Author |
Message |
Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 5:34 pm
Mary -- how did a Hawkeye come to be such a Red Wing fan?? 
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Jimmer
Member
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 5:38 pm
Not to sound like I’m spouting sour grapes, but I think that the Olympic tournament is too much of a crap shoot. The NBA, NHL and Baseball are all best of seven play-off series. I know that is impossible in the Olympic format, but the one game sudden-death simply doesn’t assure that the best team always wins. Of course I’m also a realist and nothing about Team Canada’s performance convinced me that they would have won a best of seven series anyway (though I suspect that they would have).
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Marysafan
Member
08-07-2000
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 6:08 pm
Teachmichigan, I live in Iowa now, but I was born and raised in the UP of Michigan. I am and always will be a Yooper. I've never considered myself a Hawkeye. Iowa is just where my house is. The UP is home. I've been a Red Wing fan since the Gordie Howe days. Jimmer, the Canadians were shut out three times by three different teams. They never played as a team, they were a group of All Stars and they played that way. Hockey is a team sport. The Olympic format is a crap shoot...now. Because the talent of the world all play together in NHL. I was laughing my butt off today when Pavel Datsyuk was winning face off after face off from Joe Sakic...all the while thinking Stevie Yzerman has taught him well! Hockey is a nationally integrated sport. The whole world plays together. It's truly a dilemma. You want the best players in the world, but trying to put together teams of players who don't normally play together and to pit them against players that they work with all the time is a lot like trying to separate an egg...after it's been cooked and scrambled. Not only that, but what do you do when you have teammates pitted against each other. Darius Kasparitis addressed this in an interview when he said it's harder to play in the Olympics because you have to pay attention to the names on the jersey's. Usually he just goes out and hits someone with the other color jersey...but there is no way he wants to risk hurting a teammate. In fact, he came right out and said he was going to stay far, far away from #68! lol! As a fan, it's truly unusual to watch these games, with favorites on opposing sides. This isn't a "normal" Olympic experience.
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Jimmer
Member
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 9:21 pm
That was very well said. You are so right that it has become a rather strange event. Because so many of these guys play together all the time and make so darn much money doing it, it no longer seems to have the passion that the original international events produced.
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Jan
Moderator
08-01-2000
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 11:48 am
Is there a rumour that the NHL may stop their players from going to the Olympics in the future? If they did, that might be a good thing, no? - every countries' teams would now be affected by that , not just the North American teams.
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Marysafan
Member
08-07-2000
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:00 pm
Jimmer, you are right. Much of the passion is gone. The talent is better than ever, but the passion, the "hate" if you will, isn't there. It used to be that the guys on the other team were guys you didn't know, didn't care to know, and didn't like regardless. Now, they could be the guy you sit next to in the locker room, your linemate, and even your next door neighbor! Jan, I am assuming you meant "NHL" because seeing those football players on ice skates, would be just wrong! lol! < you are so right, Mary!! My boo boo but thank God I have the ability to correct it > Oddly enough, whether the NHL agrees to allow their players to compete in the Olympics is actually a part of the collective bargaining agreement. It's something the players fight for. The NHL would rather they didn't go, but it's the players who want to participate. The last agreement was signed this summer and it contains a clause where the NHL will shut down and allow the players to compete. I believe the next agreement will be hammered out in three years. Things could change then, but I doubt it.
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Jimmer
Member
08-30-2000
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:04 pm
Well let me tell you, if the NFL stops sending their players I will be really upset! (Just picking on ya Jan ) Oh .... changing it is cheating!!! You're using your superpowers! 
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:12 pm
Oh I don't know it might be fun to see some big, tough football players trying out hockey. Ya know, watching em try to spike the puck when they score a goal and trying to do their little touchdown dances. A couple tackles here and there on the ice. 
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Jimmer
Member
08-30-2000
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:26 pm
Do you remember the commercial/skit where they did a "What if golf were played like hockey"? Announcer: "He's lining up the putt .... oh what a bodycheck! He's not going to be able to sink that one." 
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:29 pm
LOL! That's not really that old is it? I seem to remember us sitting here not too long ago watching tv and just cracking up over it (if not that one something very similar!)
