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by Paul on 06/14/07 at 11:26 AM ET
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from Adam Proteau of the Hockey News,
“Sorry, Canada!” Samueli told the assembled throng at Anaheim’s Stanley Cup celebration. “Welcome to the new Hockeytown: Anaheim, California!”
However, in the larger context of what always happens in the NHL playoffs, Samueli’s soft, playful jab represented another instance of the misdirected nationalism that never fails to inject itself into hockey circles.
Frankly, I’m as sick and tired of that kind of nonsense as I am of the ceaseless debate about officiating. I certainly don’t blame Samueli for getting swept up in the emotion of a championship party, but it’s high time hockey people got over their fixation about citizenship and its relation to the game.
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Comments
Dunno K24, I think that’s sort of an apples-to-oranges comparison.
Try to Imagine the collective passion that Americans hold for baseball, football, and basketball all rolled into a single sport. Then, if you will, imagine that the most prestigious league for this sport is largely controlled by Mexico. Eighty percent of the teams are there, the commisioner is a Mexican, the players want to be paid in pesos, etc. The U.S. hasn’t won a championship in over a decade in ‘our’ sport, while Acapulco, Cancun, and Mazatlan are the past three cities to own our legendary 100 year-old trophy. Although TV ratings and media interest in the game are off the charts here, it’s considered a joke by the average Mexican—if they even bother to notice it in between futbol (soccer) matches. American fans are taken for granted, while the league offices employ a “thow stuff and see what sticks” strategy to try to grow the game in Mexico (not sure where those work stoppages every few years fit in, the ones meant to prop up the small market teams like Nogales and Soledad).
See what I’m getting at?
I’m not necessarily defending Canada’s perceived possessiveness, just playing devil’s advocate. It’s easy enough for us to tell them to lighten up, but we’ve never really been in their shoes.
Posted by shep from california on 06/14/07 at 06:41 PM ET
I can understand why so many Canadians feel that way, but sometimes it is a little…annoying, I guess… to be dismissed by some as “not a true fan” because you didn’t happen to be born in the right place.
Hockey is a game born in Canada, but adopted (and loved) around the world. Truly an addiction shared across cultures by us poor, deranged souls. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/07 at 07:08 PM ET
There is only one, and forever one Hockeytown, and it certainly isn’t in Southern California.
Posted by Josh on 06/15/07 at 12:34 AM ET
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The possessiveness that Canadians show towards “their” game has always astounded and annoyed me. As an American I don’t feel the same way about any of the sports that originated here, including the “American pastime,” baseball. I don’t know any other Americans who feel that way, either, though I’m sure there are a few. They’re just games. I feel the same way about them as I do about music: to be shared by all.
Posted by K24 from NYC on 06/14/07 at 02:37 PM ET