Worthwhile Canadian Initiative

by: Daniel De Groot

Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 00:54

I commented on Twitter that for Canadians, the US is the best team to beat, and conversely the worst ones to lose to. Take that for flattery because I think it is. Anyway, the Canada/US rivalry is good for the sport. The "miracle on ice" stuff was dumb though. If America's team of above average NHL players had defeated Canada's team of star NHL players, that is not 1980 redux.

The closing ceremonies were unexpectedly hilarious and generally engaging. Inflatable moose and beavers. William Shatner. Mounties and lumberjacks enough to make Monty Python blush. Good stuff.

In honour of that, here is something I've wanted to post here, but never had a good excuse. I proudly present the only piece of Canadiana missing from the Closing Ceremonies, the Log Driver's Waltz:

Daniel De Groot :: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative

Tags: olympics, Canada, National Film Board, Log Driver's Waltz, (All Tags)

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Worthwhile Canadian Initiative | 11 comments

I don't get how the team was Canadian. (0.00 / 0)

The Canadian team was comprised of players from the US NHL and their coach was the Detroit Redwings coach. I had planned to watch; but when I realized all of this, I shut it off. From the sound of it, I should have come back for the closing ceremony. In any event, I'm glad they're happy.

by: dkmich @ Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 10:38:23 AM UTC

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They were born and grew up in Canada, learned hockey from other Canadians, identify as Canadian, have family there, and intend to live in Canada? (0.00 / 0)

If someone gets a job with BP, do they stop being American? Or if they work for the UN in Bosnia, should they not be allowed to carry a US passport? Your objection seems not well thought out. Did you not know that Canada supplies (most of) the (good) hockey players to the NHL?

Did you want to see only amateurs play in the Olympics? It sure isn't just hockey that would need completely new teams, buts its been decades since that was a rule.

The (NHL) league was organized in 1917 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada after the suspension of operations of its predecessor organization, the National Hockey Association.

They play to win the Stanley Cup:

Originally inscribed the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, the trophy was donated in 1892 by then Governor General of Canada Lord Stanley of Preston....The Stanley Cup (French: La Coupe Stanley) is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously (chiefly by sportswriters) as Lord Stanley's Mug

On a similar note there is a womens cup now too.

The Clarkson Cup is an ice hockey trophy, awarded to the winner of the National Canadian Women's Hockey Championship. Like the Stanley Cup, it was created by and named for a Governor General of Canada, in this case, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson.

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The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

by: HousesofProgress @ Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 13:47:59 PM UTC

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Each player had to be a citizen of the team they (4.00 / 1)

played for? I just assumed Babcock was American because he was here. I know the Red Wings have lots of Russians on their team, but I didn't know Babcock was a Canadian citizen. Thanks for explaining the selection criteria and my eroneous assumption.

by: dkmich @ Tue Mar 02, 2010 at 21:14:40 PM UTC

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Fantastic. (0.00 / 0)

by: NC 11 CD @ Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 14:02:26 PM UTC

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Whoops. Posted accidentally. (4.00 / 1)

What I meant was, "Fantastic - I haven't seen that short in years." Thanks so much for putting it up.

by: NC 11 CD @ Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 14:03:56 PM UTC

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As I wrote to someone last night... (0.00 / 0)

Way to go Canada!

From those of us who grew up near the NY - Canadian border, and watched our northern colleges recruit out of Canada for their collegiate hockey teams... Well played, y'all. But, jest chu wait'll next time. ;-)

by: bystander @ Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 14:18:05 PM UTC

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Now, Why Isn't Log-Driving An Olympic Sport? (4.00 / 2)

That's what I want to know!

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

by: Paul Rosenberg @ Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 14:58:41 PM UTC

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You know... (0.00 / 0)

There are lumberjacking competitions where things like axe throwing, wood chopping and pole climbing are competitive events. It's not completely far fetched...

by: Daniel De Groot @ Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 15:11:18 PM UTC

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Yes, I DO Know (4.00 / 1)

Not only an avid reader as a kid, I lived in northern Idaho briefly back around 1970 or so, before it went all White Supremacist.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

by: Paul Rosenberg @ Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 18:01:27 PM UTC

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Oh yeah. Olympic logrolling. (0.00 / 0)

Like the women's downhill competition that was denied because there only a few Canadian and American women who could compete, it couldn't pass the hurdle of being accepted as an Olympic sport, because there aren't enough competitors world wide, apperently.
http://thenewagenda.net/2010/0...

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The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

by: HousesofProgress @ Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 16:10:51 PM UTC

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Ski Jump is the Olympic sport only men are allowed to compete in not "women's downhill competition " (0.00 / 0)

And part of the irony, the longest ski jump record is held by a woman, an American woman, Lindsey Van. Longer than all men, and women.

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The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

by: HousesofProgress @ Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 16:15:58 PM UTC

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