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February 19, 2002
Olympic Hockey Diary, Final Round
Olympic Hockey Diary, Final Round Day 4: President's Day was filled with a full slate of games, starting with the U.S. demolition of Belarus, followed by Finland's upset of Russia. But the day's big news was Team Canada General Manager Wayne Gretzky's outburst after Canada's 3-3 tie with the Czech Republic. Here's just a sampling of stuff of what the Great One told the Associated Press: "The whole world wants Canada to lose, except for Canada and Canada fans." On American television coverage: "Right now it's almost comical to listen to things that are being said. It almost sickens my stomach to turn the TV on because I'm such a proud Canadian ... It makes me ill to hear some of the things that are being said about us." "Am I hot? Yeah. I'm tired of people taking shots at Canadian hockey." More on American television coverage: He called the criticism "American propaganda," saying, "they're loving us not doing well," and suggested that part of Canada's problem might be that "I don't think we dislike those other countries as much as they hate us. They don't like us, they want to see us fail, they love beating us. They may tell you something different, but when you're on the ice, that's what they say." Apparently, Gretzky's comments were triggered by an on-ice incident between Canada's Theo Fleury and Roman Hamrlik of the Czech Republic, where Hamrlik was constantly cross-checking Fleury without getting penalized. During the regular NHL season, these two guys go at each other from opposite sides of one of the fiercest rivalries in the NHL (Rangers-Islanders) -- which might expalin why Hamrlik took a shot at Fleury. But Gretzky didn't see it that way: "If a Canadian had done that, it would be a big story," Gretzky said. "But a Czech player did it, and it's OK. ... He should be suspended for the remainder of the tournament." He followed that up with a warning that any player who took a shot at a player from Team Canada would be subject to retribution once the NHL season resumed. Now, there are more than a few ways we can interpret these comments. If we take them at face value alone, they reveal just how much pressure Team Canada is under to win the gold. As for his comments about American television, you have to wonder what broacasts Gretzky has been watching. The CNBC coverage is literally crawling with Canadians -- including Bill Clement of ESPN, John Davidson, the Rangers broadcaster from New York's MSG cable operation (who Gretzky knows pretty well after his two seasons as a Ranger), and ESPN's Darren Pang. From what I've seen so far (about 80 percent of all the hockey coverage), they've been calling it pretty straight -- which to a partisan of Canadian hockey might well seem like American propaganda. But folks, Wayne Gretzky is not that provincial. He doesn't hate America, or American television, and he's certainly not this insecure about Canada and its place in the world. But he does know how to play on the insecurities that many millions of Canadians share, and he's working in tandem with Canada coach Pat Quinn to light a fire under a team that's seemed lost since they arrived in Salt Lake City. As our history teachers tell us, the past is prologue, and there is plenty of precedent to what Gretzky is doing. Back in the 1972 Summit Series, Canada got spanked 5-3 by Russia in Game 4, which was played in Vancouver. After the game, the fans booed Team Canada off the ice, but they were interrupted when a CBC interview with Phil Esposito was played over the arena's PA system. Here's what happened: "Esposito, who was still out of breath from the game and perspiring heavily, told the fans they were being unfair. He said the players were just as frustrated as the fans, but they were working as hard as they could. He added that Team Canada needed everyone's support if it was to come back and win the series." And, in the four remaining games in Moscow, Team Canada did just that. To this day, many of Esposito's teammates credit his speech as the turning point in the series -- and the event that helped spark them to victory. Some say it even helped pull the nation together behind the team. When Wayne Gretzky heard that speech, he was living with his family in Brantford, Ontario. Hockey was his life, and Gretzky was actually starting to draw attention nationally for his level of play, even at such a young age. My guess is that Gretzky saw what Esposito's speech did, and felt it was time to deliver a similar sermon for his team. Sure, he gave one suffused with a peculiar brand of Canadian jingoism, but one that he knew would have a real effect on his players, and perhaps on those Canadians working the booth for CNBC in America. As for the rest of the tournament, expect desperation to creep into everyone's style of play as we advance to single elimination in the medal round. Sweden plays Belarus; Team USA plays Germany; Canada plays Finland; and Russia takes on the Czechs. Team Canada got a real break yesterday when Finland upset Russia -- essentially giving Canada little incentive to beat the Czechs yesterday as it would have paired them with Russia. In any case, it looks like Canada and the U.S. are headed for a collission in the semi-finals, with Sweden taking on the winner of the battle between Russia and the Czechs. UPDATE: German Coach, Not Injury, Benches Kolzig: Ever since Caps goalie Olie Kolzig left for Salt Lake City, we've heard conflicting reports on why he would, or wouldn't be playing. Yesterday on CNBC's Olympic coverage, we found out why he's in street clothes: according to Gary Thorne, the German coach simply didn't want him there, and thought the presence of NHL players was simply a distraction he didn't need. I feel sorry for Olie, who went to Salt Lake City prepared to play, but I can understand the position of the German coach -- especially in light of the ham fisted manner in which the NHL has handled their participation in these games. ANOTHER UPDATE: My bad, if Russia and the U.S. win, they'll meet in the semifinals on Friday night on the 22nd anniversary of the "Miracle On Ice." Sweden will play the Canada-Finalnd winner.
Eric
10:45 AM
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