Believe it

Belief and disbelief from the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Or should I say Canada Winter Games.

I believe…

That these were the best ever Olympic Games. Not the “excellent friendly” Games that IOC President Jacques Rogge proclaimed during the Closing Ceremonies. Yes, these Games opened on an ominously dark note with the tragic death of the Georgian luger but soonafter the light seemed to shine through and these Winter Olympics became a national love-in. Canada rocked. Canadians rocked. And the world got to see the true north strong and free.

I couldn’t believe..

Giant moose, enormous beavers, gigantic table hockey players and Maple Leafs Forever all part of an elaborate refreshingly self deprecating typically Canadian closing ceremonies. I mean the only thing missing was a big Tim Hortons cup. It was lampoon. It was somewhat silly. It was awesome.

And like our country – it was diverse.

From Neal “Long May you Run” Young to Michael Buble’s Dudley Do Right to Nickleback pumping up the volume, this was a ceremony that revealed the soul of our Canadian personna which was assisted perfectly by some ex pat Hollywood help.

Michael J. Fox going back to the future and telling everybody that he only wears a Canadian hockey jersey -Catherine O’Hara riffing on our politeness and athlete’s who “pee in the snow”-and Bill Shatner, Captain Kirk, beamed into BC Place and confirming Canada as the “Final Frontier”. 

Only in Canada could we make fun of the screw-up with the hydraulic arm in the opening ceremony and make everybody laugh about it in the closing.

I’m sure some young athlete from Estonia is heading home today thinking that Canada is a great country full of  mounties, rock stars, and beer swilling canoe tipping Trekkies.

Gotta love it.

I believe…

That Charles Barkley owes me some money. Just before the final hockey game of the Games. Sir Charles texted me and left a message “There’s a train comin’ get off the tracks” to which I replied “Yeh, it’s called the Canadian Express”.  Charles only reply was LOL.

I can’t believe…

That the Canadian government and the sports ministry would even contemplate downgrading the financial obligation to Canadian athletes. As I typed in an earlier blog – I had no problem with the Own the Podium program – in fact I love the fact they are finally throwing some bucks at amateur sport. I just never liked the name. The reason we’re sitting here today and celebrating the gold rush is because of an investment that paid a dividend. Sport isn’t that far from business and one of the reasons these Games resonated with everyone is because these athletes “did good” in so many ways.

Give up on them and we’ll be taking the system back a decade.

I believe…

The funniest thing I saw at the Games was a red faced Liz Manley when during a break in our figure skating coverage, told me she’d be right back because she had to take a potty break. Canada’s Sweetheart from 1988 took off like Charles Hamelin to the ladies room and then upon her return to the booth ten minutes later looked a little sheepish. When asked what’s wrong? She told me she rushed into the washroom, got into the cubicle and starting doing what needed to be done when she looked under the stall and saw a lot of running shoes. Big running shoes. Realizing she had taken a seriously wrong turn, Manley = now living up to her name – took a quick peek and tried to sneak out only to be spotted by several manly types who were too busy themselves to ask for a picture or an autograph. What we all love about Liz though is she still could laugh about it..

I still can’t believe..

The Olympic odyssey of Joannie Rochette. Losing her mom suddenly. Gaining the support of an entire country and actually still being able to compete and win a medal. It’s a story that will be told for years and years to come. A story of courage, strength, dignity and inspiration. And at the end of these emotionally stirring Games, there she was carrying our flag into our stadium with her mom watching somewhere beaming with pride.

I can’t believe..

How much money these Olympics cost. Not only to the organizers and ultimately the taxpayer (Wait ’til this bill comes in) but also to the average sports fan.

Recession? What recession? Ticket prices for any and every event were so out of wack with reality that only those with some serious cake or big expense accounts could afford to attend the Olympics. Organizers took the average guy right out of the picture by pricing these tickets the way they did. I know it’s supply and demand but unless your name was Gates, Trump or Balsille – the only way you were watching these Winter Games was on your Plasma. I also couldn’t believe how many empty seats I saw at so many venues. Tickets that went either unsold by the scalpers or unused by the IOC sponsors created some wide open spaces.

Why not have some kids in the venue that could be used as seat fillers?

What a thrill that would have been for some aspiring young athlete.

I believe…

That some athletes were born to dance with destiny. Can you say Sidney Crosby? Hayley Wickenheiser? Yu Na Kim? And the new Canadian Sweethearts Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir?

I can’t believe…

The firestorm stirred up when the Canadian womens hockey team apparently had a few beers, some champagne and a cigar or two on the ice after their gold medal win over the United States.  Yes, maybe it wasn’t something you would want young impressionable kids to see but it was well after the fact and the girls thought that everyone had left the building. What? A gold medal winning women’s hockey team can’t have a beer or two to celebrate but we can call Jon Montgomery chugging a pitcher of ale walking down the street an Olympic moment? Fair? I think not.

Come on – we’ve got so many other things to worry about.

All these young women have done is represent our country with class.

An on-ice beer bash hardly sullies that image.

I believe..

That Jon Montgomery embodied the Canadian Olympic spirt and is going to be a star if he’s not already. Imagine eight years ago – he was a car auctioneer watching Sale and Pelletier  on television competing at the Salt Lake Games and deciding right there that he wanted to be an Olympian. I think figure skating might have been a safer choice but the Russell Manitoba bid caller sold himself on the wild sport of skeleton and now the rest is history. 

