA was undefeated, no matter the points, until the Gold Medal game loss. On the other hand, Canada looked sloppy and lazy struggling against far superior teams until the playoff rounds began. I will also point out that I stated Canada is obviously a better team, I merely think the USA had a much stronger tournament performace as a whole.
Thanks for attempting to repair my lack of knowledge of the game, and please continue to (mis)read me!
Of course I mess up again now. In the second paragraph I meant to write that:
"...Canada looked sloppy and lazy struggling against far INFERIOR teams..." not "superior" as I wrote up there.
Thanks again for reading and please continue to respond. I'd love to keep discussing ideas with people.
My thoughts, comments... debate amongst yourselves if you wish- as I probably won't respond.
Some people like big corps.
Some people like mom and pop shops.
And I'm the later...
I'd rather buy from a mom and pop record store than a best buy.
I'd rather have a cup of coffee from a mom and pop diner- than a starbucks.
Though Dunkin Donuts- well they're good.
I feel Corporate America takes over too much of our lives and sells us short- just as the have done the last 4 olympics... things in small doeses aren't so bad, but when does too much- become too much?
Its just time to put this olympic experiment- to rest.
It was Bettman trying to market our sport, all he has done has taken away the intimacy of the sport... and make it a corporate 'sell out thing'
If there are Metallica fan out there- maybe you will understand the analogy- like how Metallica had 4 really solid albums, a 5th album and change that was ok at first, but sucked when it got too be too much of a change on the 6th album.
What we are seeing in this olympics- is that change where it has basically become- too much.
Tuesday we had to watch our Blackhawk team re-gel and watch a no-namer come out and get a hat trick from the New York Islanders.
Plus its like you say Adam- I get tired of being sucked in and feeling robbed and ripped off. I'm sorry- I have some american pride. I take issue with people who make a name for themselves, earn a salary here- but don't pay taxes and then just defect back to their homeland when it comes time for international competitions.
I believe such people- use our country without care and concern for it. They are like the republicans who drive the Jap Traps. With no care for middle america, or american products- the ones who keep this country- going. The ones the GOP- robs, steals from- and all the other- with no concern but for themselves: Greed.
Its like the americans that root for the russians- the world of alexander karpotsevs that never committed to the indian head and played hard for it. the ones that treat the NHL as a paycheck. But come out and play their best- when its for their colors.
Lets face it. Olympic hockey is nothing but about revenue for the NHL. The league is pissed because the contests overall weren't handled well with tv broadcasting, etc..
Greed was involved in this olympic format. The IIHF was not unanimous over the use of the NHL ice surface size. Some teams- wanted the bigger size.
The deciding play is a bad positiong by a referree during 4 on 4 play. A play that doesn't happen- on a bigger ice surface. Some believe it is a fix by the refs, but whatever. It is what it is.
The Olympics are- International, not north american. They shouldn't reek of corporate involvment. If our atheletes are such pros- they should be sportsmans and play by the rules in a fair fight. Play on the bigger ice they don't usually play on.
I think the NHL involvement in the olympics is just a bunch of propaganda, drama, and money changing hands, fixes and just a lot of other stuff that make it - a travesty.
WHy get all geared up with WWE tactics and soap opera drama- when canada keeps shooting fish in a barrel.
How interesting is it really to see teams whitewash poor norway?
The olympics are about the 'youth of the world'. The amateurs
Pal Grotnes, the Norwegian goalie- is a carpenter. He doesnt rely on a paycheck from a big league- to pay his daily bills.
One of the women atheletes in curling- works as a topless dancer for an income.
Yes there are I guess some pro atheletes in other sports. Sports that DO NOT get the regular exposure- our league does.
The olympics are not to be about corporate sponsorship and all the other mess- that goes with it.
And with the NHL involved- we really won't see another 1980 team.
Even if the 2010 team won- its not as sweet. I disagree with adam's comment that we have to- give that up- give up- what? You can't give up something that has already happened.
The NHL has a trophy for 30 teams to fight over, year after year.
Its time to return the olympics- back to the people. Leave the hockey contests for the college kids who want to play 4 years and get an education, give them a final proving ground championship- for them to compete in.
Give the minor leaguers- a chance to have some spotlight on national and cable tv- the NHL gets 82 games a year and playoffs- more often than not.
If the league is again involved in 2014- I am considering, not bothering to watch. Its just the WWE and mens 'days of our lives' of our sport.
One of the biggest reasons?
Patrick Kane.
He said something along the lines of- it seems like in the big games I seem to keep coming up on the losing side, and it really sucks. Hopefully I will get another chance.
In his defence- babock shadowed him. Babcock talked trash about our players that were on team canada- that he wanted to overuse them and take away from our playoff season.
Its nice to see three of our boys with gold.
here is hoping- mr seabrook drops sidney crosby into the bench in the stanley cup finals. And that we as america- win at least 1 of 2 championships- this year.
Congrats usa on the silver.
Wow, I love the passion! And in large parts I agree with what you're saying.
Unfortunately money is always going to be the driving factor in... well... just about anything related to any sort of business whatsoever. Hence, many of our favorite hobbies, whether sports-related or not, are sucked into the moral ups and downs of a capitalistic society.
Money is and always will be the problem with all sports. Its what changes us from the kids playing ball in the sandlot, or tackle football on snowy Saturdays, and pickup games of 2-on-2 in each other's driveways to the would-be professionals that holdout, sellout, gripe and moan (shoutout to Milton Bradley here!) all while being allowed to play a game for a living.
In the end, all the Olympics really offered me is exactly what they took away: hockey. If the NHL weren't involved I likely wouldn't have cared one way or another; I would have been happy NOT watching the Olympics and instead pleased to see an NHL All-Star game and a much shorter break.
Hockey blows. Yeah, I know thats easy to say in retrospect. Also, note to 'Jim' : easy on the meth, bro!
I'd also like to add:
If you're a real hockey fan.
You watch more than just the hawks. You might watch the wolves, you might follow other teams, other leagues.
You might play yourself, have family or kids- that play.
Hockey:
Its more than just 700 guys and a coproration.
Hockey is millions on many contients. The olympics is about giving those millions- a chance to show what they can do where the 700 do it- all the time.
Drop the greed
Say no to the NHL participating in Sochi 2014.
haha, what an amazing upset it would have been if they lost after airing that comercial. O well