From: farenebt@craft.camp.clarkson.edu (Bri Farenell)
Subject: Re: >FAQ
Organization: Clarkson University
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 02:38:47 GMT

mre@teal.Eng.Sun.COM (Michael R. Eisler) writes:

>>1952. This was the first year that they won a medal AND finished higher
>>than the Americans in the same Olympics. Do they have the best pros? Yes,

Well, this is an obvious mistake on my part. If the Canadians won the gold
in 52, then obviously, they won a medal and finished higher than the Americans
in that year. I meant to say, "This is the first year...since 1952".

>>but they are no longer the sole source of great pros. The Americans certainly

>Is this supposed to be a news flash? There have been non-Canadian (not
>necessarily U.S.'er) stars in the NHL for decades (eg. Borje Salming).

This is intended to be a news flash to many Canadian fans. Do you know what
happened during the draft in Montreal this year? Every time a non-Canadian
was selected, the fans booed.

>Even if the U.S. had better pro's than Canada (which might happen if
>trends continue), what is the point of belittling one country's
>performances as compared to another? 

It is more out of defensiveness from hearing many Canadian fans belittle
Americans and any other non-Canadian hockey player. Many Canadian fans think
that Canadian citizenship is a prerequisite for being a good hockey player.
	
>I've noticed your strident
>.signature files in the past on this topic, and have concluded that you
>must have an inferiority complex about the overall proficiency of your
>country's hockey players. Is this perhaps a manifestation of the
>little-league-baseball-parent syndrome? It might be healthier if you
>decided to just enjoy the game, and blind yourself to which passport a
>player is carrying.

(I do not have an inferiority complex. My beef is with the Canadians who
have a SUPEIORITY complex. Also, from what I understand, the junior-league-
hockey-parent has the same infamous repuation as the little-league parent.
My dad is a baseball ump so he was pretty relaxed when I played. 8^)]

My intent is really not to belittle Canadians in general. Just those who
fit the last sentence of yours all too well. I do not hate Canadian hockey
players (my two favorites are Canadian-born Andy Moog and Tim Cheveldae). I
just live in an area where most of the Canadian hockey fans I know have a major
attitude. And from reading some letters in The Hockey News, I have no reason to
think that's a quality unique to people I know. 

Case in point, one of the reasons some Canadian fans don't like about American
fans is that we are "immature". But, fans in Hamilton, Ontario, found it 
appropriate to boo the American national anthem prior to Game 2 of the Canada
Cup finals. 

I am very proud of American hockey. I do not hate Canadian hockey. My pet-peeve
is with many Canadian fans. However, I do see US vs Canada to be the next 
great international rivalry, which I find very exciting. I think that the
two teams will play many great games in the future and I look forward to
watching them...so long as I don't have to listen to Canadians complaining
about American fans or booing non-Canadian players.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRI FARENELL			  |	"Hockey must be a great game to
CLARKSON '95			  |       survive what the NHL has done	
FARENEBT@CRAFT.CAMP.CLARKSON.EDU  | 	 to it."
rec.sport.hockey's AHL contact	  |    ---Howard Baldwin, Penguins owner
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         CONGRATS TO 1992 CALDER CUP CHAMPION ADIRONDACK RED WINGS!!
                       (also: 1981, 1986, 1989)
 		          			

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