Poindexter... the kids eye later closed shut. He was lucky his nose wasn't bent or lost some teeth. What, did you expect Canadians to cheer? Read the story one more time. Better yet, save the comments for those who watched the game. Nice vic, champs!!!

Booing the U.S. may not be all about hockey but one should remember that the Americans were tournament favourites. A team that stands in the way of Canada's hockey domination better be prepared for jeers - especially if they're playing an opponent that would represent an easier Canadian victory.
Besides, Canadians would get booed by Americans if the Americans were at all interested in hockey.
However, I am totally ashamed of the goal judge who didn't put the red light on when the Russians scored.

They didn't boo Johnson when he touched the puck, they chanted, distinctly: "US SUCKS".
It was poor sportsmanship on the part of the Canadian Fans, plain and simple.
I am an admitted and proud heckler. I have made cameo appearances in the nightmares of umpires, refs and visiting squads since I was old enough to yell, and I can't endorse this kind of garbage.
Team US was booed no matter who they were playing and to even suggest it wasn't political is incredibly short sighted.
They were favourites. Maybe they shouldn't have been... so what? Take it out on the oddsmakers and the media.
Those kids are all under 20, and are out there leaving their guts on the ice because they want to prove to the world that they can play hockey. They can't help what country they were born in.
I appreciate the fact that my countrymen are politically astute and opinionated, but taking it out on the U20 hockey team is like taking it out on those poor people who have been sent to Iraq to catch bullets and car-bombs. It's not their fault.

A bit of booing when the dissliked player takes the ice or something is one thing, but as Sportsdesk says, it's the "US SUCKS" part I find embarrassing and containing absolutely no class.

Right on, Vancouver fans. The US does suck. Plain and simple. Most times we are just too, too nice. It's a refreshing breathe of fresh air beginning to blow. Hopefully. :-D

I've been to Canuck games vs. the Leafs where the fans chanted "Leafs suck". I was at a Rangers vs. Canucks games in 94 where the fans chanted "Oilers suck" (in references to the large number of ex-Oilers on the early 90's Rangers team). In sport, perennial winners are booed, jeered, heckled, and told they "suck" when they loose. The U.S. win a lot more often the Canada does in sport; just look at the medal counts for any given olympic games. And let's face it, the U.S. has a reputation for being sore winners: the gloating, the "U-S-A" chant, etc. It's similar to when Scotland plays England in a football match: the Scot fans are bloody ruthless. So, Sportsdesk and poindexter, your american sensibilities were offended because some loudmouth hockey louts chanted "U.S. Sucks!" I really don't think that in the grand scheme of things that it really matters. Also, and in my opinion, if you were to take a cross section of the "U.S. sucks!" chanters, I think that you'd be surprised that these loud mounths are not you run of the mill, NDP votin', tree-huggin', lefty, but rather, some AC/DC listenin', pickup truck drivin', gay-hatin', gun-lover. But now I'm really pulling into the stereotypes.

And I'd be interested to know why those stereotypes matter. The Leafs and Rangers are both staffed by professionals who get paid handsomely to deal with obnoxious fans (Besides, the Leafs do suck).
My "American Sensibilities" don't exist. Only a sense of sportsmanship, a bit of respect for those kids, and a lack of Campbell's patented blinders regarding whether or not it was political.

Oh, this is just too much fun. As I said, the "US sucks" chants began after the Johnson hit, and continued thereafter. I don't believe the chant was uttered at all prior to that moment, but I can't speak to games the U.S. played before then. I know they were booed. I know that according to one sports broadcast the souvenir booths sold just four US jerseys.

There are two questions here. "Why did fans boo?" is the main one I've tried to address. I can't imagine that when Johnson hit Downie, the crowd suddenly thought "Oh, softwood lumber, beef ban, George Bush, Iraq, U.S. sucks." They thought "You arrogant cheapshot artist." I was at the game, and that's the main reason why I booed. And I also because the USA is the team I most want Canada to beat, for the reasons I outlined in the story above.

I find the tenor of this is disconnected from the realities of hockey. I watched all the Canadian games and four or five others. The U.S. team was the least admirable of the lot. They sucked. Anybody out there who actually watched many games care to argue that they didn't suck?

