Remember the Gretzky's wife gambling controversy???

[ClusterFreak]

Remember the great 'distraction' it was and would continue to be to Team Canada? Jeez, it fell off the front pages about as fast as you could say 'game on' didn't it? And with Canada playing a couple of shitty games where they don't score any goals, ain't nobody talking about the 'controversy' at all. Big surprise, huh? And now Wayne has called out his team - in a respectful way, but nonetheless. Good for him. They need it. They miss Shanny, Stevie Y, Mario, Jovo, Niedermeyer and maybe even Peca. If they suck ass again against the Czechs, they may be checking out of the tournament, pronto.

Go Canada go!!!

[Bassic]

1. If they play like they played the previous games

Then they fucking deserve to lose. I hope they took a good look at the womens team yesterday, because that's how it's done.

[Spazito]

2. Yep, I agree, they aren't playing as a team at all, imo

They seem to be lacking leadership that players like Mario would bring to the dressing room, etc. Today is their last chance to get it together, imo.

[Bassic]

3. That's right, and they better make it count.

Because frakly, as good as they are supposed to be, their performance is downright disgraceful.

[CanSocDem]

4. Disgraceful...????

The only disgrace is what we, as Canadians, should feel for sending highly paid, big name, professional athletes to a contest that symbolizes TEAM EFFORT, which everybody knows, can't compete with the star system of professional sports....and then complaining that "the team" is doing poorly.

The jig was up, in my eyes, in the first game against the Italians after the 2nd or 3rd goal, when the camera caught the Canadian players grinning like the smirking monkey president of our genial hosts. We all know too well the complete lack of character and respect behind those smug gestures and how it translates into international tension.

At the risk of restating the obvious, the womens team is successful because it hasn't been corrupted by PROSPORT INC.

[Spazito]

5. I disagree, NHL players were also playing in the 2002 Olympics

and played awesomely which resulted in a Gold medal. It has nothing to do with the highly paid, big name, professional athletes and everything to do with the make-up of 'team' itself. As I type this Canada is ahead by 2 goals so whatever was said and done yesterday seems to have made a difference, the team has been working from the drop of the puck in this game.

[Swede]

6. So you are embarrassed by these small town boys that made it to the bigs?

Look in their faces,they enjoy the game.

[CanSocDem]

8. Enjoying the game...

...is good. Laughing about your superiority over your opponents lacks class.

[Swede]

9. You are seeing something no one else sees.

Canadian hockey players are class personified. Ask any sportswriter out there. ANY.

[glarius]

10. I agree....I have heard not only Canadian but American sports media say

they would rather deal with Canadian hockey players than any other sports figures. They say they seem the least effected by their fame and fortune.

[CanSocDem]

13. I grew up playing the game....

...at a time when there were only 6 NHL teams. I think I'm qualified to comment on the evolution of the game and the players.

Up front, I no longer watch hockey games on TV or keep tabs on the standings. The game changed when everybody started wearing helmet's and/or face masks. Puck handling and skating were de-emphasized in favour of size and strength. I would hope that I wouldn't have to point out, on a so-called progressive message board, the difference between 'substance' and bluster.

We're all aware of the hazards of concealing incompetence with smirks and posturing.

[glarius]

14. I wouldn't care if you played for a Stanley Cup Winner! That has nothing

to do with what Swede and I were talking about. He was saying "hockey players are class personified. Ask any sportswriter out there" and I was agreeing. It is a recognized fact in the sports world that Canadian hockey players are well liked as being generally nice, friendly, nonegotistical people. "Substance and bluster"...Huh???? As for these smirks and posturing observations of yours....what are you smoking?...I have watched all the games in the Olympics and have seen no such behaviour. And the first people who started wearing helmets were the Europeans. Helmets and face masks are just a sensible evolving of safety equipment in the sport. It's too bad you are unable to enjoy hockey any longer, but that's your loss....Here's to Team Canada! :toast:

[ClusterFreak]

12. How do you know what they were laughing about??

Were you in on the joke? If so, please share.:shrug:

[MrPrax]

7. That was the set-up...

Part of the overall setup--Canada is suppose to win 24 medals this time around as well...not likely.

Oh yeah Mrs. Gretzky might have been a 'beard', but that is a distraction to our team, so no talking.

BUT I suspect the real reasons for the poor performance/underwhelming enthusiasm might be a holdover from the lockout.
There are a lot of hard feelings and quite honestly if I were a player I wouldn't do jackshit for Gretzky or Quinn or Canada if I wasn't getting compensation.

[Swede]

11. Lucky the Canadian boys play for the love of the game.

And pride for their country.