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Post by LunarOrbit on Feb 23, 2010 13:04:02 GMT -4
This highlights a big beef with the Olympics, the use of professional players. I would like to see age restrictions on a number of sports, like hockey, where there is a significant professional presence. Even skiing where the Olympics is just an interruption in the professional circuit. Some age restrictions would make the Games would be more interesting, and true to the spirit of the founding goal as a venue for amateurs. The thing is, age can hurt a team more than it helps. We learned that at the 1998 Olympics when our team was made up of mostly "hockey legends" who were past their prime. I can see both sides. I agree that having professional players on our team seems unfair, but at the same time I don't think we should be restricted from using our best players. It's not our fault that Europe doesn't have a professional league (and many Europeans play in the NHL). Wayne Gretzky didn't get to play for the Canadian Olympic team until 1998 (the first Olympics that allowed professional players), and by that point he was about to retire. So there's an example of one of our best players ever being left our of the Olympics. I also don't think our young players should have to choose between playing for the Olympic team or and NHL team. Players like Sydney Crosby who get drafted into the NHL at a very young age would either have to sacrifice the dream of going to the Olympics or playing for the NHL (also a dream for a lot of Canadians). I have also thought that our team is at a disadvantage in a way. Our players don't normally play together... they play against each other every so often, but don't develop a relationship with each other that helps them play well as a team. They have a few training camps before the Olympics, but the first time they actually play together is Game 1. The amateur teams play together for whatever length their season is.
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Post by echnaton on Feb 23, 2010 14:34:37 GMT -4
The thing is, age can hurt a team more than it helps. We learned that at the 1998 Olympics when our team was made up of mostly "hockey legends" who were past their prime. The US learned that in Olympic basketball after pros were allowed to play(the second time, IIRC). They came in with swagger proved to be an uncoordinated mess rather than a team. I would enjoy many of the games more if played by younger up and coming athletes rather than seasoned pros. I'm pretty sure this would put the US at a disadvantage, because of our wide array of professional sports. Some sports would not be badly affected because they are naturally limiting, like track,where the athletes have such a short career. Others are naturally limiting because there is no profession. The fact that the games occur every four years may be a problem for some athletes that do have a promising career. That should be worked out by the athletes and their potential employers. Non-professional athletes have to work out the training and competition schedule with employers. Each of us has to make decisions about meeting or forgoing conflicting goals in life. Fro the Olympics themselves, what it comes down to is star power. The ability of big stars to draw a TV audience. NBC would likely have a major objection to the loss of big names to use in drawing ratings. ( They have been touting the hockey pros leading up to the matches.) Visitors attending the games would probably still come, but just don't account for enough revenue.
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Post by drewid on Feb 23, 2010 18:05:38 GMT -4
I was really looking forward to the Womens mass-start biathlon
but it turned out to be just some skiing thing.
Thankyewverrymuch
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Post by Ginnie on Feb 23, 2010 20:35:20 GMT -4
NHL.com is predicting that the Swedes will win the Gold Medal in Hockey! E veryone has his own opinion about how the Olympic hockey tournament will shake out. NHL.com’s John Dellapina, Dan Rosen and Shawn Roarke offer their opinions about who will go home happy – and who won’t.
Gold Medal game participants: Sweden vs. USA
Winner: SwedenMy predictions: Gold: Canada Silver: Russia The Swedes might get the Bronze but I'm leaning toward the Czech Republic. Well, you're off a bit now - either Russia or Canada can win a medal in hockey, but not both...
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Post by Ginnie on Feb 23, 2010 20:43:11 GMT -4
I'm almost glad Canada lost to the USA. Too many times in tournaments Canada wins every game then loses the most important one. Maybe this was a wakeup call for us. And lets face it - Ryan Miller beat team Canada - except for faceoffs won, Canada did everything else better than USA ... except keep the puck out of the net! They have Luongo in tonight thank god. And don't play Pronger much, or even the fourth line for that matter - give Crosby at least 20 minutes of ice time please! The coach is being too democratic.
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Post by Ginnie on Feb 23, 2010 20:50:16 GMT -4
Lunar Orbit said:
None of the other teams normally play together anymore either. Most of them, at least the good teams, play in the NHL too. Russia won so many Olympic hockey medals because the Army team was not considered "pro" so you had the best team in Russia in the Olympics - playing against real amateur teams from other nations.
Canada didn't even play hockey in the 72 and 76 Winter Olympics because they disputed the use of Soviet players in the Games.
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Post by laurel on Feb 23, 2010 22:45:35 GMT -4
Canada wins another gold medal (in women's ski cross this time) and our men's hockey team lives to fight another day!
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Post by BertL on Feb 24, 2010 2:57:24 GMT -4
Man...
On the 10000 meter speed skating for men, Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer was disqualified after his coach mistakingly directed him into the inner lane when he should have gone in the outer lane. This really sucks, especially since speed skating is the only Olympic sport that is big in the Netherlands.
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Jason
Pluto
May all your hits be crits
Posts: 5,579
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Post by Jason on Feb 24, 2010 12:30:24 GMT -4
Man... On the 10000 meter speed skating for men, Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer was disqualified after his coach mistakingly directed him into the inner lane when he should have gone in the outer lane. This really sucks, especially since speed skating is the only Olympic sport that is big in the Netherlands. ] I saw that last night. Kramer was really upset about it, and who can blame him? The commentator suggested that the coach should go into the Dutch equivelent of the wittness protection program.
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Post by LunarOrbit on Feb 24, 2010 13:38:05 GMT -4
How's this for a conspiracy theory? What if the Canadian men's hockey team lost the preliminary game to the USA intentionally so that it could be USA vs. Canada again for the gold medal game?
Who would benefit? NBC for one. Canadians will watch no matter who our team is playing against, but Americans seem to need a big rivalry before they will show interest. I'm sure the Russians would also meet this need (to boost ratings), so NBC will be happy with the outcome of tonights Canada vs. Russia game either way.
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Jason
Pluto
May all your hits be crits
Posts: 5,579
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Post by Jason on Feb 24, 2010 13:42:05 GMT -4
American viewers would probably be more interested in Russia vs. U.S. than Canada vs. U.S. It would have that "repeat of the miracle on ice" aura about it.
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Post by Ginnie on Feb 24, 2010 20:52:46 GMT -4
How's this for a conspiracy theory? What if the Canadian men's hockey team lost the preliminary game to the USA intentionally so that it could be USA vs. Canada again for the gold medal game? Who would benefit? NBC for one. Canadians will watch no matter who our team is playing against, but Americans seem to need a big rivalry before they will show interest. I'm sure the Russians would also meet this need (to boost ratings), so NBC will be happy with the outcome of tonights Canada vs. Russia game either way. Hmmm... I'm watching the Russia / Canada game right now. On NBC they have on Jeopardy. I don't seriously think hockey is that important to them...
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Post by laurel on Feb 24, 2010 20:58:36 GMT -4
And what a great start to the Russia/Canada game!
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Post by Ginnie on Feb 24, 2010 21:14:03 GMT -4
I'm assuming all the Canucks on board are watching the game right now! Canada 4 - Russia 1 after one period of play. GO CANADA!!! Canada had 21 shots on goal in that period. BTW That's a nice checking line Canada got out there against Malkin and Ovechkin.
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Post by LunarOrbit on Feb 24, 2010 21:15:12 GMT -4
And what a great start to the Russia/Canada game! I'm cautiously optimistic.
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