I don't think taking it off would be the appropriate thing to do. For one, it'd deny a bunch of women whom work very hard, for next to nothing an opportunity to play in the Olympics. Taking it out of the Olympics would stop other countries from developing talent more than it would encourage them.
Women's hockey...
- Thread starter hunsperger
- Start date
Goal differential will be used to decide standings. So it is the format that encourages running up the score. It is a two horse race, and you want home ice advantage for line changes and the like during the gold medal game assuming that there is not a major upset and Canada and USA are in the finals. (I went to the IIHF site, and it explains the goal differential as one of the first tie breakers. It didn't say anything about who gets to be home team, but I assume that home team goes to the higher ranked team.)
I don't think that you want to coach your team to get bad habits, so you don't want them to change their style of play just to keep the score down. You want to coach them to keep doing the things that they are supposed to be doing in the gold medal game. One thing that you can do is limit the ice time of your best players, and just ensure that they get enough to stay sharp.
I agree that celebrations should be kept to a minimum after you've gotten a big lead.
I think that you do want to keep the sport in the olympics, simply to keep it visible to all the countries and girls that may encouraged to play and develop the sport.
Remember, men's hockey had similar blowouts when it was first introduced. And, more recently, men's basketball had similar issues. Most teams didn't come within 40 points of the USA team when it first included professional NBA players. You could argue that the visiblity of those games encouraged other countries and players in those countries to develop their programs and abilities, and, as a result, they've caught up pretty fast.
I don't think that you want to coach your team to get bad habits, so you don't want them to change their style of play just to keep the score down. You want to coach them to keep doing the things that they are supposed to be doing in the gold medal game. One thing that you can do is limit the ice time of your best players, and just ensure that they get enough to stay sharp.
I agree that celebrations should be kept to a minimum after you've gotten a big lead.
I think that you do want to keep the sport in the olympics, simply to keep it visible to all the countries and girls that may encouraged to play and develop the sport.
Remember, men's hockey had similar blowouts when it was first introduced. And, more recently, men's basketball had similar issues. Most teams didn't come within 40 points of the USA team when it first included professional NBA players. You could argue that the visiblity of those games encouraged other countries and players in those countries to develop their programs and abilities, and, as a result, they've caught up pretty fast.
Actually, the women's team played against teams from triple A midget hockey league here in Alberta. Finished 12 Wins 6 losses not too shabby I would say.a decent team of 15 year-old boys would probably beat either the Canadian or US women's teams quite handily...
just as an aside, former player Cassie Campbell on Hockey Night in Canada is nauseating...
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HubbaHubba
It was womens hockey they played though, not real hockey with hitting. Totally different game and not what the guys are use to. Not to burst your bubble.
Hmm, not sure the female ski jumpers would agree, darlin'.. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/sports/11ski.html?_r=1
Actually the IOC is trying to promote female sports....., but they do it at thier own pace. The problem they have is they have set rules in place, to for new events. New events like Women's sky jumping must have had 2 world championships. (The first women's ski jumping world championships will be held next year in Liberec, Czech Republic) Also as a result of guys like Eddy the Eagle(In Calgary, 88), and the afraican swimmers in Sydney, there are now some minimum requirements for athletes to go this and other big events. In countries like Canada, the national programs have thier own minimum standards for athletes or they can not go. (
The IOC normally does not add new sports events with-in 4 years of the event. So right now, it even looks very unlikely for women's Ski jumping to be added for Russia in 4 years, as they have to have had 2 world Championships, and the first one is next year.... Maybe it could be pushed for a vote in 2 years......(after 2 championships) One of the reason is the IOC have time to establish standards. I know it's sad for those girls who wanted to go this year, but it's just the way it works.
The original decision was taken in November 2006,
"However, decisions to include an event at the Olympic Games are taken on technical merit and with a global perspective. ... With too few athletes competing in this event, and no world championships until one year before the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, women's ski jumping does not reach the necessary technical criteria and as such does not yet warrant a place alongside other Olympic events. With the technical merit of the event unchanged, the decision taken in November 2006 stands."