The other question is whether, given that the team sucked, was it offensive for Canadian fans to say so? In the world of sports, I can think of more grievous offences.

I get a charge out the liberal types here, when Martin Stands up (supossialdy) to the Yanks
You liberals wet your shorts and experience near orgasm, but when loyal Canadian fans boo and put down he Yanks, its disgusting , rude etc,etc, give your heads a shake , if your so fond of the yanks move, go, join em and don’t let the door slap you in the ass on your way out, don’t forget to kiss Kinder Morgan arse when you get there.

I resolved to limit my comments to a thread or two per week this year.... But it's Friday and this is hockey and yesterday was a good day for hockey. Juniors won, Canucks won and so did our old timers team. Lets just say the beer tasted especially crisp yesterday. With regard to the booing...just like it says it the title the US sucked. Everyone of those 200 hundred players has heard it all before dozens of times on countless road trips and tournaments probably since they were in pee wee. Anyone ofended by what happens in a hockey rink doesn't understand the game. What happens at the rink stays at the rink. Many of those kids who fought each other for the last few weeks will one day become teammates and possibly life long friends. Those of you offended need to get a thicker skin. Actually, those of you offended SUCK. That's right YOU suck! Booooooooooooooooo Hisssssssssssssssssss How do you feel about that!? Hmmmmm? I thought so. Now you know how the players felt.

Uh woody, it's the conservative types who are complaining about the booing.

Mr. Campbell: Thanks for joining us.

I appreciate the fact that in your article you pointed out that

It's part of the game.
With that in mind, please realize that the catalysts for the event in question were at least partly political. Nobody was going to start chanting 'Sweden Sucks' or 'Russia Sucks'. There are undercurrents at work here whether you chose to admit it or not.
No. Nobody was thinking about the softwood lumber dispute. This is far deeper, and far more important. This is hockey. This is our boys against your boys in controlled combat.
Instead of being chivalrous and acting like grownups, the fans let their ugly side, their pent up contempt and anger, show.
The US is always the team that Canadians most want to beat, favourites or not. This goes back to 1812, and more recently to Haley Wickenheizer (sp?)'s tearful gold metal speech in 02 about the flag on the dressing room floor.
Finally, I suppose, at $800 a seat, they were entitled.

ubiquitous There you go,talking out of both sides of your mouth just like your old leader Crapchen.

The players in the game were as old, or older, than Sydney Crosby is and he plays in the NHL. Last time I checked they were almost all old enough to vote. This wasn't a pee-wee tournament, they're adults.

No one has ever heard US fans boo the Russians? Boo the Cdn anthem? or chant "U-S-A"?

Well, if you buy a tv set its possible to have seen these things.

There's only 3 WORDS "CANADA OWNS HOCKEY" Thank You now on with the NHL!

By the way, the Canucks really suck lately.

WARNING

This commentary may contain scenes of violence nudity and coarse language. Reader discretion is advised.

Still offended by the classless crowds chanting: US Sucks? Here are some quotes as heard from behind the bench, which game or team or player doesn't matter, it's the same every time.....

"Hey Johnson, drop your gloves you fu*king pussy." "Touch our goalie again and I'll cut your head off." "Try and stand up, you're an embarrassment to this great game." "Fu*k you 4" "Nice call you stupid #@*&#@*&_________ *hit head."

These quotes have been edited for content. Some translations from Finnish to English are approximate only....

Yeah I agree Frank but I'll always be a Nucks fan!

Thanks, Frank, for pointing out that the players hardly bear virgin ears. In fact, ask any of them what bothers them most. Is it "U.S. sucks"? Or is it pundits who call them kids, or worse, as McMartin did, "children". Okay, McMartin said "effectively children".

Also, I think I acknowledge that sports is a little bit political. I'm responding to the half-baked punditry that encourages casual sports fans in the idea that it was entirely or even mostly political.

I'll even acknowledge that chanting "U.S. sucks" isa little bit juvenile. However, I should also acknowledge that this tendency is one of the reasons I enjoy sports -- I like being able to feel a bit like a kid again. Was also a little bit juvenile at the Canada-U.S. game when hated Leaf Wendel Clarke came on the Jumbotron and the crowd chanted "Weeennnndyyyyy"? Terribly homophobic, actually. Did I have to suppress a wee smile at that moment? Yeah.

