[WLDB]

I dont see it as a big deal. Its a hockey game! Who cares who cheered for who?

[Hester]

Wullu Wullu:

For me? Anybody. It is the ultimate in poor behavior. These are kids for crying out loud.

I was surprised at the booing. If it was a Canada/US game it wouldn't be surprising or offensive. These are not kids, not 'just playing for their country'. Ask them - they'd be offended if you told them they were just playing for their country. You seem to misunderstand sports, most notably international sports.

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

Canada does not want to attract the attention of America this way.

At some point the general public down here will collectively say, "Hey, Canada hates us."

You're assuming that Americans and their president are aware of hockey and they have a junior team and that it's playing in an international tournament right now.

And the US has already proven that they are not interested in what anyone thinks of them. We can hate them all we want, as hard as we want and not much will change.

[Zipperfish]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

There's a bunch of American kids who will come home from Canada with a lasting impression.

What fun it will be when one of them becomes a Republican President in 2030 or so.

Not really, Bart. My impression (from my World Junior volunteer sources) is that it hasn't phased most of them. Many of them, and their families, have remarked that Vancouver is very hospitable -- but it rains too much.

[dunker]

Lets just blame it on the Vancouverites..there's quite a mish-mash of people in that city and anyone group of kids could have been involved. If this tournament was held in Toronto or Montreal or even Ottawa, I don't think we would have experienced the same outcome.
I've had the opportunity to watch quite a few games in Vancouver and the crowd is a different one..they're a great bunch when the Canucks play but you definately sense and experience a different flavour than that of other cities in Canada.
As indicated earlier in this thread..Maturity is a factor

[usababe]

these were kids playing a sport they love--why bring politics into it?

[WLDB]

usababe usababe:

these were kids playing a sport they love--why bring politics into it?

My thoughts exactly.

[ridenrain]

Hester Hester:

And the US has already proven that they are not interested in what anyone thinks of them. We can hate them all we want, as hard as we want and not much will change.

All we need is for ONE of the US news crews to pick this up and immediately, more Americans will know about this than All Canadians. Americans have quite the pride in their country and I can't see Ottawa making up for all the US tourism dollars that we would be missing out.

[Delwin]

I don't see the big deal, this was an international event, we were hosting but our team was not even on the ice. This is in no way the same as booing the national anthem, they booed the team not the country.It would be the same as saying the Canadians suck at a Habs game. This very well could have been the finland fans in the crowd, as they were pissed that the americans had one handed to them with the way the game was officiated.
And for those of you whou forgot, the Americans have booed our anthem in the past, more than once:
Here's a story from the globe and mail about the isle fans booing the Canadian anthem:
http://etheridge.ca/articles/anthem.html
Here's another story about the Detroit pistons fans booing the Canadian anthem from the national post:
http://www.thealders.net/blogs/2002/04/ ... ans-boo-o/

[BartSimpson]

usababe usababe:

these were kids playing a sport they love--why bring politics into it?

[xerxes]

This is probably just another case of a bunch of drunken idiots who thought that, in their drunken stupor, that such antics would be well recieved.

Compared to Philly Eagles fans, this is nothing.

[BartSimpson]

Hester Hester:

You're assuming that Americans and their president are aware of hockey and they have a junior team and that it's playing in an international tournament right now.

We are now aware of it.

As I said, negative attention is not what will resolve issues like softwood.

Americans, even the liberals, tend to close ranks when things like this happen.

We have two very similar nations, but the nationalism in America is just below the surface and that's where it is best kept.

The relationship between our two countries is moving in the wrong direction and as I have said many times now, if our friendship hinges on who is in the White House then that isn't much of a friendship at all.

The turnabout will happen when the friendship hinges on who your PM is.

I'd rather not have things go that way.

[Robair]

Delwin Delwin:

I don't see the big deal, this was an international event, we were hosting but our team was not even on the ice. This is in no way the same as booing the national anthem, they booed the team not the country.

That's what I got out of it, I wasn't there. I would never boo an anthem but I have no trouble trash talking a team I don't like.

I have a problem with profanity, but booing and trash talk is fun.

Delwin Delwin:

It would be the same as saying the Canadians suck at a Habs game. This very well could have been the finland fans in the crowd, as they were pissed that the americans had one handed to them with the way the game was officiated.
And for those of you whou forgot, the Americans have booed our anthem in the past, more than once:
Here's a story from the globe and mail about the isle fans booing the Canadian anthem:
http://etheridge.ca/articles/anthem.html
Here's another story about the Detroit pistons fans booing the Canadian anthem from the national post:
http://www.thealders.net/blogs/2002/04/ ... ans-boo-o/

Exactly. I wasn't there but it sounds to me like an over sensative journalist wrote that article.

[usababe]

well, i guess what irks people is that these are KIDS not adults....they don't have any involvement in the actions of politicians of our countries as children---i mean--they can't vote or really make much change or even really know what is happening (depending on their age)-- it's just in poor taste to boo (team OR anthem) -- especially children.

[Robair]

usababe usababe:

well, i guess what irks people is that these are KIDS not adults...

Most are 17 - 20 year olds, I agree with Hester, not exactly kids. Some are already drafted by the NHL.

That game we watched in Canada had some 18 year olds in it. The only fight involved a 19 year old... (I don't know the age of the other guy... twenty something...)

[CanadianLynx]

At this level of the game booing,whilstling is part of the game.If your focus is on the crowd then you don't belong on the ice