Open thread on the men's hockey final (and the Olympics in general).
GOLD!!!
The nattering "own the podium" critics seem rather quiet of late... somewhere out there a Husky gas station is missing their flag.
The only thing that could spoil this is if there's drinking after the game.
Heh - "Where was Iggy?" He left after Russia was eliminated.
Via email;
As you probably have noted I'm a very old man who lives in kelowna B.C. I have family yet in Saskatchewan. Yes, I did do a term as Postmaster, Regina a long time ago.
I, as well as most Canadians swelled with pride through out these Olympic games and my heart was glad and the tears did flow. To experience this euphoric National pride was beautiful.
I want to share with you a glimpse of something else that I saw as these games came to a close.Since 1968 our land and it's people have been brow beaten into a submisive quiet, almost too humble a land in which National pride was not only frowned upon, but was ridiculed. That lengthy and undeserved humilty was forced upon us by the intellect and bullying of Pierre Elliot Trudeau and the rest of the so called elite who felt they new best.
Today that era has been put to rest. We have now shed that false and pious humility and can take our place as a proud people who have earned the right to stand tall. For this old guy to have been around to see this change has given me a sense of relief.
To finally say goodbye to Pierre and bury him forever is something I only dreamed about.
God bless our Country and thank you to our Olympians for giving us so much.
Yours truly
Mel W.
Who's bright idea was to schedule the game at a time when I'm in church?
Johnny: you need to find a different church!
Let's just hope the closing ceremonies don't employ the use of hydraulics or union labour.
As to which team will take gold, PMSH summed it up best in his CTV interview yesterday.
"Who's bright idea was to schedule the game at a time when I'm in church?"
You've got tickets to the game ? WOW!
According to Bev Thompson the resident blonde bimbo on ctv...'we shouldn't brag too much about Canada's accomplishments at these Games'..so could you just keep it down a bit!
Johnny,hockey game in Canada IS church.
A better question would be "who's bright idea was it to schedule church during the game"?
A fresh breeze swept in from Cape Race and kept going across the land. Time slowed and a whole Nation stopped to watch and honour their chosen.
Today is the game, of our time and our choosing.
Play well guys and regardless of the outcome...you have made us proud!
What a wonderful land to call "home"!
On paper Canada is the much better team but apparently the game has to be played.
At least in church, it's not a nail biter, Johnny. The winner has been declared.
What I want to know is, who are that silly couple who were embarrassing even before the gushing moment over Johnny Weir?
Here's an idea: Why don't the Brits tell the government "screw you! We won't obay."
They can't arrest everybody, can they?
Self Loathing and international guilt: 0
Being unabashedly great: 1
During an interview by Ben Mulroney on CTV this morning, Donald Sutherland says something to the effect that he loves the country, but "only wishes we didn't have an army."
And they picked this guy to carry in the flag at the opening ceremonies? Ugh.
I'd pay good money to see Jack Bauer torture him.
bestman,
Well thats fair, I love my country and I wish that Donald Sutherland wasnt Canadian.
My church has a wide screen plasma on the alter.
Here's hoping the fans are again so very classy as to cheer the US team. After their beaten, of course.
Harper summed it up perfectly last night for Brian Williams, "we should win"!
I have news for CTV's Bev Thompson, winners get the bragging rights!
I will concede however, there is something noble in being a gracious winner.
And on that note, I was truly impressed with the Finnish Girls hockey team ....... beautiful broad smiles, despite ending up third, while hanshaking with our winning women.
Well done ALL Canadian competitors, we salute you, all!
And Donald Sutherland can be thankful for his sorry leftist ASS that there are other Canadians who refuse to kneel, and are willing to die for the likes of him and Shirley, to say stupid things freely!
The Donald finished that remarkable remark with "I wish we were more like Costa Rica."
I'm still trying to digest that one.
I don't think Sutherland actually lives here does he?
Perhaps Donald Sutherland would be so kind as to move his sorry left-wing ass to Costa Rica. Note to Donald you either have your own Army on your streets or you have someone else's. That was a "remarkable remark" all right gellen @ 11:34 remarkably lefty-lame.
This game is going to be decided on one thing - it's the only stat I will be watching: the hit count
If Canada out hits the us 3 or 4 to one we will win going away. We have the size to impose our will and the speed to employ it without getting penalized. It was what smothered the Russians a few days ago in possibly the best international game a team Canada has ever played.
My only nagging worry is that luongo isn't up to the task - he hasn't been rock solid yet and he has been letting out lots of juicy rebounds (a little less so in the last game I grant you).
We are far and away the best team.
