I hope both U.S. Hockey teams lose

[DS1]

I really do.

edited to add: Basketball should have NEVER been added as an Olympic sport, fuck that action

[yvr girl]

1. I couldn't agree more

I want Canada to win.

[kedrys]

2. You beat me to it :)

Canada MUST rule hockey, and curling, and... :) :woohoo:

[buddhamama]

3. two questions

forgive me for i haven't followed the Olympics whatsoever,

why are there two U.S. hockey teams? and, why do wish for them to lose? (not that i care either way, obviously, curious is all)

[yvr girl]

4. Men and women n/t

[buddhamama]

6. oh. right.

should have realized that. thanks.

[DS1]

7. There's mens hockey and womens hockey

And while I acknowledge that all countries do it after the "Dream Team", I can't stand the idea of a country cherry-picking professional sports teams to send them off and hope to win gold just to up that country's medal count.

Another reason is that I think team sports that involve more than 4 players should be thrown out of the Olympics.

Another reason is that I hate America

Another reason is that anything that shuts those Bush-sucking announcers up is a good thing

Another reason is that America is a bad winner

Another reason is that I haven't yet had my chance to be the American Ambassador to Italy, and have sex with Monice Bellucci.
That would make it all better.

[buddhamama]

8. agreed

on the Dream team issue-the Olympics use to represent the best "amateurs".

i am of the opinion too that America is a bad winner.

i haven't had the chance yet either to meet and have sex with Viggo Mortensen so i truly do understand your frustration and empathize. :)

[UrbScotty]

18. And the reason you hate America? (nt)

[DS1]

19. That line was intended as humor

(nt)

[UrbScotty]

22. And the reason that line was intended as humor?

:evilgrin:

[DS1]

27. Because I hate America

That's why :*

[UrbScotty]

29. And the reason you hate America?

:evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin:

[DS1]

30. smilie abuse

You know, in Amsterdam, you'd be arrested for that, then forced to *cough* lay down with a prostitute and smoka from da bowl

[UrbScotty]

42. And the reason that's smilie abuse???

:evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin:

[sir_captain]

45. I know you're kidding...

but I'm not really sure why you're hating on hockey.

The women's team is all amateurs, so it's pretty legitimate. On the men's side, the American team is maybe the 5th or 6th best team there, and all of the top teams are made up entirely of pros. The Russians, Czechs, and of course, the Canadians, are the real dream teams of the tournament.

Basketball and even baseball I'll give you, but not hockey.

[Benfea]

9. It creates a dichotomy

As Americans we're supposed to root for the underdog in a sports match, but as Americans we're supposed to root for the American team in the Olympics. Thus, having a dominant team in the Olympics presents a conflict.

This is precisely why I love watching the World Cup. America is always the underdog there, so I can cheer my fool heart out without reservation, and even a loss can feel like a victory if the score is close enough.

[fishwax]

5. i was just thinking about how fun olympic basketball used to be before

they ruined it with the dream team. I wish I'd been able to see more of that, as I only barely remember those days ...

[Renew Deal]

11. Who won the last two Olympic golds?

:shrug:

[fishwax]

13. no idea

:shrug:

not the "dream team" though :rofl:

[Renew Deal]

15. Right

So I don't consider the tournament ruined.

[fishwax]

16. i haven't watched more than a few halves since '92

i liked it better when there weren't nba players, and I don't watch it because it's an odd and forced mix of styles, etc. Sometimes i watch the homeland (lithuania), but that's about it. For me, it's pretty much ruined.

But different strokes--I'm glad that you still enjoy it :toast:

[Renew Deal]

17. I'm a sports fan.

I can't resist. I went to the Olympics a couple years ago and saw the US play Puerto Rico. It was not fun. I have noticed a difference in the competition in all sports. The World Cup, European Championship, Olympic Basketball and Hockey (and March Madness). The tournaments are much more competitive than they used to be. I don't know if it's that more international players play in the Pro's or the training is better or something else. Either way, it makes for interesting competition.

[fishwax]

23. I'm a sports fan too

and part of my deal with basketball is that i get annoyed with how the coverage of olympic basketball takes time from other sports that I only get to see on tv every four years. Ditto on the hockey. While I kind of enjoy the differences in the international game, the olympic basketball used to at least offer a college all-star team (something you only got to see every four years), and it now just offers an nba all-star team (or several).

