Game On! Here's the teevee schedule for today's hockey games:
3-6 pm ET—U.S. vs. Swiss men, USA
5:30--8 pm ET—U.S. vs. Russia women, MSNBC
8-10 pm ET—Canada vs. Norway men, CNBC
10 pm-12:30 am ET—Finland vs. China women, CNBC
12:30-2:30 am ET (Wed)—Russia vs. Latvia men, CNBC
Wow. We'll be in a hockey coma by day's end! And yes, I DO realize there's more to these Winter Games than hockey just in case you're wondering, Gentle Reader. But nothing else really matters, yanno?
More hockey stuff... Here's Pierre LeBrun, writing about Team USA at ESPN:
The question almost always draws a smirk or a knowing smile. It's as if these players know something nobody else does.
How do you feel about nobody picking your team for the gold medal, Team USA?
"We have no problem [with] people thinking we're not going to be a contender, but all of us, to a man, believe we are," Olympic captain Jamie Langenbrunner told ESPN.com with a smirk.
"I think when teams play us they'll be thinking they should watch out for us, they'll be thinking we're a capable team with some skill," said forward Joe Pavelski. "But it's always fun to be an underdog, because everyone in our locker room knows what we're capable of."
It would indeed be a mild surprise if this edition of the U.S. Olympic hockey team captured gold in Vancouver. They don't have the overall talent and experience of Canada, Russia and Sweden. But they've got skill, the right level of cockiness and, most importantly, the best goaltending since the Mike Richter era.
RTWT. Team USA is nothing if not confident about their chances and it would be beyond cool if they're right. But I ain't holdin' my breath.
Speaking of hot goalies... John Keating of Fox Sports Detroit calls the Olympic hockey tournament "The Hot Goalie Open." Our man in Dee-troit is less than impressed:
Much like Arsenio Hall, it was fun while it lasted.
Vancouver is the fourth Olympiad that has held a hockey tournament of NHL players. It should be the last.
What are we proving here? This is a league that has determined that the only fair, or really possible way, to determine a championship is to play a seven-game series and that each of those games will go to overtime, if needed.
Yet, what we have here is "The Hot Goalie Open." A one-and-done collection of All-Star Games. For the right to determine the best on the planet, we allot the teams a grand total of one practice together and then it's game-on.
The Miracle on Ice team of Herb Brooks was a once in a lifetime fluke. But they played together for seven months. Their opponents were likely together for longer than that. But how novel that a team competition was actually played by, ya know, teams.
I'm thinking Mr. Keating prolly pulls wings off flies in his spare time, just for fun. But he is NOT alone as I've noticed several of you Gentle Readers share his opinion about the Olympics in general, if not Olympic hockey. But if the Olympics is all about being the best... and it IS... why not have NHL'ers? I'm not buying the amateur and "pure sport" arguments. You're either the best or you're not and no one should be excluded. Except for druggies, of course.
I don't have any issues with NHLer's competing in the Olympics... not sure why that is a problem. They all have to qualify for team so they pick the best. I would love to see non-NHLer's mixed in with the team but that's OK too.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be interesting to see who the Games go. There is definitely hockey fever here in town - but its also cool to see the crowds just simply cheering on all the Teams, for all sports, because they deserve it as well.
I'm in the no-pros camp on the Olympics. While the amateur part may be muddy these days with all the sponsorships the top athletes get, I still don't care to see someone play in the Olympics who makes a living playing their sport.
ReplyDeleteIt somehow takes the joy out of the Olympics. Look at the US Hockey Team of 1980...no pros, not even any sponsorships. Yet...it remains the single best Winter Olympic moment - evah.
imho
KC: I'm watching other Olympic stuff when hockey's not on, so I get what you're saying. I love the games... they are just too cool.
ReplyDeleteKris: I appreciate your opinion even though I don't have the same POV. What made the 1980 Miracle an actual miracle was the overcoming of incredible odds and the fact American amateurs beat Soviet professionals... and the Soviets WERE pros. So there is some truth in your POV.
Buck, I am in camp with Kris, there are so many young amateurs waiting for just a chance at Hockey at this level and the NHL Pro's take that away. If the development program needs funds to allow this then that should be something I think the NHL could contribute to as a way to make it work. Ah well.
ReplyDeleteOn the good news front, I am watching the Lady American Team "Man" handle the Russians and its a Win-Win. They are winning the game and keeping the usual A**Hats that are on MSNBC off the air!! Wish it was a double header keeping them off the air all night!!
BT: Jimmy T sends.
Uncle Buck...long time...anyways, somewhat delineating...watching women's Curling (USA vs. JAP) just thought you might appreciate- i've always thought Japanese women were hot, their curling team doesn't disappoint. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt seems my life is fairly dull and cold these days, but I've still not been able to watch much Olympics.
ReplyDeleteJimmy: I was surprised the Russian women were as bad as they were. They were TERRIBLE!
ReplyDeleteJay: I'll always opt for hockey if there's a conflict between hockey and anything else. And it was all pucks, all the time yesterday.
Lou: But you have a life. I don't. ;-)
I saw a quote from Natalie Darwitz, one of the US hockey gals (I'm paraphrasing): "The Russians did show some real spirit late in the game. That's good, because it's hard to do that when you don't get to handle the puck."
ReplyDeleteGordon: Heh. That quote is truly turning the sow's ear into something more desirable.
ReplyDelete