U.S. President Obama and Canada's Prime Minister Harper's side bet for a case of beer over who would triumph for Olympic hockey gold last night means more to the U.S and Canada than just two guys making a wager. Though pride was at stake, we should not prejudice our American neighbours over their displeasure and misconception that hockey is their domain as a national pastime.
There were many Americans last night who felt they were robbed of what they perceive as their national pastime.
Olympic men's hockey gold is a big stakes game for national pride on both sides of the border. Canada's win last night cements our status to the world that hockey is and always will be our national pastime, just as the United States considers baseball and basketball as their national pastime, both sports define each of us as a nation. Yet truth be known, basketball is a Canadian invention, which hails as far back in 1891 from a little known hamlet in Almonte, Ontario and developed by James Naismith. This is a fact we dare not divulge to our American neighbours, after all kicking a nation when they are down is not fair play, besides the slew of fisticuffs that would ensue. Obama by the way is a avid basketballer, one wonders if he knows this fact. Wanna bet?
There was a time, a simpler time when traveling the world, the first thing that came to mind when foreigners defined Canada as the land of the great white north, hockey, mounties, and lumberjacks. The US on the other hand was defined by foreign countries as Mom's apple pie, baseball, John Wayne and movie stars.
American's and Canadian's may not remember decades ago there were only six original NHL teams, with hockey players who played on both sides of the border. Canadians and Americans alike had their favourite players regardless of the player's nationality. Kids traded those Big 6 hockey cards and treated them like gold, money rarely changed hands, until adults and marketers ruined it as they found a way to make beaucoup de bucks off them at nostalgia trade shows. Anyway, back to the subject at hand.
So America, in light of the medal standings, is this not a win for both our countries, showing the world USA and Canada can still dominate the ice? Would you have preferred Russia win the Gold?
So my American friends, take heart, this is a win for you as well, so no hard feelings, after all we gave you basketball as your domain, just know hockey will and always be our domain.
Let the US/Canada alcohol content beer brawl begin!
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