US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

[WisconsinWildcard]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

JMFJohnson 23

 

[aktick]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

Whitney 3

And in those 3 minutes he made kind of a bad play that directly led to Canada's 2nd goal. He was definitely the worst US D-man in the tourney, I thought. Can't believe I would have actually rather had Komisarek.

 

[Terrierbyassociation]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

Rafalski was pretty terrible defensively both times we played Canada. Crosby's goal to make it 4-3 the first time, and the goal in OT.

The guy needs to understand that you haul that man down and don't let him get a shot off.

 

[candycanes99]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

And in those 3 minutes he made kind of a bad play that directly led to Canada's 2nd goal. He was definitely the worst US D-man in the tourney, I thought. Can't believe I would have actually rather had Komisarek.

As a BU fan I have to admit I did think Whitney looked pretty awful for a lot of the tournament, while Brooks Orpik was a vital piece of the puzzle bringing a huge physical presence.

 

[streaker]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

Rafalski was pretty terrible defensively both times we played Canada. Crosby's goal to make it 4-3 the first time, and the goal in OT.

The guy needs to understand that you haul that man down and don't let him get a shot off.

yep, has been the same way with the Wings this season, minus the offense. BUT, he was +8 and led defensemen in points with 8 at the Olympics.

 

[SoCalSiouxFan]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

So wait. American teams have won 16 straight Stanley Cups, including teams in California and Florida.

LOL. American team in California???? NOT!!!!

When the DUCKS won the Stanley cup they had more Canadians on their roster than any other team in the NHL.

 

[candycanes99]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

LOL. American team in California???? NOT!!!!

When the DUCKS won the Stanley cup they had more Canadians on their roster than any other team in the NHL.

American-based teams... We know.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

Four days after the fact. Still hurts. On the bright side, the moping has pretty much subsided...

But Crosby! I hate that little pun...

No, no, no. Keep repeating: Must return focus to college hockey... return focus to college hockey... return focus to college hockey...

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

Four days after the fact. Still hurts. On the bright side, the moping has pretty much subsided...

No, no, no. Keep repeating: Must return focus to college hockey... return focus to college hockey... return focus to college hockey...

I still mope. A lot.

My Canadian wife is nice to me about it on the surface, but I know she's still gloating on the inside. And I keep thinking about the American kids who are picking out snowboards instead of hockey sticks today. Canada didn't need that gold medal. Everyone already knows they are good at hockey.

American hockey needed it more.

As I think about it, I am also resentful of the 4 on 4 overtime format, which favored Canada's puck possession skills at the expense of American teamwork and crashing the net. Would it have been the USA that would have scored the goal in a 5-on-5 overtime? I will die and never know....

 

[aktick]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

But Crosby! I hate that little pun...

http://www.alternativehero.com/Prod...tCode=crosby&gclid=CJy-3ritnqACFWV75QodeQScfQ

This was a banner ad on this page for me yesterday.

 

[aktick]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

My Canadian wife

So your wife is a hockey player?

A man in a Florida Supermarket tries to buy half a head of lettuce. The very young produce assistant tells him that they sell only whole heads of lettuce.

The man persists and asks to see the manager. The boy says he'll ask his manager about it.

Walking into the back room, the boy said to his manager, 'Some azzhole wants to buy half a head of lettuce.' As he finished his sentence, he turned to find the man standing right behind him, so he added, 'And this gentleman has kindly offered to buy the other half.'

The manager approved the deal, and the man went on his way. Later the manager said to the boy, 'I was impressed with the way you got yourself out of that situation earlier. We like people who think on their feet here. Where are you from, son?'
' Canada, sir,' the boy replied.
'Well, why did you leave Canada?' the manager asked.
The boy said, 'Sir, there's nothing but whores and hockey players up there.'
'Really?' said the manager. 'My wife is from Canada.'
'No crap?' replied the boy. ' Who'd she play for?'

As I think about it, I am also resentful of the 4 on 4 overtime format, which favored Canada's puck possession skills at the expense of American teamwork and crashing the net. Would it have been the USA that would have scored the goal in a 5-on-5 overtime? I will die and never know....

