I want to know whether you think NHLers shold participate in the 2010 Olympics. Not whether you think they will, but if they should.
I say no way, even though it is in Vancouver. I think the so-called boost the NHL is suposed to get from the Olympics is non-existant. I think that teams essentially paying players to play in the Olympics, where they could get hurt, is silly and unnecessary. Some players have played 8 game in 12 days. That has to affect their play. I think the fact that the NHL is shut down for two weeks is just a terrible idea.
Let some kids or other players play in the Olympics and keep the NHL going.
NHLers at the 2010 Olympics
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NHLers at the 2010 Olympics
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
- H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
- H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
Definitely...
The lack of success of Team USA and Team Canada shouldn't matter whether or not they should do this nor the physical toll it takes on the NHL players. They agreed to do this so they should know what they're getting into and this has been down for the last two Olympics. Yesterday was a pleasure to watch two teams of paid professionals put it on the line for their countries and see geniune emotions afterwards...excitement from the Swedes and disappointment from the Finns. I don't care what the ratings were or what the anti-NHL sports media says...this was a great tournament. This was the highlight of the Olympics in my eyes and I know I wouldn't have paid nearly as much interest if it was strictly "amateurs" playing because the NHL would still be in action and I'd lean towards watching that instead. Amateurism in the Olympics is pretty much dead as it is...I'm tired of this romanticized view of the Olympics because of what happened 20, 30 or 40 years ago. Even with college and junior players, we'll never see 1980 replicated because American hockey is much stronger than it was 26 years ago and we're not entrenched in the Cold War. Right now, it's all about having the best hockey players in the world represent their country and put on a show for hockey fans around the world.
The lack of success of Team USA and Team Canada shouldn't matter whether or not they should do this nor the physical toll it takes on the NHL players. They agreed to do this so they should know what they're getting into and this has been down for the last two Olympics. Yesterday was a pleasure to watch two teams of paid professionals put it on the line for their countries and see geniune emotions afterwards...excitement from the Swedes and disappointment from the Finns. I don't care what the ratings were or what the anti-NHL sports media says...this was a great tournament. This was the highlight of the Olympics in my eyes and I know I wouldn't have paid nearly as much interest if it was strictly "amateurs" playing because the NHL would still be in action and I'd lean towards watching that instead. Amateurism in the Olympics is pretty much dead as it is...I'm tired of this romanticized view of the Olympics because of what happened 20, 30 or 40 years ago. Even with college and junior players, we'll never see 1980 replicated because American hockey is much stronger than it was 26 years ago and we're not entrenched in the Cold War. Right now, it's all about having the best hockey players in the world represent their country and put on a show for hockey fans around the world.
I say no. Bring back the passion of the youngsters. It would be great to see 18 to 22 year olds going for the gold...bring it back to the true amateur roots of the Olympics.
Tiger Williams wrote:"... some snot-nosed little fuck that isn't going to break a nail is going to score 50 goals and he's never driven to the net in his life. He's never stood in front with Moose Dupont giving him 89 cross checks in the back of the head."
Yes.
Obviously as the games get closer, you'll see how the Games will pretty much revolve around the men's hockey team, and their attempt to return to greatness.
I personally don't believe that the Olympic tournament is the watermark of hockey supremacy. That's what the world championship are for, n'est pas?
One more tournament (in the western hemispere's time zome) and that will be it. The tournament is only good for the NHL if everyone can get a chance to watch it and get into it and excited about it. Only the hardcore are geting up at 6am Sunday morning to watch Sweden/Finland, and for some that's just too early unless you're up and drinking will 3 or 4 hundred of your fellow bleary eyed countrymen. As for NHL'ers getting hurt/tired........they're millionaires, they'll be alright.
It's all over come 2010. It will be back to the Russians perennially working over our national teams in no time.
Obviously as the games get closer, you'll see how the Games will pretty much revolve around the men's hockey team, and their attempt to return to greatness.
I personally don't believe that the Olympic tournament is the watermark of hockey supremacy. That's what the world championship are for, n'est pas?
One more tournament (in the western hemispere's time zome) and that will be it. The tournament is only good for the NHL if everyone can get a chance to watch it and get into it and excited about it. Only the hardcore are geting up at 6am Sunday morning to watch Sweden/Finland, and for some that's just too early unless you're up and drinking will 3 or 4 hundred of your fellow bleary eyed countrymen. As for NHL'ers getting hurt/tired........they're millionaires, they'll be alright.
It's all over come 2010. It will be back to the Russians perennially working over our national teams in no time.
Mainiac wrote:I say no. Bring back the passion of the youngsters. It would be great to see 18 to 22 year olds going for the gold...bring it back to the true amateur roots of the Olympics.
