Not So Good Memories

I'd posted about my favorite memories in my other blog, but of course there's another side. While I did enjoy the last 17 days, my thoughts on what wasn't so good.

1) Hockey may be Canada's game but other than the goal, the team really didn't play to their potential. The Olympics are about trying your best, even if it doesn't result in a medal. If the NHLer's don't want to take this "tournament" seriously than perhaps forget about the Olympics. I still can't forget the game against Switzerland. Is that how Olympians are supposed to play?

2) The other problem with the Olympics is how NHL teammates seemingly become enemies. I found it disheartening that "Canuck" fans booed and made nasty comments toward Ryan Kesler. He was trying his best. Perhaps we should trade all the foreign players from our teams like the Sedins and Kesler and Demitra. Would that make the fans happier?

3) To this day I still haven't had a Japadog. The lineups were big before and during the Olympics they were up to 2 blocks long. Maybe soon.

4) And now, the $9 billion needs to be recovered.

5) So much for the easy driving on the not-so-busy roads. The streets of Richmond will be back to normal unfortunately.

This is Our Game?

I so wanted to congratulate the Canadian Men's Hockey Team's win on my other blog, but it belongs here. I was very disappointed. Yes, they won, yes they play the US on Sunday. But if this is supposed to be our game, then can we at least put in an effort for 60 minutes instead of turning it off after 52? I may hate the US with a passion but their team has played hard every minute. Do we teach our kids to play only as hard as we need to, then relax when it's 3-0? I don't want to use the word pathetic but that was not impressive. Overpaid hockey players trying only as hard as they want to. As much as I hate Gary Bettman I think it's time the NHL players take a break during the Olympics. Canada might beat the US on Sunday (and of course I hope they do) but they don't deserve the gold. I'm sorry if I don't sound patriotic. Maybe I'm more patriotic than anyone else.

Letdown

Melissa Hollingsworth gave it her all for Canada and ended up fifth. Cindy Klassen gave it her all and wasn't close to the podium. But the two of them showed more Olympic spirit than the entire Canadian hockey team. Melissa's post-event interview was heart-wrenching as it was painfully obvious how much she tried in her event. Yes, she slipped and lost what was a fairly certain podium finish. But she tried her best. Cindy Klassen had fire in her eyes as she attempted to get on the podium one last time. To that I stand and applaud. To our medalists, a job well done. Jon Montgomery, Kristina Groves, Alex Bilodeau.... thank you.

And now let's talk about hockey. First off, I am not blaming Brodeur. He may have had a bad game, but hockey is a team game. Hockey is supposed to be Canada's game. But if those players can look into my eyes and say that they gave it their best against Switzerland and the United States then I can applaud them. But this is what Canada's greatest athletes have to offer? Money doesn't buy championships, heart does. The New York Rangers for years had a bunch of overpaid "superstar" players and yet they never made the playoffs. Am I supposed to feel confident about the team now? There are two scenarios that come to mind:

1) The hockey team did give 100% against the Swiss and the Americans. If that is the case then perhaps we should rethink if hockey is still our game, because the Swiss are catching up.

2) Canada strategically took it easy in the preliminaries in order to play it safe until the playoffs. Somebody remind me how this strategy worked 4 years ago? Gentlemen, if you are not going to give it your all every game, then please give your spot to players that will give it their all. I would rather see someone give it 100% and end up fifth. Maybe Gary Bettman (who I detest with a passion) is right about allowing NHLer's to play in the Olympics.

Losing is All Right?

I really don't understand reporting such as this:

Losing is All Right?

So it's OK to lose a game? When did this become part of sports? OK let's lose a game. You have got to be kidding. Whatever happened to 100%? Did Jon Montgomery say, "Well I think I'm not going to try as hard on the second run. Are they just getting ready in case we lose so it suddenly becomes all right? Please don't accept a loss.

Our Game?

I am a huge hockey fan, everybody knows that. I am normally against "fans" who do nothing but badmouth their own or even other teams. I respect people who cheer for other teams as long as they truly believe in them. My good friends Maureen and Brenna are diehard Flames fans who will cheer for their team for the next 100 years. Whether their team is on top of the league or struggling, they will still cheer for them. There is no bandwagon.

