Missing the podium was emotionally devastating to him. He'd won Olympic gold in 1992 in Barcelona stroking the men's eight. In 1993, he become the first Canadian in more than 75 years to win the world single sculls championship. It's fine and dandy to boo an NHL team stocked with millionaire players.
Fans get that right when they buy tickets.
But if people can understand the commitment it takes as an athlete . . . Once people see it from that perspective, you know, I think they understand that we've tried our best. We didn't come here to lose. For the most part, the e-mails and messages I've been getting from home are from people who are behind us. They just say, 'Go for it.