Add Modano to the 'ugly American' list

[nccanes]

Why do people feel compelled to do this? Why not get with USA Hockey and discuss any (legitimate) complaints instead of painting yourself as a total sore loser millionaire cry baby.



Finger-pointing follows Americans' loss

IRA PODELL
Associated Press

TURIN, Italy - Mike Modano took no shots in the loss that bounced the U.S. men's hockey team from the Olympics. He saved his best one for afterward. The three-time Olympian was benched for most of the third period in the Americans' 4-3 loss Wednesday night to Finland in the quarterfinals. Then he took aim at the people who put the disappointing squad together.

"You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine, but it's not," he said. "Basically we were on our own for hotels, tickets, flights, stuff like that.

"Normally we wouldn't have to worry about stuff like that." (Oh dear, did someone not reimburse you for your dogsitter or something?)
The Americans came out flat in the opening period Wednesday, allowing Sami Salo's short-handed goal that gave Finland a 2-0 lead. Modano scored two goals in the tournament, yet was a non-factor in the finale, when he didn't so much as put a puck on the net.

"It's very disappointing, because the people at USA Hockey do a tremendous job," general manager Don Waddell said of Modano's comments. "There is a lot of pressure on people. The top people at USA Hockey are volunteers."

U.S. coach Peter Laviolette didn't think enough of Modano's performance to have him on the ice during crunch time.

He certainly was less pleased with the forward's Olympic exit interview.

"We were down looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't about Mike Modano," he said. "The third period was clearly our best period. ... I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump."

Waddell choked back tears as he tried to explain why the team he built was bounced out of the games with just one win and no medals.

"We came here with higher expectations, and it's disappointing. But you have to move on," the Atlanta Thrashers general manager said.

But difficult travel plans and just two days from the time the NHL broke for the Olympics until the first game were hardly the reasons Laviolette was forced to call timeout before 11 minutes elapsed against Finland. His club was behind 1-0 and in danger of being swept off the ice by an undefeated team.

"I don't know if we were nervous, but we came out flat," said New Jersey forward Brian Gionta, who scored a team-high four goals.

That made this the latest Olympic disappointment for the U.S. The women's hockey team seemed a lock for at least a silver medal, but had to settle for bronze after falling to Sweden in the semis.

The men didn't even get that far.

"We're out of the tournament, but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over," Waddell said.

Olli Jokinen scored two power-play goals in the second period for Finland, which recovered after blowing an early two-goal lead. The Finns will play in the semifinals on Friday against Russia, while the Americans (1-4-1) will try to figure out why they managed only one win after capturing the silver medal four years ago in Salt Lake City.

"We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said. "From the start tonight, I thought we were standing instead of skating."

It didn't help that goalie Rick DiPietro wasn't at the top of his game. After making three consecutive starts in the preliminary round, he had two days off before facing Finland.

He said he didn't lose his edge, but he also didn't reclaim the form he showed earlier when he allowed only five goals in three games. That was only good enough to earn the Americans one win and a fourth-place finish in their pool.

All four U.S. losses were by one goal.

"When you lose and don't get a chance to play for a medal, it's the most disappointing thing that could happen in hockey right now for me," the New York Islanders goalie said.

The Americans pulled DiPietro in the last 90 seconds, and Finnish goalie Antero Niittymaki made 15 of his 25 saves in the third period to hold off the United States' final push.

Gionta closed the gap to 4-3 with 4:27 left. But Finland (6-0), which came in with a 19-2 scoring edge, closed down on defense in the final period and recorded only three shots.

Ville Peltonen gave Finland its first lead when he rolled a puck between DiPietro's pads, and Salo made it 2-0.

The Americans rallied, however, on goals by Mike Knuble and Mathieu Schneider. But Jokinen netted his first goal at 5:06 of the second period and then made it 4-2 with 2:50 remaining in the frame.

United States penalties throughout the third period - including a 4-minute, high-sticking call against Derian Hatcher, who knocked out two of Teemu Selanne's teeth and bloodied his mouth - cut off any chance of a comeback. That left Waddell hunched over in his seat and staring at the floor.

Laviolette tried to shake life into his team early by calling his timeout. He yelled curses as he face turned red, and finished the tirade with an emphatic, "Let's Go!"

And go they did, right out of the tournament.

"I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game, and we were clearly sitting back on our heels. We needed to get going before this got too far out of hand."

The United States, 6-3-2 against Finland in the Olympics, got within 2-1 when Knuble deflected in Schneider's drive at 13:14 of the first. The Americans tied it when Schneider scored just 1:29 into the second period.

Finland, which eliminated the United States during the semifinals of the World Cup of Hockey in 2004, then got the deciding offense from Jokinen. It was the Finns' first victory in these Olympics decided by fewer than two goals.

"We know we can beat anybody when we play on our level, and we didn't even didn't have to play that well tonight," Selanne said.


Nice zinger Teemu!

[nccanes]

Why do people feel compelled to do this? Why not get with USA Hockey and discuss any (legitimate) complaints instead of painting yourself as a total sore loser millionaire cry baby.



Finger-pointing follows Americans' loss

IRA PODELL
Associated Press

TURIN, Italy - Mike Modano took no shots in the loss that bounced the U.S. men's hockey team from the Olympics. He saved his best one for afterward. The three-time Olympian was benched for most of the third period in the Americans' 4-3 loss Wednesday night to Finland in the quarterfinals. Then he took aim at the people who put the disappointing squad together.

"You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine, but it's not," he said. "Basically we were on our own for hotels, tickets, flights, stuff like that.