The second key is that by the end of the game Ryan miller should be able to identify several of our forwards blindfolded simply by the smell of their buttcracks.
Why isn't the top story the outrageous infringement of our charter right of freedom of movement not the subject of everything Olympic?
If your not sure of what I speak try driving the Sea-to-Sky highway without a special Olympic permit.
Last time I checked it was a public roadway.
Just saying.
re: Donald Southerland - I am so sick of all these former Canadians being paraded as our face to the world - its time to get rid of dual citizenship. I heard Neil Young is in town and may be part of the closing ceremonies - the guy hasn't lived in Canada for 35 years. Is there nobody left who lives here who is capable of doing opening and closing ceremonies?
Me and GRETZKY: A SIGHTING
I've been pi88ed with Gretzky for retiring 'cos when he played I knew at least one hockey player's name. Now none, which causes some awkward sputtering moments in elevators. But at least I know how many teams are in the NHL: 6!
Speaking of which, at breakfast at the Vancouver Hyatt Regency about a week ago -- whilst awaiting the detailing of my motorcycle -- I was two tables away from the Great G who sat with two younger cats, presumably hockey players.
Observation of Great Significance: the two younger cats wore caps while G was respectuflly bare-headed. Now, while I took umbrage at some for criticizing the women for being "unladylike" (LOL) I have zero tolerance for hats in restaurants, esp. upscale ones. I never wear my hat (helmet) in a restaurant, even tho it's a flip up.
after the game... will there be beer? :0
marc in calgary, I don't know about your place but at my place there will be beer before, during and after the game.
I could not figure out why sutherland was chose to do those voice overs for the olympic commercials. Why not get someone who conveys enthusiasm and excitement, not sound like a stoned sheep who just woke up.
As for former Canadian Donald Sutherland's remark,(he hasn't lived here since the 1960's)friends regularly vacationed in Costa Rica every winter for the last five years.
They said it was NOT safe to walk the streets at night,and they were warned to be very careful in broad daylight.
They've stopped going to Costa Rica now, as they didn't enjoy feeling unsafe every time they went out,and are now going to Spain for the Winter.
Canada: 5 The Great Satan: 4, and I'm damned nervous about Luongo,who can be either great or bloody terrible.
Hope the former shows up today.
February 22 CTV's broadcast showed Brain Williams interviewing the American talking head also named Brain Williams. The "Two Ego's"
A sickening fauning lovefest of absolutely no value. Fake smiles, insincere hugs, and bleating platitudes, I'm quite surprised no one mentioned it. I'm too sensitive I guess?
Sutherland wishes that Canada didn't have an army? What a naive, clueless waste of oxygen! Sometimes I think that people of Sutherland's ilk make these incredibly moronic remarks simply for shock value. No one could be that mind-numbingly (is that a word?) stupid.
However, on the other hand, eliminating the armed forces would free up a ton of cash which could be used to top up CBC's subsidy.
Prediction- If we win tomorrow we will see all sorts of stories about how morally superior we are to the great satan to the south. Come to think of it if we lose we'll probably see the same thing.
Canadians 'walk on water', it's just another everyday miracle.
Notably, Canadians ensure the water is frozen to a depth of 30 cm and usually don skates. Sometimes this includes a puck.
Go Canada Go!
Worshiping the puck however is idolatry, God may take offense.
Cheers
Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North"
Luongo just has to play OK. Broduer made two if not 3 really bad errors in the game against the US.
And if I could say one thing to the Canadian team
Shoot high!
I love the competitions, many of which are thrilling, and I am excited about today's game. If you do a "follow the money" exercise on the Games, you will be as appalled as I to see large sums disappearing into the pockets of unaccountable aristos from around the world. Finally, I worry about peoples' easy acceptance of the excessive security measures (15,000 police, military and rent-a-cops) which governments may get to like too much. As a police chief once told me, "Anyone can make do in a tyranny - it takes a brave man to live in a free society".
On paper, we should beat the Americans handily. However, as almost everyone knows, the game is played on ice.
Luongo will rise to the occaision and provide decent goaltending,however, being a Habs fan, I would much rather see Carey Price between the pipes. On second thought, either Jacques Plante or Georges Vezina would be my first choices. Apparently neither one was available.
Ham: Bingo! I live in Vancouver, and fully expect the monstrous security ramp-up to not return back to its previous pre-circus level.
"War is the health of the State" - Randolph Bourne.
Bread and Circuses, or State-Subsidized Mega events -- sports or otherwise -- are the health of the state. Works just as well!
Earlier in the interview, when asked about today's game, noted hockey analyst Donald Sutherland spoke thusly:
"I hope the left wing holds up."
causing me to snork my coffee.
