Friday, February 19, 2010

Gold Silver and Bronze

Ahhhh the road to the Olympics...

I've always preferred the winter Olympics to the summer games. Mainly because I live in the north and love winter sports. Obviously, ice hockey is my biggest passion as far as sports go. And right now I am enjoying the heck out of the games in Vancouver. Now granted lots of things have gone wrong there for the folks putting on the events. Someone dying on opening day is not what the officials had in mind and on a lighter note, we won't even mention the weather. But there's just something about this thing that we watch every four years that just gets me feeling like a kid again. Okay, maybe not to the point of picking my nose and wetting my pants again. I was regressing to my preteen youth, not as a toddler...lol... But I will never forget as long as I live, the Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid in '80... I had never cried watching a sporting event until then. When we beat the Soviets in the semis and turned the world upside down in winning the gold two days later. Yeah that was amazing. It's still burned in my memory banks and all these years later, I still get jazzed up thinking or talking about it. I say that because it presents a dilemma for me with this Olympic games. My very favorite hockey players from the NHL that are playing in this tournament are mostly playing for either Canada or Sweden. Most of the guys from my country's team are guys I have spent most of my time rooting against whilst they played in the NHL regular season. How can I shut down my lack of enthusiasm for them and become their biggest fan for what amounts to a less than two week tournament, only to go back to rooting against them afterwards? I feel like I'm not really cheering for them... I'm only cheering for some laundry. I want to cheer for my country... I really do... But none of the players I admire, respect or like play for Team USA... what's a hockey guy to do? I guess I'll just watch curling.

2 comments:

Ken Riches said...

I love watching the Olympics, both summer and winter. Have enjoyed these games as we see old friends and new faces. Have not seen much Hockey since it is not on during prime time, which is when I get to watch based on work and all. Have not seen any curling either.

Carolyn said...

Oh come one now Mik! Everyone is making fun of curling! :-) I was just telling my honey that some of my favorite memories is when my parents used to go curling every week. The club they belonged to had a great nursery, and I remember playing there with other kids, tv time watching such hits as Mr. Dress Up and afterwards, we always went to lunch in the club restaraunt. I always had grilled cheese and chocolate milk.
Sorry- don't mean to get carried away, not as exciting as your memory of Team USA at Lake Placid eh.
Go ahead Mik. Enjoy the hockey. After all, you're practically half Canadian anyway! :-) God Bless!!! Happy Hockey eh!