What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

Lead up to Sochi

Re: Lead up to Sochi

There are many potential large scale debacles looming for the Olympics.

Just to start Sochi is among the warmest cities in Russia during the Winter. It is the equivalent of having the Winter Olympics in Charlestown, SC.

Massive amounts of construction corruption beyond other Olympic norms all at the fingertips of Putin.

At best a very unstable security environment.

And all things gay/lesbian confrontations internal Russian politics and society.

Hope for the best here but just because they are not prominent in the headlines does not mean deep, serious concerns are there.
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

OnMAA said:
This somewhat disconcerting article was the trigger to start things off:

http://www.womenshockeylife.com/blogs_view_dsp.cfm?BlogId=1151&CatId=6

Clearly not the message most of us would like to hear while many are trying to grow the game overseas/internationally.
Click to expand...
The issue is disconcerting, but I agree fully with the author. The Olympic spirit is not based on, "If I can't win, then I won't even compete." What a loser attitude by the Swedish committee. The honor in athletics is in the effort, not the success. For old men to decide to "take their ball and go home" brings dishonor to the country in a way that no loss on the ice ever could.
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

ARM said:
The issue is disconcerting, but I agree fully with the author. The Olympic spirit is not based on, "If I can't win, then I won't even compete." What a loser attitude by the Swedish committee. The honor in athletics is in the effort, not the success. For old men to decide to "take their ball and go home" brings dishonor to the country in a way that no loss on the ice ever could.
Click to expand...
Very well said Arm!
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

Glad the 1980 U.S. men's team wasn't forced to pull out when they were getting hammered by the Soviets in those games leading up to the Olympics. Nobody gave them much of a chance, but when it counted they did pretty good. ;)
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

OneTimer said:
Massive amounts of construction corruption beyond other Olympic norms all at the fingertips of Putin.
Click to expand...

Me thinks corruption has been a general problem in Russia for many decades. Don't see it as a Putin created problem.

Many years ago, I had the privilege to talk to a prominent NHL scout. He went to Russia back in the day just when the cold war was ending. He told me that the Russian Mob was ten times worse than the Italian mafia in NY and Boston. He needed to pay $25 grand every time he wanted to talk to the head coach at the time (Thikonov) about a player and he would get typically get a short no as an answer.
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

ARM said:
The issue is disconcerting, but I agree fully with the author. The Olympic spirit is not based on, "If I can't win, then I won't even compete." What a loser attitude by the Swedish committee. The honor in athletics is in the effort, not the success. For old men to decide to "take their ball and go home" brings dishonor to the country in a way that no loss on the ice ever could.
Click to expand...

100% agree with that. This quote had me in stitches :

For old men to decide to "take their ball and go home"
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

Well he did not invent corruption in Russia but Sochi is his personal playground for his brand of corruption.
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

OneTimer said:
Well he did not invent corruption in Russia but Sochi is his personal playground for his brand of corruption.
Click to expand...

Sochi just presents opportunity. That is no different than some of the corruptions seen as part of other large scale events like this in the past in many places around the world.
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

Russia corrupt? apparently people have never been to New Jersey or Illinois

one thing I wonder is how much longer there will even be women's ice hockey in the Olympics, sure other countries are getting better and adding players, but nowhere near as fast as Canada and the US, in women's hockey you must improve significantly from year to year to advance, if you stay the same or improve only slightly, you are falling behind
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

pokechecker said:
Russia corrupt? apparently people have never been to New Jersey or Illinois
Click to expand...

Read up on Alexei Navalny, Mikhail Khodor*kovsky (no matter which side of his case you believe, the corruption is jaw dropping), or Anna Politkovskaya.
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

Eeyore said:
Read up on Alexei Navalny, Mikhail Khodor*kovsky (no matter which side of his case you believe, the corruption is jaw dropping), or Anna Politkovskaya.
Click to expand...

Puzzy Riot didn't make your cut?

compared to the Stalin years, today they are boy scouts
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

Team USA making the Canadians look like pylons after two periods. It's not the first time but according to Rod Black it's the opposite of what occurred during their last two games.
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

Blackbeard said:
Team USA making the Canadians look like pylons after two periods. It's not the first time but according to Rod Black it's the opposite of what occurred during their last two games.
Click to expand...

Suspect the events from earlier in the day have a lot to do with this.
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

OnMAA said:
Suspect the events from earlier in the day have a lot to do with this.
Click to expand...

A few more insights from these comments out of an AP story:

The 40-year-old Church, from Toronto, did not specify whether it was his players or Hockey Canada management that had questioned his competence.

''Just discussions I'd had over the last few days made that apparent, in some meetings I'd had with leadership,'' Church said. ''I think it was just difference of opinion on the direction we were headed. In the end, I just decided if I'm getting in the way of where the team needs to go, I need to step aside and let them continue on in the process.''

Asked if Hockey Canada tried to convince him to stay, Church said, ''No, they did not.''
 
Re: Lead up to Sochi

Any thoughts on the recent hire of Kevin Dineen as women's coach? How much will things change, or is it too close to the Olympics to really change much? My thought on it is the Canadians are obviously very talented and I do not think who is behind the bench is going to be a huge factor in how the Olympics play out. I think the gold medal game will still come down to the USA vs Canada and whoever plays better will win, regardless of who the coaches are. I'm not saying coaching is not important. I am just saying all the coaches can do is put their players in a position to be successful. It's up to the players to execute on the ice. Canada is obviously loaded with talented kids, as is the USA. I am glad I am not the person who has to decide who to cut. I am enjoying this thread. Cannot wait to watch the game Friday. I read that it is actually being televised down here in the US on NBCSN (wow)!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top