All the World’s a Stage

By: Patrice L. Leonard  

As I sit here in the comfort of my living room watching the Gold Medal game at the 2006 Olympics, I have one thing going through my mind. Men’s hockey, on the international level, is simply a thing of beauty. Over the past two days I have watched four European teams compete for Olympic hardware. This was a refreshing thing from a fan’s standpoint as well as a writer’s. Of course, I watched every game that Team USA played. I also watched every game Team Canada played. I was disappointed at best. I was appalled at times. Hockey powerhouses they proved they weren’t. The Americans proved that a few members of their team were nothing more than over glorified prima-donnas.

How can a player, from one of the most privileged nations in the world complain that he has to carry his own bags in Torino? This isn’t the luxurious NHL. This is a competition of Nations. They play for pride here. They play for honor here. They don’t play for money or fame. The disenchantment I felt over this incident was crushing. I was embarrassed, at that precise moment, to be an American. And with everything else going on in this country, that’s speaks volumes. Mike Modano had my respect as a player. He has always been one of my favorites. He had my respect as a person for all of his charity and community work. He no longer has my respect as a representative of this country.

From the Philadelphia Flyers’ standpoint success for its players in the Olympics was obtained. So far the only casualty they have is the injury to Simon Gagne. It looks like we’ll be without his services for about two weeks. Since he is our leading goal scorer, this is not a good thing to be sure. It looks like Peter Forsberg is back to good. He has once again proved why he is the greatest player in the world. Every team he plays on is that much better simply by his presence. His passes are art. His speed is devastating. His sheer power, when he uses it, is scary. He does it all so quietly and without ego. Maybe Modano can take lessons from him. Antero Niittymaki seemed to have called on the “force” and put up an impenetrable shield around his net. He was outstanding. Now, I am probably one of Robert Esche’s biggest supporters. But, even I have to admit that now Coach Hitchcock has a huge decision to make. A no-brainer it would seem to be. Going into the playoffs, my goaltender would have to be Niittymaki. I wouldn’t want to be in Hitch’s shoes right now.

By the time I am finished writing this column, the winner of the Gold Medal will be known. I can’t help but to be amazed at how Team Sweden and Team Finland make the USA and Canada look like a bunch of slow, lumbering oafs. They have speed and finesse to spare. They play with a grace that is unmatched by North Americans. The citizen’s of their respective countries should be very proud of these players. Some of them will not be back playing in Vancouver in 2010. It shows as they are playing with their hearts on their sleeves. I, an American, am routing for Sweden. I want nothing more than to see Forsberg come back to Philly with another gold medal. This is an arena where heroes are made. Will he be the hero again, as he was in 1994? I hope so. As Flyer fans we should all hope so. We need him back healthy, happy, an Olympic champion. We are in need of another little trophy here, Lord Stanley’s Cup. If he is at the top of his game, and with a healthy Gagne, we will be unstoppable.