If you do that, you have to force every team to go with kids that age. Before with 1980, our guys were fed to the lions and had to face professionals from other countries...namely the Soviets. I just don't think we'd see the same balance among the teams if we went all amateurs. The Swiss junior team is on the rise but it would basically be the same 6 or 7 countries leading the way and the rest of the world is still far behind. I just think this nostaglic view of the amateurism in the Olympics is so hoaky. There were some surly characters on these teams but genuinely, these guys were happy to be there. The junior players will get their time when they become pros. If the NHL was a little stronger than they are, I don't think they get involved in the Olympics. It is a way for them to greater exposure. I can at least respect the NHL for just marketing their game and no just packaging and manufacturing individuals and personalities...with the exception of Crosby.
al? wrote:I personally don't believe that the Olympic tournament is the watermark of hockey supremacy. That's what the world championship are for, n'est pas?
If it's so important, than why doesn't the NHL halt play for that too? I think that tournament is a bit of farce. The only NHLers that participate are those from teams that don't make the playoffs or they join in progress after they're clubs are eliminated. You don't always get the best players on the teams so that can't really be the truest test of who is the best in the world. The Olympics had the best players in the world without a doubt. I thought we saw the best the best hockey team in the world crowned yesterday because we saw the best of the best on both teams...sans injuries.
Important to the NHL is not neccessarily important to the IIHF. The Olympics are a high profile event. The entire world is watching, and watching things they normally wouldn't give 2 shits about (when's the last time you watched aerials, speed skating or bobsledding outside of the games?). The world championships are an annual tournament featuring nothing but hockey. Exposure, brah.Shoalzie wrote:
If it's so important, than why doesn't the NHL halt play for that too?
The IIHF has tried to accomodate the NHL and insure as level a playing field as possible, but obviuosly the NHL is the 600lb gorilla and calls the shots. NHLPA hasn't helped either, and players attitudes could be better.
Are you suggesting the title of world's greatest hockey nation is decided only every 4 years, and really only started 8 years ago?
are you sure?
Last edited by al? on Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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I'm not sure I agree with that. We saw the best team over the last week. Finland still won more games. Slovakia only lost one game,but the format allowed Sweden to win. Good for them, they deserved it, given the format. But I just cannot put a lot of faith in this tournament format and the fact that the players are thrown together, for the most part a single day in advance. We just saw the team that played the best over the last five days or so, I mean Sweden did get hammered by Russia and also got shutout by Slovakia.Shoalzie wrote:al? wrote:I personally don't believe that the Olympic tournament is the watermark of hockey supremacy. That's what the world championship are for, n'est pas?
If it's so important, than why doesn't the NHL halt play for that too? I think that tournament is a bit of farce. The only NHLers that participate are those from teams that don't make the playoffs or they join in progress after they're clubs are eliminated. You don't always get the best players on the teams so that can't really be the truest test of who is the best in the world. The Olympics had the best players in the world without a doubt. I thought we saw the best the best hockey team in the world crowned yesterday because we saw the best of the best on both teams...sans injuries.
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
- H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
- H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
al? wrote:The world championships are an annual tournament featuring nothing but hockey. Exposure, brah.
I've yet to see a single world championship on TV. It doesn't get any attention at all in the States. The Stanley Cup playoffs are in full swing while this is going on...why should I care about it?
How very American. I don't care about it therefore it doesn't matter.Shoalzie wrote: I've yet to see a single world championship on TV. It doesn't get any attention at all in the States.....why should I care about it?
500,000 Swedes would disagree, and I could be wrong but I think they have a T.V or 2 somewhere in Euroland.
Would Sweden celebrate the same way for world championship like they would for the Olympic gold medal? The Czechs had a huge party for their win 1998. Does Canada shut the country when the world championship is going on or if they win? Why would they when the Stanley Cup playoffs are going on.
Look, I don't dispute it's existence...I just dispute that Team X winning the world championship isn't necessarily the best team in the world in that given year because of the fact that some NHL teams are still battling it out for the Stanley Cup while that's going on. The Olympics and the World Cup are more accurate barometers on how good each nation is when all of the professionals from around the world are available to play. If they played the world championships in June or July, then I'd feel completely different about it. Let's say the Wings, Flyers and Sens go on a long playoff run...that pretty much wipes out most of the key players for Sweden. You're not exactly going to see the same caliber of team in Latvia this spring that you saw in Torino.
Look, I don't dispute it's existence...I just dispute that Team X winning the world championship isn't necessarily the best team in the world in that given year because of the fact that some NHL teams are still battling it out for the Stanley Cup while that's going on. The Olympics and the World Cup are more accurate barometers on how good each nation is when all of the professionals from around the world are available to play. If they played the world championships in June or July, then I'd feel completely different about it. Let's say the Wings, Flyers and Sens go on a long playoff run...that pretty much wipes out most of the key players for Sweden. You're not exactly going to see the same caliber of team in Latvia this spring that you saw in Torino.
I guess I wasn't clear. Of course I realize it's impossible (and hoaky) to get back to having just amateurs in the Games. Any players who aren't in the NHL would be eligible.