And I also think it is the hype for the "dream team" that has ruined olympic basketball for me as much as their actual existence, because you're definitely right that the competition has gotten better, and that is certainly good for the game. I can only hope that the hype will have died down by beijing, b/c i'd love to enjoy it again :)

[DS1]

20. Fuck you Bleachers!

You don't know me, MAN! :grr:


:D

[Renew Deal]

21. Hmmmm

:nuke:

[DS1]

24. Hockey team + plane + 20 meter diameter hole in ground

and it's on!

[Scout1071]

33. I disagree. There are so many good European players now

that even the NBA players are challenged. The game has changed and Europe, Lithuania, Russia and many others are catching up to the US game. Those Eastern European guys have an awesome game. They are so physical and can shoot from anywhere.

Having said that, I'm primarily a college basketball fan. Next month, the world will see that my baby Jayhawks have the best damn freshmen class in the country and one of the best teams in the NCAA.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk. Go KU.

[Renew Deal]

10. The US isn't the only one full of NHL'ers

So are the Canadians, Czecks and probably the Russians. The Finn's, Swedes, Swiss and most of the others have a good number of NHL's as well. Just ask the Canadians.

And what does that have to do with the women?

[maveric]

26. The majority of men's teamers play in the NHL.

I read 76% of olympic players are pros in the USA and Canada.

[gizmo1979]

12. Booo hisss booo hiss.

got to be a homer sorry.

[CatholicEdHead]

14. Men are NHLers, Women are college players

The women have a different stake in this than the men do.

[alarimer]

25. It is their NHL

They have nowhere else to go. I thought it was a tremendous upset for the US women to lose to Switzerland (I think it was the Swiss) and only end up in the bronze medal game. But it's okay. Canada would hae kicked their asses anyway I think. But a lot of the teams in the tournament have players that will play college hockey in the US. So future tournaments will be more balances. The men's already is because mnay countries have players in the NHL. So at least there is (or will be) some sort of parity.

[devilgrrl]

28. Why? I'm cheering the US in hockey.

:shrug:

The US women aren't in contention for the gold after losing to Sweden - which was great for women's hockey in that it shows the other teams, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, etc. that they too can improve and possibly take down the US or Canada and will hopefully get more girls from around the world to play hockey.

The US men's are always the underdog, so I cheer them on for that reason alone.

[yvr girl]

34. They're not an underdog

No way.

[devilgrrl]

36. Sure they are...

the US isn't expected to medal this year or even since we won the gold and when NHL players were allowed to participate. US isn't a dominant force in the hockey world compared to Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia, etc...

[yvr girl]

37. That's crap

The US has a great roster. I'd say they were expected to medal - they're still in contention for a bronze.

[devilgrrl]

38. Why the tone?

?????????????

I still think Canada, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic and Slovakia have better rosters.

[yvr girl]

39. I don't mean to have (a bad) tone

I guess we have to agree to disagree. The US winning wouldn't be seen as an upset. Germany, Italy or Switzerland winning would be an upset.

[devilgrrl]

44. How about those Swiss?

Wouldn't that be something? :-)

[sir_captain]

47. These things are not mutually exclusive

Sure, those teams winning would be a really big upset, but the US winning would still be a big surprise.

[sir_captain]

46. Not true at all

The US teams wasn't seeded in the top 3--hence by definition not expected to medal. The favorites were clearly Canada, the Czechs, and the Swedes, in that order.

[GOPisEvil]

31. You're just a bully who hates green.

[txindy]

35. You can tell he's an Aggie.

Hah! Kidding, but made you look! :rofl:

Longhorns and Aggies = (I'll even be the one on the right if you don't chuck something at me for teasin' you! ;))

[maveric]

32. I Love my country but hate the current govt. GO USA!!!

Plus I LOVE Hockey!
I refuse to let the corrupt hyenas that run our countrty make me hate and root against USA!

[buddhamama]

40. i can't believe

the rantings of American hating Lunatic has garnered so many responses. :)

[realisticphish]

41. I'm rooting for Canada

because Rick Nash is my favorite player

[GalleryGod]

43. OooooooooooooHere's Kati