Olympic Hockey has begun!
I was glued to my TV in 1980 when the U.S. pulled off one of the greatest upsets in all of sports history. C&Lers know I love the sport and I'm interested to see what happens this year. The U.S. women's hockey team has a great shot to win the gold, but the men are still the underdogs.
Canada is the favorite to win it all, with Russia right there at 2-1 odds. They both have incredible teams while Sweden sets out to defend their 2006 gold medal and they do have Henrik Lundqvist as their net minder so they still are a factor.
Canada will be devastated if they don't win the gold on home ice. The crowds will be rocking because hockey is like football, baseball and basketball all in one to the Canadians. Heck, over 12 million people watched the IIHF World Junior Championship gold medal hockey in January.
An astounding 12.3 million viewers – or more than one in three Canadians – tuned in to some part of the IIHF World Junior Championship gold medal hockey game on TSN between Canada and the U.S.A.
Over the course of the entire game, ratings agency BBM Canada reports that an average of 5.3 million Canadians were watching the game at any one time making it the most-watched program on Canadian television since 2005.
That's as big as the Super Bowl rating are here in America. The Olympics mean an awful lot to the international stars of the NHL. Alexander the Great told Gary Bettman to f*&K off if he thinks he's stopping him from playing in 2014.
It appears as though Capitals' Russian superstar Alexander Ovechkin has drawn a line in the sand with the NHL in terms of Olympic participation. ESPN.com is reporting that the reigning Hart Trophy winner plans on participating in the Olympic hockey competition at the 2014 Winter games in Sochi, Russia, stating that he will risk suspension to play for his country even if the NHL is not formally involved.
"Nobody can say to me you can't play for your country in the Olympic Games," Ovechkin told ESPN.com.
"I don't care," Ovechkin continued. "I'll go play in the Olympic Games for my country. If somebody says to me you can't play, see ya."
We have a ton of hockey fans on C&L, so tell me what you think -- and let the games begin!
Dudes in bubble wrap suits where you only know they score when the transponder flashes and blows its Hoo Hoos.
I'm for Yoko's boy in the ice derby myself. Did enjoy hearing Oh, Canada for the mogul winner.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
I'm really looking forward to the hockey games. My LA Kings have several players on various national teams, including Jack Johnson, Dustin Brown, and Jonathan Quick playing for the US squad. Of course, I'm rooting for our team, but the Canadians are a sentimental favorite. Hockey is their national game and there is unbelievable pressure on these young men. Should be a championship to remember.
Curling!!!!
mainly because I was working in the psych ward of a hospital and for a change everyone was watching TV so I didn't have to worry that much about who was trying to commit suicide or otherwise be a danger to themselves or others.
As a citizen of Soviet Canuckistan I am of course rooting for Canada to win, but a US/Canada final would be great. The Russians are a very good team and likely will make the final. It's not that I don't like the Russians, I just like the US a whole lot more. Let's bring the Gold and Silver back to our continent!
is basically a bunch of nhl players choosing up sides in a pickup game
gone are the days of the underdog usa team taking on the evil soviets
so who cares
bigger news is that the usa finally medaled in nordic combined...which is basically the iron man competition of snow peoples
oh, and i would love nbc to please explain why we on the west coast still arent allowed to watch events live....EVEN THOUGH VANCOUVER IS ON THE WC
"basically a bunch of nhl players choosing up sides in a pickup game."
--Agreed! Great way to put it. I feel the same about basketball in the Olympics. I used to wish they'd let the pros play. But once they did, I realized I was wrong. It just isn't fun anymore...
"oh, and i would love nbc to please explain why we on the west coast still arent allowed to watch events live....EVEN THOUGH VANCOUVER IS ON THE WC"
--Again, agreed! This has ALWAYS bugged me. Back when the U.S. hockey team beat the Soviets (was it 1980?), I remember hearing about the result before they actually showed it to us...That sucked!