"Normally we wouldn't have to worry about stuff like that." (Oh dear, did someone not reimburse you for your dogsitter or something?)
The Americans came out flat in the opening period Wednesday, allowing Sami Salo's short-handed goal that gave Finland a 2-0 lead. Modano scored two goals in the tournament, yet was a non-factor in the finale, when he didn't so much as put a puck on the net.

"It's very disappointing, because the people at USA Hockey do a tremendous job," general manager Don Waddell said of Modano's comments. "There is a lot of pressure on people. The top people at USA Hockey are volunteers."

U.S. coach Peter Laviolette didn't think enough of Modano's performance to have him on the ice during crunch time.

He certainly was less pleased with the forward's Olympic exit interview.

"We were down looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't about Mike Modano," he said. "The third period was clearly our best period. ... I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump."

Waddell choked back tears as he tried to explain why the team he built was bounced out of the games with just one win and no medals.

"We came here with higher expectations, and it's disappointing. But you have to move on," the Atlanta Thrashers general manager said.

But difficult travel plans and just two days from the time the NHL broke for the Olympics until the first game were hardly the reasons Laviolette was forced to call timeout before 11 minutes elapsed against Finland. His club was behind 1-0 and in danger of being swept off the ice by an undefeated team.

"I don't know if we were nervous, but we came out flat," said New Jersey forward Brian Gionta, who scored a team-high four goals.

That made this the latest Olympic disappointment for the U.S. The women's hockey team seemed a lock for at least a silver medal, but had to settle for bronze after falling to Sweden in the semis.

The men didn't even get that far.

"We're out of the tournament, but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over," Waddell said.

Olli Jokinen scored two power-play goals in the second period for Finland, which recovered after blowing an early two-goal lead. The Finns will play in the semifinals on Friday against Russia, while the Americans (1-4-1) will try to figure out why they managed only one win after capturing the silver medal four years ago in Salt Lake City.

"We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said. "From the start tonight, I thought we were standing instead of skating."

It didn't help that goalie Rick DiPietro wasn't at the top of his game. After making three consecutive starts in the preliminary round, he had two days off before facing Finland.

He said he didn't lose his edge, but he also didn't reclaim the form he showed earlier when he allowed only five goals in three games. That was only good enough to earn the Americans one win and a fourth-place finish in their pool.

All four U.S. losses were by one goal.

"When you lose and don't get a chance to play for a medal, it's the most disappointing thing that could happen in hockey right now for me," the New York Islanders goalie said.

The Americans pulled DiPietro in the last 90 seconds, and Finnish goalie Antero Niittymaki made 15 of his 25 saves in the third period to hold off the United States' final push.

Gionta closed the gap to 4-3 with 4:27 left. But Finland (6-0), which came in with a 19-2 scoring edge, closed down on defense in the final period and recorded only three shots.

Ville Peltonen gave Finland its first lead when he rolled a puck between DiPietro's pads, and Salo made it 2-0.

The Americans rallied, however, on goals by Mike Knuble and Mathieu Schneider. But Jokinen netted his first goal at 5:06 of the second period and then made it 4-2 with 2:50 remaining in the frame.

United States penalties throughout the third period - including a 4-minute, high-sticking call against Derian Hatcher, who knocked out two of Teemu Selanne's teeth and bloodied his mouth - cut off any chance of a comeback. That left Waddell hunched over in his seat and staring at the floor.

Laviolette tried to shake life into his team early by calling his timeout. He yelled curses as he face turned red, and finished the tirade with an emphatic, "Let's Go!"

And go they did, right out of the tournament.

"I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game, and we were clearly sitting back on our heels. We needed to get going before this got too far out of hand."

The United States, 6-3-2 against Finland in the Olympics, got within 2-1 when Knuble deflected in Schneider's drive at 13:14 of the first. The Americans tied it when Schneider scored just 1:29 into the second period.

Finland, which eliminated the United States during the semifinals of the World Cup of Hockey in 2004, then got the deciding offense from Jokinen. It was the Finns' first victory in these Olympics decided by fewer than two goals.

"We know we can beat anybody when we play on our level, and we didn't even didn't have to play that well tonight," Selanne said.


Nice zinger Teemu!

[nccanes]

Why do people feel compelled to do this? Why not get with USA Hockey and discuss any (legitimate) complaints instead of painting yourself as a total sore loser millionaire cry baby.



Finger-pointing follows Americans' loss

IRA PODELL
Associated Press

TURIN, Italy - Mike Modano took no shots in the loss that bounced the U.S. men's hockey team from the Olympics. He saved his best one for afterward. The three-time Olympian was benched for most of the third period in the Americans' 4-3 loss Wednesday night to Finland in the quarterfinals. Then he took aim at the people who put the disappointing squad together.

"You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine, but it's not," he said. "Basically we were on our own for hotels, tickets, flights, stuff like that.

"Normally we wouldn't have to worry about stuff like that." (Oh dear, did someone not reimburse you for your dogsitter or something?)
The Americans came out flat in the opening period Wednesday, allowing Sami Salo's short-handed goal that gave Finland a 2-0 lead. Modano scored two goals in the tournament, yet was a non-factor in the finale, when he didn't so much as put a puck on the net.

"It's very disappointing, because the people at USA Hockey do a tremendous job," general manager Don Waddell said of Modano's comments. "There is a lot of pressure on people. The top people at USA Hockey are volunteers."

U.S. coach Peter Laviolette didn't think enough of Modano's performance to have him on the ice during crunch time.

He certainly was less pleased with the forward's Olympic exit interview.

"We were down looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't about Mike Modano," he said. "The third period was clearly our best period. ... I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump."

Waddell choked back tears as he tried to explain why the team he built was bounced out of the games with just one win and no medals.

"We came here with higher expectations, and it's disappointing. But you have to move on," the Atlanta Thrashers general manager said.

