Lots of Canadians have favourite American NHL teams. Sports teams are just sports team, so let's relax.

No, they're not, Percy. Historically, the 1936 Olympics in Germany were all about a couple of guy -- one was a black athlete and one was a dictator -- when the winning black guy disproved the Aryan supremacy theory of the Nazi regime.

Me, I never paid the slightest attention to baseball's "world" series until the Toronto Blue Jays won ... then watched through tears as the city celebrated like a united bunch of happy children.

A genuine sports fan must have dozens of these reasons which suffuse these games with something more than "just sports."

Well, shouldn't we try to avoid the gratuitous politicization of sport? (The example you referred to was political because the Nazis MADE it political, which didn't serve sport or the Olympics.) I cheer for a hockey team other than my "home" team, but I don't feel the need to apologize for that.

It's started. Germany 4 Costorica 2. Great teamwork, goals, great officials, and nobody gets to beat up anyone like in Canada's sport Hockey.

Canada hasn't been at the World Cup for 20 years (with Regan, Lenarduzzi etc) and England hasn't won it since the '60s (and that was the one and only time). Brazil is always the one to beat, but hey, you just never know and even Pele says the English have a decent shot this time, so go ahead and root for England, Yolanda. It's a beautiful game, not a litmus test of your patriotism.

Ah, competition on the friendly field of sport. I'm afraid that I am one of those weirdos who thinks that competition sucks and cooperation rules. I like to play as much as the next guy but when sport comes down to a matter of national pride I think it's time we all got a grip. The Olympics themselves have become little more than an opportunity for each participating country to show how big their respectives dicks are. Call me cynical, but I long for games that are played because they are fun.

Somebody posted that Curling was boring...

Soccer must be second on the list.

Interesting point, Percy. From what I've read, it was the R.o.t.W. which made a big deal out of the black guy disproving the Nazi notion of Aryan supremacy. Hitler stomped off home and refused to watch the rest of the Olympics. Up until that moment, Black guys hadn't had much good press.

But like I said, there must be dozens of reasons why people watch and/or cheer sporting events. Even I can name one: Beckham. But who's he playing for, these days? I don't know. Shouldn't really matter.

Let's not forget, as England striker Gary Lineker once said: "Football is a game with 22 people and in the end the Germans always win."

bloodnok:

First, there's not many team sports that can be played without considerable "cooperation" between teammates. I know you'll likely think my response pedantic wordplay, but teamwork = cooperation.

Why long for the days when games were played for fun. Join a beer league somewhere (hockey, soccer, baseball...) and you'll be playing for fun.

Jack's

Soccer must be second on the list.

I'm always curious who would post something like this. I find, among my acquaintances, the people who make such statements will then try to convince me that baseball is really exciting. Odd, isn't it?

B.C. Mary, that "black guy" was named Jesse Owens. Yeah he really choked Hitler's chicken alright. Won just about everything.

Only problem though, was after that, people thought that black guys could run about fifty miles an hour. I ought to know. When I first sat down in home room in grade 9, the teacher introduced me to the class as, "...another Harry Jerome, or maybe Jesse Owens."

We should always remember that sports are for fun!
However, these days it is sometimes hard to tell with the overcommercialization, the money involved (salaries, etc.) and the inevitable riots if someone wins or loses!

But I think you should cheer for whomever you want to. If Canadians want to cheer for their home country I'm all for it. It certainly makes for good entertainment at the Canada socer games, and I should know as I used to go to all of them (in Vancouver) before I left Canada for work overseas.

So have fun! Enjoy the soccer with friends, and people you have just met in the pub or on the street!

DAE-HAN-MIN-GUK !!
Go Korea Go!

And...er...England too as my father is from London.

Kevan Hudson
Suncheon, South Korea

grub

Well the last inning of a close game is.

What a bunch of horse poop. Cheer for whom you wish. Every day Canadians root for for football teams staffed mainly by US Players, Basketball teams from south of the border and even the NHL now is being invaded by Europe as Don Cherry is only too happy to remind us. So root for whom you choose in soccer, I am simply happy I have a remote to not have to view it at all...

Tom Lal

AMEN!!!!!

What is the use of cheering for England? Like with everything else, they go for royalty instead of talent... and yes, the failure to cap St. Matt still rankles, and this time they leave Jerome Defoe and Darren Bent (18 goals for Charlton, my god, what more do you need?) and take a 17 year old who probably won't be put on the field and not one but two strikers who are just recovering from broken feet. O.k., I can understand taking a chance on one... but that would have to be Rooney. Why Owen as well?

News flash: He will disappoint. Again.

Didn't anyone tell the British that the name of the game is scoring goals????? So while we are on the subject of royalty, why not get it over with and let the two princes play, with Charles as a backup?

Well, at least I'm somewhat relieved to discover that I am not the only "guy" then, who did not seem to get the "sport fan" gene that seems to typically come coupled with the male X chromosome.

Though for a guy who has never cared much for sports per se, I liked participating in boxing as a lad, and as a casual observer still. I like cycling as well, but mostly as a lone wolf doer.

Outside of that, most sports are a yawner with me. But that's just me. The primary rule that Rules is, of course, if it feels good, do it.

It's the "beer guzzler" with his gut down onto his thighs, evolving into a sloth who thinks boob tube sports is what life is all about who is The Problem. Otherwise, hopefully, we'd really be kicking right wing ass here and everywhere. 8-D

I don't really know who is all playing in the world cup, but were I so inclined, and Canada isn't there, I'd be pulling for Scotland or Iraq, even Iran. Anybody but the goddamned English or Yankees. (Nahh! **** Canada too. They're in Afghanistan, and otherwise everywhere running around kissing Yankee ass. They don't deserve to win jack shitt. They're just a bunch of bootlick losers.)

LOL.

Sports as substitute class and anti-imperialist warfare. :-) I could probably get into that.

That "bleep" out by the Tyee Language Police should read, "Fuk Canada too..."

Naw, it isn't a gene linked thing, I have no beer, no beer gut, no tv, don't watch the games, have to check to see who is playing... just always enjoyed playing, and you know what? I see a lot of women who enjoy playing soccer/football as well. Is that X chromosome linked?

The only thing that is going to kick rightwing butt is a real solid economic downturn, but no fear, that's coming.

I'm watching to see the hot bodies, rippling thigh muscles and and groovy hairstyles of the football players...yeah...it's all good...mmmmm