Anyone else wonder why the USA was booed so badly?

[Big Phil]

As a Canadian obviously when we play against the USA I love to beat them maybe as much as the Russians. Its very close. Finland and Sweden dont rub Canadians the wrong way, neither does Slovakia but the Czechs bother us a bit. Still the USA and Russia are in a league of their own when it comes to our rivals.

But even though its 2006, doesnt it puzzle you that we were cheering for the Russians? And booing the USA? I'll admit in the last ten years or so the Americans have been hated on the ice by us. The '96 World Cup, the '97 WJC gold medal game, the '98 Olympics, the '02 Olympics, the '03 WJC semi final game, the '04 WJC gold medal game, and the fact that Winnipeg and Quebec went south, not to Russia. But I dont think that Russia is less of a rival even today to the USA. Personally I hope that we play Russia in the '06 Olympics, and 5 of the last eight Gold medal games at the WJC were Can/Rus games. Russia still has the better history with us and I dont think I need to even name our classic moments with them.

But to me the booing of the US got stale eventually. Sure the US is always public enemy #1 and this tourny didnt change that but how we as Canadians can "cheer" Russia on and boo the USA is still unheard of to me. 20 years ago, as Bob McKenzie said you'd be deported if you cheered the Russians. Sure they arent the "commies" anymore but to me in that game the booing went from being passionate (which we dont lack in Hockey) to unclassy. It crossed a line IMO. I love the idea that we play Russia since we havent beat them yet this year but playing the USA in the gold medal game would have been a classic too.

Vancouver fans went overboard there IMO, you'd have thought we were watching Afghanistan for criyng out loud!

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[BeerTuzzi]

As a Canadian obviously when we play against the USA I love to beat them maybe as much as the Russians. Its very close. Finland and Sweden dont rub Canadians the wrong way, neither does Slovakia but the Czechs bother us a bit. Still the USA and Russia are in a league of their own when it comes to our rivals.

But even though its 2006, doesnt it puzzle you that we were cheering for the Russians? And booing the USA? I'll admit in the last ten years or so the Americans have been hated on the ice by us. The '96 World Cup, the '97 WJC gold medal game, the '98 Olympics, the '02 Olympics, the '03 WJC semi final game, the '04 WJC gold medal game, and the fact that Winnipeg and Quebec went south, not to Russia. But I dont think that Russia is less of a rival even today to the USA. Personally I hope that we play Russia in the '06 Olympics, and 5 of the last eight Gold medal games at the WJC were Can/Rus games. Russia still has the better history with us and I dont think I need to even name our classic moments with them.

But to me the booing of the US got stale eventually. Sure the US is always public enemy #1 and this tourny didnt change that but how we as Canadians can "cheer" Russia on and boo the USA is still unheard of to me. 20 years ago, as Bob McKenzie said you'd be deported if you cheered the Russians. Sure they arent the "commies" anymore but to me in that game the booing went from being passionate (which we dont lack in Hockey) to unclassy. It crossed a line IMO. I love the idea that we play Russia since we havent beat them yet this year but playing the USA in the gold medal game would have been a classic too.

Vancouver fans went overboard there IMO, you'd have thought we were watching Afghanistan for criyng out loud!

I wondered that also. Personally I think it is discraceful that we cheered for the Russians over the Americans. I think it is a case of a few fans starting it and then a bunch of other fans that don't know how to think for themselves who tend to follow the leader, so to speak. it is kind of ironic actually since I think Canada would have had a much better chance beating the Americans then the Russians.

 

[Flyguy_1ca]

I'm a believer that the booing had nothing to do with hockey, and everything to do with politics. The whole BSE and soft wood lumber stuff. Both are big in BC...especially soft wood lumber. Ain't sayin' it's right...just saying why I believe there was all the hatred towards the states.

 

[Bloggins]

 

[nomorekids]

I don't wonder at all. There's several theories about it, and it's all been beaten to death.

 

[Bloggins]

Kill it! Kill it now before it becomes a monster!

 

[Transported Upstater]

As a Canadian obviously when we play against the USA I love to beat them maybe as much as the Russians. Its very close. Finland and Sweden dont rub Canadians the wrong way, neither does Slovakia but the Czechs bother us a bit. Still the USA and Russia are in a league of their own when it comes to our rivals.

But even though its 2006, doesnt it puzzle you that we were cheering for the Russians? And booing the USA? I'll admit in the last ten years or so the Americans have been hated on the ice by us. The '96 World Cup, the '97 WJC gold medal game, the '98 Olympics, the '02 Olympics, the '03 WJC semi final game, the '04 WJC gold medal game, and the fact that Winnipeg and Quebec went south, not to Russia. But I dont think that Russia is less of a rival even today to the USA. Personally I hope that we play Russia in the '06 Olympics, and 5 of the last eight Gold medal games at the WJC were Can/Rus games. Russia still has the better history with us and I dont think I need to even name our classic moments with them.

But to me the booing of the US got stale eventually. Sure the US is always public enemy #1 and this tourny didnt change that but how we as Canadians can "cheer" Russia on and boo the USA is still unheard of to me. 20 years ago, as Bob McKenzie said you'd be deported if you cheered the Russians. Sure they arent the "commies" anymore but to me in that game the booing went from being passionate (which we dont lack in Hockey) to unclassy. It crossed a line IMO. I love the idea that we play Russia since we havent beat them yet this year but playing the USA in the gold medal game would have been a classic too.

Vancouver fans went overboard there IMO, you'd have thought we were watching Afghanistan for criyng out loud!

The only booing that bothers me is the national anthem. Because that isn't booing a team; that is booing the nation itself. And I despise that. I despise it just as much when the Canadian national anthem is booed in the United States.
It disgusts me. No place for that in sports. I don't care what two countries are involved. I absolutely hate that gesture.

But booing the team contributes to a good, old-fashioned physical hockey game, which I love. Canadians hating the US team means the Americans have come a long way from being laughed at when they matched up in an international tournament. If our team is hated, that means we've improved.

Tell me that you didn't get psyched up for the gold medal game in Salt Lake. The fact it was Canada/United States was the biggest factor to that excitement. I didn't go to any classes at Cornell that day to watch/prepare for that one. My housemates and I made it into a whole-day event, coupled with the fact one housemate was from a short walk from the sacred Maple Leaf Gardens.

Canadian fans have every right in the world to yell, boo, curse, spit and perform voodoo against the American team, and I don't fault them in the least for that.

But whether a Yank boos "O Canada" (is that it's name?) in the states or a Canuck boos "The Star Spangled Banner" north of the border, that has no place in hockey.

 

[greatwhite101*]

Well next year you can boo Russians. Russians will win it all this year and will aslo take a swing at Olympic gold medal. (I can only hope)

 

[Jaded-Fan]

In before the lock .........

 

[QcS]

But whether a Yank boos "O Canada" (is that it's name?) in the states or a Canuck boos "The Star Spangled Banner" north of the border, that has no place in hockey.

what really doesn't have its place in hockey is POLITICS and national anthems anyways.

 

[gobolt7]

Closed.