I used to go to Canucks games 20 years ago where the fans were embarrassingly polite. Did they suck? Oh, I wouldn't want to say that. Not in a Tyee forum, where decorum is so obviously the constant watchword.

Hey BC Dude, did you watch the junior game and then the Canucks afterwards? What a difference. I haven't been to a junior game since I was a Saskatoon Blades fan, maybe I should check out the Giants. By the way, I do recall everyone yelling "you suck" at an 18 year old Brian Propp and whadda you know, the Wheat Kings still suck.

I'm getting tired of this group of Canucks, outworked in the playoffs for years now. Lots of skill compared to earlier eras but something is lacking.

This booing of the US team has little to do with geo-politics (as much as some might want it to). It has more to do with hockey fans sensing a threat to the chances of a Canadian team winning the Gold.

The US team was presented by the pundits as the best US team ever and was picked to win. Therefore Canadian fans were ready to do all that they could to make the US team 'uncomfortable'

The cheap-shot hit late in the game vs. Canada let all the fans know that the US team was nasty and ready to be dirty in order to win. Therefore those fans were going to re-double their efforts to help push the US team even more out of their game. The comments of the US coach in thinking that first the Canadian fans were going to support the US team at all were not going to be taken very well. Then after the hit, this same coach saying that he thought the fans would treat the US as the 'home team' and cheer for them vs. Russia simply proves how little the US coach knows about Canadian hockey and how much it is like a religion for the Canadian fans.

I have yet to meet a fan that thinks the booing was anything more than a reaction to the arrogance that the US team came to the tournament with. We fans of the game will cheer a humble Finnish or Swedish team against an arrogant Russian or German team any time.

I would like to note also that the fans in Vancouver also boo'd the referee's early in the tournament when the calls were silly (even when that call benefitted Canada).

My hat is off to the moxy of the fans and their correct presentation of the US team as NOT the home team.

Indeed, this is a fun thread. :-D And other than Le Tour and boxing, I'm not that much into sports things, including hockey. Ehhh, but that's me. :-)

Get a kick out of your "cerebral" yet not too serious view of this issue, Frank.

And ehhh, Woody. Always enjoy that junkyard dog style in anyone. (We gotta hook you up with Avicenna-, if she's into guys. 8-D ) Like l always enjoy your "shots" on goal here. :-D

Too many are so damned deferential to the Yanks here, that they're actually making a big deal out of this Vancouver "rumble". C'mon, stop kissing their asses already! Lighten up. It's hockey we're talking here. How much more lower class a sport can you get? We're not talking ballet, fer puck's sake.

And them fuckin' Yanks aren't made out of eggshells, like some of you. Or are they?

Okay, some of them actually are.

If you are not from Vancouver, "You Suck"! Its as simple as that. Calgary sucks, Toronto sucks, the US sucks, American beer sucks. Britney spears suck. Heck transit sucks, and so does the damn election. Heck life sucks, so get over with it.

Chanting, booing, and cat calling is as part of the sport as any, just like it is with politics or any point of celebrity. If you want to stick out from the crowd, bewary, we are all looking for your downfall.

Spitting, throwing things on the ice, cheap shots are not, but verbal taunting (as long as it doesn't go beyond the point of decency: racial, homophobic, sexual, religious) is part of the game. Its home court advantage, and you have every right to cheer for your own team and everyone else is your enemy. As an audience, you do everything to make sure you can to distract, daze, and challenge the opposite team as long as it is within the rules. The players expect it, heck, in fact they would be disappointed if they didn't receive it as it really is a part of the game when you get to any elite level of team sports. And if the players can't take it, well, cry us a river superstar. You're better that us, and we're jealous!

I have to agree with Murdock, I went to the Finn-Swede game (alas they switched the schedule and I didn't even get a chance to boo the states), and we bood the ref whenever they called a weak penalty.

Heck, it was a scoreless game, that we were just looking for anyway to make noise. The crowd toward the end of the game was cheering the Finnish team because they were holding off the Swedes that were outshooting them 3-1. Not really because anyone cared for the Finns, but because we really just needed someone to yell for, and we had no reason that we could think of to boo anyone. Had we, well, we certainly would have.

