97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

dom

I don't think he'll be back but can you really blame him? Maybe for the Finlandia game but certainly not the Canada game.

Babcock on the other hand. Thanks Fibs.

Anyone hear his interview shortly after the game in response to the lack of goal scoring from Canada? "Does anyone remember who the leading scorer was? Does anyone remember who won Gold?" Then got up and left.

Moog-Type-S

Here is a funny anecdote, if you will:

On Saturday I was at a LA Kings event (had nothing to do with the Oly hockey game(s) ) In a half dozen or so conversations I either had or over heard, people could care less about USA's tank job against Finlandia, nor could care less who would win the gold medal. Most peeps were indifferent. However when it came to NHL talk, they were very opinionated, and serious.

My take away: In 2013, Olympic hockey in the USA is in the same state of affairs as it has been for for eons: If the USA isn't playing for the gold....nobody cares. If they play for the gold and lose, fans just shrug it off.

It's not that big of a deal in the USA. Even when NHL stars are competing.

Sure die-hard fans are out there, but even among NHL fans, the interest is not that very high.

It's almost as bad as soccer.

Yumcha

Probably the only time I was that on AZ...


And this includes taking into account the histrionics lately that I'm sure you know of (which is more sadly amusing than anything else).

Moog-Type-S

After Brown touched Kessel's stick, did Kessel ever score again?

Just an observation

Yumcha

It's a Canadiana thing. And perhaps for some of the European countries that black label worships (i.e. Sweden, Finland).

But, to watch these games as a neutral hockey fan was very entertaining. When you have the best players on the planet working in unison and for the same cause, it's admirable and something worth taking a moment to applaud them about. I'm pretty sure it took lots of personal discipline for some of these players to play in the system that they were asked to. And it was a fine job.



I'm still on the fence whether the NHL should participate in Kimchi-land next time round but there are merits and obviously, negatives if they choose to participate.

Yumcha

More like Kessel got introduced to his new best friends: Toews, Carter, and Marleau.


Boy were they stalking Phil the Thrill and his linemates like some obsessed paparazzi. Clinic on shut-down.

Against Finland, the Americans checked out and were ready to fly home. So, figured they would've been blanked.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

I didn't think about that, you make a good point

Moog-Type-S

I think that is the difference.

For most of the Euro countries, it's all about coming together FOR the country.
It's nationalism and pride.

For Canada it's the same.

For the USA, it's all about each player wanting a chance to win a gold medal for themselves. They may speak about pride of country and , but as pro NHL players, they could care less. The USA could care less, as it's not invested in hockey as much as in other sports.....but if they won a gold, the bandwagon would be on and rolling.....for a small amount of time.

In Canada (and the Euros) it's everything to them. They can't wrap their heads around why USA players and "fans" could care less about a silver or bronze.

....and most USA peeps can't figure out why Canada is all geeked about their hockey gold....sorta like that curling stuff too.


Mix in some non-pro players back into the Oly, and it might be a bit different, as those USA players would actually care about the logo on the front of the jersey.

dom

That's quite sad to hear.

I don't think Canadian fans would care if we won or lost a Bronze medal game. But when we don't win gold. We usually freak out and setup a committee to find out why. There's pannick about no World junior gold for several years now.

I would imagine the US would do the same if you lost a Baseball or Football World Cup. If such a thing existed for football.

Basketball, no issues there really.

dom

?

I go from Hockey Talk to Auto News and back, that's about what I know these days.

dom

All jokes aside. I love Curling. Don't play it but watch religiously. Very happy about the golds.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

red text?

Yumcha

Then consider yourself better for it.

dom

Nope. I know you Yanks don't get it. But Curling is huge up here. Our 2 main sports broadcasters fought hard over the broadcast rights. They do big numbers.

dom

Give me a damn link.

Yumcha

I think dom's serious.



And as an immigrant to this country from USA! USA!, I do have to say that curling was beyond strange when I first saw it.

Then, I tried it for kicks as a team-building thing and it is actually fun as heck. And it's entertaining to watch at times...I prefer it over golf to be honest.

Moog-Type-S

I think it comes down to "what there is to do".

I'll give you the SoCal example: There is soooooo much to do here in SoCal in our year round "single weather" season. There is no time when you are locked up in doors with snow piled up to your door when all there is to do is tune in to a sport. Hence why SoCal fans are typically (other than the die hards) fair weather fans.

Canadians have a "similar" not exact but "similar" situation.
Hockey...and that crazy goofy curling (I happen to like curling) is everything to them because it's all you got for most of the year. It's a national past time because there is little opening/opportunities to exit your "igloos".


It's not the sport....IMHO.
The US failed at the World Baseball Classic....nobody cared.
If there was a NFL Football World something rather, and the US lost....it would be the same.

The USA loves winners, but when we lose, we shrug and move on.....except for the few die-hards.

Heck most people don't even know the US was shut out of ALL speed skating gold....and if they knew, they'd shrug it off as well.

It's just not that big of a deal.


Now take USA peeps facebook, twitter, instagram, away, and there would be a riot and a revolution......because today's Americans really just love themselves.

Yumcha

Go into the mothership, sir. And the thread's right there. I've since unsubscribed but I'm sure there's activity in it still...

Yumcha

Dude...that's not a USA issue.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Worst spectator sport in the world...

I'd rather watch a 900 inning no hitter

Yumcha

Do you feel that way about golf? I ask because I hated to watch golf...but, once I started to play it, I understood the appeal of it being televised and learned to appreciate it I think.

But, I find curling alot more fun...and better to watch on TV. Not picking it over NFL, NBA, NHL, and etc. Just saying it's not terrible.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

I watch golf on Sundays when it matters, I like to go to golf tournaments to spectate, much better in person

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

I'm sure people enjoy Curling, to me it's nothing more than an oversized shuffleboard with swiffers

Yumcha

That's one way to look at it.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

I mean, a bunch of 45 year old women pushing brooms on a shuffleboard

Moog-Type-S

Maybe I like curling because we watch it every 4 years at work.

Would I watch it at home? Probably not.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

I just noticed your av Moogy, nice

Yumcha

Moog-Type-S

Finlandia AV has been in "distress" since their loss.


....a moment of silence please.

dom

For Canada, yes we're all die hards so it makes sense. Plus its all we're any good at really so we like to hold onto with every breathe we take.

dom

Your that pissed off about the Dinobots huh?

black label

Youre watching the wrong team.

Yumcha

Does Rask curl...?

Yumcha

dom

Thread name at least? Hint?

dom

Great Britain's Skip was nice to look at.

Moog-Type-S

..and who came up with all those goofy curling phrases?
hammer, skip, house, guard, end, hog line, button, burned stone.

Yumcha

You do know there are other parts to AZ than THIS thread and Automotive News.

dom

Why do you think he missed the Sweden game. He went over to the curling centre and tried to stop all the rocks Canada was throwing because he thought they were giant pucks.