EP's guide for who to cheer for at the Olympics

What the title said!

Group A


Canada
Reason to cheer for: Uh, it's Canada. Even if they have next to no likable players on their team, if you're Canadian, you're probably going to have to cheer for them.
Reason not to cheer for: It's Canada. This is the country that brought you Crysob. And Heatley. And Twerpy Perry. And Richards. And Chubby Marty. And, and and..... I could go on here..... I guess if you're not Canadian, you're probably pretty sick of us getting a little obnoxious about our hockey....

USA
Reason to cheer for: ................. I guess if you're a Leafs fan there's always Kessel.................?
Reason not to cheer for: Burke made this team. Ron Wilson's coaching it. A lot of Americans don't even like their team.

Switzerland
Reason to cheer for: How can you not like the Swiss? And they have Weber too!
Reason not to cheer for: Just dont' root for them when they play Canada :D

Norway
Reason to cheer for: nobody knows anyone on the team and it feels good to cheer for teams that nobody knows about.
Reason not to cheer for: Who cheers for Norway anyway?

Group B


Russia
Reason to cheer for: OVIE. And Markov!!!
Reason not cheer for: Um it's Russia. They already have two world championship titles in the last two, they don't need a gold medal too, do they? Nope.

Czech Republic
Reason to cheer for: TURTLE-PLEKY!
Reason not to cheer for: The jerks left Hammer and Spacek off the team :D Also, you just KNOW they're going to ruin Pleky's name.... nobody ever gets it right....

Slovakia
Reason to cheer for: Jaro "I love chocolate milk" Halak.
Reason not to cheer for: It's tempting to say Chara is a good reason not to, but we love Jaro so much around here that we'll forgive Chara for being a Booin for the Olympics.

Latvia
Reason to cheer for: They're in a group with Russia, Czech Republic and Slovakia. That is a good reason to cheer for them.
Reason not to cheer for: Because you'll get a headache listening to the play by play guys botching up their names.

Group C


Sweden
Reason to cheer for: Pie. Pie. Pie. Pie. Pie.
Reason not to cheer for: Those Creepy Twins. Enough said.

Finland
Reason to cheer for: Koivu! And Younger Koivu!
Reason not to cheer for: Let's see... Pitkanen, the Ruutus, still don't like Hagman, Jokinen is freaky, Timonen is a Flyer, Niittymaki and Kukkonen are ex-Flyers....

Belarus
Reason to cheer for: Um they'll have Sergei?
Reason not to cheer for: Grabovsky isn't healthy enough to play, is he?

Germany
Reason to cheer for: Because they have more NHLers on their team than I thought so someone somewhere has to know some of them.
Reason not to cheer for: Wait.... Marco Sturm the Booin is German?!

Caption of the Day: Orientation camp is fuuuun. Not.

Okay so while I said I wouldn't pay any more attention the Olympics for now.. I couldn't help myself as they were broadcasting their scrimmage live. Yes. Live hockey. First time since... the Stanley Keg. ANYWAY.... rather than focus on all the annoying stuff, I went around looking at the pics that have come out on at the camp. There was just too much fun to be had with them.

Like this one:

Babcock: blah blah blah TEAM CANADA blah blah blah

Nash: if I stare really hard maybe it will look like I'm listening to him.

Iggy: must.not.fall.asleep.

Crysob: oh. my.god. did he just say I have a heavy butt? I DO NOT!

And this one:

Heatley: *on the phone to his agent* quick. Get me outta here. Babcock hates me. I have dimished role in the shootout drills. HELP!

And this one:

Babcock: NO LUCIC! You aren't supposed to beat him up. He's your teammate!!!!

Lucic: Sorry coach! Automatic response, you know?

No NHL hockey = we talk about the Olympics instead

So amidsts my attempt to complain about my dislike of most Canadian players vs my love for Markov and Ovie, someone decided it would be better to talk about the Olympics themselves and whether NHLers should be allowed to play (which I admit, was a smart move to try to bring some umm intelligent converastion to this blog). Basically we ended up with what I thought were two solid arguments for and against allowing NHLers (and other pros) into the Games.

