A Little Hockey Talk With Our American Friends…
I thought I was done with writing Olympic posts… but I was wrong.
Yesterday was the culmination of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Events, and the Closing Ceremony.
The first event was the “Marathon” of the Winter Olympics, a 50 kilometre cross country ski race… an event that the European countries dominate and won.
The second event was the Gold Medal Game of Men’s Olympic Hockey… Team USA against Team Canada. Through Twitter, the good-natured trash-talking between American and Canadian Tweeps was flying back and forth pretty quickly.
The first periods of the game went Canada’s way, but with a few minutes to go, the US Team pulled their goalie, and came storming back to tie the game, and send it to overtime. In sudden-death, the play went back and forth, and both teams had chances. There could not be a closer finish.
It was only a matter of time until one team or the other got a lucky bounce, because both teams were pressing, and both goalies were keeping their teams in it. But… in the end, it turned out that Canada got the last goal, and so Canada won the Gold Medal.
In that moment, the US Team’s hopes of a Miracle On Ice replay were dashed.
In that same moment, a lot of Tweets went out, congratulating Canadians for the Team Canada win.
I have a few American acquaintances who I keep in touch with… and every one of them were gracious in their congratulations.
Some Canadian friends are currently at a US Trade Show, and they were stunned by the number of people saying, “We wish it could have been our team, but it wasn’t, so we’re glad it was you.”
A lot of Canadians have been really vocal, saying “Hockey is OUR Game…”
But we conveniently forget that Olympic Hockey has NOT been our Game. We won Gold in 1920, 1924, 1948 and 1952. FIFTY years pass, and, in 2002, on the 50th Anniversary of our last win, Canada finally won Gold again… this time in both Men’s and Women’s Hockey. Hockey is our game, but we do not own it.
Yes, we are good at it, as are many of our International friends.
Many of my American friends said yesterday, that the better Team won. Because the game was taking place on Canadian soil… we will do the Canadian thing, and thank them for their kindness and grace.
I would like to think, because the two teams were so close in skill, that it could have gone either way… but the Gods of Whimsy decided to write a fairytale ending to our beloved Vancouver Olympic Games, and Team Canada won.
Thanks to the Gods of Whimsy for allowing us to finish the Olympics smiling from ear to ear… and coast to coast.
Thanks to our American Friends for being understanding in our joyous celebrations. As Canadians, these Olympic Games have brought our country together, as we have not been together, in recent memory… and have allowed us to bond as a Nation, something that the Americans do VERY well, and we do, VERY rarely.
Thanks also to our American Friends for being our Friends… and after these Games, I hope, a little bit better friends. We are more alike, than different…
Thanks, friends !
Chile… In Our Hearts…
A few years ago, I had an opportunity to travel with my wife to Chile on a wine-tasting tour.
I expected, as I headed to South America, to encounter a backwater, with various Juan Valdez look-alikes everywhere, leading burros.
I found, as soon as we arrived, a modern country filled with polite, courteous and friendly people.
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Chile is, in my book, the Canada of South America.
Everywhere, the people were happy, hard-working and joyful. The country was, (particularly in the region we were in,) warm and dry. They delighted in meals… Meals were never events to be rushed. Meals should be lingered over, and savoured. Preferably with friends, and a nice wine, or a few beers. They acknowledge that the former President Pinochet, made some people disappear… and those I talked to were unilaterally sad about that. But, in the same breath, they would also comment that he had also nationalized a lot of industries, and modernized the infrastructure of Chile, and begun the progress that allows the Chile of today to be a modern, progressive and prosperous nation. Situated along the Western coast of South America, it is long and thin, and occupies a sliver along much of the Continent. On our trip, we started in Santiago, and travelled South to the wineries of the Colchagua Valley on the Tren del Vino. A day trip, over 1 kilometre underground to the copper mine of Mina El Teniente, and the adjacent historic town of Sewell, were also experiences that daunted our nerves, and gave us an appreciation and respect for the fine people of Chile. Miners, in the middle of having worked a hard shift, and doubtlessly wanting their coffee, without a word, shuffled along on their tiny benches, to make room for us visitors, in their tiny break room. The next day, we toasted our adventures and basked in the warm sunshine of the eco-friendly Montes Winery. Everywhere we went, the Chileans were consistently friendly, polite, helpful, gracious and thinking about tomorrow. In the beautiful but small town of Santa Cruz, we came across an amazing museum. Stunned, at the vastness of the collection, we asked about it, and were told that an arms dealer, who, since he was unable to leave the country, had wished to bring prosperity to the town where his mother had been born. Another night, found us in a vacant lodge, which had once been a Franciscan Monastery, where four star chefs now worked. It was busy six months of the year, when fisherman came flocking to visit. The rest of the time, the lodge was vacant.
