Interesting analogy but nonetheless
- uf1910

I dunno, it was the first thing that popped into my head that might mean the world to someone but not mean anything to anyone else. Like.. yeah you should stop talking to your wife and divorce her and focus more on your blogs, the things that provide ME entertainment because I don't care what your wife means o you. You'd laugh at me and be like no I love my wife, she means the world to me, etc. To me, that's the same thing as telling an athlete Don't go to the olympics, you're supposed to be in the NHL, pshh. Gold medals are overrated.

The Olympics was better when it was amateurs or juniors. I don't really have interest, or necessarily cheer for "Canada" when it's almost a given it will be them vs USA, Russia, or Sweden for the "Gold"

That being said, if Russia actually wins and their team is full of "Pro's" while the rest is full of minor leaguers and juniors, It would be such a Russian thing to do to want to play and feast on inferior competition

OV would probably have the Gold medal as the centerpiece above his mantle

It would be only fitting if the NHL suspended any players for the remainder of the season who left their teams to participate and the Caps actually won the cup minus OV

He'd probably still get his name on the cup and his day with it as he'd qualify having played 40 regular season games by then. He'd probably celly just as if he deserved it because it would be such an OV thing to do....

Caps GM made a terrible mistake in dealing Johansson and giving Kuzntesov a rediculous amount of dough. Kuzntesov is going to be the next Semin.

Like the Stanley Cup?
- Steven_Seagull

Yes guy!

I don't really care what people think or how they view the Olympics vs other tournaments.

"A rose by any other name.........."

It is a fact that if you use the same players and play the same game, it being "the Olympics" is nothing more than an arbitrary construction.
- james_tanner1

I completely understand your point, if it's the best players playing in the Olympics, the World Cup, or whatever they want to call it, it's still the same thing. I disagree in you saying/implying that it doesn't mean more than another tournament of the same talent caliber though.

Many people do care more about the Olympics then some other made up tournament to showcase the best talent, just because it is the Olympics. I know we aren't in the Cold War anymore and it isn't 1980, but the Olympics mean something to many people even today. It makes people who aren't necessarily sports fans invested in sports because they believe it shows strength in their country. Nationalism is very real in every country. The Olympics is one of the things citizens of almost every country can point to and say "we are the best at this because we won Olympic gold" and give them a sense of pride (despite knowing that they did absolutely nothing themselves to win that Olympic gold). For the next 4 years, there is no disputing that you were the best at that.

Caps GM made a terrible mistake in dealing Johansson and giving Kuzntesov a rediculous amount of dough. Kuzntesov is going to be the next Semin.
- Avsrchamps01

517 points in 650 NHL games is pretty good. Not really sure what the complaint here is.

lol wut

Who determines this?
- uf1910

This isn't a debate.

Since you could play the same game, with the same rules, and the same players, then caring about something because it's "the Olypics" is arbitrary. Its thus immature and stupid.

If the NHL holds the exact same tourny, what's the difference. If the difference is "it's the Olympics" then that person must be about five year old. It's incredible to me people don't see this.

Yes guy!
- mochoson

Like the Stanley Cup?
- Steven_Seagull

If you could re-create the exact same conditions (30 teams, 100% of the players, same game same rules etc) then sure.

I'm not sure anyone is taking my point on this.

I completely understand your point, if it's the best players playing in the Olympics, the World Cup, or whatever they want to call it, it's still the same thing. I disagree in you saying/implying that it doesn't mean more than another tournament of the same talent caliber though.

Many people do care more about the Olympics then some other made up tournament to showcase the best talent, just because it is the Olympics. I know we aren't in the Cold War anymore and it isn't 1980, but the Olympics mean something to many people even today. It makes people who aren't necessarily sports fans invested in sports because they believe it shows strength in their country. Nationalism is very real in every country. The Olympics is one of the things citizens of almost every country can point to and say "we are the best at this because we won Olympic gold" and give them a sense of pride (despite knowing that they did absolutely nothing themselves to win that Olympic gold). For the next 4 years, there is no disputing that you were the best at that.
- mehetmet

I hear what you're saying. I know people DO care more, but I'm just saying it's arbitrary and they shouldn't because it's ridiculous.

This isn't a debate.

Since you could play the same game, with the same rules, and the same players, then caring about something because it's "the Olypics" is arbitrary. Its thus immature and stupid.