Why we should keep the pros out

First off, the Olympics were initially supposed to be for amateurs only. When Pierre de Coubertin first thought about reviving the Olympics in the 19th century, there was a concept that letting the professionals play was giving them a huge advantage over those weren't professionals. This idea of fairness apparently went so far that there was even the thought that allowing people to train or practice amounted to cheating. Okay, so maybe that's getting a little extreme, but letting the pros play gives a huge advantage to countries such as Canada, Russia, Sweden, Finland, USA, Czech Republic who spend a lot of time developing top tier players. We can already see in the World Championship what affect the pros can have. The "big six" (the teams I just listed) dominate the field completely and that is usually without the aid of their top players. If Canada and Russia can come away with 12-1 victories over their opponents without their best players, what's going to happen when they do add in their best players? Do we really need to see these countries decimating countries like Estonia and Itlay 50-0? Is that fair? Yes, some countries will be better than others, but do we really need to see a huge blowout like that?

There are examples in other sports where countries are not allowed to field their best players per se. In football (soccer) countries are only allowed to send three players over the age of 23 to the games. This greatly levels the playing field and has allowed countries that would never have a chance to win the World Cup, to win the Olympics. The pros aren't left out at all as they've got the World Cup (and their continental championships as well) to participate in. Perhaps a similar format should be done for hockey so other countries can at least have a minimal chance. Countries like Canada really would have no issue in fielding a very strong team regardless of whether they were complete amateurs, semi-pros, or all under 23.

From an NHL point of view: I think it's safe to assume that there will be a lot of extra exhausted players this season. The NHL schedule has been condensed to allow for a two week break for the Olympics (with the Canucks getting it the worst with a 14 game roadtrip spanning before and after the Olympics). Injuries incured during the Olympics could cripple an NHL team depending on who gets injured. We know what happened to the Habs when Markov was injured at the end of the regular season. What could happen if he gets injured during the Olympics? I'll eat my hat if a team with a high proportion of key players at the Games goes far into the Stanley Cup finals. It's an exhausting enough run without the Games.

Why the pros should stay

If we use Coubertin's defition of an amateur, then nobody in the Olympics now are amateurs. Athletes spend years training and praciting for the Olympics. Many participate in other events for their sport. All athletes that make it to the Olympics have sponsors - which is neccessary so they can train. Almost all the sports in the Olympics now have professionals playing in them.

Adding the top players in the world to the Olympics brings in more interest from the public. It's probably safe to assume that not as many people would watch the hockey at the Olympics if countries fielded teams of relative nobodies. Allowing the best players in the world to participate in one of the bigeest sporting events, gets more people interested in it. Yes, you all know that I would watch hockey at the Olympics if they were relative nobodies, but would the rest of Canada do it? Would the rest of the world do it? We say we like hockey here in Canada, but really, we like our NHL hockey. Most people I talk to have NO idea that the AHL exists forget the CHL. Love him or really hate his guts, a lot of people will tune into the Olympics to watch Crysob because he's Crysob,"Savior of the Puffles" and "Whiner of the NHL".

Don't forget that the Olympics need people to watch and be interested in the event because it costs a hell of a lot of money to put on. They need sponsors of their own to run the event. They need to ensure that they get money from people and to do that, they need people to be interested in the games. If nobody is watching because the sports are filled with nobodies, then they'll be in trouble.

What I want to see

I'm going to shoot my previous argument in the foot, but the Olympics aren't a big deal for me. While the first ever hockey game that I watched was that gold medal game between Canada and the USA, it took me six more years before I fell in love with NHL hockey. I don't remember anything from that final in Salt Lake City other than I wanted it to end really badly. For me, I'd rather see my team win the Stanley Cup over my country winning a gold medal at the Olympics.

That being said, I'd like to see the World Championship become more important. Right now the Worlds are just "eh". Nobody pays them much attention - probably because the rosters are filled with sulking NHLers who missed out on the playoffs which happen to be going on at the same time as the Worlds. The only truly big international event for hockey is the Olympics right now. I'd prefer to see the Worlds become more important with the best of the best being able to participate in it. If this happens, then I'd like to see limited NHL/KHL/pro players in the Olympics (or at least a way to make the playing field more level in some shape or form).

