Hypothetical Hockey Situation?

Question

Okay this is a question I got from the Leafs facebook group and I am asking it here. If your not Canadian just substitute your country for Canada or answer from a Canadian point of view.

So I was listening to the Bill Waters show the other day and he was talking about Canada's performance at the Olympics. We finished with 18 medals which was good enough for 14th overall in terms of total medals won. This was a pretty big improvement over Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004.

Bill went on to say that this was a result of the Federal government pouring millions of dollars into athletics as part of a program to make Canada look better on the International sports stage. In fact, he actually went so far as to say that Canada could feasibly lead the overall medal count at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics!

And that got me thinking about something... so I thought I'd ask you guys a poll question to see what you guys think:

YOU CAN ONLY PICK ONE OPTION!

OPTION 1: At the Vancouver 2010 games, Canada leads all countries in the overall medal count and wins more gold medals than any other country BUT we do NOT win gold in Mens Ice Hockey.

OPTION 2: At the Vancouver 2010 games, Canada only wins ONE medal: gold in Mens Ice Hockey.

Which would you rather have? Please reply with either OPTION 1 or OPTION 2. Thanks!

BONUS: Which 2 countries will face off in the gold medal game in 2010?

Answer 1

Not a Canadian, but interesting question.  It is usually common for the hosting country to get the most golds.  Not saying the Olympics are fixed....lets just call it home ice advantage.  I think that would be awesome to see Canada kick some butt in the 2010 Olympics.  America is in like every event (due to many different climates), therefore, I think that is why they get so many medals.   I like Option 1, like everybody else.  The Cup is more important than the gold to me.  

Bonus:  I am going to guess Sweden & Cananda.  Canada will win it.

Answer 2

I think option 1 is both more likely and better. Seeing canada win ONE medal is unlikely. Especially since its WINTER olympics not summer

Bonus- Canada beats the Russians

Answer 3

Option 1, it's the Winter Olympics and I find it extremely hard to picture Canada winning more medals in the Summer Olympics than the Winter.  Also recent international tournaments and the like have proved that many European countries can compete with the canadians.

Sweden and Russia will play for gold.

Answer 4

I think it's going to come down to Canada and Sweden (at least I hope so cause those are always the most exciting match-ups!)

If I were to choose, I'd probably pick Option 1... even though Hockey is a really big sport in Canada and it would really hurt to see the men's (and women's) team lose...

By the way... is the NHL the only major sports league that actually takes breaks during the season so their athletes can represent their countries in the Olympics? Cause I know baseball and soccer in this year's summer Olympics were kind of dull cause there weren't any major stars participating in it...

Answer 5

Not a Canadian, but I would say option 1.

Bonus. in Men's hockey I see Russia and Sweden in the gold medal game with Russia winning.

In Women's I see it being Canada and the US with the US just edging the Canadians.

  

Answer 6

Option #1. By the way...Bill Watters is a complete fool at the best of times.

Answer 7

Option 1. I think they won't win the Gold in men's because the Swedes have a really strong team and their coaching is very strong.

My final is Canada vs. Sweden

Answer 8

Option 1.... Being an overall Canadian and not just a hockey fan I guess in a way that's what I would rather have. For me it was simple. In my opinion Option 1 is something I would way rather have!

Bonus: Canada vs. Russia

Canada takes it...

Answer 9

Option 1. I really would not be surprised if Sweden takes it all in the hockey competition. I think Canada would be able to take a medal in hockey though.

Homes: don't forget that the US pumps money into everything that they feel the need to be the best at. Phelps would not be where he is without the funds to help him. If he was living in a shack and getting inadequate training, he probably wouldn't even have made it past the first heat.

Answer 10

Option 1-

The finals will be between Sweden and Canada, and the bronze medal round will be USA and Russia

Answer 11

Canada won the hockey Gold in 2002, and I thought I heard Howie Rose say, "And this one will last a lifetime!"

As an American, Option 1 is far more likely for us.  That's probably why we lost the Gold Medal Game in 2002, even though it was the first Olympic hockey game we'd ever lost on home ice: We WANTED the Gold, but Canada HAD TO HAVE IT.  They played like they needed it more, and it showed.

Option 1 would be better for Canada's overall sports program, which has improved significantly.  The 2002 Gold now likely does what the 1980 Gold did for us: It made it less of an urgency, and turned a must-have into a nice-to-have.

Answer 12

Option 1

USA vs CANADA