Been wondering/annoyed at the exact same thing, Swami. Really didn't like the 4x4 in OT of an elimination game, let alone THE gold medal game. There was no way that game was making it to a shootout, but I'd have preferred one to that 4x4 crap. Let 'em play the game how it was played the first 60 minutes.

 

[Terrierbyassociation]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

4 on 4 tends to promote scoring a goal, preventing the travesty that is a shoot out deciding a gold medal.

Now, if they made the game sudden death and you kept playing until it ended, then sure. That sounds like a great plan.

Otherwise I'm fine with 4 on 4, even though we lost.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

4 on 4 tends to promote scoring a goal, preventing the travesty that is a shoot out deciding a gold medal.

Now, if they made the game sudden death and you kept playing until it ended, then sure. That sounds like a great plan.

Otherwise I'm fine with 4 on 4, even though we lost.

Agreed. That game cannot go to a shootout.

There'd have been a far bigger outcry, and justifiably so, if that game had ended that way than the ones who didn't like the 4 on 4.

I, like most, wish they'd play 5 on 5 til there's a winner.

 

[Terrierbyassociation]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

Agreed. That game cannot go to a shootout.

There'd have been a far bigger outcry, and justifiably so, if that game had ended that way than the ones who didn't like the 4 on 4.

I, like most, wish they'd play 5 on 5 til there's a winner.

Part of it is the scheduling: maybe the gold medal game shouldn't be the day of the closing ceremonies.

 

[Farce Poobah]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

I still mope. A lot.
American hockey needed it more.

Norwegian hockey really, REALLY needed it.

Of course, if hockey-on-skis is ever added to the Olympic programme, the Norwegians will rule.

 

[bronconick]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

Norwegian hockey really, REALLY needed it.

Of course, if hockey-on-skis is ever added to the Olympic programme, the Norwegians will rule.

Norwegian hockey just needs more

VIKINGSTAD!

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

While we're on the subject, as someone who has been to many Olympic games (including the last five in a row since 2002) allow me my biennial stump speech to get those of you who have never been to an Olympics live to get out there -- start saving some bucks and go see one for yourself.

Having NBC decide how you see the Games is one experience, but there is no substitute for being there and having YOU decide what your Olympic experience should be.

Ask anyone who has been to a Games, and their face lights up, even years later. It's not just the sports action (which is great) or the Patriotism, but the sense of being there at the center of global attention, meeting, trading pins, riding shuttle busses and drinking with people from all over the world who you just met, and feeling the almost euphoric high that settles over an Olympic City and everyone attending-- the Olympic Spirit. Everyone is just so thrilled to be there. NBC and TV can't reproduce that feeling, and once you've been to a Games, it kind of infects you so that you want to go to each Games (or at least it does for me - your mileage may vary).

Yes- it's a little expensive. But few things in life are more fun. But If you start planning right, there are some tricks to doing the Games without paying $800 a day for hotel rooms. First thing you need to do is get connected with locals who live in an Olympic City and stay at their place. Then, spend some money on good tickets for the stuff you really want to see (ebay, stub hub, co-sport and other sources, and keep some time and money around for spot decisions on other events once you are there.

The one thing I really recommend is seeing obscure sports - they end up being some of the most fun. Watching 5,000 Hungarians going wild for Fencing in Athens is a great Olympic memory. Ditto for Table Tennis in Beijing or Weightlifting in Athens, where the host countries are doing their best in their sport. Don't just cheer for Americans, and you find yourself becoming a global citizen and instantly popular.

Leave lots of time for getting around. There is never any parking at the Olympics. You will be spending a lot of time on busses or subways, and that's part of the fun. You will also be spending a lot of time in security lines, bus lines and food lines. Look at it as an opportunity to chat whomever is around you. Chances are if they speak English, you will enjoy the experience. And if the are dressed up in patriotic gear from their country, take their picture. You'll get a good memory at minimum and sometimes, a lot more.

I try to go in the middle weekend of the Games, where the inevitable kinks of transport have been worked out, and there is lots of meaningful medal finals taking place (not just preliminaries and heats).

