Fun Stuff > CHATTER
Сочи 2014 (Winter Olympics Thread)
GarandMarine:
--- Quote from: Akima on 21 Feb 2014, 13:46 ---
--- Quote from: Method of Madness on 20 Feb 2014, 15:11 ---I know that's exaggeration and I know it's the Olympic championship but...is it really that big a deal to Canada as a country? I mean sports are fun to watch but are they really that important to people? I've never really understood this.
--- End quote ---
I sympathise. In Australia a single horse-race, the Melbourne Cup, is said to "stop the nation". It draws TV viewership of an estimated three million people on a weekday afternoon, despite being about as exciting as watching grass grow (though watching horses run always has an appeal, I think). I've never worked in an office that didn't hold stupid betting pools on the race, and failing to be excited about it is definitely regarded as slightly unAustralian. I think sport-obsession provides a useful, relatively safe, outlet for primitive tribal instincts. :-D
Congratulations to Canada. It is always nice to see David defeat Goliath. :angel:
--- End quote ---
It's Canada and the United States, this is more two Jotunn slugging it out while curb stomping David and his family. :P
I used to like horse racing, then I got into the stuff behind it... now I just feel bad for the horses.
jwhouk:
That was a crappy way to lose a hockey game.
It's the hazard of having two teams pretty much evenly matched going up against each other. One little bounce, and that's the game.
Skewbrow:
--- Quote from: Akima on 21 Feb 2014, 13:46 ---I think sport-obsession provides a useful, relatively safe, outlet for primitive tribal instincts. :-D
--- End quote ---
Yup. Europe's been a relatively peaceful place ever since wars were replaced with football matches.
--- Quote from: Akima ---Congratulations to Canada. It is always nice to see David defeat Goliath. :angel:
--- End quote ---
Not sure about this. I don't know the numbers, but it wouldn't surprise me, if Canadian players outnumber Americans in the NHL.
Any thoughts about the coming medal matches? Canada beat US in regulation, but needed overtime againsta Finland. Finland beat Russia in regulation, but US needed to go to shoot outs :-D Prolly US is still a favorite to win this one, and it may actually become lopsided. But Finland is in with a chance.
Similarly. Sweden beat Finland in regulation, but Canada needed to work overtime. Does that make Sweden the favorite for the final?
GarandMarine:
--- Quote from: Skewbrow on 21 Feb 2014, 23:12 ---
--- Quote from: Akima on 21 Feb 2014, 13:46 ---I think sport-obsession provides a useful, relatively safe, outlet for primitive tribal instincts. :-D
--- End quote ---
Yup. Europe's been a relatively peaceful place ever since wars were replaced with football matches.
--- End quote ---
Spoken like a man who's never been to a Manchester United match! Up'em Reds!
Also might be nice if you guys could export some of that peace to South America, there's that whole "beheading a ref" incident, and the "hand grenade" incident, and that other beheading...
Skewbrow:
--- Quote from: GarandMarine on 21 Feb 2014, 23:22 ---
--- Quote from: Skewbrow on 21 Feb 2014, 23:12 ---
--- Quote from: Akima on 21 Feb 2014, 13:46 ---I think sport-obsession provides a useful, relatively safe, outlet for primitive tribal instincts. :-D
--- End quote ---
Yup. Europe's been a relatively peaceful place ever since wars were replaced with football matches.
--- End quote ---
Spoken like a man who's never been to a Manchester United match! Up'em Reds!
Also might be nice if you guys could export some of that peace to South America, there's that whole "beheading a ref" incident, and the "hand grenade" incident, and that other beheading...
--- End quote ---
:-D :-D Two central American nations actually (Honduras & El Salvador?) actually started a war, because there was some doubt about the outcome of football match. A Columbian player was shot to death for putting the ball in their own net at WCs. Et cetera.. Latin temper?
I meant to support the thought that sports is an outlet for some of the national rivalries/gripes that might otherwise reach a boiling point in a nastier way. But supposedly ("I don't know, but I've been told!") there is some extra charge in the atmosphere whenever Germany plays one of the neighboring countries. In hockey a similar thing happened at the WCs following Warsaw pact tanks nipping the Prague Spring in the bud in the late 60s. Czechoslovakia (and the crowd) put in some extra effort into their games against the Soviets. Bruise count was high.
UK fans are notorious (as are the Turkish). Which is why when Italy hosted WCs, England was put into the group that played their early round games in Sicily. And somehow a rumor got started that the Sicilian mafia is in charge of keeping peace at the stadium.
At the opposite end of hooliganism are the Danish football fans, aka "rooligans" ("rolig" = fun in Swedish/Danish/Norwegian). Yes, loud noises and largish quantities of beer are involved, but absolutely no violence. Just enjoying a fine evening in a fine ball game.
So: "relatively peaceful" as in "no war".
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