Poll for Americans: Cheering for Russia or Canada in the championship?

[arrbez]

Usually It would be Canada no question, but after hearing the Canadians cheer for the Czechs and boo the Americans, I'll take the Russians this year.

aw, come on! that was Vancouver...they barely even count as people...

 

[PuckFan01]

I have no respect for BC area Canadian hockey fans after this tournament. Their attitude toward Americans has been in poor taste and they have been a disgrace to good Canadian people. I truly hope Russia wins because the locals don't deserve to see a winner.

 

[Chinaski*]

aw, come on! that was Vancouver...they barely even count as people...

Jesus. Who do you count as people in Canada?

 

[crosby_87]

Have to cheer for Canada. Toews is on the team, so I basically have to. Also I have hated Team Russia ever since last year at the WJC they were just classless and cocky the whole tournament, especially ovechkin(who, surprisingly, I don't mind anymore and he is a very very good player)

 

[ktownhockey]

Russia ... I have zero respect left for Hockey Canada after they named Bertuzzi to the Olympic team.

Are you kidding me? You can't continually punish someone for something that is in the past.. He's sorry... he's taken alot of abuse from the media and missed more than a year of playing the game he loves. Also, If Moore wouldn't have been hurt he would have probably been suspended 5-10 games. I disagree with your comment but that argument is for another thread i'm sure.

 

[ktownhockey]

Russia. I can't stand that toony. What a silly concept: a $2 coin. You deserve to lose.

But we won't so don't worry about it

 

[CF]

Just so everyone knows, people in Vancouver are just as upset about the "US Sucks" chant as the Americans. Infact, the crowd has altogether been really dissapointing for the WJ's, most of the people in the building aren't true hockey fans. Thank Toigo, selling 21 game packs for a crapload of money will do that...

 

[ILuvLA]

Russia for three reasons (1) because of all of the anti-USA chants (2) they named Bertuzzi to the Olympic team and (3) Russia's got some good prospects and Canada thinks that they are the be all end all of hockey. Someday they will realize that although its their #1 sport, other countries are really good too.

 

[therealdeal]

It's apples and oranges. Downie, a known dirty player, gets glanced by an elbow. Doesn't miss a game.

Bertuzzi slowly skates up behind Moore, as if sneaking up on him, and mugs him. Moore's career is effectively ended.

But yeah, they're the same.

And what about Suter and the U-18 event, comes up from behind and guy and potentially does the exact same damage on both plays, most people say Gretz was never the same after that hit, he could have EASILY had more severe injuries than Moore.

So yeah, they are the same.

 

[therealdeal]

Quoted so you don't try to delete the unnecessary and uncalled for personal attack.

I had no intention, I call a spade a spade.

 

[Nazzy-19]

Russia for three reasons (1) because of all of the anti-USA chants (2) they named Bertuzzi to the Olympic team and (3) Russia's got some good prospects and Canada thinks that they are the be all end all of hockey. Someday they will realize that although its their #1 sport, other countries are really good too.

1) This topic has been beaten to death and seeing how sensitive everyone on this board is about it, I don't want to touch it with a 10 foot pole.

2)I don't see the relevance to this tournament.

3)I think Canada does realize that other countries are good too considering we went 7 years without a gold medal in this tournament.

 

[ZombieMatt]

In Canada, hockey games have often carried meaning beyond simply a game. They have served, over time, as microcosms of the geopolitical world. Hockey means that much to many Canadians. Why do you think, after all, the Summit Series was such a big deal? The Cold War.

I pretty much did my thesis on hockey and nationalism in Canada. This is hardly a rare occurence. In fact, it is somewhat of the norm.

And yet people somehow are surprised when BC fans voice anti-American sentiment. I don't want to get too political about this, because it is the game time board, but rightly or wrongly, some British Columbians are voicing their frustrations over certain trade disputes at the games. Considering the circumstances, it is hardly not to be expected.

 

[Phanuthier*]

Any other year? Canada.

