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Canada vs. USA for Gold: Congrats Canada |
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*Congrats to Team Canada on their OT win to earn Gold -- AGAIN. Still proud to have Team USA come home with silver.
My husband has called me a “closet Canadian” on more than one occasion. Considering I’m a first generation Italian-American, that may seem odd. I listen to Canadian radio every day at work and don’t change the station when they cover political and social topics instead of hockey. I sing the Canadian National Anthem when it is played. I wouldn’t have a clue what the Italian National Anthem sounds like. But then again, I think it was only played once this Olympics, so who can blame me.
I am decidedly American, even if I am more of a Canadian enthusiast than an Italian enthusiast when it comes to sports. I’ve never watched an Italian soccer game, I never will. But when it comes to my second hobby, food, I love my Italian food and I have no idea what’s Canadian other than Poutine. What do we have as decidedly American fare? I guess we have Grits. I’ve actually MADE Poutine last week. I have never in my life made Grits.
Our relationship with our Northern neighbor is exceptional. There are more things that bind us than divide us. The segments produced by NBC about Canada have been informative, entertaining and in some cases, absolute tear-jerkers. (The one about Gander during 9/11 had me sobbing uncontrollably. I had no idea.) They have been the best part of the NBC Olympic coverage.
But today at 3 pm, the line in the sand that is usually pretty fuzzy is clearly drawn. They think of it as “Canada’s Game” and we’ve come to play it – and looking to win. This is the match-up everyone was hoping for. Hockey may be the ONLY thing that Canadians and Americans “fight” over. For that, I’m grateful.
How interesting it is that our fuzzy line is even fuzzier by the fact that Brian Burke, the man who STILL doesn’t take enough credit for the composition of the 2010 team, was born in Rhode Island, raised in Minnesota, and spent more of his adult life working in Canada. He has children that were born in Vancouver and obtained dual citizenship. Today, he doesn’t have to think about which side to root for. Today, the man who said he “never represented my country because I was never good enough” is actually the guy “driving the bus” with a huge American Flag on it. (I don’t think he ever did get his class “A” license.) “It’s one of the greatest honors I’ve ever been accorded in my life.”
When it comes to citizenship, Ron Wilson is the reverse image of Burke. Also born in 1955, he was born and raised in Ontario and moved to Rhode Island at 12 years-old. So he is a Canadian with an American citizenship. If Scott Gordon and John Tortorella ALSO had dual citizenships, I would have said this was a conspiracy to blend hockey across the borders. But the Boston native and the Brocton native only have their New England upbringings, so they are clearly Americans.
Ron Wilson has been credited as utilizing technology to it’s fullest in his coaching style. If that is the case, I understand why Scott Gordon was chosen to assist him. No one uses more technology in coaching than Gordon.
As I am not one of John Tortorella’s biggest fans, I’m not exactly sure why he was named to this staff – other than his ability to win and maybe Brian Burke’s love of “truculence.” However, considering Team USA’s winning record during this tournament, today I’m happy to have him behind that bench with Wilson and Gordon. (After the game, he goes back to being the Rangers’ coach and I go back to being eternally grateful that he didn’t get the Islanders coaching job when it was available.) While coaches do not receive medals, this is an accomplishment and honor that will be added to their coaching resumes – as well as their Wikipedia profiles.
Minnesota native, Kyle Okposo didn’t make Team USA this time, but his day representing his country will come. Today, he along with everyone else, will have to sit back, watch and cheer as the absolute worst Team USA can do is bring home Silver. Today he will probably watch it with some of his Canadian team mates and friends. Today they will be on opposite sides of that line in the sand. Today they are all hoping for Gold and bragging rights. By early evening, we’ll know whose game it really is.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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