Moment of Truth-Russians Refuse to Show and Pick up Bronze Men's Hockey Medal

National Post of Canada ^ | February 25, 2002 | Roy MacGregor

[Harp]

Yep, the bastards are trying to steal our good looking gals and do some sort of slow takeover via intermarriage. One day they are just going to announce, "North Dakota's not yours any more. And it's called South Saskatchatoba now, hoser."

[Harp]

"Don't overreact to my comments,"

Er, OK. Well you should quit beating your wife!

Oh wait, you don't do that either.

[borkrules]

Gretsky's star lost a little of it's shine, as far as I'm concerned. Geez, act like you've been around a winner before, eh?

The little hissy fit that wussy boy threw at that press conference was waaaay beneath a guy who is considered the "Great One" in a man's game. God, it brought to mind the kid glove treatment he used to receive on the ice before he retired. The guy just NEVER got hit, and if you looked at him cross-eyed it was off to the sin bin.

All in all, it was a pathetic performance. It's clear enough that the Canadian's wanted it more and were the more talented team. But more than that, geez, it looked like they (Gretsky's management team) needed that win in order to remain emotionally stable. It would have been 24 hour suicide watches and keep the sharp objects away from Wayne-o, had the score been reversed.

And another thing, does anyone else feel that Mario's face is just begging for a right cross from some enforcer? The guy has sterling career numbers, is by all accounts a class act, but something about that guy's mug just sets me off. And Lindros...don't get me started. Almost forgot Theo Fleury, my new most hated player. God, it's a crying shame that Chelios couldn't line him up for a nice "how do you do" check.

After the irritation with Wayne and Co. faded, I just felt, well...actually, more irritation. Whatever.

[Argh]

I like the Wings, too, Brian. Among others. (HATE Philly, though). I'm an old Canadiens fan, but there's no point cheering for them these days, and I'm not the huge hockey fan I was up until a little over 20 years ago anyway.

See you around.

[rbmillerjr]

your too fast for me, because i have no idea what your talking about.......Well, off to hockey practice...Chrissakes hope we dont have a border war by the time I get back.

[bduet]

That is not correct. Brett Hull, who is my favorite NHL player, was born in Belleville On Can. He moved to the states when his dad played for the Blackhawks and has been here ever since. He considers himself an American. Unlike Mario and Gretzky who have permanent residence here and have duel citizenship. Adam Deadmarsh is like Hull in that he was born in Canada but is a US citizen and considers himself an American.

[codebreaker]

'The Jordan/Gretzky Rules' (by officials calling the game)-no difference.

[Lent]

, just didnt appreciate America being used to fire up the Canadien team -

Hey it's just sports. What did you think of the U.S. womens hockey team using the Canadian flag as a rug in their dressing room? Or Brookes calling the Canadian type of play "stupid" (sounds like Brookes thinks his U.S. team was playing like the Europeans - they don't. North American style is dump and chase basically)?

[Argh]

Thank you for the correction. Alzheimer's strikes again.

[bduet]

That is too funny!!! It would have been a great situation for Bros Hatcher to take care of. The US had no thugs on the roster. No meat men. Canada was so much more physical. So much bigger. I would love to see Darian Hatcher put Eric Lindros on IR. That guy kills me. You would think that after you get you clock cleaned for the tenth time you would drop the attitude and stop beating up on smaller players. I can't wait to see that guy face down on the ice again (I know that sounds terrible).

[Colonel_Flagg]

I thought Wayne's remarks were appalling until last night. Gretzky said last night he went through that rigamarole to take the pressure off the team

Sorry, Wayne, but nice-nice like that doesn't wash with me. I thought he was better than that. Canada has marvelously skilled players and especially after the figure skating fiasco the greatest player in the history of hockey could perhaps have found it within himself to rise above.

[borkrules]

What did you think of the U.S. womens hockey team using the Canadian flag as a rug in their dressing room?

Here's what I thought: It didn't happen.

Just another example of Canadian inferiority complex. Now, our friends North of the Border have long felt a need to distinguish themselves, somehow, someway from their cousins to the South. This time, they resorted to myth making. Walking on the Canadian flag. Good grief. Why in the WORLD would our gals do that? Americans in general, and hockey players especially, love Canada.

There isn't another country on the planet that knows the words to the Canadian national anthem like Americans do. That stand up when they hear it. That have the Maple Leaf hanging next to Old Glory in American ice rinks, sometimes at an equal height.

This latent anti-Americanism in Canada is simply un-lovely and indicative of a nasty case of little sister-ism. Get over it, Canucks.

[Colonel_Flagg]

I would love to see Darian Hatcher put Eric Lindros on IR.

So would I, but Derian Hatcher couldn't catch Eric Lindros to do it. He's a sled, which is why he didn't make the Olympic team in the first place.

The most mobile American defensemen were also the oldest, which led, in my mind, to trouble later in the tournament at altitude. And I think Brooks was right -- Canada playing Belarus in the semis was an enormous break for them. But, you play the games in the order you get them and nothing can change that.

[borkrules]

Now you're speaking my language, brother.

Lindros rubs me the wrong way, too. Some of it ain't really his fault. All that "savior of Canadian hockey", "next Big Thing" crap can go to a guys head. Or place unrealistic expectations on an unprepared guy. But, dude, Eric, lay off the little guys and take on a bruiser if you want to prove your chops. Sorry, no guts.

And there's something not so smart about taking repeated chances with concussions. Eric, you're gonna have to live a life after hockey. Don't mess with your future health.

Canada was the better team on the ice, but some of their "brain trust" really looked petulant and petty both during and after their glorious return to Olympic gold.

[BigTime]

But more than that, geez, it looked like they (Gretsky's management team) needed that win in order to remain emotionally stable. It would have been 24 hour suicide watches and keep the sharp objects away from Wayne-o, had the score been reversed.

LOL. Best post I've read in a while.

There are people trying to defend Gretsky's meltdown by suggesting it was planned and he did it for the team. OK. So he did it for the team an he's still an ass.

[bduet]

You know, if you can't handle being beaten, you shouldn't play the game. I think they need to think long and hard about sending their amatures. From the things I am hearing about the Canadian government being destabalized if Canada would have lose is just to much. It just seemed to me that Gretzky was setting his home folks up for excuses if Canada lost. I have to be honest and say, I hope Canada never wins another medal in competition again. I will be chearing for the Russians or Czecks to be the Canadians next time.

[Lent]

They had it on the floor. They may not have walked on it but I'm pretty sure if the Canadian team would have put the U.S. flag on the floor the Marines may have been busting down that dressing room. Hahaha! Anyway, what I thought was great was the Canadian and U.S. forces in Afghanistan calling each others brothers and a few Marines even had the cajoles to sit with the Canadian forces while the game was going on.

[Alberta's Child]

Between Wayne Gretzky bitchin' about how his team was being treated before the gold metal game & the Russians bitchin' about just about everything, I'm so proud of how our Olympians handled themselves. We proved we're now a Winter Olympic powerhouse and that we can handle defeat with grace and dignity,unlike most nations. Thanks to our athletes for a great Olympics & for once again showing why I'm proud to be an American!!!

Oh my, it appears many of us have such short memories. Don't you remember the disgraceful performance of the U.S. hockey team in Nagano in 1998, when a bunch of them went on a drinking binge and trashed their hotel after they failed to make the medal round?

[Lent]

cajoles=cajones - whatever!

[Alberta's Child]

Brooks is a f#cking moron -- the NJ Devils were smart enough to fire the bastard after one mediocre season behind the bench (1992-93).