Just when you think that every prude in the world resides in Saudi Arabia or the American Bible Belt comes the news that some Canadian journalists are shocked, shocked that their gold medal - winning womans' hockey team skated back on the ice thirty minutes after receiving their medals with champagne or beer in hand, some even smoking cigars, to celebrate with friends and family in the stands STILL WEARING THEIR UNIFORMS!!!
Clearly, this is a violation of the Olympic Ideal (though it may bring new meaning to the "higher" portion of the Olymic Motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger"). More important, think of the children. Do we want our kids to think that adults celebrate with alcohol and nicotine? Heaven forfend!
The main point, though, is that such behavior is an insult to the red Maple Leaf on that proud Canadian uniform. It's not as if these women have set aside pretty much everything else in their lives for the past four years to win that medal. It's not as if there was any pressure on them what with the Prime Minister, Wayne Gretzky, and 19,000 fans in the arena, plus every Canadian with access to a television ready to eviscerate them if they allowed a cheap goal. Immediately, having outscored their opponents 48 - 2 in the prior five games would be forgotten and the miscreant would have to go into Witness Protection in the suburbs of Moose Jaw.
This incident may have a positive effect on the USA. If prudery and righteous patriotism can survive in Canada what do we have to fear from socialized medicine, bi-lingual education, and liberalized drug laws? They have all that in Canada and the Canadian counterparts to Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity still have plenty to be upset about.
What a classless, trashy way for the Canadian women’s hockey team to act! I can understand being excited to have won the gold medal, but they crossed the line and were TOO exuberant. The team totally embarrassed itself after playing a great game against the United States and an outstanding tournament overall.
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