But difficult travel plans and just two days from the time the NHL broke for the Olympics until the first game were hardly the reasons Laviolette was forced to call timeout before 11 minutes elapsed against Finland. His club was behind 1-0 and in danger of being swept off the ice by an undefeated team.

"I don't know if we were nervous, but we came out flat," said New Jersey forward Brian Gionta, who scored a team-high four goals.

That made this the latest Olympic disappointment for the U.S. The women's hockey team seemed a lock for at least a silver medal, but had to settle for bronze after falling to Sweden in the semis.

The men didn't even get that far.

"We're out of the tournament, but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over," Waddell said.

Olli Jokinen scored two power-play goals in the second period for Finland, which recovered after blowing an early two-goal lead. The Finns will play in the semifinals on Friday against Russia, while the Americans (1-4-1) will try to figure out why they managed only one win after capturing the silver medal four years ago in Salt Lake City.

"We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said. "From the start tonight, I thought we were standing instead of skating."

It didn't help that goalie Rick DiPietro wasn't at the top of his game. After making three consecutive starts in the preliminary round, he had two days off before facing Finland.

He said he didn't lose his edge, but he also didn't reclaim the form he showed earlier when he allowed only five goals in three games. That was only good enough to earn the Americans one win and a fourth-place finish in their pool.

All four U.S. losses were by one goal.

"When you lose and don't get a chance to play for a medal, it's the most disappointing thing that could happen in hockey right now for me," the New York Islanders goalie said.

The Americans pulled DiPietro in the last 90 seconds, and Finnish goalie Antero Niittymaki made 15 of his 25 saves in the third period to hold off the United States' final push.

Gionta closed the gap to 4-3 with 4:27 left. But Finland (6-0), which came in with a 19-2 scoring edge, closed down on defense in the final period and recorded only three shots.

Ville Peltonen gave Finland its first lead when he rolled a puck between DiPietro's pads, and Salo made it 2-0.

The Americans rallied, however, on goals by Mike Knuble and Mathieu Schneider. But Jokinen netted his first goal at 5:06 of the second period and then made it 4-2 with 2:50 remaining in the frame.

United States penalties throughout the third period - including a 4-minute, high-sticking call against Derian Hatcher, who knocked out two of Teemu Selanne's teeth and bloodied his mouth - cut off any chance of a comeback. That left Waddell hunched over in his seat and staring at the floor.

Laviolette tried to shake life into his team early by calling his timeout. He yelled curses as he face turned red, and finished the tirade with an emphatic, "Let's Go!"

And go they did, right out of the tournament.

"I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game, and we were clearly sitting back on our heels. We needed to get going before this got too far out of hand."

The United States, 6-3-2 against Finland in the Olympics, got within 2-1 when Knuble deflected in Schneider's drive at 13:14 of the first. The Americans tied it when Schneider scored just 1:29 into the second period.

Finland, which eliminated the United States during the semifinals of the World Cup of Hockey in 2004, then got the deciding offense from Jokinen. It was the Finns' first victory in these Olympics decided by fewer than two goals.

"We know we can beat anybody when we play on our level, and we didn't even didn't have to play that well tonight," Selanne said.


Nice zinger Teemu!

[nccanes]

Why do people feel compelled to do this? Why not get with USA Hockey and discuss any (legitimate) complaints instead of painting yourself as a total sore loser millionaire cry baby.



Finger-pointing follows Americans' loss

IRA PODELL
Associated Press

TURIN, Italy - Mike Modano took no shots in the loss that bounced the U.S. men's hockey team from the Olympics. He saved his best one for afterward. The three-time Olympian was benched for most of the third period in the Americans' 4-3 loss Wednesday night to Finland in the quarterfinals. Then he took aim at the people who put the disappointing squad together.

"You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine, but it's not," he said. "Basically we were on our own for hotels, tickets, flights, stuff like that.

"Normally we wouldn't have to worry about stuff like that." (Oh dear, did someone not reimburse you for your dogsitter or something?)
The Americans came out flat in the opening period Wednesday, allowing Sami Salo's short-handed goal that gave Finland a 2-0 lead. Modano scored two goals in the tournament, yet was a non-factor in the finale, when he didn't so much as put a puck on the net.

"It's very disappointing, because the people at USA Hockey do a tremendous job," general manager Don Waddell said of Modano's comments. "There is a lot of pressure on people. The top people at USA Hockey are volunteers."

U.S. coach Peter Laviolette didn't think enough of Modano's performance to have him on the ice during crunch time.

He certainly was less pleased with the forward's Olympic exit interview.

"We were down looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't about Mike Modano," he said. "The third period was clearly our best period. ... I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump."

Waddell choked back tears as he tried to explain why the team he built was bounced out of the games with just one win and no medals.

"We came here with higher expectations, and it's disappointing. But you have to move on," the Atlanta Thrashers general manager said.

But difficult travel plans and just two days from the time the NHL broke for the Olympics until the first game were hardly the reasons Laviolette was forced to call timeout before 11 minutes elapsed against Finland. His club was behind 1-0 and in danger of being swept off the ice by an undefeated team.

"I don't know if we were nervous, but we came out flat," said New Jersey forward Brian Gionta, who scored a team-high four goals.

That made this the latest Olympic disappointment for the U.S. The women's hockey team seemed a lock for at least a silver medal, but had to settle for bronze after falling to Sweden in the semis.

The men didn't even get that far.

"We're out of the tournament, but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over," Waddell said.

Olli Jokinen scored two power-play goals in the second period for Finland, which recovered after blowing an early two-goal lead. The Finns will play in the semifinals on Friday against Russia, while the Americans (1-4-1) will try to figure out why they managed only one win after capturing the silver medal four years ago in Salt Lake City.