Heck, if the Canucks are playing crappy at home, the crowd will boo them. We may even go as far as saying they suck (and if they keep their current play up we will even chant against our own team).

Why, because you never just watch sports..

Well, first off, it is only hockey. But, Charles Campbell, the behavior of the fans was very embarrassing. And let’s face it; Vancouver fans are not very sophisticated hockey fans. Many are not really hockey fans at all.

First off, I was luckily given tickets to the game, and was right into razzing the Americans and some of their players. However, the “US Sucks” stuff was stupid and redundant. I cannot imagine US fans; say in North Dakota last year, going to a Sweden-Canada game and booing the Canadians with the same venom that we were booing them through this tournament.

Now about the elbow on Downie would have been inexcusable if it connected with any force. But I am not so sure Johnson connected with much power (if at all), and I am not convinced that Johnson even intended to injure. Notice the hacks Johnson was taking as he was skating down the rink? Notice the referee who saw it all? Notice the lack of suspension? The lack of injury to Downie? And lack of protest from the Canadians when there was not a suspension?

I think Downie was just trying to get Johnson out of the tournament by staying down, which is OK. He dove, and I bet Downie would admit it if you asked him privately. Johnson was stupid for losing his cool, and deserved his penalties.

I was at the game and sat with people who did razz the players. I did as well, but we did not stand and scream “US sucks”, because we are hockey fans and would watch the games even if Canada was out of the tournament.

I also think that Vancouver fans (not hockey fans) forgot that many of the players in this tournament were just kids, not professionals. Would we do the same thing at a high-school band tournament?

Generally, Vancouver fans suck. Bandwagoners out with their company’s tax write off tickets enjoying $7 beers. Many are not hockey fans, but just people who like to be seen doing the “in” thing.

Many Vancouver fans supported and excused that goon Bertuzzi with open arms, even after he destroyed another man’s career and lifestyle. I was willing to forgive Bertuzzi, but it really pissed me of when Vancouver fans were blaming Steve Moore for the incident. It even gets me angrier when Bertuzzi was selected to the Olympic team over Sydney Crosby.

Ah, I times it is great to be a British Columbian, but these last few years have been a bit dimmer.

Thanks Charles and you too Coyote, I'm just glad there were actual hockey fans at this tournament. The last Canucks game I was at was in October and it was like attending a Wal-Mart board meeting. Everyone dressed well and sipping their drinks and chatting while the game was on. Stood and cheered the goals at least.

But back on the prairies junior hockey was different, also cheaper and much more blue-callar, only a couple of bucks a game. We hated everybody, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Winnipeg and especially the Regina Patsies and the Brandon Choke Kings. Me and my brother usually went home hoarse after 3 hours of yelling at those losers that had the misfortune not to play for the Blades.

Believe me, yelling "you suck" at a young Brian Propp didn't prevent him from making millions while playing for Philly and I doubt any of the US players will suffer too much emotional trauma from their time in Vancouver either. As for their media, who will race to cover any booing of any American anywhere in the world, they don't even like hockey. So they're clueless about the fact the US team did suck, and even worse, they were arrogant and poor losers.

Hey BC Dude, I agree that Canada owns hockey. Now, can you tell me what that comment has to do with the NHL?

Moat: "Vancouver fans are not very sophisticated hockey fans"..

So?? We leave that to the figure skating crowd! If you went to a game and said that you would definately get boo'd. However, if you said Vancouver fans are the "most unsophisticated fans in the world", you'd probably hear a loud roar!

"were just kids, not professionals. Would we do the same thing at a high-school band tournament?"

These aren't your run of the mill pimple faced teeners. Name one of them who in the next two years won't get at least a half mil signing bonus. And they know it. Many of them will make more in the next two years than most of us will make in our lifetimes. Do you really think any of them hearing the chant, US sucks, didn't think to themselves, yeah, but I'm the real thing.

Tricky really...
Linking ACTUAL concern and contempt for US foreign policy to World Junior Hockey is comedy...
If I engage in it, the joke is on me. Kinda South Park.
Good title though Charles... they did suck. They do suck.

Something that doesn't SUCK!The fact we can say whatever we want in a free country.Why does the media feel the need to apologize for expression of opinion.

I must agree with you dunngy....
This whole thing is wayyyyyyy out of context!!

