[Lefty Noob]

Canada's fallen to 2-2 after a shutout at the hands of Finland, and the U.S. fell to 1-2-1 after dropping a game to Sweden. Its starting to look more and more likely like either has a realistic chance at even a bronze medal this year.

Oh well, at least there's the women. Canada's playing for gold and the Americans are up for bronze. Come on, ladies, save a little continental pride for us out there, okay?

[blueandwhite]

yes go Canada go - big gold medal game coming up - always very proud of the women.
last olympics between canadians and the US was so exciting.
just saw gretzky talking and one thing he said was so important: That the guys need to have more fun out there, which is all about relaxing. Applies, i think to canada and the US men's teams. Like Belfour always plays better for the Leafs when he's relaxed, these guys with so much pressure on them now, i hope they find that place that lets them have more fun. definitely, they will play better, then.

[GigEmAgs]

Gretzky's comment was very ironic, considering that he arrived in Turin moping about expecting to "take the blame" if Canada didn't win the gold. And as for having fun, ideally that should be something all athletes should strive for-- but I believe trying to have fun was what caused an America snowboarder who was a shoo-in for the gold to lose the other day, when she bit it on the course. I'm not so sure the Olympics are about having fun, any more than a final exam in school is. It's about doing your darnedest to do well.

Annnnnd that's enough cynicism for today, I think.

[Lefty Noob]

Agreed. You don't train for years and years to qualify for the Olympics just to have fun. Yes, it should be a pleasurable experience to be there -- until a few days before your event. Then its time to remember why you're there and get to work. Do your best, practice hard, medal if you can, and remember that you can let your hair down again when its all said and done. But never, ever forget that there's work to be done, lest those years of training be for naught.

[blueandwhite]

What I'm thinking, it's not that I don't think it's work as, you need to find that space where the pressure isn't so hard it's working against you. Seems the pro athletes get in gear when they are positive and sure AND working at the same time. Didn't mean to make it sound simple, like Oh just remember to have fun!, just that it's some kind of level an athlete needs to attain where it is about themselves as an athlete or member of a team, and not about the people shouting at them from all around.