"We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said. "From the start tonight, I thought we were standing instead of skating."

It didn't help that goalie Rick DiPietro wasn't at the top of his game. After making three consecutive starts in the preliminary round, he had two days off before facing Finland.

He said he didn't lose his edge, but he also didn't reclaim the form he showed earlier when he allowed only five goals in three games. That was only good enough to earn the Americans one win and a fourth-place finish in their pool.

All four U.S. losses were by one goal.

"When you lose and don't get a chance to play for a medal, it's the most disappointing thing that could happen in hockey right now for me," the New York Islanders goalie said.

The Americans pulled DiPietro in the last 90 seconds, and Finnish goalie Antero Niittymaki made 15 of his 25 saves in the third period to hold off the United States' final push.

Gionta closed the gap to 4-3 with 4:27 left. But Finland (6-0), which came in with a 19-2 scoring edge, closed down on defense in the final period and recorded only three shots.

Ville Peltonen gave Finland its first lead when he rolled a puck between DiPietro's pads, and Salo made it 2-0.

The Americans rallied, however, on goals by Mike Knuble and Mathieu Schneider. But Jokinen netted his first goal at 5:06 of the second period and then made it 4-2 with 2:50 remaining in the frame.

United States penalties throughout the third period - including a 4-minute, high-sticking call against Derian Hatcher, who knocked out two of Teemu Selanne's teeth and bloodied his mouth - cut off any chance of a comeback. That left Waddell hunched over in his seat and staring at the floor.

Laviolette tried to shake life into his team early by calling his timeout. He yelled curses as he face turned red, and finished the tirade with an emphatic, "Let's Go!"

And go they did, right out of the tournament.

"I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game, and we were clearly sitting back on our heels. We needed to get going before this got too far out of hand."

The United States, 6-3-2 against Finland in the Olympics, got within 2-1 when Knuble deflected in Schneider's drive at 13:14 of the first. The Americans tied it when Schneider scored just 1:29 into the second period.

Finland, which eliminated the United States during the semifinals of the World Cup of Hockey in 2004, then got the deciding offense from Jokinen. It was the Finns' first victory in these Olympics decided by fewer than two goals.

"We know we can beat anybody when we play on our level, and we didn't even didn't have to play that well tonight," Selanne said.


Nice zinger Teemu!

[nccanes]

Why do people feel compelled to do this? Why not get with USA Hockey and discuss any (legitimate) complaints instead of painting yourself as a total sore loser millionaire cry baby.



Finger-pointing follows Americans' loss

IRA PODELL
Associated Press

TURIN, Italy - Mike Modano took no shots in the loss that bounced the U.S. men's hockey team from the Olympics. He saved his best one for afterward. The three-time Olympian was benched for most of the third period in the Americans' 4-3 loss Wednesday night to Finland in the quarterfinals. Then he took aim at the people who put the disappointing squad together.

"You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine, but it's not," he said. "Basically we were on our own for hotels, tickets, flights, stuff like that.

"Normally we wouldn't have to worry about stuff like that." (Oh dear, did someone not reimburse you for your dogsitter or something?)
The Americans came out flat in the opening period Wednesday, allowing Sami Salo's short-handed goal that gave Finland a 2-0 lead. Modano scored two goals in the tournament, yet was a non-factor in the finale, when he didn't so much as put a puck on the net.

"It's very disappointing, because the people at USA Hockey do a tremendous job," general manager Don Waddell said of Modano's comments. "There is a lot of pressure on people. The top people at USA Hockey are volunteers."

U.S. coach Peter Laviolette didn't think enough of Modano's performance to have him on the ice during crunch time.

He certainly was less pleased with the forward's Olympic exit interview.

"We were down looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't about Mike Modano," he said. "The third period was clearly our best period. ... I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump."

Waddell choked back tears as he tried to explain why the team he built was bounced out of the games with just one win and no medals.

"We came here with higher expectations, and it's disappointing. But you have to move on," the Atlanta Thrashers general manager said.

But difficult travel plans and just two days from the time the NHL broke for the Olympics until the first game were hardly the reasons Laviolette was forced to call timeout before 11 minutes elapsed against Finland. His club was behind 1-0 and in danger of being swept off the ice by an undefeated team.

"I don't know if we were nervous, but we came out flat," said New Jersey forward Brian Gionta, who scored a team-high four goals.

That made this the latest Olympic disappointment for the U.S. The women's hockey team seemed a lock for at least a silver medal, but had to settle for bronze after falling to Sweden in the semis.

The men didn't even get that far.

"We're out of the tournament, but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over," Waddell said.

Olli Jokinen scored two power-play goals in the second period for Finland, which recovered after blowing an early two-goal lead. The Finns will play in the semifinals on Friday against Russia, while the Americans (1-4-1) will try to figure out why they managed only one win after capturing the silver medal four years ago in Salt Lake City.

"We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said. "From the start tonight, I thought we were standing instead of skating."

It didn't help that goalie Rick DiPietro wasn't at the top of his game. After making three consecutive starts in the preliminary round, he had two days off before facing Finland.

He said he didn't lose his edge, but he also didn't reclaim the form he showed earlier when he allowed only five goals in three games. That was only good enough to earn the Americans one win and a fourth-place finish in their pool.

All four U.S. losses were by one goal.

"When you lose and don't get a chance to play for a medal, it's the most disappointing thing that could happen in hockey right now for me," the New York Islanders goalie said.

The Americans pulled DiPietro in the last 90 seconds, and Finnish goalie Antero Niittymaki made 15 of his 25 saves in the third period to hold off the United States' final push.

Gionta closed the gap to 4-3 with 4:27 left. But Finland (6-0), which came in with a 19-2 scoring edge, closed down on defense in the final period and recorded only three shots.

