Olympics Day 3: Misplaced Arrogance

I intentionally did not write last night because the post would have consisted something like this, "Canadians are annoying idiots." And that would have been it. A little bit of uncomfortable sleep has made me a bit more verbose and perhaps a little nicer.

Let me take you in the way back machine to Wednesday when the Americans played the Swiss and won 3-1 in regulation. Canadians talked trash about how their team blew out Norway and would destroy the Swiss. Advance the timeframe a bit when the U.S. 'only' beat Norge 6-1 and Canadians talked trash about how the U.S. wasn't as good as their team. After the Americans cleared off the ice, Canada took on Switzerland and beat them 3-2 in a shootout. In a shootout.

And you know what? Yep, the Canadians talked trash. Seriously? Your team needed a skills competition to defeat the Swiss and yet you can slur the Americans? Yeah, ok. As another American said to me, the Canadians are 'our bratty little brothers that barely count.' They are envious of us (look at that medal count at the Olympics held on their soil) while we really don't dislike them. I don't know about you, but even with 2002 considered, I still see the Russians as our rivals. I don't know, you tell me ...

The United States faces Canada on Sunday. Some other quick notes on yesterday:

*There was a good amount of U.S. fans in the building during the Norway game but we were outnumbered by obnoxious neighbors to the north rooting for American injuries and embarrassment. Stay classy Canada.

*Abraham Lincoln took in the game. Well, not him but a really close properly-bearded doppelganger wearing a stovepipe cap, Team USA sweater with #16 and LINCOLN on the back. Awesomeness.

*During that game Chris Drury scored. And I cheered. He is a lot less loathsome when he isn't being paid seven million bucks. Here expectations are different as he is the 13th forward. He isn't being the worst captain in the 86 year history of a proud franchise. He is the 13th forward who comes in to add energy and a penalty killing. And he is pretty decent at that. So when his contract runs out in the summer of 2012, some other team should go after him - give him a league minimum deal and he happy with the results.

*For the second straight day the Slovakians helped provide a great atmosphere inside Canada Hockey Place. There wasn't as much vitriol with the Russians as there was with the Czechs but both sides showed passion as their teams met in an incredibly exciting game. The Slovaks shockingly prevailed in extra rounds of a shootout where Alexander Ovechkin - of all people - went just one for three. Talk about shocking. And I was a bit surprised that the Slovaks only gave Marian Gaborik one opportunity but having Canuck Pavol Demitra score the winner in Vancouver was pretty impressive.

*Even with the win by the skin of their teeth, Canadians were out in force on Granville Street last night. Imagine a massive frat party filled with drunken children and you have a close idea of what it was like. Hopefully it will be much more low key Sunday night, a sad atmosphere of crestfallen kids drowning their sorrows in alcohol. Hopefully.

Well, today is my last day here in Vancouver and I have a ticket to just one game - Czech Republic vs. Latvia - but I think I will try to get myself one to see Hank one more time as the Swedes open the day against Belarus. As long as Tommy Salo doesn't show up, the Swedes should be ok. Look forward to finding out!