If the NHL holds the exact same tourny, what's the difference. If the difference is "it's the Olympics" then that person must be about five year old. It's incredible to me people don't see this.
- james_tanner1

It actually is a debate because it's not for YOU to decide what something means to another person.

It actually is a debate because it's not for YOU to decide what something means to another person.
- j.boyd919

You have completely missed my point. Whether or not something is arbitrary is not subjective. I am not talking about degrees of how much people value the Olympics.

I'm saying that to value one thing over another when the two things are identical is a ridiculous thing for an adult human to do.

Agreed 100%, JT.

You have completely missed my point. Whether or not something is arbitrary is not subjective. I am not talking about degrees of how much people value the Olympics.

I'm saying that to value one thing over another when the two things are identical is a ridiculous thing for an adult human to do.
- james_tanner1

Your point is irrelevant, because human emotion is a real thing and that has to factor in.

Your point is irrelevant, because human emotion is a real thing and that has to factor in.
- j.boyd919

Unless you're a North American - then the $$$ are everything...

So you're saying he shouldn't go?

Unless you're a North American - then the $$$ are everything...
- 21peter

Im only looking at it from an athlete's perspective. That's the only thing that matters. Athletes want to win everything at all costs. That's how their minds work.

http://www.npr.org/sectio...el-the-post-olympic-blues

^^just read that article.

It would ruin Ovechkin's career and reputation. The NHL made him a millionaire, and if went against them on this, it would make him a joke. It would be a disgrace. He should have some damn respect for the people who gave him an opportunity to become who is - namely a guy who is 31 and has more money than any random 100 000 people's career earnings combined.

That aside, what about abandoning your team? It's unconscionable. Ovechkin is seriously damaging his reputation with this preposterous stance that he might go to the Olympics despite, you know, being contracted to play 82 games for the Washington Capitals for the cost of nine point-five million dollars.

It's selfish and disruptive for him to even continue on without saying definitively that he won't go.

- Tanner

Jim Peplinski disagrees.

Just saying, from a purely musical standpoint, The Tragically Hip weren't that good.

Just saying, from a purely musical standpoint, The Tragically Hip weren't that good.
- jmatchett383

Couldn't disagree more. Also, what other standpoint is there for discussing a band?

Couldn't disagree more. Also, what other standpoint is there for discussing a band?
- james_tanner1

Lyrically
Morally
Live vs. Studio

If you could re-create the exact same conditions (30 teams, 100% of the players, same game same rules etc) then sure.

I'm not sure anyone is taking my point on this.
- james_tanner1

It's not arbitrary, they are totally different tournaments. The olympics are bigger, more coverage, more noteriety. It's two weeks of the best athletes of all winter sports in the same place, the best of your country in the same place, all a part of one big team. Hockey is just one part of it. It also has a history, an emotional connection, much like the stanley cup. The hockey is also more competitve, the players value olympic gold more so they play harder. I could go on, but it should be pretty obvious.

This isn't a debate.

Since you could play the same game, with the same rules, and the same players, then caring about something because it's "the Olypics" is arbitrary. Its thus immature and stupid.

If the NHL holds the exact same tourny, what's the difference. If the difference is "it's the Olympics" then that person must be about five year old. It's incredible to me people don't see this.
- james_tanner1

the "Olympics" are thousands of years old. battling for Olympic gold is something very special.

i guess by your logic all the guys that dont like the current nhl could go form another league and and play for the "Stanley Chalice" and it would mean just as much as the "Stanley Cup"

Dead on about the olympics not being worth it. And NHL not formally allowing it's players to go should be the case all the time. But if olympics is what he wants to do then good for him. He doesnt owe the team anything. they signed a contract to pay him so much for his services, if he wants out so be it... the team doesnt pay him for said services. if the team wants to pay him for said services when he returns so be it. Saying he owes them anything is sentimental bologna.

the "Olympics" are thousands of years old. battling for Olympic gold is something very special.

i guess by your logic all the guys that dont like the current nhl could go form another league and and play for the "Stanley Chalice" and it would mean just as much as the "Stanley Cup"
- pensfan024

Not to mention that the Olympics are broadcast to people all over the world and will get a lot more casual viewers (especially in the USA) than some hockey-only summer tournament. If the NHL wants to showcase its players to the most people, the Olympics are the best avenue.

That said, I don't think they should be allowed to go, either.