I've been viewing the Olympics since the day it opened. To see these amateur athletes and their stories of struggle to finance their training year after year just to strive for Gold. I feel uncomfortable calling the hockey players in Torino Olympians. I don't view them as struggling athletes.
You can make the arguement that countries like the USA filter much money in the well-being of their athletes but they're a minority. I would honestly still watch Olympic Hockey even if the NHL players would not take part. Actually it's as exciting for me to watch young, up and coming stars in a tournament of this size.
Furthermore, it would eliminate the horrible NHL break during the Games and the fans would not have to worry if a player gets injured, etc.
They have almost already confirmed that the NHL players will continue to play in the Games until Vancouver 2014.
The arguement has always been that the Olympics is supposed to be the best atheletes. As far as hockey goes, the best atheletes are playing in the NHL. And don't forget those Soviet teams. They were as skilled as most NHLers, they were just not allowed to "go pro" back then. I would have given nearly anything to see the likes of Tretiak or Valeri Kharlamov or any number of those guys compete on a regular basis in the NHL. Some say that Kharlamov, had he played in North America, would have been mentioned in the same breathe as Orr, Richard, Gretzky, et al, as one of the greatest players of all time.
-- Edited by heet_150 at 10:17, 2006-02-16
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I walked past a restaurant yesterday that had a sign in the window that said, "Lobster Tail and Beer." I went in, since I enjoy all three.
Oh, okay. Not that you need my approval or anything, it's just that, with all of the Koivu talk dominating the board these days (anti and pro), I wasn't sure which way you were heading.
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I walked past a restaurant yesterday that had a sign in the window that said, "Lobster Tail and Beer." I went in, since I enjoy all three.
I understand Heet but it just seems that the hockey is over shadowing the other events in the Games, which is kind of a bummer for the other athletes.
Look at football/soccer in the Summer Olympics. No pros allowed. Can you Imagine if they were? The other events would be really over shadowed. That's why there is a World Cup every 4 years.
I understand Heet but it just seems that the hockey is over shadowing the other events in the Games, which is kind of a bummer for the other athletes.
Good point. The other atheletes are overshadowed throughout the four years between olympics, and this should be their time. I know that I couldn't tell you how Canada has been doing in the nordic combined (or insert another winter event) for the last ten years.
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I walked past a restaurant yesterday that had a sign in the window that said, "Lobster Tail and Beer." I went in, since I enjoy all three.