# A Canadian flames the whole Canadian Olympic Mess! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 14, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922 "2010-02-14T03:35:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/121 "2010-02-15T00:03:39Z")
> [@Valteron](#): > > No, you don’t get it. I congratulate her. It’s the Canadian attitude. As if this is the best we could ever hope for so let’s cheer as if this were the best. It’s the loser mentality that burns my ass. Why don’t you slag Clara Hughes for finishing 5th, too? Not even on the podium, obviously she’s completely inadequate as an Olympian. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/122 "2010-02-15T00:12:41Z")
> [@Valteron](#): > > No, you don’t get it. I congratulate her. It’s the Canadian attitude. As if this is the best we could ever hope for so let’s cheer as if this were the best. It’s the loser mentality that burns my ass. It’s hard to “get” something that’s not there at all. Being good enough to compete in the Olympics is something worthy of cheering. Getting a medal, any medal, is abso-fucking-lutely worth cheering and celebrating. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/123 "2010-02-15T01:06:27Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > I mean, does he think other countries don’t celebrate silver and bronze medals? I assure him, they do. Well, USA doesn’t (much). Poor Michelle Kwan, who is a fabulous athlete and THE figure skater of recent times is known here for the gold she never got etc. The anchors and sportscasters do not spend any real time with silver or bronze winners. I find the Canadian celebrating of any and all attempts endearing and refreshing. I am heartily sick of the USA attitude of gold, gold, gold! YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/124 "2010-02-15T01:48:33Z")
> [@Valteron](#): > > It’s the loser mentality that burns my ass. You think Canada has a loser mentality after watching speed skating, which included a Canadian athlete who is one of the greatest athletes in the history of the Olympics? I mean, you’ve at least heard of Clara Hughes, right? The only person to ever - I mean ever, for any country - win multiple medals at both the Summer AND Winter games? Winning a bronze in the 3000m is a _moderate_ achievement for Canada’s women skaters. They’ll win more; nobody expected a medal in 3000m, so they’re ahead of what were already high expectations. You want to troll and get some laughs. We get it. But when you demonstrate your ignorance, like your belief Canada is located in Scandinavia, or your not being aware of any of the results of the winter olympics for the last 20 years, you just look stupid. [QUOTE=eleanorrigby] Well, USA doesn’t (much). Poor Michelle Kwan, who is a fabulous athlete and THE figure skater of recent times is known here for the gold she never got etc. The anchors and sportscasters do not spend any real time with silver or bronze winners. [/QUOTE] That is demosntrably not true, as evidenced by the events of less than 24 hours ago, when the Americans picked up silver and bronze in men’s 1500m short track speed skating. The announcers were absolutely crazy about the achievement, because it was unexpected; Ohno was not a favourite to win the event and the kid who picked up bronze was an amazing comeback story. And if you think Canada will always celebrate just trying, wait and see what will happen if the hockey teams don’t win gold. It will rightly be considered an immense disappointment, because Canada is, correctly, a favourite to win. Athletes at this level are quite rightly judged by expectations. If Canada’s women speed skaters don’t pick up a fistful of medals there’s going to be open disappointment, and it’ll be deserved. If the hockey teams don’t win gold it’ll be scandalous. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/125 "2010-02-15T02:20:58Z")
Happy Now? One Gold Medal, delivered just for you. Loser! ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/126 "2010-02-15T02:26:24Z")
Seriously dude - gold in men’s freestyle. Now why don’t you go sit in the corner, put your head between your legs and play with your asshole? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/127 "2010-02-15T02:38:55Z")
Happy Now? One Gold Medal Made to order! (Dickhead!) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/128 "2010-02-15T02:43:54Z")
> [@Valteron](#): > > It’s the loser mentality that burns my ass. We don’t have a loser mentality. We have a competition mentality. We will compete, and we will do our best, and if our best on a given day doesn’t match what competitors from other places record as their best on that day; well, then we will take what we can get. We don’t give up; we never stop striving to be the best; Canadians don’t do such things. We don’t have a loser mentality. We have a sportsmanship mentality. We do the best we can, and should we not be as good as somebody else, we congratulate that person and their nation. We will not deny somebody else a chance, in order to give ourselves an advantage. Canadians don’t do such things. If you think what we do is somehow a “loser mentality,” then I feel sorry for you. You don’t understand the concepts of competition, of sport, and of sportsmanship. An old coach told me that the only losers are the ones who don’t compete; and if you’ve never competed, then I would suggest that your remarks are those of a loser. 'Nuff said for now. ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/129 "2010-02-15T02:44:24Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Seriously dude - gold in men’s freestyle. Well, technically, the guy was competing for Australia. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/130 "2010-02-15T02:45:42Z")
