[OT] THIS is American Sportsmanship ??

[Moulin Rogue]

People are angry up here about the Detroit thing because it came mere days after the "friendly fire" death of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, and are really sensitive about it, putting the two things together. I don't know how many Detroiters in the building knew about that.

 

[GreyOne]

As a true Canucks fan, I'd like to apologize for some fans' dumbass behaviour at the game last night. Not excusing it of course, but there's a lot of P-O'd people hereabouts at the moment so maybe they're just taking out their frustrations.

Though if Domik Hasek tried another dive, I might have thrown something too.

 

[MulhorandSage]

Canuck's GM Brian Burke went on a tirade today about the refs non-calling of penalties against the Canucks. Even though I'm a Canucklehead, I thought he was whining about things that are a natural part of the game - except for his point on Hacek's diving, which was directly on target.

If Hacek keeps it up, he'll have a future playing European soccer.

Also, disrespecting a nation's flag or anthem is unacceptable. I hope I wouldn't sink that low even in wartime. It frightens me a little that either nation has enough people engaging in such disgusting behavior for it to be noticeable. But respect for others seems to be a precious commodity in this day and age.

Scott Bennie

 

[Henry]

Y'know what surprises me the most? Not only that people get too wrapped up in their sports, but that it seems to be a world-wide phenomenon. It's even worse outside North America, what with all the soccer game riots. I mean, I like watching some sports, and I've gotten into a game occasionally, but not enough to be hateful or violent.

Just as I said -- you wouldn't catch me beating the heck out of someone, if they spoke bad about D&D. Heck, not even for ripping up my favorite character sheet.

 

[Ycore Rixle]

No, it's not

I grew up playing Detroit soccer teams and Sault Ste. Marie, Canada soccer teams all the time, and both were great competitors and gracious hosts (sometimes our teams billeted with families there for the weekend). In general, fine sportsmanship was displayed on both the Michigan and Canadian sides.

Good sportsmanship and good fan behavior are the rule just about everywhere in the world. Exceptions make the news, but they are exceptions, not the rule. Detroit fans shouldn't have booed the Raptors as they did, of course, but to criticize the behavior of Americans for this one incident is nitpicking of the worst sort.

The answer to the question, "THIS is American sportsmanship?!" is, "No, it's not." This is: http://www.rcc.ryerson.ca/ccf/news/unique/am_text.html

 

[turtle]

Some of my friends went to a Wings game last year, got drunk and began yelling

"Go back to Canadia!"

Canadia ... it was all very tongue in cheek.

Detroit rulez joo


Anyway boo hoo... you all take your "Nations" too seriously. You know what the differences between people in Michigan and people in Ontario are? Nothing. The little man on the walk/don't walk sign looks different. Beer is cheaper in Canada (but not better than the best beers in the States, sorry to tell you). Instead of McDonalds you have that one fast food place that actually makes the burgers in front of you instead of keeping them under heat lamps.

The whole nation-state thing is a big crock. You don't necessarily have much in common with someone living on the same street as you!

 

[Fiery James]

People are angry up here about the Detroit thing because it came mere days after the "friendly fire" death of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, and are really sensitive about it, putting the two things together. I don't know how many Detroiters in the building knew about that.

I think that is a really big part of it that's maybe missed by some of the non-Canadians. Normally, I think we'd shrug it off (and, maybe laugh, since a good portion of the Islanders ARE Canadian), but after seeing the bodies coming home and the ceremonies every day for the last week or so - we're a little sensitive and feeling a little tense about the whole American/Canadian relationship right now.

- J

 

[jaerdaph]

I think that is a really big part of it that's maybe missed by some of the non-Canadians. Normally, I think we'd shrug it off (and, maybe laugh, since a good portion of the Islanders ARE Canadian), but after seeing the bodies coming home and the ceremonies every day for the last week or so - we're a little sensitive and feeling a little tense about the whole American/Canadian relationship right now.

- J

This was a terrible, terrible tragedy, and a sad for America as well. This is one American who feels your nation's pain and honors your fallen as if they were our own. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and the people of Canada, as their's were with mine on September 11th.

 

[Trevalon Moonleirion]

originally posted by Steve Conan Trustrum

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Henry
...and THIS is why I don't go to sproting events - ESPECIALLY Hockey. If I want that kind of treatment, I'll wear a Jewish Pride T-shirt at a KKK rally.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Nah, do what I did as a teenager: get your best bud, who is black, and approach a KKK recruiter pretending to be a gay multi-racial couple. Now that was fun

That is absolutely fantastic--I love to see jabs at the KKK. I applaud both you and your friend for fighting hypocritical flag-waving bigots.

To keep the post on-topic, I'll reiterate the point of many people here--jeering the other team is one thing, but heckling another national anthem is just despicable. Being drunk is not an excuse for such horrible sportsmanship. Makes me want to force-feed some dog crap to the s who were jeering the national anthem. I apologize and assure you that not everyone feels that way at all.

*Steps down from soapbox and resumes hiding*

 

[Ycore Rixle]

.. we're a little sensitive and feeling a little tense about the whole American/Canadian relationship right now.

In my post above there is a link to a famous Canadian radio address that points out how America has been the most generous and most helpful country in the world over the better part of the last century. Indeed, in the history of the world, no state has ever amassed more power and abused it less than the United States.

In light of that, is it really fair to let one accident, one sad, unintentional fact of war, call into question a relationship with a country that has been so kind, so magnanimous, so downright Good as America? I think we should be thankful that American technology has a) kept allied casualties extremely low and b) also kept incidents of friendly fire like this extremely low.