USA Beats CANADA!!!!

[Greenday]

5-3! Canada loses at HOCKEY to AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gravekeeper]

P.S. In men's ice hockey.

P.P.S. In the preliminary games which do nothing but determine ranking order for the semifinals.

It has not yet begun <shakes fist menacingly>

[Greenday]

On that note, who put them in the same group?

[Kiwi]

BOO USA LAMEO!!!!!

GO CANADA GO!

[Rapscallion]

Anyone else read the title and mentally add "With whips and chains," before waiting "to the bride's bouquet"?

Rapscallion

[Jester]

P.S. In men's ice hockey.

P.P.S. In the preliminary games which do nothing but determine ranking order for the semifinals.

P.P.P.S. For the first time in the Olympics since 1960.

For perspective, remember that Dwight D. Eisenhower was President, John Diefenbaker was Prime Minister (yes, I had to look that second one up), and there was no such thing as cable tv, cell phones, the internet, DVD's, or CD's.*

In the last 50 years, Canada had gone 5-0-1 against the U.S. in Olympic play before last night. (They did not meet in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.)

*(Yes, I know some of these things technically existed. But none were in common usage or even generally known about. So hush.)

It has not yet begun <shakes fist menacingly>

Oh no, my friend. It is ON!

[lordlundar]

Meh, I don't give the men's hockey any real regard, simply because they completely ignore the concept of the olympics. It's meant to be an amateur competition between countries. Bringing professional athletes into it just ruins the spirit of the games. Yes, I know other events do it as well, but not nearly to the extent that hockey in the winter games and basketball in the summer games do.

You want to show real pride in the people? Enforce the "no pros" aspect of the games.

(There, I feel better)

[Greenday]

Meh, I don't give the men's hockey any real regard, simply because they completely ignore the concept of the olympics. It's meant to be an amateur competition between countries. Bringing professional athletes into it just ruins the spirit of the games. Yes, I know other events do it as well, but not nearly to the extent that hockey in the winter games and basketball in the summer games do.

You want to show real pride in the people? Enforce the "no pros" aspect of the games.

(There, I feel better)

But all the American pros play for different countries so we are basically left with the scrubs of the NHL...who just beat the Canadians.

[Evil Queen]

That's... depressing.

JagerData said "You can't lose them all"

[Gravekeeper]

Meh, I don't give the men's hockey any real regard, simply because they completely ignore the concept of the olympics. It's meant to be an amateur competition between countries. Bringing professional athletes into it just ruins the spirit of the games.

Every other athlete in every other sport trains and competes year round every year between Olympics as well. How is "professional" athletes an advantage? Only difference is they get paid more. ( Way too much more, really. >.> ). The Olympics isn't about amateurs. These are all world class athletes.

[lordlundar]

Every other athlete in every other sport trains and competes year round every year between Olympics as well. How is "professional" athletes an advantage? Only difference is they get paid more. ( Way too much more, really. >.> ). The Olympics isn't about amateurs. These are all world class athletes.

Often times, the amateur athletes do not get paid for it or not paid any more than they would if they don't compete from their employers, though other accommodations are made from the money invested. You'd be surprised how many competitors hold down jobs unrelated to their events. The pros on the other hand get paid for the exact reason they get to be there. They make absolutely no sacrifice to be there, and often times get bonuses. That is in no way fair to people who have to hold down jobs and have to make considerable sacrifices to be there, especially if it's in an area where they are told "Sorry, we don't want you. Get a signing contract , then we'll talk.

Finally, I meant amateur as not being paid for it, not the skill level. You can be a world class athlete and still be in the amateur pay demographic.

[Gravekeeper]

Finally, I meant amateur as not being paid for it, not the skill level. You can be a world class athlete and still be in the amateur pay demographic.

The very definition of amateur refers to skill level, not pay grade. None of these people are amateurs. They all compete year round in top level competitions and tournaments. Yes, in many cases those tournaments don't pay out as well as more popular sports but whose fault is that? Lots of of us love watching hockey. Bobsled? Not so much. Revenue goes where the people go. Sad, but true.

Some sports just aren't popular, but are still Olympic, in which case its up to the country of origin to support their athletes. Some do this very well ( China for example ). Others, not so much. Hockey isn't the only self sufficient sport either. Shall we disqualify every athlete that's self sufficient off his or her abilities just because they haven't "sacrificed" enough to be there? Of course not.

Every country wants to send its absolute best athletes. Period. You don't look at your athletes and go ok, A and B or our best, and C is pretty good. But A and B make too much money so fark them send C.

You send the best, you get the best competition and, as a result, we get the best entertainment. I fail to see how it ruins anything.

[Boozy]

The "amateur vs. professional" tangent might be more of a Fratching thing. I've seen that debate get heated before.

You're all members of Fratching, so you might as well take it there. Thanks.

[Spiffy McMoron]

Either way, it'll be Canada vs. Russia tomorrow night in men's hockey.

Two words: Fuck. YES!!

[JuniorMintz]

Holy hell, I SOOOO want to see Canada beat Russia. I'm so sick of the Russian's shitty attitudes thus far (at least in the ice skating/dancing events), and I'm fond of my neighbors to the north (the ones that know how to order pants properly, at least. )