[OT] THIS is American Sportsmanship ??

[King_Stannis]

...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...

As I recall, the Marine who mistakenly flew that flag upside down requested the honor of flying the Canadian flag at the next game, to atone for the mistake he made. If I remember, the Canadian national anthem got a very good reception from the Atlanta fans.

As for the 4 soldiers, it was a terrible mishap and it’s heartbreaking that 4 Canadian mothers lost their sons that day. But maybe instead of focusing the anger on the U.S., perhaps we all should remember who and what it was that brought them there in the first place. In war, terrible accidents happen. Many of the US casualties in Desert Storm were inflicted by their fellow soldiers, rather than Iraqi gunfire. Friendly fire is sad fact of warfare - in just about any era. Holding your allies in contempt for that when it does happen only strengthens the enemy. We need our strong allies like Canada and the UK now more than ever. Already people around the world (the ones that don’t hate us outright) are starting to forget the events of 9/11 and view our war on terrorism with a suspicious mind.

Let me put it to you this way... Hypothetically, if a foreign power were to invade Canada, who do you think would be the first ones to have your back? Of course it would be the U.S., and we’d do it gladly. These stupid little examples on both sides have given are akin to brothers having petty fights. But when the chips are down, I’d hope that both the US and Canada stand strong together.

As for hockey, unfortunately, I have the wings winning in six over the nucks. Leafs in 7, Ottawa in 5, Avs in 5, Canes in 6, Canadians in 7, Sharks in 5 and Blues in 6. Hope I didn’t miss anyone.

 

[Crispy Critter]

Unfortunately the Canadian's\fans also boo'd the American Anthem Tuesday night at the Molson Centre before the Bruns-Habs playoff game. This was done probably in response to the Detroit fiasco. There has been a widespread support in Boston to take the high-road and not respond in kind when the Canadiens play the Bruins at the Fleet Center in Game 5 over the weekend. Boston's crowd has always enthusiastically cheered after the Canadian anthem. Renee Rencourt, the Bruin's regular national anthem meistro, sings a rousing US and Canadian anthem before every game.

 

[Hoju]

It's funny how we're debating this topic this year when the we have also booed the US anthem at a hockey game, last year when Colorado came up to Vancouver for a playoff game, the canucks fans booed the US anthem also (and more than in detroit). I remember it being a huge stink in the Denver media and ours.

I really find it funny though, in hockey we boo a bunch of Canadians playing for a US team and in round-ball the US fans boo a bunch of Americans playing in Canada. It's the playoffs, let the fans have fun, for once they get to see players playing for the love of the game and not money. How can you not love sports?

Still saying Canucks in 6!!!

 

[Old Fezziwig]

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

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

Ouch

tKL

 

[ColonelHardisson]

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.



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.

I really don't want to be incendiary. These are good points. I was saddened by the deaths of the Canadian soldiers as much as anyone. I think the booing of national anthems is not only poor sportsmanship, but is just plain stupid. I do want to point out, however, that I was watching some Canadian "town meeting" style programs on The National (re-broadcast on C-Span) just after the 9/11 attacks, and the impression I got was that the Canadians on that show wanted to essentially wash their hands of it and leave the US on its own. Further, I got the distinct feeling that many felt we "deserved" to be attacked - some cited instances of things the US had done that seemed to bolster that idea. Do I think all Canadians think like that? No. I'm sure there were a lot of people who flocked to be on this show who had an agenda, an axe to grind, just as there are on just about any show dealing with politics (and sports, too, when you think about it). I don't think what I saw was a true representation of the Canadian people (I hope not). But coming in the wake of the attacks, it stung more than a little to see people from our closest ally saying, at least it seemed to me, "oh well." It was disheartening. So, I can sympathize with our Canadian friends when they see their anthem getting booed after a national tragedy. I have no idea what motivated the boos. Probably some nitwit started it, and mob mentailty took over. They certainly don't represent the feelings of Americans in general. I also think it's possible the boos were prompted by "Canadian anthem = the opponent in the game," not "Canadian anthem = people we don't like." But who really knows what was running through their minds. I'm sorry it happened.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Well as a nice 'fini' to this thread the Pistons fans have more than redeemed themselves in my view, check out this link

http://www.canoe.ca/Slam020425/nba_tor2-sun.html

I am so glad it now looks like just a few troublemakers & jerks and not the whole audience (as was reported on some Canadian newsfeeds).

Thanks to all in Detroit who condemned this and I hope the Vancouver & Montreal fans can be as big and 'apologize' this way in the next game.

 

[skulrik]

Originall posted by Holy Bovine
Thanks to all in Detroit who condemned this and I hope the Vancouver & Montreal fans can be as big and 'apologize' this way in the next game.

I hope too. I think it's possible to love our country and be partisan, without showing disrespect for the others.

After all, the game is on the ice, and players of each country play in each team.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

To put a little perspective on the matter, I would like to point out that the Brits are generally a more polite lot than us Americans, and their football fans are internationally infamous.

For good and for bad, subculture have their own rules, and do not necessarily reflect the values of the larger society.

 

[Ristamar]

You know, this whole 'booing' thing will be all but completely forgotten in a month, if not much less... until it inevitably happens again. Everybody loves to bury the hatchet, but make sure you leave the handle poking out of the ground, just in case.

Yes, the fans booing the Canadian National Anthem were jackasses, and yes, given the recent tragedy, it was in extremely poor taste. Still, I guess I find the ensuing, yet somewhat shrouded, back-and-forth sniping interesting, in some ridiculous, grotesque fashion.

'You booed us.'

'Well, you booed us first.'

'Yeah, well, back in '81, So-And-So from your country flubbed up in X ceremony, which is about the equivalent of defecating on our flag. In fact, he DID defecate on our flag!'

'So, back in '93, you guys punked us out when Mister-Respected-And-Prominent-Figure came to X game while visiting YOUR country, was jumped and kidnapped by your hooligan fans, then dressed up like *Hitler in drag and forced to watch a subtitled Ukranian version of Leonard Part 6 on BETA format.

'Big deal. You guys weren't at all supportive when Nasty-International-Incident-#0254 happened. And by the way, I almost forgot to mention that so-and-so-Pop-Star, from your country, I might add, sounds like a hippo with bronchitis when (s)he sings our anthem.'

'Is that so?! Well...' *etc. etc. etc. etc.*

*NOTE: I didn't see any Hitler references in the thread thus far, so I felt obligated to add one.

If diplomatic relations were influenced and/or judged by sports games and the conduct of fans attending said games, I'm fairly sure this planet would be a dead, radioactive rock tumbling lifelessly through space by now.

Anyway, I just wanted to add my own inane thoughts to a thread that, IMO, now seems to be going nowhere. Carry on.

THE CREATOR OF THIS POST WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT HE IN NO WAY MEANT ANY OFFENSE OR DISRESPECT TOWARD THE FOLLOWING PARTIES: SO-AND-SO (FROM THE INFAMOUS '94 INCIDENT), THE FLAG CREATOR(S) OF WHICH FLAG SO-AND-SO DEFECATED UPON, MISTER-RESPECTED-AND-PROMINENT-FIGURE, READERS THAT MAY ENJOY DRESSING UP AS HITLER AND/OR IN DRAG, BILL COSBY, THE CREATORS OF THE NOW-DEAD BETA FORMAT, THE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY NASTY-INTERNATIONAL-INCIDENT-#0254, AND HIPPOS WITH BRONCHITIS.

 

[Roland Delacroix]

*NOTE: I didn't see any Hitler references in the thread thus far, so I felt obligated to add one.

And this thread is OVAH!!!