02/21/25
February 15, 2025
SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
Well, gotta say that game's opening was an embarrassment and it sucked all of the enthusiasm for the game right out of my house. Since MAGA jingoistic fever is about to openly grip our sports guys, maybe it's time to watch any old thing on TCM for a while.
posted by NoMich at 11:53 PM on February 15, 2025
The number of folks in the US who were saddened by the anthem thing but totally understood it far outstrips the number of Canadians who were embarrassed that the US anthem was booed.
posted by beaverboard at 03:54 PM on February 16, 2025
I'm Canadian, I can only speak for myself. I do not know what I'd do were I at the game.
I'm not embarrassed by what fans did, we have freedom of expression in this country. Is it ideal? No. Fracturing a friendship, a trust that has existed for well over 150 years between the two nations is significantly more disturbing.
I fully understand the booing, harmless compared to threatening a nation's sovereignty.
Canadians as a group are justifiably angry. It seems the country has galvanized, united in a way I honestly cannot remember ever before.
posted by tommybiden at 04:22 PM on February 16, 2025
Wish I had a dollar (Canadian or US) for every US family I can think of that has some Canadian connection and is getting passport paperwork in order ASAP. Due to things like a permanently disabled child whose Medicaid funding might be taken away, etc.
Not to run away from the fight for the soul of the US, but just to create a safety valve if needed so they can safeguard what basic human necessities and amenities they can.
It's illuminating to walk past small groups of people and overhearing casual conversation about how the southern latitudes of Ontario are much more tolerable in winter than many people think...
If I was a US farmer, I'd already be riding my heavy equipment to help blockade DC, hoping others were doing the same.
posted by beaverboard at 05:16 PM on February 16, 2025
USA v Canada tonight at 8PM EST! It'll air on ESPN/ABC in the states and probably on every single channel in Canada. I expect the boos heard during the US anthem will be about the loudest that crowd will be all night. (Can't say that I blame them)