12/21/24
February 17, 2010
Might It Possibly Be OK If We Kick Some Ass?: Why the world finds Canada's quest for Olympic gold strange and adorable.
I thought that was a pretty good article. It's a good antidote to some of the anti-Canada hysteria currently viewable online, from people like Mariotti.
I don't begrudge Canada in the least wanting to win more medals.
The problem is, I'm so sick and goddamned tired of my own native US focusing on the medal count as the pre-eminent measure of Olympic meaningfulness.
I hate to see an esteemed neighboring country following suit. Canada is the redeeming presence that has prevented North America from going totally to hell. If Canada becomes consumed by a "Go for the Gold" approach at all costs, then where should we turn for balance, sanity and redemption on this continent? Ciudad Juarez?
In an ideal world, Canadian athletes would find a way to optimize their abilities and charge forth and capture what medals they will, without a having a seamy, high profile national campaign fueling them on.
"Own The Podium" - that's just too much like the arrogant expectations that drive the presence of the US as an Olympic participant. At least in terms of how the Games are presented to the US audience. (I am now really and truly sick of Bob Costas and want him gone from my television. I never, ever thought I would wax nostalgic for the low key pre-taped homespun days of Tim McCarver in a turtleneck sweater at Albertville, lord help us).
"Own The Podium" just isn't becoming. It reminds me too much of my own damn backyard.
posted by beaverboard at 04:06 PM on February 17, 2010
I'd always wished that the Olympics was about the best that our species could offer athletically. Citius, Altius, Fortius for the individual, not the country.
As for the TV coverage, I have no idea how anyone could watch it in the US w/o using a DVR. The commercials breaks are far too frequent to be at all tolerable.
posted by sbacharach at 04:46 PM on February 17, 2010
I hope Canada wins a bunch of medals, just not the gold in hockey. I really want to see them lose.
posted by emoeby at 04:50 PM on February 17, 2010
The problem is, I'm so sick and goddamned tired of my own native US focusing on the medal count as the pre-eminent measure of Olympic meaningfulness.
Couldn't agree more. I seem to remember it becoming important when we were in the height of the cold war and we were constantly comparing the size of our johnsons with the Soviet Union. The cold war is history, but I think we still like to measure.
posted by smithnyiu at 05:07 PM on February 17, 2010
I hope Canada wins a bunch of medals, just not the gold in hockey. I really want to see them lose.
That's something I can't understand. If there was a team you were cheering for, why not say "I hope [nation X] wins the gold medal in hockey." Or, even "I hope [nation X] beats Canada for the gold medal in hockey."
What is it about Canada winning the gold medal in hockey that makes you so upset? Did Iginla run over your dog? Did Richards hit on your girlfriend?
posted by grum@work at 05:53 PM on February 17, 2010
I suspect from some of the print coverage that there's too many journalists, and not enough stories. Especially from the Brit papers, given they have few competitive athletes and even fewer medal prospects.
posted by owlhouse at 06:08 PM on February 17, 2010
What is it about Canada winning the gold medal in hockey that makes you so upset? Did Iginla run over your dog? Did Richards hit on your girlfriend?
I personally enjoy rooting against Sidney Crosby, so that is one reason to root against Canada.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 06:36 PM on February 17, 2010
Citius, Altius, Fortius for the individual, not the country.
Don't forget coitus, the main reason that most of us do anything.
I hope Canada wins a bunch of medals, just not the gold in hockey.
I'm cheering for the United States, but only because I pretty much grew up there. And their uniforms are pretty. And that Patrick Kane is dreamy...sigh...
posted by tahoemoj at 06:42 PM on February 17, 2010
Yeah, Sidney Crosby is a good reason, and also that grum guy who seems to take all these things a bit to personally, I'll root against Canada for his sake too. Take me to the mat, grummy!
Overall, though, I prefer to take a longer look, and root for the (Summer) Olympics over the Winter Games.
posted by Hugh Janus at 06:46 PM on February 17, 2010
The problem is, I'm so sick and goddamned tired of my own native US focusing on the medal count as the pre-eminent measure of Olympic meaningfulness.
I don't have a problem with any country keeping a tally of how they're doing, medal-wise. It's sports, we tend to keep score. It's not the pre-little league sports where competing is all that matters. They award medals to the top three competitors, so why not keep track?
If it was just the US that was keeping track I'd see your point, but it's not, so I don't.
posted by dviking at 08:12 PM on February 17, 2010
And that Patrick Kane is dreamy...sigh...
Just don't ask him to leave the tip.
posted by tommybiden at 08:29 PM on February 17, 2010
Yeah, Sidney Crosby is a good reason, and also that grum guy who seems to take all these things a bit to personally, I'll root against Canada for his sake too. Take me to the mat, grummy!
*drops gloves*
"Let's go."
posted by grum@work at 09:15 PM on February 17, 2010
Hundred bucks says you're gonna crack my skull.
posted by Hugh Janus at 09:28 PM on February 17, 2010
I just finished watching about 90 minutes of Olympic coverage, and if the focus on the medal count that has you upset is the 10 second McDonald's Medal Count that Costas recaps, I think you're being a bit dramatic.
posted by dviking at 11:28 PM on February 17, 2010
What in Hell is wrong with national pride in sports teams? Most people's favorite teams are based on geographic proximity. What's more proximal than one's nation or country? Is there a better way, in a multi-sport event, to gauge a nation's athletes vis a vis the competition? This doesn't mean I can't root for the Jamaican bobsled team in a particular competition, but the medal count, perhaps weighted by color and divided by total population, seems a good judgement. Has anyone done that last bit?
posted by bobfoot at 02:14 AM on February 18, 2010
Medals won per capita, Summer and Winter, with weighting for medals available but having all medals the same value.
Friggin' Kiwis.
posted by owlhouse at 03:31 AM on February 18, 2010
I personally enjoy rooting against Sidney Crosby, so that is one reason to root against Canada.
If US isn't going to win, I'll take Russia with Ovechkin. That's a player to root for.
Medals won per capita, Summer and Winter, with weighting for medals available but having all medals the same value.
The US is below both Russia and the USSR.
posted by bperk at 07:16 AM on February 18, 2010
If US isn't going to win, I'll take Russia with Ovechkin. That's a player to root for.
After the US I'm pulling for Sweden which is a definite product of my Wings fandom.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 06:57 PM on February 18, 2010
At the start of the tournament, the Russians were +250 and Sweden +600 .
Both great value bets.
Canada was a less attractive -125 .
posted by tommybiden at 07:37 PM on February 18, 2010
Quoting Stephen Colbert as one of your major sources? That's probably OK if you're going to be funny, too.
Update on The Guardian's story from yesterday. From The Guardian.