I've lost my train of thought in this post. I just want to say that as much as I like to be positive about our country, yesterday's performance against Switzerland in hockey was very confusing. Hockey is Canada's sport. We live and breathe it, it is in our blood. So you're telling me that a team with superstars like Crosby, etc., etc., could only score two goals against a Swiss team that consisted of a very good goalie in Jonas Hiller and...... Mind you, Russia lost too but the Slovak team at least had a few more NHL players. Go Canada Go but please make us a bit more prouder next game.

Women's Hockey

I'm not sure if there is a solution, but is there really a point in the preliminary round of the women's hockey tournament in the Olympics when Canada and US are going to win their games by an average of 10 goals? Mind you, Sweden did beat the States last time but still.

Crowds

I really enjoyed my time at the Pairs Figuring Skating Final except for the fact that some people were really restless and kept wanting to leave their seats. Now if we were at Silvercity it wouldn't be as bad as there is a lot of space between the seats. But at the old Pacific Coliseum, everybody has to stand in an already cramped space. And the fact that I had my thick jacket and mittens made it all the more annoying.

Protesting

Everyone has a right to their own opinion if it does not physically or verbally harm someone else. Most of my friends know I haven't had a positive outlook on the Olympics. But I respect those that are pro-Olympics. I respect people from different beliefs and religions.

Would have become an Olympic protester? It may have been a possibility a while ago, but ever since I saw what the "protesters" planned to do, I quickly changed my mind. They have now become an embarrassment to the city. They could have done so much with their cause if they had done it with half a brain. Instead they are nothing but hooligans who are now damaging innocent people. Put them away, and put them away for a long time.

Day 1

So what was the purpose of a dress rehearsal for the Opening Ceremonies if they didn't make sure everything worked to a tee? So far it's been a bit disappointing. Originally I thought I would be getting emotional but the musical acts were OK at best. It wasn't until the "flag carrying ceremony" when I finally smiled. Anne Murray looked like she never aged, same with Donald Sutherland. And of course Betty Fox reminded me of perhaps the greatest athlete of them all. I hoped so much that the "rumor" of some sort of a Terry Fox hologram lighting the cauldron would be true, even though part of me was thinking it couldn't happen. But if not, then it had to be Wayne Gretzky.

The "group" that finally lit the cauldron was worthy of Canada. All were great athletes. But then some half-working contraption came out of the ground. Oops. Great preparation. Poor Catrina Lemay Doan.

That being said, I'm watching the Olympics for the sport and not the glitz. It is time for Canada to show everyone who we are.

Torchinator?

How does the governor of CALIFORNIA (which is in the United States) get to carry the torch at Stanley Park on Friday? Did we become part of the USA? Is Paris Hilton going to light the torch or perhaps Britney Spears? What did I miss here?

The Other Casino (not that one)

Even though the Edgewater Casino is a different company from mine, I really feel bad for them during this Olympic thing. I could be an impolite fool and laugh at their misfortune but instead I'm going to shake my head and once again question the worth of all this. As in my last post, businesses have been lost. People trying to make ends meet must put their lives on hold while road closures and lack of parking take over their lives. I have a lot of friends who work there who I hope can make it through this rough time for them.

Goodbye Vancouver (and most of Richmond)

No, I'm not moving out of town (unless I win the lottery and move to a remote island in the South Pacific where I can eat coconuts and....oh but I digress), but now that the road closures have started, I'm going to limit (and eventually stop) my driving into Vancouver (well downtown for sure) until the hell known as the Olympics are over. It's bad enough now and we're not even close yet. The city will survive without me. It will be hard enough getting to work.

Yuk

Yesterday my morning drive from my girlfriend's place (near Metrotown) back home (Garden City and Francis) --which normally takes 30 minutes-- took 65 minutes. I didn't see an accident anywhere. I believe No. 3 Road in Richmond will be closed for the Olympics. That means Garden City will become the new No. 3 Road, which means traffic will be horrible (and that's assuming the traffic lights are working). Maybe I can go the long way and take No. 4 Road. Maybe I should rent a bike or scooter. The Skytrain I can forget because it will be packed with rude people. I'm so NOT looking forward to the next month and a half.