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Just a few, of many examples, of how special the people and places are. Around every corner, there was an undisturbed treasure… with people unabashedly delighted to share whatever they had.
I remember having a conversation with Nancy, a very nice woman from Chile, and a colleague of my wife, who worked in a branch office in Santiago. She was excited to move her daughter and herself into their new apartment building, which was being built in a better neighbourhood. I asked her why it was taking so long, and she explained that the construction standards were very high, and so it took a long time to build buildings, but because of the many earthquakes, it was a good thing that they were built so well…
On Friday night, I thought of her, and her daughter, as I heard about the terrible 8.8 magnitude earthquake that had hit Chile.
Seeing the pictures on the news, causes my eyes to well in tears.
But, I know that, perhaps more than us in Canada, they were prepared for such circumstances.
Today on CNN, several times, from different leaders, the same message was repeated, “‘It is not necessary for any country to send aid until the National Emergency Office has identified what needs are. We’ll be fine until then.”
The proud, self-reliant, hard-working people of Chile will graciously share their table with visitors from around the world.
Today, the people of Chile take a special place in our hearts, as we hold them in our thoughts and prayers.
Phil Pritchard…
Earlier this week, I was talking on Twitter with Elle B, and the topic of me being a Olympic Torch Bearer came up.
I said “My attitude is that I’m just taking care of the Olympic Torch, and sharing it with as many people as I can !”
Later that night, I thought about the joy that good fortune had bestowed upon me… and the next day, I met it, in person.
I started the day, wandering downtown, anxious to partake and absorb as much of the Olympic Spirit, as I possibly could.
Wandered through the Post office, the Aboriginal Crafts Display, the Power Smart Exhibit, and headed for Canada House. It had been a destination on a previous expedition, but, due to time constraints, one I had not been able to get through.
It was raining softly, but the crowd was happy, and moving quite quickly.
Say what you will, about Canada House… It has a bunch of fun video games for kids to play while waiting in line… several HONKING big TV screens, broadcasting the TV coverage… a photo opportunity with a bob sled… examples of how sports equipment has evolved over the years… and several Hockey Jerseys of famous Canadians, Richard and Gretzky…
And Phil Pritchard was there !!!
There are those of you who will say… “Who ???”
And some may say, “Who cares…”
I believe he has the best job in the world, and most people in Canada don’t know his name !!!
But on Tuesday, I got my picture taken with him.
As always, he was standing off to one side… humbly out of the spotlight.
As is his nature, he doesn’t hover, but blends into the background… and I had to seek him out, to ask to take a picture with him.
A nearby security guard was kind enough to play photographer for my photo opportunity.
He is the one I thought of, when I wrote the words… “My attitude is that I’m just taking care of it… and sharing it with as many people as I can !”
I have in my possession 1 of 12,000 Olympic Torches… but I’m just a guy taking care of it, and sharing it with as many people as I can.
Oh, and Phil Pritchard ? He’s the guy taking care of the Stanley Cup, and sharing it with as many people as he can.
On Tuesday, he shared it with me… and it was AWESOME !!!
Sharing The Torch Experience…
Much has been said about the Olympic cauldron.
Even I had a blurb, not so much about the cauldron itself, but about one fine Canadian’s attempts to help folks have better pictures of the cauldron.
Earlier this week, I was contacted by another one of the Torch runners from Pitt Meadows, who let me know that on Saturday, a few Torch runners were going down to the Olympic cauldron, to take pictures.
I was in !
So it was, that at 11:30 on Saturday morning, I found myself, along with my Torch runners’ uniform and Torch, down at the Olympic cauldron.
The cauldron viewing area itself, has been improved, quite dramatically, from what it was.
It took me a few minutes to see the other Torch runners, as they were off to one side.
Eventually we collected, were interviewed for CTV and a few other TV networks, and joined by a 7 foot tall Russian character, promoting the 2014 Winter Games in Russia.
Then the fun started.
People are enamored with the Torch, and the Torch experience.
Perhaps second only to the Mapleleaf, it has become symbolic of these Games.
However, unlike the Team Canada Jerseys, and Canada Hoodies, which have become wonderfully ubiquitous, the Olympic Torch has been something which only a lucky few get to experience.
Yesterday, I got to share that experience with hundreds of people.
It started as a series of double takes from folks near by, and an incredulous “Is that a REAL Torch?” Followed by a pleading… “Would you take a picture with me?”
Over the next seven hours, I shared the Torch, and took pictures with people from all over the globe. I met people from Mexico, Germany, China, Japan, Africa, Norway, Turkey and a lot from the Vancouver area. Quite a number were unable to speak English, so I don’t know where they came from. Quite a few who recognized me from my run in Pitt Meadows. One lady, (who I hope reads this and contacts me,) was with me, as I waited to run my leg of the relay. After a while, I stopped asking where people were from, because I realized, it didn’t matter. People seemed to be universally grateful for a chance to take a picture with the Olympic Torch, and it didn’t matter where they were from.