Ville Peltonen gave Finland its first lead when he rolled a puck between DiPietro's pads, and Salo made it 2-0.

The Americans rallied, however, on goals by Mike Knuble and Mathieu Schneider. But Jokinen netted his first goal at 5:06 of the second period and then made it 4-2 with 2:50 remaining in the frame.

United States penalties throughout the third period - including a 4-minute, high-sticking call against Derian Hatcher, who knocked out two of Teemu Selanne's teeth and bloodied his mouth - cut off any chance of a comeback. That left Waddell hunched over in his seat and staring at the floor.

Laviolette tried to shake life into his team early by calling his timeout. He yelled curses as he face turned red, and finished the tirade with an emphatic, "Let's Go!"

And go they did, right out of the tournament.

"I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game, and we were clearly sitting back on our heels. We needed to get going before this got too far out of hand."

The United States, 6-3-2 against Finland in the Olympics, got within 2-1 when Knuble deflected in Schneider's drive at 13:14 of the first. The Americans tied it when Schneider scored just 1:29 into the second period.

Finland, which eliminated the United States during the semifinals of the World Cup of Hockey in 2004, then got the deciding offense from Jokinen. It was the Finns' first victory in these Olympics decided by fewer than two goals.

"We know we can beat anybody when we play on our level, and we didn't even didn't have to play that well tonight," Selanne said.


Nice zinger Teemu!

[nccanes]

Why do people feel compelled to do this? Why not get with USA Hockey and discuss any (legitimate) complaints instead of painting yourself as a total sore loser millionaire cry baby.



Finger-pointing follows Americans' loss

IRA PODELL
Associated Press

TURIN, Italy - Mike Modano took no shots in the loss that bounced the U.S. men's hockey team from the Olympics. He saved his best one for afterward. The three-time Olympian was benched for most of the third period in the Americans' 4-3 loss Wednesday night to Finland in the quarterfinals. Then he took aim at the people who put the disappointing squad together.

"You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine, but it's not," he said. "Basically we were on our own for hotels, tickets, flights, stuff like that.

"Normally we wouldn't have to worry about stuff like that." (Oh dear, did someone not reimburse you for your dogsitter or something?)
The Americans came out flat in the opening period Wednesday, allowing Sami Salo's short-handed goal that gave Finland a 2-0 lead. Modano scored two goals in the tournament, yet was a non-factor in the finale, when he didn't so much as put a puck on the net.

"It's very disappointing, because the people at USA Hockey do a tremendous job," general manager Don Waddell said of Modano's comments. "There is a lot of pressure on people. The top people at USA Hockey are volunteers."

U.S. coach Peter Laviolette didn't think enough of Modano's performance to have him on the ice during crunch time.

He certainly was less pleased with the forward's Olympic exit interview.

"We were down looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't about Mike Modano," he said. "The third period was clearly our best period. ... I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump."

Waddell choked back tears as he tried to explain why the team he built was bounced out of the games with just one win and no medals.

"We came here with higher expectations, and it's disappointing. But you have to move on," the Atlanta Thrashers general manager said.

But difficult travel plans and just two days from the time the NHL broke for the Olympics until the first game were hardly the reasons Laviolette was forced to call timeout before 11 minutes elapsed against Finland. His club was behind 1-0 and in danger of being swept off the ice by an undefeated team.

"I don't know if we were nervous, but we came out flat," said New Jersey forward Brian Gionta, who scored a team-high four goals.

That made this the latest Olympic disappointment for the U.S. The women's hockey team seemed a lock for at least a silver medal, but had to settle for bronze after falling to Sweden in the semis.

The men didn't even get that far.

"We're out of the tournament, but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over," Waddell said.

Olli Jokinen scored two power-play goals in the second period for Finland, which recovered after blowing an early two-goal lead. The Finns will play in the semifinals on Friday against Russia, while the Americans (1-4-1) will try to figure out why they managed only one win after capturing the silver medal four years ago in Salt Lake City.

"We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said. "From the start tonight, I thought we were standing instead of skating."

It didn't help that goalie Rick DiPietro wasn't at the top of his game. After making three consecutive starts in the preliminary round, he had two days off before facing Finland.

He said he didn't lose his edge, but he also didn't reclaim the form he showed earlier when he allowed only five goals in three games. That was only good enough to earn the Americans one win and a fourth-place finish in their pool.

All four U.S. losses were by one goal.

"When you lose and don't get a chance to play for a medal, it's the most disappointing thing that could happen in hockey right now for me," the New York Islanders goalie said.

The Americans pulled DiPietro in the last 90 seconds, and Finnish goalie Antero Niittymaki made 15 of his 25 saves in the third period to hold off the United States' final push.

Gionta closed the gap to 4-3 with 4:27 left. But Finland (6-0), which came in with a 19-2 scoring edge, closed down on defense in the final period and recorded only three shots.

Ville Peltonen gave Finland its first lead when he rolled a puck between DiPietro's pads, and Salo made it 2-0.

The Americans rallied, however, on goals by Mike Knuble and Mathieu Schneider. But Jokinen netted his first goal at 5:06 of the second period and then made it 4-2 with 2:50 remaining in the frame.

United States penalties throughout the third period - including a 4-minute, high-sticking call against Derian Hatcher, who knocked out two of Teemu Selanne's teeth and bloodied his mouth - cut off any chance of a comeback. That left Waddell hunched over in his seat and staring at the floor.

Laviolette tried to shake life into his team early by calling his timeout. He yelled curses as he face turned red, and finished the tirade with an emphatic, "Let's Go!"

And go they did, right out of the tournament.

"I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game, and we were clearly sitting back on our heels. We needed to get going before this got too far out of hand."