He’s been on every TV show imaginable including Oprah.

He’s now a household name in Canada and his story should be an inspiration to everyone.

Believe in something strong enough – work hard enough and you can make your dreams come true.

And with a guy that can chug like that – beer companies be calling Jon Montgomery pronto.

I’m sure he’d be the perfect guy for a Molson Canadian ad – or even better Golden.

I believe..

That when I die…I want to come back as my kid.

My two oldest boys Tyler and Brody  spent the last week of the Olympics in Vancouver and though my wife and I hesitated to take them out of school, which I firmly believe is way important than anything, this was an experience of a lifetime and something that no teacher  could ever teach.

Even though they’re only nine and eight years old, they knew it was something special to be in Vancouver. What they saw there and what they learned will stay with them forever especially walking back to the hotel in the sea of red and white after the gold medal hockey game. You can’t teach pride to a child. It has to be instilled. It’s something they have to feel. And they did.

Lucky kids who were soaking it all in and dreaming of becoming Olympians.

Watching the Games through their eyes made the experience for me even more golden.

I believe…

The Olympics makes the world a much better place. In fact, I’m certain that if we could hold a Summer or Winter Games 365 days a year – our planet would be a much better place. It’s amazing that so many countries, including those in conflict, can get together under one flag and exist with such harmony, innocence and peace in the spirit of sport.

I believe..

That we’re a closer country than we were 17 days ago. Closer and better. A few years ago, we had a tendency to be reserved about our patriotism.

It was over the top to celebrate too much.

Over the top to wave our flag. Too much to brag about our success. And too “American” to tell the world we’re good.

But it seems different now..

We’re celebrating today. We’re waving our flag. We can brag our what we’ve done and guess what world – we are good.

And finally, I truly believe…

That I’m going to go through some serious Olympic withdrawl. 

No Games. No arenas. No athletes to cheer and tear for. 

I mean – the flame is out – and now it’s back to real life.

Thank goodness for the guy who invented the PVR. 

Thank goodness for scrapbooks and memories.

Thank goodness for Vancouver hosting the Olympics…

Oh Canada..Go Canada..

Unbelievable..eh..

Defining Moment Day 17

Oh my Gold..

Sid the kid – you are the new Paul Henderson.

No, it wasn’t quite like the seminal Summit Series goal of 1972 and it may not have been heard around the world but it certainly has been heard around Canada.

And it’s still being heard here in Vancouver or should we call it Horn-couver…

Car horns, air horns, all kinds of horns hooting and blowing ever since Sidney Crosby found the net in overtime to put an end to a thrilling gold medal game against the United States. Ironically, Crosby became the hero after a very mediocre tournament. In fact, many people were starting to wonder if Crosby was actually hurt since he was not playing like the #87 we’ve grown accustomed to.

But great players do great things at the right time. And like all the legends of the game, there was Crosby right there at the right time.

A pass from Jarome Iginla – a quick shot that beat the unbeatable Ryan Miller – and then Crosby, looking almost shocked ,throwing his gloves and stick in the air soon to be swallowed by his swarming teammates. 

From there – pandemonium prevailed. Canada Hockey Place became Canada Hockey Heaven. The medals were presented. Crosby’s name was chanted over and over along with the Loos for Roberto Luongo who had a chance to enjoy the biggest moment of his life in his home rink. The range of emotion for Luongo had to be mind boggling considering he had allowed the Americans to tie the game up in the final seconds and send it to overtime.

This was my one and only day off at the Games and I was lucky to be there with my family. Normally, I’m an unbiased observer who watches the game with an objective eye but today I went as a hockey fan and I loved every minute of it. 

There we sat near the rafters with one of the best views of what as to unfold. And as the game ebbed and flowed, you had a real sense that Team Canada was playing too cautious, too defensive in the third period, almost as if they were trying not to lose as opposed to trying to win. 

The building rocked from beginning to end – but in the intermission before overtime, there was a strange feeling among a lot of nervous Canadian hockey fans in the house, knowing that Team USA could be on the verge of writing the script for the new “Miracle on Ice”. 

But not this time. 1972′s Henderson scores for Canada was 2010′s Crosby scores for Canadian Gold.

And there was Sid the Kid looking like a little boy – a little golden boy – hoisting a mammoth Canadian flag and taking it for a victory lap.

Game over.

Games over.

And could these Winter Games have ended on any better note?

After underacheiving in the first week of the Olympics, the Canadian athletes more than exceeded expectations in the second half of the Games. 

More medals than ever before. More gold than ever before.

More red and more white than you could ever imagine.

And so many highlights to add to that commemorative DVD boxed set that was being advertised ad nauseum.

More than anything – there were so many moments.

Moments that oozed magic. 

Memories that will last a lifetime.

I’ve had a chance to broadcast and report at a number of Olympic Games but Vancouver 2010 was so far off the charts – it was unmeasurable.

Were these the “best ever” Games in Olympic history?

I’m not sure I can answer that but I do know they were Canada’s “best ever” Olympics.

Because – these were your Games. 

These were OUR Games.

A chance to show the world that Vancouver is a world class city and Canada is a world class destination.

But mostly – these were our athletes Games.

Thank you Team Canada for showing your spirit, your pride, your class, and in the end – your medals.

Almost time to head home – one more night. One more blog.

I’d like to sleep but the horns are still blaring in Fun-couver.