These potential Olympic rosters are messing with my brain

Yeah, so some other countries have released their initial list of players for the Olympics. And this whole international thing is messing with me.

• The idea of my Slovak goalie playing on the same team as Chara and Hossa freaks me out. Then again, I don't see that idiot Surovy on the list so at least our poor goalie won't have to worry about being Avery'd at the camp....
  
  
• Finland seems to have invited just about every player that they could think of (that would be 46 people in all). There were total not surprises (hi Koivu and Koivu Jr!) and some minor surprises (umm who's idea was it to invite Vesa "King of the Failtenders" Toskala and Jarkko Ruutu?!)
  
  
• And oh my god... Team Russia is going to SO mess with my mind. Markov has been invited. Kovy has been invited (huh?!). Obviously Ovie, Semin and Ilya have been invited. Eggplant and the not-so-injured Gonchar are invited. Even Simmy got invited!
  
  
• I'm freaking out now because I can just see how I'm going to react: "GO MARKOV! Wait. No. That's one of Canada's players he just robbed. Someone crush Crysob! Yay Ovie scored on Floppy Flambe! Oh wait.....damn..... screw this Olympics thing. I quit. GO HABS GO!"
  
  
• I hate the Olympics already.

Looch for Team Canada?

It could happen. He was invited to the training camp in August. Seeing as I have Looch on the brain right now, I'd like to say that if he can promise not to take anyone's head off, he could be a good addition to the team. All he has to do is stand in front of the net threatening the goalie with physical harm, while the more talented people score.

And if Looch really really wants to be nice to me.... then he smash Crysob before the Olympics start so I don't have to worry about cheering against my country. C'mon Looch, you know you want to! We'll have enough other players who can score.

Anyway... the list of the remaining 46 players:

The goalies

Martin Brodeur (ew)
Roberto Luongo (yay?)
Marc-André Fleury (not Floppy Flambe)
Steve Mason (do we really want baby Steve?)
Cam Ward (Faily)

The D...

Jay Bouwmeester (he's Canadian?))
Dan Boyle (isn't he kinda ancient?
Scott Niedermayer (Surprise, surprise)
Chris Pronger (so he can elbow all those nasty Russians?)
Robyn Regehr (I totally didn't know he was Canadian either)
Dion Phaneuf (okay...)
Marc Staal (the non-creepy Staalclone)
Shea Weber (I want)
François Beauchemin (is he going to be a Hab?)
Brent Burns (erm..... I had no idea this guy existed)
Drew Doughty (oh I remember him)
Stéphane Robidas (hmmm)
Mike Green (YES! I WANT)
Dan Hamhuis (Yes)
Duncan Keith (He's a Peachhawk!)
Brent Seabrook (Peachbrook!)

The Twerpy Forwards

Sidney Crosby (UGH. DO NOT LIKE)
Shane Doan (hiii!)
Simon Gagné (hmmm)
Dany Heatley (EW. Do not want!)
Jarome Iginla (okie!)
Rick Nash (yes)
Joe Sakic (do they have snowblowers in Vancouver?)
Martin St-Louis (I want Shorty Marty)
Eric Staal (Staalclone..... eh)
Joe Thornton (No.)
Vincent Lecavalier (No)
Jeff Carter (hiiii)
Ryan Getzlaf (ew)
Milan Lucic (see above)
Patrick Marleau (erm)
Andy McDonald (I had no idea he existed either)
Brenden Morrow (wasn't he broken a lot last year?)
Corey Perry (twerpy!)
Mike Richards (eh, what the heck... can we have him?)
Derek Roy (ummm)
Patrick Sharp (oh yes!)
Ryan Smyth (umm)
Jordan Staal (ew)
Jonathan Toews (Captain Peachy!! Me want!)
Dan Cleary (sure)

My top 10 events for this year

...or half the year. I only came to this whole thing in April. Talk about late to the party...Anyway. The list. It's late because I was waiting to see what Team Canada could do.