I remember that game, too. I was glued to my TV when the underdog US Olympic hockey team beat the USSR hockey giant.
However, when and why the f*** did PROFESSIONALS be allowed to play in the Olympics? What a crock.
I'm not going to be watching. It's basically just become a 2 week long NHL All-Star game. And the All-Star game blows.
I'll start paying attention again when the NHL resumes the regular season.
...except many of them aren't quite paid like it. If you want amateurs, you may have to get high school kids for all of the events (if their AAU coaches will let them compete).
The USSR team was basically a professional team, too. I don't think you're ever going to get your full amateur games back.
except they went out of their way to hide how they made money
after the fall of the ussr, that opened the flood gates for the nhl to grab the best players...and the olympics wants the best players
thats why they dumped baseball...cuz the mlb wouldnt suspend its season to allow all the players to join their respective national teams
personally, i much prefer watching the college kids play
thats why they dumped baseball...cuz the mlb wouldnt suspend its season to allow all the players to join their respective national teams
Good for MLB. The NHL should do the same thing.
Olympic hockey is wide-open action. Between Canada's depth and talent, the scary-good Russian offense (with Nabby in goal), the Swedes and the USA as the darkhorse...it's gonna be a lot of fun!
hockey has infected all international play. As a native of MN (who started skating at 3 and playing organized hockey at 7) I was--of course!--thrilled beyond belief at the 1980 win, but even in those cold-war days it was impossible not to be extremely impressed by the precision passing game of the Soviet players compared to the dump-n-chase "style" of NHL play. Few NHL periods, to say nothing of teams, have matched that level of play.
The Soviets WERE pros, they were all supported 100% by the state, so it was an unfair situation. But it's not the pro/am factor that's a problem, it's the prevalence of NHL style hockey which just isn't as high level as that precision passing game they perfected.
And what happened to the int'l-size rink? That was always cool to watch games on.
Doesn't matter if they already play for money. Athletes in other sports have to make a living, too, don't they? It's all about the money in the end anyway.
Only difference is, NHLers make a helluva lot more, a helluva lot sooner.
Don't be such a prude.
The World Juniors were more entertaining this year - maybe we should let them play instead of the pros.
If you remember then you should remember why the US beating the Sovets was such an upset. It was because we were fielding college kids while the Soviet national team had played together for mmany years playing and winning exibition tournements against the Montreal Canadians and winning. The Soviets were every bit a profesional hockey team, they just didn't have capitalist style pro sports teams.
I like the NHL players playing. They are the best players in the world and they do care a lot about winning. It should be a great, very competitive tournement with witch ever team that gells fastest having the advantage. Well, that and goal tending. Who's gonna have the hot goaly? You should like it. The US is still an underdog but they do have a capable team and could pull off the upset if they get good goal tending. Zack Parise and Patrick Kane are no joke. But then all the teams are pretty stacked. It's a great day for hockey.
Most of the Soviet national teams were all members of the Red Army team. Officially they were soldiers, so that they could keep their amateur status, but their duties in the Red Army were playing hockey and playing hockey. My secondary point here is that these guys didn't just play together on the national team for years, but were almost all teammates on the Red Army team that won the Soviets' top league championship every year.
Those who weren't members of the Red Army team had similar "jobs" with the entities that sponsored their "non-professional" (read: they were all professional) teams.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
IMHO the clips have now joined clips of the Leafs winning the Stanley Cup in 1967 (their last)as tiresome. The Flyers - Russia game heralded a new era of hockey in the NHL. Hockey talent in shooting, passing and skating was downplayed in favour of clutching, grabbing, intimidation and generally being an asshole on the ice. Cheap goons replaced smaller quality players. Shero almost ruined the game, it wasn't until rule changes were made that the pace picked up and once again speed and talent became part of the game. Canada is emphasizing youth and speed this time round after their disasterous showing in the last Olympics. I still think the Men's will be up for grabs, while the women's will again be Canada-USA. (Toss up) Either way, both men's and womens will feature great, skilled hockey. GO CANADA !!