“Why are you doing this?!?”was another question… because while folks are getting used to lining up, and the line-ups are usually pretty well organized, an ad hoc opportunity like this, without stanchions or supervisors, seemed unusual to people. My reply was “Because I wanted to share my good fortune.”
People were nervous, and felt pressured to take a picture. I tried to make sure that everyone got a chance to take a good picture — that the Olympic logo on the Torch was showing, and tried to make sure no one’s face was obstructed by the Torch. Several people got mad at me, when I told them they had turned off the camera, instead of taking a picture… Some of them came back, later, because their photos “didn’t turn out” 😳
Many times a husband waved off the offer of switching out with a spouse, to get a photo, only to show up, sheepishly, a short time later, after having thought it over !!! 😆
Finally, when it was getting dark, and harder to see, I was able to tuck the Torch away, and head home through the crowds… tired, but happy.
I’m proud that I hung in so that everyone that asked for a picture, got a chance to take one… I’m glad that I was able to share an Olympic Torch with so many people… And I’m again SO thankful for the opportunity that I got to do this.
The Olympics are about the World coming together, for a shared experience. On a very tiny level, I participated in that experience yesterday.
Must. Watch. TV…
It is absolutely FRANTIC out there…
There are Olympics on the TV… something like 22 different options for my Cable and Online viewing, and that doesn’t even start to include the ancillary “un-official” stations, reporting the events that have already happened.
Skeleton is happening at the same time as Super G, while the Curling is going on, and I haven’t been to Heineken House yet !!!
whew…
I feel like I need to switch to decaf, but there is JUST NO TIME !!!
I don’t want to miss anything, but I also am starting to realize that it is a delicate balancing act of watching, partying and just “being”…
I have been trying to cram SO much in, that I am starting to feel pressured… and that’s not fun.
So…
Gonna take a deep breath… have a small dram of scotch… and kick back with some (but not all) of the hundreds of hours of viewing I have taped on the PVR.
See you around Town, tomorrow !
You’ll know me… I’ll be the one in Red.
Cheers !!!
Very Canadian…
Yesterday, I observed what may have been the quintessential event, which has made my Olympic experience complete. It had nothing to do with sports. I was not running a Torch. I didn’t meet any Gold Medal Winning athlete. I wasn’t involved, at all.
There have been, as there always are, problems and glitches at these Games, and some have gained some profile. From the lack of affordable housing for residents of the Downtown East Side, to the much-maligned, malfunctioning Zamboni, these issues have been covered and drawn attention to, by folks who are better informed, and better writers than I. On this day, I wanted to see, with my own eyes, the Olympic Cauldron, and see for myself, the offensive fence, with its off-putting mesh, and see for myself, what the reality of the situation was, without spin or agenda.
From what I had been told, the Cauldron is a LONG ways away. Because of the adjacent International Broadcast Centre, there is an understandable concern for security… But at the same time, the Olympic Flame being visible only through the two inch gaps in a chain link fence, makes it tangible evidence, in a thousand photographs of parents trying to juggle kids in front of a fence, with some glimpse of flame in the distance, that these Olympics are VERY security conscious.
A not very family-friendly photo-opportunity, for a city that is supposed to be friendly, and welcoming.
I went down there, just after lunch-time, and saw that the fence was pretty far away from the Cauldron, and that families were, in fact, having difficulty getting a photo in front of the small gate of open fence that afforded the view. ***
I penguin shuffled, in turn, to the front… stuck my camera lens through the fence, zoomed in, as much as I could, and clicked away. As I walked away, my eye was caught by a different line, off to one side. A young man, standing about four feet off the ground, holding onto a metal stand with one hand, with one foot on a concrete post, and the other foot dangling in mid air. He was, in turn, reaching down, and taking the cameras that people were handing up to him. He would take photos for them, over the top of the eight foot fence, and hand the camera back, before taking the photos for the next person.
He did this for several different “groups” of tourists… and then jumped down, and, without another word to any of them, went on his way.
I think in the past while, all of us Vancouverites have tried to make an effort to help folks.
Whether with directions, taking a photo, or offering tourist suggestions… we are, by and large, I believe, trying to be a good Host City.
The guy climbing the fence, was, literally AND figuratively, head and shoulders above the crowd… and he disappeared before I could get a name or a picture… but I know the folks who you helped will be telling their friends back home… and I’m telling my readers…
You might be the most Canadian of us all !
Cheers !!!
*** Since I was there on Tuesday, VanOC has apparently made some changes, and is reportedly working on more. Regardless, the fence-guy rocks !!!