My Olympic observations...

Please understand, I am not a hockey fan. Was never that interested in it, being a southern boy. BUT, that final game, US/Canada, was fantastic. Those guys must have legs of iron. An incredible display of super intense competition and athletic ability. The US lost in overtime, but no excuses should come from either team. Great game, even to a non-believer.

And Pottsville makes the news due to America's loss...

http://www.wnep.com/wnep-yuengling-olympics-bet,0,2431817.story

Well, wifey is the family beer drinker, and Yuengling is her favorite, so that sounds like a good wager to me, even if we lost.

zomby woof wrote: I didn't really think it was a great game. Practically no hitting, not many scoring chances, and hardly any really nice passing plays, as a lot of the shots were from the periphery. It looked to me like Canada played not to lose. I'm watching it again to see if I was wrong.

Well, not all of us agree with you on the contribution of hitting to the quality of the game I saw a very fast moving, almost completely penalty-free game without the puck getting caught up in guys simply moshing on the boards, unlike the last NHL game I watched. Having the more open ice in the OT quarter sure made for a good passing game and I think that suited Canada more than the US.

I saw a bunch of guys playing their very best because pride of country was on the line, and the US took Canada right down to the wire.

Keith wrote: Having the more open ice in the OT quarter sure made for a good passing game and I think that suited Canada more than the US.

I did miss the Olympic sized rink.

Hocrest wrote: And Pottsville makes the news due to America's loss... http://www.wnep.com/wnep-yuengling-olympics-bet,0,2431817.story

Yuengling from us or Molsen from them? Damn, WE got suckered!

I'm thinking of organizing a boycott of "official" Olympic products until the IOC apologizes to the Canadian Women's Hockey team for being such shiny happy people over their victory celebration.

Considering the number of homes being forclosed upon in the current economic hard times, I'm surprised that there's still enough "white picket fence" morons left to complain about it..

friedgreencorrado wrote: I'm thinking of organizing a boycott of "official" Olympic products until the IOC apologizes to the Canadian Women's Hockey team for being such shiny happy people over their victory celebration.

I heard a rumor that one of the girls photographed drinking was 18, just one year shy of legal age. Illegal is illegal.

That kinda E36 M3 can get medals taken away. The girls should know better.

ignorant wrote:

friedgreencorrado wrote: I'm thinking of organizing a boycott of "official" Olympic products until the IOC apologizes to the Canadian Women's Hockey team for being such shiny happy people over their victory celebration.

I heard a rumor that one of the girls photographed drinking was 18, just one year shy of legal age. Illegal is illegal. That kinda E36 M3 can get medals taken away. The girls should know better.

She's legal, her Chinese birth certificate says she is 24.

MrJoshua wrote:

ignorant wrote:

friedgreencorrado wrote: I'm thinking of organizing a boycott of "official" Olympic products until the IOC apologizes to the Canadian Women's Hockey team for being such shiny happy people over their victory celebration.

I heard a rumor that one of the girls photographed drinking was 18, just one year shy of legal age. Illegal is illegal. That kinda E36 M3 can get medals taken away. The girls should know better.

She's legal, her Chinese birth certificate says she is 24.

olympic birthers.... Theyre back...

Keith said: I saw a bunch of guys playing their very best because pride of country was on the line, and the US took Canada right down to the wire.

The first time I watched was at work, and I was unable to really pay attention to it.

I watched it again last night, and saw a game where Canada scored a few goals, then laid back, playing a boring, defensive game, with few really good, or exciting scoring chances. The US team was kept to the outside for most of the game, and Canada didn't attack. There were moments of excitement, but IMO, they were few, and far between, considering the skill level of player on the ice. The Canadian coaching staff changed the strategy in OT, and look at how the play changed.

I'm Canadian, so I'm happy with the outcome, but it is a shame to see any team "win" the silver because you have to lose to your last game to get it. The bronze medal winners usually look happier than the silver.What was good to see was the emotions of both teams. These are all guys who make 6-8 digit incomes for playing the game, yet they experience tremendous emotional highs and lows over a trophy. Good to see and good for the game.

Osterkraut wrote:

Hocrest wrote: And Pottsville makes the news due to America's loss... http://www.wnep.com/wnep-yuengling-olympics-bet,0,2431817.story

Yuengling from us or Molsen from them? Damn, WE suckered ripped off!

I'm Canadian, but I certainly would take Yuengling over Molsen Canadian. FWIW, There are many Canadian beers that are better than Molsen just like Bud is not the only American beer.

mw wrote: I'm Canadian, but I certainly would take Yuengling over Molsen Canadian. FWIW, There are many Canadian beers that are better than Molsen just like Bud is not the only American slop.

The Americans would have played harder if it was a case of LaBatts Blue. They wanted to save their president the horror of skunky beer.

ignorant wrote:

friedgreencorrado wrote: I'm thinking of organizing a boycott of "official" Olympic products until the IOC apologizes to the Canadian Women's Hockey team for being such shiny happy people over their victory celebration.

