[OT] THIS is American Sportsmanship ??

As a Canadiens' fan, I'm a bit embarressed at some fans at Molson Centre cheering "Go, Habs, Go!" during a supposed moment of silence for the 4 Canadian soldiers killed in that bombing incident. They are a pretty emtional bunch, though...especially when the power play isn't clicking and they start booing their own team. :rolleyes:
 

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LostSoul said:
Don't feel bad... nobody's mentioned the way Calgary fans are in the playoffs, either. I wonder why? ;)

Heh, Calgary fans. You mean the ones that give you a dirty look if even so much as cheer during the game? All those oil execs on the cell... :rolleyes:
 

It is my personal opinion that the reason the drunk Piston fans booed during the Canadian national anthem was because they were booing the raptor basketball team.I don't think they were cognizant of the fact that our neighbors across the river would be insulted by this(And rightfully so).

During tonights Game the announcers asked the fans not to repeat there behavior and there was no booing.
 


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.


Rouge and James have summed it up. It's unfortunate that Detroit, of all towns, given their proximity to the Canadian border wouldn't be aware of this.

Ycore Rixle said:


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.

This kind of behaviour is nothing new:

1985: The first time the Jays won their division. A critical 4 game series vs. the second place Yankees in September. The first game of the series, the Yankee fans booed the Canadian National Anthem. We in Toronto were shocked, not to mention the rest of the country. The next game, the PA announcer had to remind the Yankee fans to behave themselves and sited the Canadian Embassy's efforts in the Iran hostage crisis when the Canadians managed to smuggle out 4 Americans at their own risk. Then Mary O'Dowd, the American who was selected to sing the anthems absolutely butchered our anthem. It was so bad, that she had to stop in the middle of it so she could recover music sheets in order to remember the lyrics. If you think this is silly, just remember how you're country reacted when Rosanne Barr(sp?) butchered your anthem at a Reds game.

1992: Jays vs Atlanta in the World Series. The American honor guard out in center field during the anthems had attatched the Canadian flag upside down. By mistake of course, but still, perplexing.

And now this goofiness in Detroit and New York. In the grand scheme of things, these are just sporting events, and I can assure you that Canadians are more than capable of being forgiving, but in light of recent news, we're a little disappointed. Does this kind of stuff reflect on all Americans? Hell no. Still tough to take though.

Peace.
 
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Here's an idea (for everyone) Give it a rest. Everyone that is upset about this crap is being overly sensitive. You pull out laundry lists of this stuff but guess what? This kind of stuff has been done by everyone. If I want to choose my examples I could prove anything I want about Canada or any other country. It is stupid to say that Americans are bad sports because fans booed. So what? This wouldn't be a big deal if people weren't looking for something to complain about. America is an easy target. How do you justify making a generalization about Americans from the behavior of a few fans?

As soon as "wow those Pistons fans were jerks" becomes "those Americans are jerks" you are taking the conversation in a whole different direction. Now we have to deal with peoples ideas and preconceptions about members of a nation-state. It also opens up brand new areas for people to say crappy things about one another. I'll give you an example.

One could say: "Some of you are being overly sensitive..."
or, you could turn it into a generalization about people from a country: "You Canadians are all taking this too seriously because your country sucks and you are self-conscious about it"

WAIT! I don't believe that! I'm just saying that is the leap some of you are taking.
 


Here is something funny... I just checked out ESPN.com ... according the the Wings roster they have posted there Chelios is the ONLY American on the team! Hilarious!
 

Nightfall said:
Well I'm just suprised no one mentioned MY Flyers and the Philly fans THERE. :) Course considering the management AND the fact the offense isn't producing...they'd probably CHEER the Sens. :)

You like mean booing Santa Claus or a couple of people getting married?

I wonder if the Flyers lack of heart has anything to do with how bad they get booed when things don't go well.
 

I think everyone is in agreement that the friendly-fire deaths were an unfortunate tragedy. I could make comparisons with how many lives the US has saved, or how many of our own have been killed by friendly fire, but such comparisons are unnecessary, and would ring quite hollow to those whose hearts have been touched by loss.

As for the poor sportsmanship, judging a country by it's sports fans is a mistake any way you slice it. There's a reason they are called fanatics. At least no one got pressed to death by a mob of european soccer fans...

Canada isn't alone in having it's anthem mauled by an american singer. Happens all the time to us. That hack, Macy Gray, being the latest offender I can recall. The fact is, you pick someone to perform the anthem, and then it's up to them whether or not their performance is up to snuff. Some people get out in front of all those people and they choke. And that's when they are singing an anthem they grew up singing, then you ask them to memorize another country's and "bad stuff" sometimes happens.

Having been a geek in school I never liked jocks or sports fans, and though I make no generalizations about either, I'm still not a big fan of either of those groups, for the most part. All I can say is that these incidents are unfortunate, but don't be surprised. Apes act like apes, dogs and cats will be dogs and cats, ants will invade your picnic, and sports fanatics are more prone to fanatical behavior than your average joe.

There's a reason those drunk guys with the painted bodies aren't ambassadors.

This was supposed to be short.
 

Kajamba Lion said:
.... A Sox fan and a Yanks fan sitting in the O's home park rooting for the Phillies.
tKL

To properly root for the Phillies you have to boo them! :D

Disclaimer: I was born and raised in Philly so i know boobirds.
 

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