> [@tacoloco](#): > > Well, technically, the guy was competing for Australia. That was the silver medalist, Dale-Begg Smith. Alex Bilodeau is the Canadian who won. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/131 "2010-02-15T02:47:49Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > We do the best we can, and should we not be as good as somebody else, we congratulate that person and their nation. Congratulations, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/132 "2010-02-15T02:51:58Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > That was the silver medalist, Dale-Begg Smith. Alex Bilodeau is the Canadian who won. Oh awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/133 "2010-02-15T03:00:46Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Congratulations, BTW. On behalf of our nation, thank you, Johnny. I really do believe that Canadians are among the world’s “best sports;” I have competed at very high levels of sport, and when I lost an Olympic spot to somebody else, I congratulated that person. And I cheered that person on when I watched the event on TV at the 1984 LA Olympics. I believe that’s sportsmanship. And, that person won a gold for us. But I digress. Again, thanks, Johnny. Means a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/134 "2010-02-15T03:07:52Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > But I digress. Again, thanks, Johnny. Means a lot. I mean it sincerely. Of course I ‘root for the home team’, but I’ll tell you: I had fingers crossed for Bilodeau on both hands during his run, and I let out a whoop when he came in first. I’m just sorry Mr. Malware came in ahead of us. ---
**Author:** ![Valteron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f17d59/32.png) [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/135 "2010-02-15T03:10:09Z")
Congratulations Alex Bilodeau. One Gold at least. Ya done good! ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/136 "2010-02-15T03:13:32Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I mean it sincerely. Of course I ‘root for the home team’, but I’ll tell you: I had fingers crossed for Bilodeau on both hands during his run, and I let out a whoop when he came in first. I’m just sorry Mr. Malware came in ahead of us. Yes, I was a little nonplussed at the Canadian-_cum_-Aussie who took the silver. Huh? But at least you guys got the bronze without any questions about him being American. Way to go, USA! ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/137 "2010-02-15T03:26:49Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I have competed at very high levels of sport, and when I lost an Olympic spot to somebody else What be yer game, matey? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/138 "2010-02-15T03:41:16Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > What be yer game, matey? Fifty-meter rifle prone. See the [Wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_metre_rifle_prone) for an overview. Muffin, you would appreciate this: when I was a student at the U of Toronto (IIRC, at about the same time you studied there), I was on the University’s rifle team. We practiced at Hart House. Unfortunately, the University’s Athletic Commission (or whatever it was called) refused us athletic letters because “guns are nasty.” We competed anyway, and did the U of T proud. I’m still waiting for my “T” letter. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/139 "2010-02-15T03:51:07Z")
My mistake–the person I competed against at the qualifiers doesn’t appear to have won the gold in the 50 meter rifle event. Well, I did get to meet Linda Thom, the 1984 womens 25m pistol event gold medallist, when she visited our club. That should count for something. (I hope!) ---
**Author:** ![BMada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@BMada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMada)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922/140 "2010-02-15T04:00:27Z")
Another story that shows our Canadian mentality in competition. Lawrence Lemieux. [Lawrence Lemieux - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Lemieux) I’m proud to be Canadian for what he did. He saw a team in trouble in the sea. He left his competitive spirit and drive for a medal aside and saw the REAL and TRUE ordeal that was going on for the team sinking. Now that’s the true Canadian mentality. Or that’s what I’d like to believe. Not the pansy-assed pieces of shit that can’t win medals because we just suck shit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-canadian-flames-the-whole-canadian-olympic-mess/528922.md?page=8)