The Canada Hockey Team vs. Canada Hockey Cult closing contest at the Vancouver Olympics on Sunday 28, with the USA team was allowed on the ice as a designated loser, is a treat to anticipate and a smile when it is done. Reed Albergotti, WSJ, has told me several times over the last two weeks that he fears for his life if Canada loses. The Canada hockey cult includes suicides, berserkers, mystics and a collective trance state. One country breathes as one mesmerized worshipper until Canada delivers the gold on home ice. All other metrics for Canada must wait -- the strong loonie, the booming natural resource economy, the cautious and sound banking system, the assertive wonderland of Nunavut, all must wait for that third period horn and Canada wins. Final score? Canada Hockey Team 5, Canada Hockey Cult 14,000,000. USA nowhere. Unless? Nah. Too awful to imagine, and Reed Albergotti must escape with his wits, and the destined Martin Brodeur must join the gods on Olympus.
"Reed Albergotti, WSJ, has told me several times over the last two weeks that he fears for his life if Canada loses."
Would never happen for curling. Fairy-dusted Cheryl Bernard blew her final take-out shot to crown the departing Annette Norberg of Sweden the undisputed Queen of Curling in a nail-biter of a game. Silver wasn't too shabby for a team nobody gave a chance to 2 weeks ago! Brava, ladies!
Like a latter-day Joe Namath, I'm promising a USA victory in tomorrow's game over Canada. Canada is a favorite and the US is an underdog only in the minds of people who haven't been following hockey for the last 10 years.
Ditto, the coming health care contest in Washington. Toss-up? Suicides? Drama? Go USA, GO!!!
My prediction: Canada 5, Etats Unis 1. US throws the game after Canada threatens to cut off the oil and cheap Hydro electricity.
Even if US gets the Hockey Silver, the USOC has nothing to be ashamed of. Vancouver may be America's best Olympics ever.
My guess for America's stunning dominance: Stricter Doping enforcement, all athletes are routinely checked, instead of just the few months leading up to the Games. Sports nutrition, physical therapy, and training are paramount at Olympic Training Centers.
Almost all the players, from whatever team's country they may play on, play in the NHL. It's the NHL that is the center of talent, and the NHL is now dominated by U.S. teams. So, whatever team wins the gold, it's a U.S. team.
"I don't know but I been told
Canadian ... ice ... is mighty cold!"
Congratulations to our friends from the north for a great victory.
aye. A great win in a great game.
if you wanted to teach kids what sports are supposed to be like- how they should be played- this game captured it as well as any I can recall.
Grats to Canada.