The United States, 6-3-2 against Finland in the Olympics, got within 2-1 when Knuble deflected in Schneider's drive at 13:14 of the first. The Americans tied it when Schneider scored just 1:29 into the second period.

Finland, which eliminated the United States during the semifinals of the World Cup of Hockey in 2004, then got the deciding offense from Jokinen. It was the Finns' first victory in these Olympics decided by fewer than two goals.

"We know we can beat anybody when we play on our level, and we didn't even didn't have to play that well tonight," Selanne said.


Nice zinger Teemu!

[nccanes]

Why do people feel compelled to do this? Why not get with USA Hockey and discuss any (legitimate) complaints instead of painting yourself as a total sore loser millionaire cry baby.



Finger-pointing follows Americans' loss

IRA PODELL
Associated Press

TURIN, Italy - Mike Modano took no shots in the loss that bounced the U.S. men's hockey team from the Olympics. He saved his best one for afterward. The three-time Olympian was benched for most of the third period in the Americans' 4-3 loss Wednesday night to Finland in the quarterfinals. Then he took aim at the people who put the disappointing squad together.

"You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine, but it's not," he said. "Basically we were on our own for hotels, tickets, flights, stuff like that.

"Normally we wouldn't have to worry about stuff like that." (Oh dear, did someone not reimburse you for your dogsitter or something?)
The Americans came out flat in the opening period Wednesday, allowing Sami Salo's short-handed goal that gave Finland a 2-0 lead. Modano scored two goals in the tournament, yet was a non-factor in the finale, when he didn't so much as put a puck on the net.

"It's very disappointing, because the people at USA Hockey do a tremendous job," general manager Don Waddell said of Modano's comments. "There is a lot of pressure on people. The top people at USA Hockey are volunteers."

U.S. coach Peter Laviolette didn't think enough of Modano's performance to have him on the ice during crunch time.

He certainly was less pleased with the forward's Olympic exit interview.

"We were down looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't about Mike Modano," he said. "The third period was clearly our best period. ... I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump."

Waddell choked back tears as he tried to explain why the team he built was bounced out of the games with just one win and no medals.

"We came here with higher expectations, and it's disappointing. But you have to move on," the Atlanta Thrashers general manager said.

But difficult travel plans and just two days from the time the NHL broke for the Olympics until the first game were hardly the reasons Laviolette was forced to call timeout before 11 minutes elapsed against Finland. His club was behind 1-0 and in danger of being swept off the ice by an undefeated team.

"I don't know if we were nervous, but we came out flat," said New Jersey forward Brian Gionta, who scored a team-high four goals.

That made this the latest Olympic disappointment for the U.S. The women's hockey team seemed a lock for at least a silver medal, but had to settle for bronze after falling to Sweden in the semis.

The men didn't even get that far.

"We're out of the tournament, but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over," Waddell said.

Olli Jokinen scored two power-play goals in the second period for Finland, which recovered after blowing an early two-goal lead. The Finns will play in the semifinals on Friday against Russia, while the Americans (1-4-1) will try to figure out why they managed only one win after capturing the silver medal four years ago in Salt Lake City.

"We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said. "From the start tonight, I thought we were standing instead of skating."

It didn't help that goalie Rick DiPietro wasn't at the top of his game. After making three consecutive starts in the preliminary round, he had two days off before facing Finland.

He said he didn't lose his edge, but he also didn't reclaim the form he showed earlier when he allowed only five goals in three games. That was only good enough to earn the Americans one win and a fourth-place finish in their pool.

All four U.S. losses were by one goal.

"When you lose and don't get a chance to play for a medal, it's the most disappointing thing that could happen in hockey right now for me," the New York Islanders goalie said.

The Americans pulled DiPietro in the last 90 seconds, and Finnish goalie Antero Niittymaki made 15 of his 25 saves in the third period to hold off the United States' final push.

Gionta closed the gap to 4-3 with 4:27 left. But Finland (6-0), which came in with a 19-2 scoring edge, closed down on defense in the final period and recorded only three shots.

Ville Peltonen gave Finland its first lead when he rolled a puck between DiPietro's pads, and Salo made it 2-0.

The Americans rallied, however, on goals by Mike Knuble and Mathieu Schneider. But Jokinen netted his first goal at 5:06 of the second period and then made it 4-2 with 2:50 remaining in the frame.

United States penalties throughout the third period - including a 4-minute, high-sticking call against Derian Hatcher, who knocked out two of Teemu Selanne's teeth and bloodied his mouth - cut off any chance of a comeback. That left Waddell hunched over in his seat and staring at the floor.

Laviolette tried to shake life into his team early by calling his timeout. He yelled curses as he face turned red, and finished the tirade with an emphatic, "Let's Go!"

And go they did, right out of the tournament.

"I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game, and we were clearly sitting back on our heels. We needed to get going before this got too far out of hand."

The United States, 6-3-2 against Finland in the Olympics, got within 2-1 when Knuble deflected in Schneider's drive at 13:14 of the first. The Americans tied it when Schneider scored just 1:29 into the second period.

Finland, which eliminated the United States during the semifinals of the World Cup of Hockey in 2004, then got the deciding offense from Jokinen. It was the Finns' first victory in these Olympics decided by fewer than two goals.

"We know we can beat anybody when we play on our level, and we didn't even didn't have to play that well tonight," Selanne said.


Nice zinger Teemu!

[talkingcanes]

I see Modano's PR lessons after the lockout went well. if he pays $400 a month for dog food, how much would he spend on a hotel, flight, etc? it must be very difficult to have to take care of those things yourself like, oh let's say the rest of us.