This year? Russia, for sure. I'd love nothing more than a lot of broken hearts from the fans who so eagerly booed the American team the entire tournament.

Man, this must be like asking what sister you'd want to kiss.

Canada - boo's your team
Russia - well, the rivarly / chippyness / brawls / taunting from the Russians

I cheer based on my NHL affiliations, so I'd be cheering on Parent but I'm a homer - I cheered for Russia over Canada when we had 3 Russian prospects (Taratuhkin, Trubachev, Medvedev) and a couple years ago cheered on USA over Canada (Nystrom)

 

[Red]

This is hilarious!

All of the people who were whining and crying about Canadians cheering US opponents are now claiming they will cheer against Canada out of some convulted sense of principle. Guess what? It makes all of you guys huge, enormous hypocrites. How are you now any different than "the idiots at GM Place"? God damn, I love the smell of hypocricy in the evening. I love it, it just validates every boo in GM Place, so thanks guys!

People are making it seem like the BC crowd lynched and mobbed and flung **** at the US team. When all that transpired was cheering for teams other than the US. We cheered your national anthem for God's sake! God knows if we hadn't, the people in this thread would apparently want every Canadian crucified.

And stop claiming it was JUST a BC crowd, there was an article today in the Vancouver Sun with quotes from people out of the province who attended the games and reported a positive experience. Apparently, a whole crapload of people have come over from all across Canada to this tournament.

As for why the Canadian team didn't get booed in Grand Forks, um, maybe because more than half of the crowd was Canadian anyway.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

In Canada, hockey games have often carried meaning beyond simply a game. They have served, over time, as microcosms of the geopolitical world. Hockey means that much to many Canadians. Why do you think, after all, the Summit Series was such a big deal? The Cold War.

I pretty much did my thesis on hockey and nationalism in Canada. This is hardly a rare occurence. In fact, it is somewhat of the norm.

And yet people somehow are surprised when BC fans voice anti-American sentiment. I don't want to get too political about this, because it is the game time board, but rightly or wrongly, some British Columbians are voicing their frustrations over certain trade disputes at the games. Considering the circumstances, it is hardly not to be expected.

No real surprise that there is a backlash either. Not all in this thread, or even most, voted Russia because of the booing. Most did it because of a player they like, or their team has, on the Russian team. But there has obviously been an effect on team perceptions both ways because of things that have nothing to do with hockey.

 

[Phanuthier*]

No real surprise that there is a backlash either. Not all in this thread, or even most, voted Russia because of the booing. Most did it because of a player they like, or their team has, on the Russian team. But there has obviously been an effect on team perceptions both ways because of things that have nothing to do with hockey.

Yeah, I found it hard to believe with all the cheap shots and taunting from the Russians?

Dallas booed the Canadian national anthum a couple years ago (Oilers-Dallas series) but there was no way I'd cheer for the Oilers

 

[Skroob*]

In Canada, hockey games have often carried meaning beyond simply a game. They have served, over time, as microcosms of the geopolitical world. Hockey means that much to many Canadians. Why do you think, after all, the Summit Series was such a big deal? The Cold War.

Was it? Last time i checked my history texts, i didnt read much on Canada building up its nuclear arms, or its involvement in the space race.

The Summit series to most is, i would think, just about the two greatest hockey teams possibly ever going at it.

As far as being a "microcosms of the geopolitical world", i think outside of North America many more people would be aware of 1980 than of 72 (if they know of it at all), and im talking about outside the hockey-fan world.

 

[ZombieMatt]

No real surprise that there is a backlash either. Not all in this thread, or even most, voted Russia because of the booing. Most did it because of a player they like, or their team has, on the Russian team. But there has obviously been an effect on team perceptions both ways because of things that have nothing to do with hockey.

No, you're right, no real surprise that people don't like it at all.

 

[Red]

Hopefully the dolts who booed in Vancouver haven't spoiled the US-Canada for some of our friends.

I'm sorry but this is really starting to irk. The only boos in Vancouver were for Jack Johnson. The American team as a whole was not once, not a single damn time, booed. Cheering for another team does not equal booing of their opponents and this lie about booing is so far out of hand.