I like to see goals scored... but not as many as I've seen.
That being said, I always admire people more talented then myself. :)
Study the symptoms not the virus...
not as many checks allowed...and the rink is bigger....both of which cause higher scoring games
I've been pissed about the Olympics for a long time because so much of Vancouver got dug up, dissenters have been harrassed by the police and the cost overruns have been outrageous (during the credit crunch, an American hedge fund went bust and dumped $700 million in construction debt for the athlete's village on the province of BC - add $1Billion+ just for security, a few billion for highway upgrades and athletic venues . . . ). It's been a pain in the ass, and we'll be paying for it for decades.
That said, now that the games are underway, you can't help but feel enthusiastic about what's going on here. I went downtown the other night, and the whole of downtown Vancouver is one giant party. Now I know why they blocked off most of the streets. It's really something.
The Canadian womens' hockey team has the best chance at a gold medal.
If the Canadian men win gold, this place will go nuts.
I was getting my hair cut the other day - my barber said he had tickets to the final hockey game. He paid $250 each for them and said he could sell them on Craigslist for $4,000 each. If Canada gets into the final, they'll probably be worth more than $10K.
"Now I know why they blocked off most of the streets."
I thought that was due to Joe Biden's convoy? :P
Study the symptoms not the virus...
...even for $10K, he's not much of a fan.
If that happens, get a new barber.
Okay, yes I am CDN. And yes, I will enjoy the men's matchup of NHL greats. But for some hard working purists, watch the women. Even with the 10-1 score in the game against the Swiss, I was impressed with how the Swiss women plugged away against the quicker, bigger Canadian women. And the Canadian women make lovely plays and hard shots that are a pleasure to watch. Give it a chance. And thank gawd for Canadian television...I would die if I had to rely on NBC.
It was a slow burn leading up to that famous win and wasn't shown live on ABC - they saved it for prime time but they did show the party on the streets of Lake Placid as the team took a victory lap on a bus through town.
...he uses big words like 'particularly' and 'delicatessen.' -- Jack
The average size of the Canadian wingers is like 6'2" 215...have fun with that Russia.
Yeah, some of the newer arenas in the NHL are built to be expandable so as to meet with the specs required by international rules, but I don't think anyone employs the larger sheet of ice (iirc, the Flames moved the glass in and added a few more rows of seating after the Calgary Olympics).
Anyway...size and the physical game are negated by the larger ice surface. That's why physical teams have traditonally not done so well in the Olympics.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Patrick Kane helps lead team USA, but three Blackhawks are on team Canada.
This could be a lot of fun.
Corruption favors the wealthy.
And don't forget Slovakia has Hossa and Kopecky!
Of course, I will be cheering for the U.S. team but I'm really hoping for a U.S.A. v. Canada final. Jamie Langenbrunner is on the U.S. team, and I'm a huge fan of his all the way back to his years with the Dallas Stars, so it will be nice to be able to cheer for him once again.
Maybe I'll see you at a Hawks game, fiver!
Unfortunately here in the states there is no actual broadcast of the Olympics , only three minute updates ,short breaks from the commercials , as bad or worse than the Superbowl .
but let's face it...if the Olympics were in the U.S., then the coverage would be 24/7...and of the U.S. dominated events.
Canada...meh.
Are wasted showing the conservative mug of Al Michaels. I can't stomach it.
how the games are called by the refs will make a difference on the larger rink.,
there will be none of the usual NHL mayhem which should give a little bit of an
edge to the skating, passing and finesse speed teams.,
USA is a longshot, .. but Canada, Russia, and the Swedes
should be some kind of hockey...
and... Canada does have Brodeur in goal..
BTW, saw a listing on USA network for the early games...
should be great hockey !!
