So, who's watching the OIympics?

[adsfan]

They are not amateurs though. They are all professionals. This myth about amateurs in the Olympics summer and winter in all sporting disciplines is just that. Bettman as usual did the sport a great disservice by not showcasing the best at an event that is watched globally.

Dan Jansen, the speed skater, used to work for Miller Brewing for 6 months of the year in his off season. Jansen won his medal in 1994 after 10 years of trying.

Bill Rodgers, a marathoner, used to say that "no guy that has a job is ever going to beat me"! Rodgers won the Boston Marathon 3 years in a row from 1978 to 1980 and set the American record in 1979 with a 2:09, but came in 40th in the 1976 Olympics. In 1980, the US didn't go to Moscow, so he missed his chance for a gold medal.

 

[Eisen]

I`ll watch. It`s Olympia, the biggest stage of them all. I`m miffed about the NHLers not going but in the end, I don`t need them to enjoy the games.

 

[BMann]

Probably the only sporting event worse than an NHL all star game. Its completely ridiculous. That being said, I will watch some of the hockey.

For you maybe in your ivory tower. Try telling that to the athletes in the hockey trying for a medal. It's an experience they will cherish. I find all star games tedious and meaningless like the World Cup of Hockey.

 

[BMann]

lol way to cherry pick. Now look at the 98% of the rest of the rosters.

Lol indeed. There are plenty of decent players in the rosters many with NHL experience and others like Heiskanen who will be going to the NHL. Mediocrities indeed. Something that the posters in question could be charged with.

 

[Channelcat]

For you maybe in your ivory tower. Try telling that to the athletes in the hockey trying for a medal. It's an experience they will cherish. I find all star games tedious and meaningless like the World Cup of Hockey.

I can respect that the athletes are at least trying, unlike the ASG. But the events are just ridiculous.

 

[Leafidelity]

Ill definitely be watching the Olympics. Likely not the hockey till maybe the finals though, there are much better athletes at the top of their sport competing that deserve my attention.

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

Lol indeed. There are plenty of decent players in the rosters many with NHL experience and others like Heiskanen who will be going to the NHL. Mediocrities indeed. Something that the posters in question could be charged with.

That's sort of my point. I don't want to watch 'decent players' in the Olympics. I could watch better than decent players in any NHL game any day. If that level of hockey is good enough for you or anyone else, all the power to ya. To each their own.

 

[John Price]

Why wouldn't you? Hockey is hockey.

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

Why wouldn't you? Hockey is hockey.

Do you watch the Spengler Cup?

 

[EbencoyE]

Do you watch the Spengler Cup?

The Spengler Cup is great, but just the fact that you're going to compare it to the Olympics to try to make a point makes you look ridiculous. At the end of the day it's just an invitational tournament that, while prestigious and historic, doesn't even begin to compare to the biggest hockey tournament in the world. I doubt many of the hundreds of millions of people around the globe that will be tuning into Olympic hockey in the coming couple weeks also watch the Spengler Cup. What an absurd comparison.

And since I haven't answered the thread myself yet: Of course. I can't imagine someone who considers themselves a hockey fan wouldn't watch. It's very possible this will be the most competitive Olympic hockey tournament ever in fact.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I will be watching

 

[Woodrow]

I will be watching

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

The Spengler Cup is great, but just the fact that you're going to compare it to the Olympics to try to make a point makes you look ridiculous. At the end of the day it's just an invitational tournament that, while prestigious and historic, doesn't even begin to compare to the biggest hockey tournament in the world. I doubt many of the hundreds of millions of people around the globe that will be tuning into Olympic hockey in the coming couple weeks also watch the Spengler Cup. What an absurd comparison.

And since I haven't answered the thread myself yet: Of course. I can't imagine someone who considers themselves a hockey fan wouldn't watch. It's very possible this will be the most competitive Olympic hockey tournament ever in fact.

So comparing a tournament where Canada is represented by players that aren't even close to being the best in their country to a different tournament where Canada is represented by players that aren't even close to being the best in their country is absurd? Really? Because of the amount of people watching? You're more likely to watch an event because of the amount other people watching than because of the quality of the product?

When my reply was based on the quote "hockey is hockey", comparing the Olympics to any other hockey tournament is fair game.

 

[Baxterman]

If the games are on at a reasonable time, don't conflict with other things I am doing specifically Flames games and involve Team Canada then I guess I will put it on in the background, but there are a lot of things in the "don't conflict with other things I am doing" that will trump Olympic hockey.

Once Canada is out though I don't care. A gold medal game without Canada on in primetime with me at home is likely ignored. I can check later to see who won.

I also right now have no idea when the games start or when Canada plays so i likely will have to stumble on it accidentally.

Right now Scrivens and Chris Kelly are the only two guys I can remember who are on the team and I think I might be wrong on Scrivens.

 

[jj cale]

If the games are on at a reasonable time, don't conflict with other things I am doing specifically Flames games and involve Team Canada then I guess I will put it on in the background, but there are a lot of things in the "don't conflict with other things I am doing" that will trump Olympic hockey.

Once Canada is out though I don't care. A gold medal game without Canada on in primetime with me at home is likely ignored. I can check later to see who won.

I also right now have no idea when the games start or when Canada plays so i likely will have to stumble on it accidentally.

Right now Scrivens and Chris Kelly are the only two guys I can remember who are on the team and I think I might be wrong on Scrivens.

Scrivens is on the team, not the most inspiring thought.

 

[John Price]

You should also watch for dahlin.

 

[Hennessy]

I'd watch, even if my interest in it is slim - in contrast to my anger at the NHL and IOC for letting this develop as it has - but the games are live around noon my time. Not as bad as in North America, but it's such an unnatural time of day to sit down for hockey, especially games where I'm not all that invested. If I am awake and free and happen to remember them, I'll tune in, but the chances of that combination happening are low.

 

[Hogan86]

The Olympics have started?

 

[Bruin4Life]

Such a salty thread.. I love it. Ill definitely watch, Ive always enjoyed watching the underdogs play.