Partition Free

Better hide the children. The zamboni is rambling yet again! The latest targets: Whales, Charlie Sheen, a young goalie on the Washington Capitals and the retirement of a gold medalist. Best of all, there's nothing about head shots. - ER

Athletes of the Year

Myself and several writers from TheGoodPoint.com packed ourselves into a small room - with no heat or electricity - and came up with...

The Good Point's 2010 Athletes of the Year!

Our selections are a collective winner. It's true.

- ER

Re. Ryan Miller

It's almost been a week since Canada won the gold medal in hockey. While I'm proud of Syd and his teammates, I also feel really sad for Ryan Miller.

Why, you ask?

Well (cheap plug time), this new Hockey54.com article will tell you why.

- ER

Five Things I Won't Miss About The Olympics

1. The "I Believe" theme song. I thought it was alright the first time I heard it. After hearing it a gazillion more times, my opinion changed.

2. The phrase "Own the Podium." Lock it up and throw away the key.

3. Commercials for Bell. They were very annoying. At least the RBC guy had some style.

4. Commercials for CTV's Olympic store. No, I don't want to buy a five-disc boxset, I don't want to buy an Olympic bib and I don't want to buy a customized stick. Stop asking!

5. Commercials for Ontario Tourism. The song and its arrangement is too predictable. I know there's no place like this. I live here! I'm in Ontario, y'all!

- ER

Re. Canada 3 USA 2

My oh my. Sometimes you're lucky, sometimes you're not. Yesterday, luck was on Canada's side.

To be honest, the winning goal caught me off guard. It happened so fast. I think there were a few people (like the CTV cameraman) who were also caught off guard. Nevertheless, Syd banked it in and Canada wins the gold.

This game could've gone either way. Full credit to the Americans. No one expected this from them. They played a great game and this is only the beginning for USA Hockey. Ryan Miller was outstanding. Despite the loss, he was the best player in this tournament.

As for Canada....what more can one say. Sydney Crosby didn't register a point in nine periods and no one will remember that. From this point forward, people will talk about Crosby's goal. Hopefully, we'll also talk about the contributions from Luongo, Towes and Getzlaf, who worked their tails off for our country.

- ER

Re. Canada 3 Slovakia 2

Yes, a rare Saturday post. I figure if Lloyd Robertson will do newscasts on the weekends during the Olympics, then I'm more than allowed to make a weekend post.

What happened in the third period cannot happen on Sunday. Seriously, my heart rate nearly hit 200bpm during the final minute. Canada took their foot off the accelerator and it nearly cost them. At this point in the tournament, you must floor it!

One thing we know for certain: Jaro Halak is going to make some sweet coin this summer.

Keys for Sunday: Create traffic in front of the net and aim high. That's the only way Canada is going to beat Ryan Miller and the USA.


Enjoy the game.

- ER

Re. Canada vs. Slovakia

Short and sweet: The worst thing Canada can do is overlook Slovakia.

- ER

Re. Canada 2 USA 0

The Oilers of the 80's, the Habs of the 50's-70's, the Canadian Women's Hockey Team.

When reflecting on the history of hockey, we place an emphasis on dynasties. As far as I'm concerned, the women's hockey team must be included in that category. 3x gold medal champions. How many teams/countries could pull that off? Very few. I think even the US Dream Team didn't pull that off.

This team is very special. While we all focus on the men, I hope we take a moment and recognize just how lucky we are to witness this legendary team in action.

One other thing: If I was running the Hockey Hall of Fame, Hailey Wickenheiser would be a shoo-in. Forget the 3-year waiting period. She's deserves to be there. Gretzky, Lemieux, Wickenheiser.

- ER

Re. Canada 7 Russia 3

I am stunned. I was not expecting that kind of result. I thought it would be a 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 kind of game; maybe a shootout would be needed.

Team Canada was focused and dominated. They ignored all the hype, all the pressure and played a solid game. The main factor is Roberto Luongo. He's playing in his home arena and looks comfortable and confident. That is something that carries over to his teammates.