Definitely go to the corporate pavilions, national team "houses" (E.g. "Russia House" and hospitality tents if you can score your way in - open bars, food spreads and more cool people to meet. You can score entry to these places by doing a little research on what countries or companies are sponsoring them, then meeting people from those places on the busses and in line. They wear credentials around their neck so you can see if the guy is VP at Samsung or the woman is a team doctor from the Dutch Olympic team, they might be able to get you backstage at the Samsung Pavillion or "Holland House" (Free Heinekens, and meeting all the Dutch athletes who stop by to schmooze). At hte Winter Olympics, about 20 countries had "houses" and Russia took over a whole museum.

Finally, bring tons of Olympic pins with you. It's amazing what giving these out to people can do for you. I've gotten upgrades on airplanes, backstage at the medal ceremonies and all kinds of paraphernalia by giving out Olympic pins...

Just go!

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: US Olympic Hockey - Let's Stick It To The Canucks Again!

While we're on the subject, as someone who has been to many Olympic games (including the last five in a row since 2002) allow me my biennial stump speech to get those of you who have never been to an Olympics live to get out there -- start saving some bucks and go see one for yourself.

Having NBC decide how you see the Games is one experience, but there is no substitute for being there and having YOU decide what your Olympic experience should be.

Ask anyone who has been to a Games, and their face lights up, even years later. It's not just the sports action (which is great) or the Patriotism, but the sense of being there at the center of global attention, meeting, trading pins, riding shuttle busses and drinking with people from all over the world who you just met, and feeling the almost euphoric high that settles over an Olympic City and everyone attending-- the Olympic Spirit. Everyone is just so thrilled to be there. NBC and TV can't reproduce that feeling, and once you've been to a Games, it kind of infects you so that you want to go to each Games (or at least it does for me - your mileage may vary).

Yes- it's a little expensive. But few things in life are more fun. But If you start planning right, there are some tricks to doing the Games without paying $800 a day for hotel rooms. First thing you need to do is get connected with locals who live in an Olympic City and stay at their place. Then, spend some money on good tickets for the stuff you really want to see (ebay, stub hub, co-sport and other sources, and keep some time and money around for spot decisions on other events once you are there.

The one thing I really recommend is seeing obscure sports - they end up being some of the most fun. Watching 5,000 Hungarians going wild for Fencing in Athens is a great Olympic memory. Ditto for Table Tennis in Beijing or Weightlifting in Athens, where the host countries are doing their best in their sport. Don't just cheer for Americans, and you find yourself becoming a global citizen and instantly popular.

Leave lots of time for getting around. There is never any parking at the Olympics. You will be spending a lot of time on busses or subways, and that's part of the fun. You will also be spending a lot of time in security lines, bus lines and food lines. Look at it as an opportunity to chat whomever is around you. Chances are if they speak English, you will enjoy the experience. And if the are dressed up in patriotic gear from their country, take their picture. You'll get a good memory at minimum and sometimes, a lot more.

I try to go in the middle weekend of the Games, where the inevitable kinks of transport have been worked out, and there is lots of meaningful medal finals taking place (not just preliminaries and heats).

Definitely go to the corporate pavilions, national team "houses" (E.g. "Russia House" and hospitality tents if you can score your way in - open bars, food spreads and more cool people to meet. You can score entry to these places by doing a little research on what countries or companies are sponsoring them, then meeting people from those places on the busses and in line. They wear credentials around their neck so you can see if the guy is VP at Samsung or the woman is a team doctor from the Dutch Olympic team, they might be able to get you backstage at the Samsung Pavillion or "Holland House" (Free Heinekens, and meeting all the Dutch athletes who stop by to schmooze). At hte Winter Olympics, about 20 countries had "houses" and Russia took over a whole museum.

Finally, bring tons of Olympic pins with you. It's amazing what giving these out to people can do for you. I've gotten upgrades on airplanes, backstage at the medal ceremonies and all kinds of paraphernalia by giving out Olympic pins...

Just go!

Well said and I hope to go some day.