[talkingcanes]

I see Modano's PR lessons after the lockout went well. if he pays $400 a month for dog food, how much would he spend on a hotel, flight, etc? it must be very difficult to have to take care of those things yourself like, oh let's say the rest of us.

[talkingcanes]

I see Modano's PR lessons after the lockout went well. if he pays $400 a month for dog food, how much would he spend on a hotel, flight, etc? it must be very difficult to have to take care of those things yourself like, oh let's say the rest of us.

[talkingcanes]

I see Modano's PR lessons after the lockout went well. if he pays $400 a month for dog food, how much would he spend on a hotel, flight, etc? it must be very difficult to have to take care of those things yourself like, oh let's say the rest of us.

[talkingcanes]

I see Modano's PR lessons after the lockout went well. if he pays $400 a month for dog food, how much would he spend on a hotel, flight, etc? it must be very difficult to have to take care of those things yourself like, oh let's say the rest of us.

[talkingcanes]

I see Modano's PR lessons after the lockout went well. if he pays $400 a month for dog food, how much would he spend on a hotel, flight, etc? it must be very difficult to have to take care of those things yourself like, oh let's say the rest of us.

[talkingcanes]

I see Modano's PR lessons after the lockout went well. if he pays $400 a month for dog food, how much would he spend on a hotel, flight, etc? it must be very difficult to have to take care of those things yourself like, oh let's say the rest of us.

[nccanes]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Poor lugers and bobsledders that can't afford to bring their families with them - then again, they don't have that 'stress' of arranging their flights and hotels, so no sympathy for them.

[nccanes]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Poor lugers and bobsledders that can't afford to bring their families with them - then again, they don't have that 'stress' of arranging their flights and hotels, so no sympathy for them.

[nccanes]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Poor lugers and bobsledders that can't afford to bring their families with them - then again, they don't have that 'stress' of arranging their flights and hotels, so no sympathy for them.

[nccanes]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Poor lugers and bobsledders that can't afford to bring their families with them - then again, they don't have that 'stress' of arranging their flights and hotels, so no sympathy for them.

[nccanes]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Poor lugers and bobsledders that can't afford to bring their families with them - then again, they don't have that 'stress' of arranging their flights and hotels, so no sympathy for them.

[nccanes]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Poor lugers and bobsledders that can't afford to bring their families with them - then again, they don't have that 'stress' of arranging their flights and hotels, so no sympathy for them.

[nccanes]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Poor lugers and bobsledders that can't afford to bring their families with them - then again, they don't have that 'stress' of arranging their flights and hotels, so no sympathy for them.

[ontheglass]

Mike Modano for the "DHL Olympic Spirit Award?".... anybody? I'm so amazed how something as good and pure as the Olympics (Ok, maybe I'm looking through rose colored glasses) can bring out the worst in people. But then again look at the Italian Ice Dancing pair, Johnny Wier, and my now personal fav, Shani Davis.

[ontheglass]

Mike Modano for the "DHL Olympic Spirit Award?".... anybody? I'm so amazed how something as good and pure as the Olympics (Ok, maybe I'm looking through rose colored glasses) can bring out the worst in people. But then again look at the Italian Ice Dancing pair, Johnny Wier, and my now personal fav, Shani Davis.

[ontheglass]

Mike Modano for the "DHL Olympic Spirit Award?".... anybody? I'm so amazed how something as good and pure as the Olympics (Ok, maybe I'm looking through rose colored glasses) can bring out the worst in people. But then again look at the Italian Ice Dancing pair, Johnny Wier, and my now personal fav, Shani Davis.

[ontheglass]

Mike Modano for the "DHL Olympic Spirit Award?".... anybody? I'm so amazed how something as good and pure as the Olympics (Ok, maybe I'm looking through rose colored glasses) can bring out the worst in people. But then again look at the Italian Ice Dancing pair, Johnny Wier, and my now personal fav, Shani Davis.

[ontheglass]

Mike Modano for the "DHL Olympic Spirit Award?".... anybody? I'm so amazed how something as good and pure as the Olympics (Ok, maybe I'm looking through rose colored glasses) can bring out the worst in people. But then again look at the Italian Ice Dancing pair, Johnny Wier, and my now personal fav, Shani Davis.

[ontheglass]

Mike Modano for the "DHL Olympic Spirit Award?".... anybody? I'm so amazed how something as good and pure as the Olympics (Ok, maybe I'm looking through rose colored glasses) can bring out the worst in people. But then again look at the Italian Ice Dancing pair, Johnny Wier, and my now personal fav, Shani Davis.

[ontheglass]

Mike Modano for the "DHL Olympic Spirit Award?".... anybody? I'm so amazed how something as good and pure as the Olympics (Ok, maybe I'm looking through rose colored glasses) can bring out the worst in people. But then again look at the Italian Ice Dancing pair, Johnny Wier, and my now personal fav, Shani Davis.

[ontheglass]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Hotels... remember the NHL players in Nagano? Does anybody remember Modano's participation then? Actually, I think it was the trashing of the rooms in the Olympic village.

[ontheglass]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Hotels... remember the NHL players in Nagano? Does anybody remember Modano's participation then? Actually, I think it was the trashing of the rooms in the Olympic village.

[ontheglass]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Hotels... remember the NHL players in Nagano? Does anybody remember Modano's participation then? Actually, I think it was the trashing of the rooms in the Olympic village.

[ontheglass]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Hotels... remember the NHL players in Nagano? Does anybody remember Modano's participation then? Actually, I think it was the trashing of the rooms in the Olympic village.

[ontheglass]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Hotels... remember the NHL players in Nagano? Does anybody remember Modano's participation then? Actually, I think it was the trashing of the rooms in the Olympic village.