The IOC voted in 2006 not to allow women's ski jumping into the 2010 Games, saying the sport has not yet developed enough and that it didn't meet basic criteria for inclusion.
The IOC normally does not add new sports events with-in 4 years of the event. So right now, it even looks very unlikely for women's Ski jumping to be added for Russia in 4 years, as they have to have had 2 world Championships, and the first one is next year.... Maybe it could be pushed for a vote in 2 years......(after 2 championships) One of the reason is the IOC have time to establish standards. I know it's sad for those girls who wanted to go this year, but it's just the way it works.
The original decision was taken in November 2006,
"However, decisions to include an event at the Olympic Games are taken on technical merit and with a global perspective. ... With too few athletes competing in this event, and no world championships until one year before the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, women's ski jumping does not reach the necessary technical criteria and as such does not yet warrant a place alongside other Olympic events. With the technical merit of the event unchanged, the decision taken in November 2006 stands."
The IOC voted in 2006 not to allow women's ski jumping into the 2010 Games, saying the sport has not yet developed enough and that it didn't meet basic criteria for inclusion.
If you've been watching the olympic women's hockey, it is full of bone crunching hits.
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HubbaHubba
Looks like its gonna be another blow out against Sweden today. The women seem to be alot more disrespectful towards each other. The men seem more respectful probably know each other through playing so often against each other in the NHL. The women seem to have pushing, shoving, and jabs being thrown after every whistle in the Sweden game.
They're closer than what the third place team could do against the USA basketball team in the 92 olympics. In that olympics, the USA margin of victory averaged around 40 points.
The gold medal games (over the 2nd best team) include: 1992 117-85; 1996 95 - 69; 2000 85 - 75. In 2004 Argentina won gold, USA won 104 - 96 in the bronze medal game. In 2008, USA won gold again, winning 118-107 in the gold medal game. Eventually the world catches up.
Not many people were calling to take men's basketball out of the olympics in 92 or 96 or 2000.
So Canada and the US are better than the rest of the world in women's ice hockey. Should we apologize for being good at something? There are other sports where certain countries dominate. I doubt that people in those countries are asking to eliminate those sports.
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HubbaHubba
Why eliminate it?......There are lots of people like you who enjoy a 15-0 blow out as long as their team wins, I personally don't. You're paying for these Olympics as much as me, so I'm glad the blow outs are bringing you joy and excitement. As for your USA Basketball example, it's way off but you're entitled to your opinion and it will be too much typing for me to shred your arguement.........Enjoy the blow outs!
Actually, other than the USA/Canada games, I don't enjoy watching the games either - never said I did. I was just pointing out that there are other sports, basketball being 1 example, where there are lots of blowouts and only a few countries dominate, yet those sports are still in the Olympics and there aren't the calls to eliminate them.
As for the USA basketball example, I don't see how it is way off. In the 17 summer Olympics that included basketball, 13 gold medals for the US. They used to send amateurs - university players, etc. - and win handily. The USA won every Olympic gold until 1972 when the USSR won in a major, and controversial, upset. The other 3 non-wins were the boycott in Moscow '80, a loss by amateurs in '88 (similar to hockey, pros were still not allowed to play), and the loss by pros in 2004. One could argue that if they sent their best players (pros included), they would have won every gold up until 2004. They dominated basketball as much as the Canadians and Americans dominate women's ice hockey today.
Go ahead, shred away.
I watched the Canada vs. Sweden game today while I was on the elliptical machine. Watching those Canadian girls rule the ice was awesomely inspiring!
I like Women's Ice Hockey a lot!..... That Canada kicks ass all the better and they continued to get better and better every competition....and just like all the Oly sports they have to run up the score due to tie-breakers etc. besides some of the ladies are so HOT! mmmmmm
I don't see anything sexy about woman in hockey uniforms...but I do find the determination and intensity on the face of the woman curlers extremely sexy, plus their uniforms are hot.
I too love women's hockey. What I like most is the passion that they have for the sport. I only wish that the mutimillionaires that make up our men's team had a fraction of their drive and determination. Members of our women's team have always worn their hearts and patriotism on their sleeves and for that I admire and respect them. Go Canada!!