I repeat - the goal judge that didn't press the button when the Russians scored... Now that's something for all of us to be upset and embarrassed about!!!!!

Dangrice commented:

Dungy wrote:

and then Jack's wrote:

So guys...

Since when is SPORTSMANSHIP not part of the game? Trash talk and goading are part of watching sports, but it should not be at the expense of all sportsmanship. I wonder if anyone can recall how Canadian fans were treated in North Dakota?

Owell, maybe we can "shine" in 2010 when the "adults" are playing.

Moat seems to forget that there were more Canadian fans than American in the stands in North Dakota!!!

Yes, and they took us in when there was a snowstorm. Made them feel comfortable. I wonder if the American fans at our games always felt comfortable?

Americans have never booed teams from other countries? They seemed pretty upset with the Russians last year...

It's not about their actions, it is about taking responisibility for ours. And what about the idea of sportmanship at a junior tournament?

Oh, dear. The colonized pearl clutchers (Petey McMartin, step down) are fainting in their hankies because, gasp! Vancouverites insulted those dear Americans.

Don't faint, dearies, but the truth is, Americans, by and large, suck. Big time.

Now grab those ankles. You deserve a good one.

I don't get it. Let's see...you go to a game and boo people you don't even know--and usually even people who are trying to do their best to win--at something you will never be able to do even close to as well--and who might even get beat up for their efforts.

Nope, doesn't ring a bell.

No Americans were physically hurt by any fan actions during the tournament. In fact, they probably managed to finish fourth just from relishing being in the role of the villain. I remember being booed, at a younger age than these guys, and I thought it was great. At least they noticed ya.

As for sportsmanship, I wouldn't boo a 10 year old at a school sports day. But if the organizers are going to charge small fortunes for tickets they have to let the fans do what ever they want, non-physical of course. When they let people in for free to these things they can tell them which countries to cheer for and which to boo.

Hmmmmm, Happy "Hockey Day in Canada". After watching hockey for most of the day, then spending some time at the rink playing my hockey game, I gave your comments further thought.

Frank wrote:

Sorry, these guys are not yet professionals. Although some play in the rough n' tumble WHL and OHL, at least they can see the connection when they visit opposing rinks. The US players were booed simply because they were American. And don't get me wrong here, I too laughed at some of the "Off to Iraq after the tournament" comments shouted out during the game, but I could not stand the continued barrage. The line between poking fun and "razzing" was crossed and there was no sense of reconciliation. They US players were being booed because they were American, not because they were the best team in the tournament.

Just because someone pays for a ticket does not entitle them to become a complete a**hole. By your logic, people who pay for any performance can show up and be a jerk?

Naw, I still think the junior tournament should be about sportsmanship and competition. There is still some innocence attached to it with parents showing up to games.

Like I said, Vancouver still has time to "shine" in 2010. But will we? Well, time to go cheer Bertuzzi against Calgary.

I basically have no problem with people booing the other guys at sporting events - hell that's included in the price of admission - nor am I really concerned kids' feelings. But why this persistent "Americans suck" - and what exactly does that mean?

Caligula & Coyote, since you've both said it in your posts, do you mean that American people suck, the country sucks, its government sucks or all of the above?

The game wasn't like '72 - there was no proxy-political importance invested in this game, no clash of ideology - and I'm glad we kicked ass and beat the Americans and served them a heaping plate of modesty. I hate presumptions of American superiority as much as the next Canadian - but why the categorical, robust and irrational hatred of Americans?

Is it perhaps the case, Coyote and Caligula, that you are insecure about your own Canadian-ness and in fact, are hiding a secret love of America, Americans, and especially American foreign policy? Come on guys, maybe it's time to come out of the closet. Coyote - I'm sure that your comrades at the Socialist Worker would understand and support your choice.

2010..probably not when it comes to hockey... but then again, the tickets will probably too expensive for anyone but the sophisticated crowd to attend. but believe me, the rest of us will be booing from the comfort of our homes.

Ok, so adults can't be booed, only professionals. I watched the '72 series live, the Russians weren't professionals yet they were booed. The Canadians were whistled (same thing) in Moscow but of course that's ok because they were professionals. Also, they might have been unhappy with Bobby Clarke.