1. Wimbledon final between Roger and Rafa. What can I say?It was one heck of a fantastic match that had me permanently hooked on tennis.
   
2. Spain winning the Euro Cup. That was really cool for Spain, who hadn't won in over 40 years. I was screaming for a while *G*
   
3. Canada vs. Russia in the World Junior Hockey Championship semi-finals. That was a game for the ages. Canada came very close to losing the tournament and seeing their four gold medal streak come to an end. But Jordan Eberle had a different idea and with just 5.4 seconds left in the game, he tied the goal. Canada ultimately won it in shoutouts but man... that game will be one for the ages!
4. Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals. Pittsburgh showed a lot of determination in extending their stay in the finals. Sykora getting that goal in the third period of OT was really awesome. Okay, so I was actually asleep when he scored and missed the party but yeah.... sue me...
   
5. Federer winning the Olympic gold medal with Wawrinka. I've never seen the guy so incredibly happy after winning a match before.
   
6. Rafa winning the Olympics gold medal. That was a great way to pretty much finish off his amazing summer. Two grand slams, an Olympic gold medal AND the no. 1 spot? Come on...!
   
7. The Canada/US game in the round robbin stage of the Junior World event thing. Great hockey. Better than a lot of NHL games I've had to sit through...
8. That match in the round-robbin stages of the Tennis Masters Cup between Roger and Murray. Too bad Roger was again on the losing side of that one but it was a really good match nonetheless and it completely tired out Murray *g*
   
9. The Davis Cup final. Okay, so I didn't want Spain to win but you have to admit that it was quite the feat for the Rafa-less team to beat the odds and win it. Yes, it's very tragic for Argentina but hopefully that can get things together and win it another time.
10. Team Canada winning the Junior World Championship for the 5th time in a row and 15th time overall right here at home in Canada. Fantastic stuff!
    
11. Game 2 of the Montreal-Boston series in the Stanley playoffs. No, the game itself wasn't particularly amazing but I wouldn't be hear writing any of this stuff if it wasn't for that game. So it's SPECIAL *g*2
    

I never thought I would be saying this....

.....especially considering how I cheered for Spain in the semis of the Davis Cup, but I'm very disappointed that Spain one today. With Del Potro out it was up to Jose Acasuso to keep Argentina's hopes alive. Now, I mean no disrespect to Acasuso, but this definitely spelled out Argentina's doom. His level of play was no where near Nalbandian's or Del Potro's. Even if he had not been playing up to his usual abilities, I still think that Del Potro would have been able to beat Verdasco. Verdasco did have moments of goodness - there was hardly any brilliant tennis in that match (brilliance is Rafa and Roger, oh and Nalbandian beating Ferrer on Friday, thank you *g*) - but on a whole if he had been up against someone better, Argentina would have gone to a fifth match. He had a lot of errors -and in particular double faults. A lot of Verdasco's easy points came on Acasuso's unforced errors. By the end of the match Acasuso was clearly spent both physically (he did call the trainer at one point) and mentally (I'm sure he was aware that this is the second time that his match has cost Argentina the Davis Cup). I feel incredibly bad for Argentina right now. They came in as the favorites and lost due to unforseen injuries. Well, partially unforseen. Surely they would have known that del Potro would have been tired coming into this event after jsut coming from Shanghai. But I doubt anyone thought that he wouldn't be able to play on Sunday. Acasuso calling the trainer at the end of the fourth set was just the straw that broke the camel's back, I think.

So it's Spain who goes home with the Silver Salad Bowl today. To their credit, Sanchez was brilliant in coaching his team. I kind of got the sense that Spain behaved more like a team than Argentina did. Funny enough, this is Spain's third Davis Cup win and the third time that they've won it in the same year as the summer Olympics. All three years Spain has gone away with a medel in the Olympics (doubles teams took home bronze in 2000, 2004, and 2008, while we all know who one gold in the singles in 2008). Well, next year if Team Federer doesn't make it to the finals - and that does seem like abit of a stretch for them to make it- then I will hope for Argentina again. Unless of course Nadal plays.....