Next up: The Semi-Finals. But first: The gold-medal final for women's hockey. Go Canada Go!

- ER

Re. Canada 8 Germany 2

I take back everything I said about Brodeur on Monday. Roberto Luongo must start against Russia tonight. I love Marty and thought he should start because of his experience in these types of situations. But experience doesn't always equal success.

Babcock has to stick with the hotter goaltender and in this case, it's Luongo.

Having said that...

Canada, don't plan the parade just yet. Russia is scary good. Tonight's match will be a war of attrition.

- ER

Re. USA 5 Canada 3

That was quite the game. There are four things I want to say about it:

1. Ryan Miller......DAMN! Once again, we see why goaltending is sooooo crucial for this kind of tournament. Canada out shot the USA. The score could've been at least 7-5 for Canada. The Americans won because of Ryan Miller.

2. Canada, don't panic.

3. Stevie Y, if you're reading this, cut the cable and don't allow any newspapers into the hotel. Our boys don't need to see, watch or listen to all the craziness/panic/end of the world feeling that's about to take place.

4. Marty, it's a goalie stick, not a baseball bat. Next time, catch the puck and hold onto it. Had you done that, it would've been a different result. Babcock has two choices: he either plays Marty on Tuesday and then again for the quarterfinal match; or, he puts Luongo in on Tuesday and saves Marty for the quarterfinal match. If it was me, I'd go with the ladder. Marty still has it. But he's older and needs more rest than usual.

(Glad to get that off my chest. Thank you)

Meanwhile, my latest article from Hockey54.com is (possibly) the only North American feature on Team Norway. They might not be the best, but they deserve some attention, right?

- ER

Re. Team Canada

Canada vs. Norway. Tonight's the night. All the dissection goes out the window once that puck is dropped.

Here's what I want to know:

How does a team come together in two short days?

Hopefully, we'll find out shortly.

Go Canada Go!

- ER

Re. The Opening Ceremonies

Most of what I saw was pretty good. But there are some things about the opening ceremonies that I didn't like.

The torch lighting ceremony was a disappointment. It had nothing to do with who lit the torch. It was more about how it was done. First off, what is the point of having an indoor cauldron? BC Place is being used for two events: the opening and closing ceremonies. Why have an indoor cauldron when it won't be seen again for two weeks? It's a waste of space, money, and given the malfunction, an embarrassment.

On top of that, Wayne Gretzky had to stand on the back of a truck, in the pouring rain and get a lift to the outdoor cauldron, while all the drunk clubgoers ran next to the vehicle. The whole thing was poorly executed. VANOC could have handled that a lot better. Throw in some pomp and circumstance! Have a red carpet! Put up some guardrails! Instead, the most important part of the opening ceremonies was sloppy.

The Olympic flag was brought out by Bobby Orr, Barbara Ann Scott, Jacques Villeneuve, Betty Fox, Anne Murray, Donald Sutherland, Julie Payette and Romeo Dallaire. Orr, yes! Scott, yes! Villeneuve, yes! Fox, absolutely! Sutherland, Murray, Payette and Dallaire, no!

Don't get me wrong. Sutherland, Murray, Payette and Dallaire are people to be proud of. They're heroes. They're legends. But they shouldn't have been carrying the flag. That responsibility should go to Canadian athletes who have had enormous success on the world's stage. That's what usually happens during the opening ceremonies for any Olympic event - former athletes from the host country bring in the flag.

Where was Donavan Bailey, Daniel Igali, Silken Laumann, Mario Lemeiux, Elvis Stojko, etc? Did VANOC snub them or did these people have prior commitments.

One other thing.

CTV posted the video of Georgen luger Nodar Kumaritashvili crashing into the metal pole; a collision that would end the young man's life. I watched the video and felt terrible afterwards. Why would CTV post the last moments of this man's life on their website? That is a classless move.

- ER

Don't talk to me about destiny

This commercial was released after the Canadian men's hockey team was announced. I absolutely love it!

If this doesn't get you jacked for the Olympics, I don't know what will.



The song: 'Wolf Like Me' by TV on the Radio

- ER