In '76 the American fans booed the Russians constantly, even though they weren't professionals, during a game against the Flyers. Even when rough Flyer play made them leave the ice for a bit. I remember the announcer yelling "the Russians are going home!" and he seemed kinda happy about it. I would go out on a limb here and say those American fans booed the Russians because they were Russians. I know its hard to believe such a friendly, easy to get along with country would do such a thing but I believe it happened, if tv can be believed.

Over the years at junior tournaments Canadians have been booed many times in various European locales. Whether it was for rough play, a bench clearing brawl with the Russians or just didn't like the cut of our jib they did boo our juniors.

I don't recall Canadians writing nationally published editorials that booing us was a terrible thing. In the US however they don't seem to have the cajones to ever criticise their own team so elbows thrown at the end of the game become a muddled affair where no one really knows what happened, although replays are available.

After elbowing a Cdn player at the end of the game I think they understood the connection.

Within the bounds of the performance of course. I'm not saying you can whip out your johnson during an opera and pee all over the stage. But you certainly have the right to walk out mid-performance even if it puts a few opera fans out.

In hockey rinks, booing an opposing team has a long tradition behind it and it has become recognized as acceptable behaviour. Even the event organizers said they regretted the booing happened but they didn't deny the fans their right to do it.

dangrice wrote:

No, they will have given their tickets away. Nothing wrong with that though. Really. And why do you have to insinuate that hockey is like a gong-show?

Go ahead. At least Wolf Blitzer or Larry King (a hockey fan) won't hear you. Not that I really care what Americans think, however, if they like hockey, I will see more of it on TV. I still don't get why you some of you think that hockey has to be a "free for all goon show".

I like watching big hits, fighting, and agitating the opposing side, but I just don't understand disliking a group of young people because of their country of origin.

Sorry, I like hockey. But I do feel it should have a sense of sportsmanship and honour.

In the words of Bertuzzi, "it is what it is."

Its our feeble attempt to become part of the action. With the exception of Johnson after the hit, I don't think anyone actually disliked any of the American Team. Heck, Cory Schneider (the goalie) is a Canuck draft pick who knew what he was in for in advance of the tournament. http://www.nhl.com/features/system/schneider121205.html

Vancouver has a reputation for having a loud, fanatical arena. And we're proud of it. So suck it up.

Incredulous writes:

"The game wasn't like '72 - there was no proxy-political importance invested in this game, no clash of ideology..."

That comment is incredulous, Incredulous. If you haven't been paying attention no less an intellect than Noam Chomsky has discussed the USA as a rogue nation. Do you really think that Canada is a rogue nation in the world community?

The US is now, ideologically, anti-democratic. In order to advance their interests in oil, the Bush administration has removed virtually all vestiges of individual freedom in the US. The political and capitalist elites in the US are nothing like the elites in Canada, although some of the Canadian elite wish it were so and Harper would drag us down that path in very short order.

We are overwhelmed with what passes for "news" from the US and, uniquely I think, we are able to see the flaws in the US Empire with little filtering. So, do Canadians have a deep understanding of what sucks in the US? I think yes.

That said, I think that most of the US sucks chants related more to the hype around the US team and the normal hockey razzing of one's opponents. And, the special attention paid to Jack Johnson is no different than the attention paid to supposed superstars on any team, in any league or sport. It goes with the terrority.

But, there is an underpinning of antipathy toward the US in Canada and, unfortunately, in most of the world community as well.

Frank wrote:

Fair enough. I still stand by my comments that this was a juunior tournament, played by amatuers with their family in the stands. Even on Canada's roster, many players never make it into the NHL.

dangrice wrote:

Proud of it? Hardly.... Phil Espisito in ,72 wasn't too happy with us. Vancouver fans have a long history of cheering for things like

"Ha Ha! Yaah! The ref fell down!"

You will get no argument from me here. And attending a game live is so much better than watching it on television!

Wallace...

You said it all!!!!!!!!

This is a little off the subject but I am blown away with the writing quality of these and other Tyee posts...

Or should I say that I didn't realize that BC had so many intelligent people?

YOU CALL THAT A JETE? YOU SUCK BARYSHNIKOV! Hmm, you're right Coyote, it just doesn't feel the same.