And if you think people who cheered for US opponents are dolts as well, thanks for the personal insult. Because there was no way I was going to cheer for this hyped up US team and I didn't. Cheered for their opponenets every game I went to.

 

[Hedberg]

The Vancouver fans were pathetic and it would serve as good karma if Russia won this game and our neighbours to the south(And best friends I might add) would be well within their rights to cheer for once their most hated enemy over Canada.

I always...in any event cheer for the USA if Canada isn't there. Hopefully the dolts who booed in Vancouver haven't spoiled the US-Canada for some of our friends.

It's so said that it seemed like all the idiots in Vancouver showed up at the WJC. It's a shame that the anti-american, small-minded people who booed the teams tarnished the reputation of Vancouver and the surrounding cities.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Yeah, I found it hard to believe with all the cheap shots and taunting from the Russians?

Dallas booed the Canadian national anthum a couple years ago (Oilers-Dallas series) but there was no way I'd cheer for the Oilers

I am not sure about that story, but I would bet dimes to dollars it was related to the Canadian/Bruins idiocy that went on. Get a few drunk yahoos in the stands who got a sports section read to them about booing of our red white and blue and you are bound to get that sort of thing back. In any event I did not really assign 'blame' either way. I am fairly sure that whenever these things happen they reflect a section of the crowd far smaller than the majority, most of whom usually are embarrassed that the whole thing happened, and yet get lumped in.

 

[ZombieMatt]

Was it? Last time i checked my history texts, i didnt read much on Canada building up its nuclear arms, or its involvement in the space race.

The Summit series to most is, i would think, just about the two greatest hockey teams possibly ever going at it.

As far as being a "microcosms of the geopolitical world", i think outside of North America many more people would be aware of 1980 than of 72 (if they know of it at all), and im talking about outside the hockey-fan world.

Apparently you didn't read your history books particularly well. The Cold War was about far more the US and Soviet Union compiling arms. It was East vs West, democracy vs something that wasn't democracy, capitalism vs socialism, etc. Look at the proxy wars.

What matters to outside NA, the non-hockey world, has absolutely no bearing on what hockey means to many Canadians. It has consistently been, over time, far more than just a game (for a wide variety of socio-economic-political reasons).

Anyhow, I don't want to get too into this, it's not entirely on topic.

The point is this: Whether they're right or wrong, the crowds in Pacific Coliseum and GM Place are simply doing the same that Canadians have often done to hockey, and that is apply other international issues. It's not purely a Canadian phenomenon either, look at, for instance, boycotting the Olympic Games.

 

[Sotnos]

When all that transpired was cheering for teams other than the US.

Gotta love how you keep minimizing and defending this crap. Most of us saw several of these games, and there was a lot more than that going on. We're all so thrilled you cheered the US Anthem after you booed at kids all game long, I'm sure it meant a lot.

 

[Hedberg]

Dan Russell on Sportstalk on CKNW in Vancouver just talked about the fans in Vancouver. It's hard to summarize. If you want to hear it, go to the CKNW archive on CKNW.com into the audio vault and listen to the 9'clock pm hour and fast forward it to 9:40 if you want to hear it.

 

[Red]

Gotta love how you keep minimizing and defending this crap. Most of us saw several of these games, and there was a lot more than that going on. We're all so thrilled you cheered the US Anthem after you booed at kids all game long, I'm sure it meant a lot.

And I'm glad you keep perpetrating this crap, like we sat there in the crowd throwing tomatoes at the US team and then took them outside and whipped them.

I didn't boo these "kids". I'm 20, these "kids" are 18 and 19. As we call it in North America, they're ADULTS. I cheer the US anthem because I have respect for America. I cheer for US opponents because the US are our greatest rivals and because of where I'm originally from (not Canada), I would never be personally able to. I let other people cheer for whomever they want, I deserve the same courtesy.

This has been happening in international sports since well...forever. It has happened in America. It will happen again in America. It's sports.