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Jan
Moderator
08-01-2000
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 3:14 pm
Mary, about your two fav teams: did you see this one? : TORINO, Italy (Ticker) - Russia will have to continue its quest for Olympic gold without a key player. Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Evgeni Malkin was suspended for Russia's semifinal game against Finland for a kicking incident. Russia only will be without Malkin for Friday's contest, as the 19-year-old was suspended for attempting to kick Tampa Bay Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier with 61 seconds remaining in Wednesday's quarterfinal win over 2002 Olympic champion Canada. Malkin, who was selected by Pittsburgh immediately after Team Russia teammate Alexander Ovechkin was chosen first overall by the Washington Capitals in 2004, received a match penalty for the offense. He has collected two goals and four assists in six games in the tournament. Playing for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Russian Superleague this season, Malkin has amassed 21 goals and 28 assists in 43 games. and then there is this one: Vancouver Canucks Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Nonis is "appalled at the lack of communication and respect he has received from the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation" following an injury to defenseman Sami Salo. The Canucks defenceman suffered a shoulder injury playing for Finland on Wednesday and since the mishap, Nonis has tried to reach the Finnish Federation on multiple occasions to get an injury update. He has also asked the NHL to intervene on their behalf. The latest on Salo was that he was likely done for the tournament pending an MRI which he will undergo tonight. Earlier today, the Finnish coach was still hopeful that Salo would be available for Friday's semifinal game against Russia. The Canucks have already lost defenceman Mattias Ohlund for seven to 10 days with what the Swedish doctors believe to be broken ribs. He is flying home to Vancouver on Friday and will be re-evaluated by Canucks doctors. If Salo is gone, the Canucks will be without their top three defencemen. They are already missing Ed Jovanovski for the next month with a groin injury. TSN
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Marysafan
Member
08-07-2000
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 3:34 pm
That's the problem with sending NHL players to play in the Olympics during the NHL season. Hubby and I were just discussing this. There have been several injuries to some very important players like Dominc Hasek, Joe Sakic, and Patrick Elias. There is also a rumor that Pavel Datsyuk has a broken finger. These players return to their teams not only tired and exhausted, but in many cases bruised and battered and worse case seriously injured. Hubby and I will were discussing the situation with Darius Kasparits of Russia having to play against many of his team mates who are with the Czech Republic. What does he do? Hubby said part of him must feel some sort of responsibility to protect them from harm especially Jaomir Jagr. Hubby suggested something about chasing away his fellow Russians with his stick! lol! It's a mind boggling situation. There is a lot at risk.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 5:58 pm
Whether the hockey is "better" or not, now, from a fairly non-informed fan (rarely have time to actually watch any games), the "fire" isn't there-- no more "miracle" teams like our 1980 team. I think that only occurs when you have the "amateurs" rather than the paid professional. Shoot -- even though the Pistons are fun to watch, I'd rather watch collegiate or even high school b-ball any day!
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Marysafan
Member
08-07-2000
| Friday, February 24, 2006 - 11:10 am
I am so thrilled for the Swedes! My smile is as big as Henrik Lundquist's! This is such redemption after the Belarus debacle last time. I couldn't be happier for them.
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Marysafan
Member
08-07-2000
| Friday, February 24, 2006 - 4:02 pm
I am very proud and happy for the Finns and the Swedes! They deserve this.
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Marysafan
Member
08-07-2000
| Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 10:05 am
I don't know that there is one person in the entire country or even the entire continent for that matter who enjoyed this gold medal game more than me! I was so excited I could hardly sleep. Hubby about threw me out of bed for not being to lay still, until finally he politely suggested that perhaps there was an early bird pre-game show. I took the hint, and got up about 5:30 and waited impatiently for 7:00 to roll around. Finally here it was and I was like one of those hockey mom's whose sons are playing against each other on opposing teams...wanting more than anything for each team to play well. And they did. I am so very proud of both of them. However, in the end, my heart won. My "boys"...my beloved Red Wings and my fantasy team's #1 goalie were the stars of the show. The New York Ranger fans have taken such a shine to young Henrik Lundquist that in order to give him a rest they play Kevin Weeks when they are out of town. The Ranger fans chant "Henrik...Henrik..." and will cause a general uproar if he is not goal at home. When I booted Rick Dipietro from my fantasy hockey for crappy performance early on the season, I replaced him with Henrik Lundquist, and now I am second in my league. (Hubby is first). Henrik makes me look like a hockey genius! And my WINGS! What can I say! All three goals were scored by my Red Wings...and two of them wouldn't have happened at all if not for the efforts of Tomas Holmstrom, who is the best in the world at distracting the goalie, or blocking his view. I was so proud of him...and to think they almost left him home. In my heart, I believe that without Tomas, the Swedes would not have the gold medal. I know that is my very biased opinion, but I truly believe it. The medal is not nearly as golden as Tomas. I just love that guy. The Czech vs Russia game was also good. When Pavel Datsyuk got sent to the penalty box for "misconduct". I laughed right out loud. Pavel is going to get a ton of ribbing about that. I know exactly how he will take it. With a sparkle in his eye, his head down in mock shame, and a big smile and a red face. Pavel Datsyuk getting a misconduct penalty is as out of character as John Boy Walton getting sent to the principal's office for misbehaving in class. But John Davidson said something that really struck a chord. He talked about how these players were friends and teammates. The Czechs didn't hate the Russians. The Russians didn't hate the Americans. "Maybe", he said, "hockey has been good for the world." Indeed, JD, maybe it has. Maybe that is truly the lesson in all this. Hockey is bigger than borders. The games are bigger than governments. We are all people. We are all the same. No one group is superior to another. It is hard to hate your friends. The passion that was displayed was for love and pride not for enmity or hated. And that was the greater joy. Okay Sweden...you owe these guys. You plastered their pictures all over your front pages last time when you called them a national disgrace after the Belarus debacle. This time, you will call them your heroes. You must give them all the honor they deserve, they have already taken all your shame. And me...I am going to enjoy this all day. I cheered for the Swedes, I picked the Swedes when the media was all saying Canada or maybe conceding that the Czech Republic could be a spoiler. My Swedes! They make me look like I am a hockey genius! What a great ride.! I am exhausted!
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Chaplin
Member
01-08-2006
| Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 11:14 am
Mary I picked the Swedes as well once Canada had lost!!!!!!!!!!
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