After this winter I wish Canada was more like Costa Rica too :)
The Yanks have a powerful team this go-round, and an awesome goalie. I don't think Canada has played well enough to beat them in any game yet. Still, on any given day...
Generally I think that doing your best is what Olympic sports should be about. This, however, is HOCKEY and only gold is good enough. Silver would be a bitter pill to swallow.
GO CANADA!
Joannie carries the flag in closing ceremonies..cbc had it all wrong(again)
Our father, who art in Vancouver,
hockey be thy name.
Thy will be done,
GOLD to be WON on Ice as well in the stands.
Give us this day, our hockey sticks, and forgive us our penalties,
as we forgive those who crosscheck against us.
Lead us not into elimination, but deliver us to victory,in the name of the fans,
Canada, and the holy PUCK.
Amen
Can't comment at all on this subject. Didn't watch a single segment of it.
As far as the flag bearer issue is concerned, I think PMSH should be given that honour. After all, he is the democratically elected leader of our country.
Joe Molnar @11:17- I too, was impressed with the beautiful smiling broads on the Finnish hockey team.
Don't hit me Kate ;)
Many, many summers past, I had the privilege of attending the Canada VS CCCP game in Russia.
My companion, SOP, was KGB........
He was visibly uncomfortable with the Russians' version of sportsmanship...I was impressed.
Whenever a goal was scored, the crowd went nuts cheering.....shouting "T'chabu" (the puck)....
The crowd was totally indifferent as to who scored....
My companion was impassive throughout....I realized I was going native....and cheered who-ever scored.....it was infectious.......
I think there is a teachable moment in there somewhere.....
PM Stephen Harper: "Man for man, our team is the superior team but let's not kid ourselves, the most consistent team in this tournament to date has been Team USA. So, our guys have to come ready to play, 60 minutes, every man. If we do that, we will win, and we should win."
POTUS Barack Obama: "I won."
Something to play with between periods --
Fractions of a Second: An Olympic Musical
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/02/26/sports/olympics/20100226-olysymphony.html
I think they should change the format of the tournament. It doesn't seem right that the looser gets a medal. You need to win your game to get the bronze, or loose your game to get the silver. That just ain't right.
I was thinking the other day and asked myself "Why doesn't Winnipeg put a bid in to host the Winter Olympics?"
The facilities are there, might even get a domed stadium out of the deal. Down hill events could be held up at Asessippi (Lake of the Prairies) near Russell Manitoba or annex Kenora Ontario to be part of Manitoba for the duration.
Our motto could be "We put "Winter" back into the Winter OLympics", but since the next one is in Russia, our motto could be "Back to Basics." All outdoor events could be held outdoors, speed skating, figure skating, hockey, short track etc all in one day...on Lake Winnipeg. Up graded fishing shacks for change/warm-up rooms, wooden benches on the side of the ice playing surfaces, Hudson Bay blankets to keep the legs warm.
Imagine a biathlon coursing through the White Shell during a blizzard, dodging startled deer, out running a coyote or wolf, imagine a 5,000 meter speed race in a straight line, due north on Lake Winnipeg with a 50 km head wind...
And being the host city, we could introduce a new winter sport, Outdoor synchronized swimming. Cut a big hole in the frozen lake and the criteria for winning is based on how quickly the routine can be finished before the hole freezes over. Although, the sight of a bunch of legs, blue from the cold, sticking up from the frozen ice could pose an image problem.
The possibility is there, should be an announcement on April 1st.
"During an interview by Ben Mulroney on CTV this morning, Donald Sutherland says something to the effect that he loves the country, but 'only wishes we didn't have an army.'"
Celebrities. They do say the darndest things, don't they? Pay them no mind.
Speaking of vacuous personalities, how about that oddly-tanned Ben Mulroney?
Point 1.I started the Olympics not caring very much, I'm getting old, the four years seem to roll around faster and faster.
Point 2. I dislike CTV as part of the MSM. Never watch it anymore.
I ended up watching more and more of the Olympics, I and other other curmudgeons in my social circle are saying the same thing: These were fun Olympics, just plan fun to watch.
I applaude CTV, TSN and SNET for doing a GREAT job. To wit: the announcers were prepared with the correct pronunciation of every name! How classy is that!
The talking heads did a great job, not hours of inane chatter. Camera work was great and High Def sure has made this a great experience at home.
And finally I researched the history of Own The Podium and now I realize what that's all been about. Well done Canadian Government and Corporate investors. And the athletes who are donating their monetary prizes, well that's the gift that keeps on giving.
2010 The Great Canadian Olympics!
Just so long as this waste of tax dollars ends.
I want my money back!!