Canada

[Holy John]

Originally posted by The Wanderer:
no Scott Stevens or Jason Arnott on the Olympic team???

no wonder you haven't won the gold medal since 1952

Yeah, but we don't have players that brakes and sacages everything on their staterooms cos they lost, nah nah nah naaaahhh ! In fact, we don't have players... I don't like the idea of sending NHL players to the olympics.

------------------
United Nations : www.un.org - UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) : www.unicef.org
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) : <A HREF="http://www.unesco.org

«Je" TARGET=_blank>www.unesco.org

«Je</A> suis le dernier homme. Contre tous, je me défendrai...»
"I am the last man. Against all, I shall defend myself..."
- 'Rhinocéros', Ionesco

[speedracer]

Originally posted by Holy John:

Yeah, but we don't have players that brakes and sacages everything on their staterooms cos they lost, nah nah nah naaaahhh ! In fact, we don't have players... I don't like the idea of sending NHL players to the olympics.

It was only 3 of the US players who trashed the rooms at the 1998 Olympics. They never owned up to it, and the entire team adopted the somewhat dubious strategy of not revealing the culprits and thus inviting blame upon them all. The captain of the team, Chris Chelios, even footed the repair bill himself.

[The Wanderer]

what do you mean you "don't have players" that statement made no sense, Holy John, Canada has been sending guys like Sean Burke and Eric Lindros to the Olympics prior to 1998...

[Angel]

This is the best frickin' thread I have read in a long time! Boys and their hockey. Actually I am a huge hockey fan, but haven't been following it much lately.

Ok, continue on...

Oh! But I do have to add my 2 cents regarding the Olympics... I do not believe that professional hockey players or professional players of any sort for that matter belong in the Olympics. The Olympics are about amateur athletes and should remain that way. Unfortunately times have changed and the millions they make just isn't enough anymore, they gotta steal the Gold out of the little guys hands.

Ok... continue...

------------------
"It's no secret that our world is in darkness tonight..."

[speedracer]

Originally posted by Angel:
This is the best frickin' thread I have read in a long time! Boys and their hockey. Actually I am a huge hockey fan, but haven't been following it much lately.

Ok, continue on...

Oh! But I do have to add my 2 cents regarding the Olympics... I do not believe that professional hockey players or professional players of any sort for that matter belong in the Olympics. The Olympics are about amateur athletes and should remain that way. Unfortunately times have changed and the millions they make just isn't enough anymore, they gotta steal the Gold out of the little guys hands.

Ok... continue...

The Red Army hockey team can hardly be considered an amateur team; they were subsidized by the Soviet government. The same probably holds for a lot of "amateur" athletes before 1992.

Now, if you want to say that athletes in major professional leagues are jerks and have huge egos and should therefore be excluded from Olympic play, then go ahead and say so, but that's a different topic entirely.

[Angel]

Originally posted by speedracer:
The Red Army hockey team can hardly be considered an amateur team; they were subsidized by the Soviet government. The same probably holds for a lot of "amateur" athletes before 1992.

I am aware of this and agree with you, I am just saying that the Olympics used to be about the amateur athlete. Here was an institution for many who may not otherwise make it into the professional arena, but times have changed. And yeah, countries like Russia and others who aren't part of professional hockey leagues etc... have always competed in the Olympics at a professional level. I just simply disagree with this practise and now to compete fairly, NA has jumped on board and yeah, I think professional athletes are greedy $%@^$!#!



------------------
"It's no secret that our world is in darkness tonight..."

[kobayashi]

Originally posted by Angel:
I am just saying that the Olympics used to be about the amateur athlete.

this is before coke was invited.

------------------
we are no closer than we were yesterday.

[kobayashi]

Originally posted by bonoman:
Oh ya but if they had drug testing in the NHl in the 80's there would be no Oilers. Because they were ALL coke heads. Especially Mess, Fuhr and Gretz.

i would like to know if you heard this from a reputable source?
the sports illustrated story that originally broke this 'scandal' did not name gretzky at all.

yes it is refreshing to see comrie do what he did. but, imo, we have no right to blame or criticize any player for attempting to get their market value. as long as someone is willing to pay them that much. having said that, sense should come over the nhlpa and owners and agree on some sort of constraining system before the situation gets out of hand.

------------------
we are no closer than we were yesterday.

[Angel]

Originally posted by kobayashi:
this is before coke was invited.

Whatever. You guys are impossible. Resume manly talk, this girl has better things to do.

[bonoman]

I retract my Grtezky statement. Sorry. Uncalled for.

Market value?

Some players nowadays can hold a team hostage. I do agree it is the owners and the players doing wrong but money talks right!

In 2004 the collective bargaining talks will talk and most likely the NHL will go on strikes. The only way teams like Edm, CGY, OTT and others will make it past the 2005 season is if either a salary cap is installed or the currency problem is fixed. In canada all players are paid in American dollars. So they are getting pretty much double in Canadain. 10 million a season for players is ridiculous. This sport is probably the lowest in revenue and TV ratings in NA, behind Football, Basketball and Baseball. The other sports make tons more. They should get paid market value but market value in my opinon is nowhere near 10 mill a season. We all better start taping games now because when 2004 comes around there wont be a season and that will be hurting a sport that needs all the attention it can get.

Personally i think the problem is in the US. Where rich owners can go into places like Tampa and Carolina Anahiem and buy teams with no support from the community.

I kid you not americans hockey is life for many up here and without a team your city is lost without it. Remember Winnipeg? ya i thought u didnt.

------------------
Running to Stand Still-"you gotta cry without weeping, talk without speaking, scream without raising your voice."

"we're not burning out we're burning up...we're the loudest folk band in the world!"-Bono