John Van Vranken wrote:
>     "The biggest waste of time ever!"  -Team USA Keith Tkachuk regarding the
>olympic experience after todays loss.  Apparently, most of the team members
>felt the same way, wondering why they would quit their day jobs for a few days
>and take part in a bothersome ritual while they could be making big bucks back
>in North America.  After all, they went through all that training and
>preperation for what?? - A long plane ride and a steady course of Japanese
>food.  What a waste!
>     The true waste was having to listen to these comments from "America's
>Best". I think that this proves the fact that professional players are not
>mature enough to hadle the olympics and they should stay right where they want
>to be... back in the good old US of A.  Instead, "America's Brightest" hockey
>players should represent the country.  Unfamiliar last names from unknown
>places representing their country is the best part about the olympics.  I
>think that every Maine fan saw this first hand in '94 with the increadible
>showing from the black bear squad being represented.  Ask any one of those
>players, who also returned home without gold medals, and ask them what they
>felt about the olympics.  "An honor"  "An experince of a lifetime"  "An
>incredible feeling of patriotism" a just a few thoughts that probably came out
>of the mouths of the olympians after their defeat.
>"A waste of time"?? You bet, go back to the NHL.
>John
>
>
 
When I first read Keith Tkachuk's quote as posted by John Van Vranken, I was
in complete argreement with him.  However, when I read the AP account of
what Tkachuk said, it is clear that his comment was taken out of context.
 
The following is from AP:
 
"Some U.S. players, however, felt they played poorly -- especially on
defense -- and the entire experience left them dejected.
 
``It was the biggest waste of time. Ever,'' alternate captain Keith Tkachuk
said. ``We deserve to be out of it. We didn't play well from the start. ...
This is awful, it's devastating. From the opening shot, we weren't well
enough to do anything. We were just a big disappointment.''
 
It is one thing to wish that the US team consisted of non-NHL players but it
was intellectually dishonest to take Keith Tkachuk's words out of context
and then building an arguement based on the partial quote.  We can leave
that type of journalism to the Bangor Daily News or The Boston Globe.
 
John argued that,  "I think that this proves the fact that professional
players are not
mature enough to hadle the olympics and they should stay right where they want
to be... back in the  I think that this proves the fact that professional
players are not
mature enough to hadle the olympics and they should stay right where they want
to be...back in the good old US of A."
 
I think it means the team USA was stopped by Czech Republic goaltender
Dominik Hasek, the best goalie in the world.  It does mean they did not play
up to their potential.  I haven't seen anything printed to indicate the US
team wanted to be "back in the good US of A.  As Tkchuk said, "This is
awful, it's devastating."
 
Bob Svec
 
GO BLACK BEARS!!!!