Leaving out the NHL would not mean that Russia would dominate. Their best players are already in the NHL, remember? I think it would be pretty damn competitive.
Leaving out the NHL would not mean that Russia would dominate. Their best players are already in the NHL, remember? I think it would be pretty damn competitive.
Tiger Williams wrote:"... some snot-nosed little fuck that isn't going to break a nail is going to score 50 goals and he's never driven to the net in his life. He's never stood in front with Moose Dupont giving him 89 cross checks in the back of the head."
Competitve is nice but I'd rather see Ovechkin, Jagr, Forsberg and Selanne than Joe Blow from State U. If I'm not mistaken but wasn't this year's tournament pretty damn competive? I'm not in this to get a warm fuzzy feeling after I watch it. I want to watch America's best against Canada's best against Russia's best against Sweden's best...or at least those who aren't injured and who want to actually play. The tournament was well played by all nations and it had a somewhat unexpected result. Team USA won only 1 game but it wasn't like they were blown out the entire tournament...all losses were by one goal.
Like I said before, if the professionals continue to participate in the Olympics, these young players that would've gone in their place will eventually become pros and they'll be in the Olympics at some point. Plus, if you put the ban on NHL players...the best young prospects are in the NHL anyways. You wouldn't get to see Crosby or Ovechkin or Svatos or Lundqvist play under that rule. I say let the countries pick the 24 or 25 best players from their nation to represent them...NHL or not. What they could do is make each team have to select a completely new roster for each Olympics...that could at least give players a little more incentive if they only get to do this once.
If you want to see the kids play...watch the World Junior tournament or the Under-17 tournament. The Olympics should be a collection of the best athletes in the world in their respective sports at that moment in time. Hockey isn't like figure skating when you're 25 and you're considered over the hill. I enjoyed seeing Chelios at 44 wear our colors because he wanted to be there and he wanted to win gold as much as anyone else did. Sure, the young players would appreciate the experience as well but if they allow professionals in other sports...why not hockey?
Like I said before, if the professionals continue to participate in the Olympics, these young players that would've gone in their place will eventually become pros and they'll be in the Olympics at some point. Plus, if you put the ban on NHL players...the best young prospects are in the NHL anyways. You wouldn't get to see Crosby or Ovechkin or Svatos or Lundqvist play under that rule. I say let the countries pick the 24 or 25 best players from their nation to represent them...NHL or not. What they could do is make each team have to select a completely new roster for each Olympics...that could at least give players a little more incentive if they only get to do this once.
If you want to see the kids play...watch the World Junior tournament or the Under-17 tournament. The Olympics should be a collection of the best athletes in the world in their respective sports at that moment in time. Hockey isn't like figure skating when you're 25 and you're considered over the hill. I enjoyed seeing Chelios at 44 wear our colors because he wanted to be there and he wanted to win gold as much as anyone else did. Sure, the young players would appreciate the experience as well but if they allow professionals in other sports...why not hockey?
I would like to see NHL'ers in the Olympics indefinately. I think the league and/or the association is losing interest.
Consistent world championships results combined with the Olympic best-of-the-best tournament every four years is a pretty accurate gauge. Has been so far. But you have to want it. Anyone who's ever played organized sport at any kind of competitive level knows the difference between who wants it.
Sure Canada wanted it, just not as bad as Sweden.
Consistent world championships results combined with the Olympic best-of-the-best tournament every four years is a pretty accurate gauge. Has been so far. But you have to want it. Anyone who's ever played organized sport at any kind of competitive level knows the difference between who wants it.
Sure Canada wanted it, just not as bad as Sweden.
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what's wrong with the world cup?
anyway, i go with the pros in 2010. just because north american hockey was proven vastly inferior in this year's olympics doesn't mean we should abandon all hope and go with all amatures, i'm pretty sure europe and scandinavia isn't all about that right now. all this amature bullshit is knee jerk reactions from fans of usa hockey/hockey canada because they need someone to blame. unfortunately, gretz and don waddell are the people who need to be checking themselves for the piss poor rosters they put out.
i have the utmost respect for the world juniors during xmas break, but i could care less about the "world championships" during the playoffs. and it really is a shame the world juniors isn't on tv. i'd take watching the memorial cup at 4:30 am on c-span if that's what it took.
anyway, i go with the pros in 2010. just because north american hockey was proven vastly inferior in this year's olympics doesn't mean we should abandon all hope and go with all amatures, i'm pretty sure europe and scandinavia isn't all about that right now. all this amature bullshit is knee jerk reactions from fans of usa hockey/hockey canada because they need someone to blame. unfortunately, gretz and don waddell are the people who need to be checking themselves for the piss poor rosters they put out.
i have the utmost respect for the world juniors during xmas break, but i could care less about the "world championships" during the playoffs. and it really is a shame the world juniors isn't on tv. i'd take watching the memorial cup at 4:30 am on c-span if that's what it took.