Somewhere in Mayan heaven an 'ulama' player is looking down and thinking to him(her)self. "Heckling, that's the worst thing that can happen? Why in my day....."

Sportsmanship and honour is crucial to all sports. But, it should be pointed out, it wasn't necessarily the players heckling, it was the fans. A different matter.

BTW, if you want to see what real sportsmanship looks like, check out an Ultimate frisbee game sometime. Makes refereed sports look like a bitter custody battle, yet the competition can be as intense as any pro sport you care to name.

/biased Frisbee-tarian

PERFORMANCE IN THE 1972 SUMMIT

"This Phil was really something. If he felt like complaining, he complained. If he felt like yelling, he yelled. It was new to us, this childlike attitude. He didn't hide his emotions, as we were taught."

Boris Mikhailov, Team USSR

"I'm really disappointed [with the fans]. I am completely disappointed. I cannot believe it," he says with a hangdog face. "Some of our guys are really, really down in the dumps. We know, we're trying, I mean, hell, we're doing the best we can."

Moat, that game was before my time, but it looks like Phil was upset because Vancouver was booing Team Canada.

They did indeed dangrice. And some columnists thought it was blasphemy to boo your own country's team. Espo was full of himself sometimes. Him and his buddy Eagleson. At some point in Moscow he seems to have got straightened out.

Now I'm glad we won and all, in fact I was ecstatic when Espo, Henderson and Cournoyer won it, but I had no problem with Vanc fans booing, what I did have a problem with was Clarke breaking Kharlamov's leg. As Moat would say, I thought that was terrible in terms of sportsmanship.

But then what can you expect from a Flin Flon player. They're dirty by nature. Its in their DNA or so I used to believe.

Frank, Jacks, and Dangrice,

Hey, but the four of us can agree that we like hockey, not like those namby-pambies like Coyote and Stump. ;-/

The game has changed, and it is still enjoyable. And it is fun to pick out the subtleties of the game. For example, which one is the bonfide agitator, and which is the cheapshot artist.... Ruutu or Cooke?

It's a great game, and I would hate to watch it become shunned because its fans are taking the first steps towards becoming more soccer hooligans.

Uh oh, here come the "football" fans.

What's the matter with Cookie lately? Must be the face shield, perhaps he doesn't see the puck as well.

Geez how long ago was that that line of Cooke, Schaefer and Druken suddenly came together and made the last quarter a race to the playoffs? They fell short but I liked that line.

Ruutu is coming into his own alright, and I hated Tikanen.

As long as we leave the darts at home and don't run around in packs after the game trying to fight other fans!

I personally think Ruutu is our best defensive forward and perhaps one of the smartest players on our team. (tho sometimes a little too slever for his own good.) And probably has the most potential when he isn't doing stupid plays. I personally don't mind most of his cheap shots, he just has to realize that the refs have long since caught on to him holding onto the other persons stick in such a way that it looks like he is the victim.

When I heard Canadians chanting US SUCKS it was like music to my ears! I love it. Remember when they booed our national anthem? We get no respect from them at all. I don't care if they were offended, they're the US. They deserve that and more. I just wished we could have played them again so we could pound 'em some more. Good job boys.

Who sez I don't like hockey? Moat gets two minutes in the box for making assumptions.

Frank and Dangrice,

Although Cooke and Ruutu play a similar game, I feel that Ruutu is move valuable as he tends to draw the attention to himself. Cooke smacks players (sometimes questionably) then takes off and the opposing player tends to clobber the next Canuck within range.

Ruutu gives and takes. I would like to believe that he draws more penalties than he takes. I also think that he plays a better all around game.

And Stump,

My assumption was a coaching decision made at game time based on a hunch.

Oops! Sorry!

Moat, now we're on the same page!

A little late on the post, but here's my 2 cents. I was at all the American games, I went to almost every game in Vancouver, and it went far beyond what is reasonable. In fact it was the most embarrasing moment I've ever had at an arena. A total lack of class. Booing is fine, but chants of US sucks, is over the line. The chants timing and tone added insult to injury. Unless you are so blinded by anti-americanism that you feel booing 18 year old kids, who can't even vote, for who runs their country is fine. Then I guess you fall in the classless category.

And who cheers for Russia over the US. It makes no sense in a hockey or political context.