I heard a rumor that one of the girls photographed drinking was 18, just one year shy of legal age. Illegal is illegal.

Depends where you are in Canada. The legal drinking age in Quebec is 18. I think they play hockey there sometimes

So, how long can you have your medal until it's safe from being taken away because you've pissed off the IOC? It's not like they were drinking during the game or were passing a joint around on the bench like a bunch of snowboarders. They're a bunch of girls (mostly) who are going back to college next week and have made huge sacrifices to play at the top level of their sport representing their country. They're not a bunch of highly paid pros who got a two week vacation to play with a different uniform. Of course they wanted to celebrate, and they celebrated like university students instead of professional athletes.

Hey, all you claiming to be Canucks, it's spelled M-O-L-S-O-N. Get it right or you'll have to drink a case of Milwaukee's Best. I grew up in Quebec, so the Molson family and their two significant businesses were an important factor in my early development! Molson Export and les Canadiens !

DeadSkunk wrote: I'm Canadian, so I'm happy with the outcome, but it is a shame to see any team "win" the silver because you have to lose to your last game to get it. The bronze medal winners usually look happier than the silver.What was good to see was the emotions of both teams. These are all guys who make 6-8 digit incomes for playing the game, yet they experience tremendous emotional highs and lows over a trophy. Good to see and good for the game.

I agree, I was struck by the prolonged torture of the U.S. team. I only saw a couple of similarly disappointed looking silver or bronze medal winners otherwise.

I am not knowledgeable in the subletting of hockey, so it is interesting for me to read knowledgeable observations of the game I so enjoyed watching yesterday. So I am wondering: In the 3-4 televised reports of the game and in the 2-3 newspaper accounts I have read, there has not been one mention of the brilliance of the pass to Crosby Iginla made against the direction of his body while falling down with an American defender in his grill. I thought the shot was executed very well of course but he had position on his defender, received the pass in rhythm in a perfect spot, and had a good angle on Miller who was all alone sweating like a pig and had been barraged by shots. I would have been more surprised if he missed. In basketball that would be called a "give and go" and Steve Nash or or Jason Kidd would have been lauded for making a terrific pass that lead to a slam dunk against the defensive center who had no help and therefore no chance of stopping the 6'10" dude with a full head of steam.

Is the reporting in Canada or discussion amongst Hockey people include the guy who made the pass? Or am I missing something. Or is myth-making and selling cereal taking over since I am in the States? Or is that the way it works in Canada too?

I think I read that the drinking age in Vancouver is 19, and the player in question would be legal to drink in her home province, but this is too much fuss. They are a hockey team, not a church choir.

The Winter Olympics exceeded my expectations... especially women's curling!

Shaun, the guy who makes the pass to the scorer in a game of that magnitude, will usually be forgotten fairly quickly. Except in Calgary, where Iginla will be a deserving hero.

Is the reporting in Canada or discussion amongst Hockey people include the guy who made the pass? Or am I missing something. Or is myth-making and selling cereal taking over since I am in the States? Or is that the way it works in Canada too?

Yes. The media, and people I know, all recognize the contribution of Iginla (also the leading goal scorer in the tournament). Although he did not pick up a lot of points, Crosby is generally considered to be our best player, so the fact that he is seen as the hero makes a lot of people feel good. It's hard to believe that he's only 22.

ignorant wrote:

friedgreencorrado wrote: I'm thinking of organizing a boycott of "official" Olympic products until the IOC apologizes to the Canadian Women's Hockey team for being such shiny happy people over their victory celebration.

I heard a rumor that one of the girls photographed drinking was 18, just one year shy of legal age. Illegal is illegal.

I see your point, but I have to (respectfully) disagree with a "black & white" view on it. After all, driving 66mph on the I-state that runs through my county is illegal, too.

friedgreencorrado wrote: That kinda E36 M3 can get medals taken away. The girls should know better.

Would I be the first American to use the term "nanny state" when referring to this matter?

Oh, almost forgot to comment on the other thing...

Maybe it's the sentimental value, but I actually like Molson Export. It was the first imported beer I ever had (at 15yrs of age ).

Some of the CRCA guys used to come down to Atlanta every year for the SCCA Runoffs. I'll admit they were amazed that I'd trade some IMSA GTP swag for some of the Molson they had...

Womens Biathalon is the sexiest thing since the SI swimsuit edition.

I haven't had a Molson Export in quite some time, but back in the day (underaged) I lived on Export and Labatt 50. Nowadays it's BlueLight and I even have some Labatt's NA in the fridge, doctor's orders !!

4eyes wrote: Womens Biathalon is the sexiest thing since the SI swimsuit edition.

Chicks with guns and skin-tight outfits? Sounds like anime..but better because it's real! I vote with 4eyes.