Dirty Laundry

Olympics: A Summary

As everyone knows already, Canada won the gold medal men’s and women’s hockey games, which was the icing on the glorious Olympic cake that I got to eat for five incredible days in Vancouver last week. If you are a regular reader of this blog then you know that going to the Olympics - and more specifically, Olympics hockey (and even more specifically, men’s Olympic hockey) - was something I’ve wanted to do before I take leave of this world. And I could not have scripted the scenario any better.

When I bought the tickets for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and gold medal game there was always the potential that I would not see Canada (and Sidney Crosby) play in any of these games. And while I would have been satisfied seeing the United States (I am still an American, of course) and/or Russia (they do have some of the greatest players in the world), it just wasn’t how I imagined it all when I made my bucket list. 

It was always Canada I had pictured in my mind when I saw myself at the Olympics. Mostly because all of my favorite players over the years (Mike Bossy, Dennis Potvin, Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, Martin St. Louis, Roberto Luongo, Rick Nash) have been Canadian. Even though I grew up in New York. Rooting for the Islanders. It was always the Canadian players on that team who captured my imagination most.

And so, for me to have gotten to see Canada play Russia in the quarterfinals. Then Canada play Slovakia in the semifinals. And then Canada play the USA in the gold medal game. And win. In overtime. On a goal by Sidney Crosby.

I don’t know. It just felt absolutely perfect.

There’s not much more to say about it then that. Except to leave you with a few pictures:

Two great hockey countries

Two great hockey fans (yeah, that’s Gerry again. Can’t take a picture without him leaping into the frame)

Perhaps we like our hockey a little too much.

In the immortal words of Christopher Walken:

Right after the “golden goal”

The team celebrates with the crowd

Takin’ It To The Streets

And now, it’s back to reality. Although, my reality includes going to England for a few weeks (pictures forthcoming). It also includes handing in the final draft of the Swim the Fly script (hooray!!!), and writing a guest blog for Teenreads.com (hooray!), and doing copy edits for Beat the Band (hooray?).

Until next time…

Posted by Don Calame on 3.9.10 at 03:56 am in Prattlings. (0) Comments