Downtown Vancouver is stuffed with people on the streets every night this week. I have just come back from being in the crowds, many people with flag draped hockey sticks. This is going to be huge!!
I root for Ovechkin and the Caps in the NHL, and I agree with him - he should be able to play for his country. I'm looking forward to the hockey more than probably anything else these Olympics.
Me too.
I didn't see the US/USSR Hockey game, however. But it was an experience I'll never forget! What a rockin' party!
"A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life."....Muhammad Ali
Flyers vs. Russia
1976
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGOxVBG4bfk
The Russian Army (widely believed to be the best in the world) team came to play a series against NHL teams and beat them all (except for one tie maybe) then they met the Broad Street Bullies. They were no match and they knew it. When one of their players exagerated an injury after a clean check, they left the ice, on National TV. Ed Snider, Flyers President, told them they wouldn't be paid so they returned. Stupid Capitalists. I think Kate Smith sang God Bless America that day too, Bernie Parent was awesome in the net, all was right with the world.
Oh, and Philly won saving the US and NHL's respect.
Freddie "the Fog" Shero, flyers coach, showed the Olympic teams how to beat the Russian style of play, although they'll never admit it. The US won at the next Olympics. The Flyers changed everything that day.
Using an eccentric, entertaining style, he began to mold the Flyers into the "Broad Street Bullies," writing on his famed blackboard, "Take the shortest route to the puck carrier, and arrive in ill humor." He stressed the importance of commitment by saying, "When you have bacon and eggs for breakfast, the chicken makes a contribution, but the pig makes a commitment."
...would be great, but Canada better win or relations between the two peoples would be all but destroyed - I live in Maine and am a Bruins fan. Right now, the resentments from the north over culture intrusions from the US color attitudes.
Ovenchicken is right - as long as the Olympics now allow professional athletes to compete, he should play for Russia. Were I the Caps GM though, I'd be truly annoyed if he were injured.
...moment was, when they formalized allowing pro players into the Olympics, they ensured that moments like this will never happen again.
More and more, the Olympics are allowing the broadcasters and commercial sponsors to dictate the rules and you end up with dead lugers on dangerous tracks who are then blamed for their own deaths.
Stupid.
I'd say those crazy canucks are on a roll. Oh wait those were the women. I forgot we only care about the men's teams.
...location I guess. I'm in Madison and we're paying far more attention to the women since Mark Johnson is coaching and there are 7 current or former Badgers on the team.
Watching the men is no different than an NHL game and it really doesn't interest me in the least.
As a Canadian I have no use for this whore-fest wearing the skin of the Olympics. I skated a shift against Gretzky as a Pee-Wee in an exhibition game almost 40 years ago, hockey's in my blood but there's simply no point or purpose other than money in a bunch of overpaid pros being on the ice. It hurts the game and it makes a mockery of what was once a noble event. The Soviets were pros? Big deal. Turning the whole event into an NHL event is a drag. This whole abusive, ugly Olympic cycle has been a disgrace to Canada and to the spirit of sportsmanship.
Sure, the Olympics are a corporate-commercial sham. It'd be great to change that, but I don't see it happening any time soon. And as a near-pacifist, enjoying hockey is also a huge secret vice for me. Guess it stirs up my bloodthirsty Cherokee and Celtic DNA or something. Whatever, I'll watch what I can, and hope for skilled play and close games. Beats hell out of the Superbowl any day.
I find the Olympics to be overblown and uninteresting. I know there are great athletes out there but the networks are more interested in their packaging than highlighting the athletic competition. I briefly turned on CNBC last night and watched 20 seconds of some of the slowest hockey I've ever witnessed -- the score of the game was like 6-1 and I think it was the U.S. women's team but not even sure about that -- point being -- there had to be something more interesting going on. The Super Bowl is also overblown but at least the games have been great the past few years and far superior to the Olympics.
I can't wait to see Overchkin and Malkin play together.
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