[ontheglass]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Hotels... remember the NHL players in Nagano? Does anybody remember Modano's participation then? Actually, I think it was the trashing of the rooms in the Olympic village.

[ontheglass]

And you've got to think the "hotels" comment was in relation to their families, as you know the athletes had housing in the village.

Hotels... remember the NHL players in Nagano? Does anybody remember Modano's participation then? Actually, I think it was the trashing of the rooms in the Olympic village.

[raleighcanesfan]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.
---
Sad, because so many of the USers and Canadanians are so thrilled just to play. Then Modano has to ruin it for everyone.

[raleighcanesfan]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.
---
Sad, because so many of the USers and Canadanians are so thrilled just to play. Then Modano has to ruin it for everyone.

[raleighcanesfan]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.
---
Sad, because so many of the USers and Canadanians are so thrilled just to play. Then Modano has to ruin it for everyone.

[raleighcanesfan]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.
---
Sad, because so many of the USers and Canadanians are so thrilled just to play. Then Modano has to ruin it for everyone.

[raleighcanesfan]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.
---
Sad, because so many of the USers and Canadanians are so thrilled just to play. Then Modano has to ruin it for everyone.

[raleighcanesfan]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.
---
Sad, because so many of the USers and Canadanians are so thrilled just to play. Then Modano has to ruin it for everyone.

[raleighcanesfan]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.
---
Sad, because so many of the USers and Canadanians are so thrilled just to play. Then Modano has to ruin it for everyone.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

What did Johnny Weir do?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

What did Johnny Weir do?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

What did Johnny Weir do?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

What did Johnny Weir do?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

What did Johnny Weir do?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

What did Johnny Weir do?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

What did Johnny Weir do?

[ontheglass]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.

I second that. I know that I have a bias, but I don't think we'll hear any negative comments (other than their dissappointment) from the Canes players.

[ontheglass]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.

I second that. I know that I have a bias, but I don't think we'll hear any negative comments (other than their dissappointment) from the Canes players.

[ontheglass]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.

I second that. I know that I have a bias, but I don't think we'll hear any negative comments (other than their dissappointment) from the Canes players.

[ontheglass]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.

I second that. I know that I have a bias, but I don't think we'll hear any negative comments (other than their dissappointment) from the Canes players.

[ontheglass]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.

I second that. I know that I have a bias, but I don't think we'll hear any negative comments (other than their dissappointment) from the Canes players.

[ontheglass]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.

I second that. I know that I have a bias, but I don't think we'll hear any negative comments (other than their dissappointment) from the Canes players.

[ontheglass]

Here's to my vote of no Canadian and US NHLers in Vancouver. The rest of them carry themselves with style and dignity, but not North America. I think the frustration that the rest of the world has caught up with them is a little unsettling.

I second that. I know that I have a bias, but I don't think we'll hear any negative comments (other than their dissappointment) from the Canes players.

[ontheglass]

What did Johnny Weir do?

Maybe I'm sensitive to the subject, but I was stationed in Italy and when I saw the "Ugly American" I was always embarrassed. At first I tried to help the "UA", then after I knew that I couldn't reason with them, I spoke to the locals and apologized to them saying that they didn't represent the typical American.

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.

Anytime you travel, you are am ambassador of ths US, and the US Olympians should act accordingly.

[ontheglass]

What did Johnny Weir do?

Maybe I'm sensitive to the subject, but I was stationed in Italy and when I saw the "Ugly American" I was always embarrassed. At first I tried to help the "UA", then after I knew that I couldn't reason with them, I spoke to the locals and apologized to them saying that they didn't represent the typical American.

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.

Anytime you travel, you are am ambassador of ths US, and the US Olympians should act accordingly.

[ontheglass]

What did Johnny Weir do?

Maybe I'm sensitive to the subject, but I was stationed in Italy and when I saw the "Ugly American" I was always embarrassed. At first I tried to help the "UA", then after I knew that I couldn't reason with them, I spoke to the locals and apologized to them saying that they didn't represent the typical American.

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.

Anytime you travel, you are am ambassador of ths US, and the US Olympians should act accordingly.

[ontheglass]

What did Johnny Weir do?

Maybe I'm sensitive to the subject, but I was stationed in Italy and when I saw the "Ugly American" I was always embarrassed. At first I tried to help the "UA", then after I knew that I couldn't reason with them, I spoke to the locals and apologized to them saying that they didn't represent the typical American.

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.

Anytime you travel, you are am ambassador of ths US, and the US Olympians should act accordingly.

[ontheglass]

What did Johnny Weir do?

Maybe I'm sensitive to the subject, but I was stationed in Italy and when I saw the "Ugly American" I was always embarrassed. At first I tried to help the "UA", then after I knew that I couldn't reason with them, I spoke to the locals and apologized to them saying that they didn't represent the typical American.

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.

Anytime you travel, you are am ambassador of ths US, and the US Olympians should act accordingly.

[ontheglass]

What did Johnny Weir do?

Maybe I'm sensitive to the subject, but I was stationed in Italy and when I saw the "Ugly American" I was always embarrassed. At first I tried to help the "UA", then after I knew that I couldn't reason with them, I spoke to the locals and apologized to them saying that they didn't represent the typical American.

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.

Anytime you travel, you are am ambassador of ths US, and the US Olympians should act accordingly.

[ontheglass]

What did Johnny Weir do?

Maybe I'm sensitive to the subject, but I was stationed in Italy and when I saw the "Ugly American" I was always embarrassed. At first I tried to help the "UA", then after I knew that I couldn't reason with them, I spoke to the locals and apologized to them saying that they didn't represent the typical American.

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.

Anytime you travel, you are am ambassador of ths US, and the US Olympians should act accordingly.

[Alicia]

Geez Modano...point that finger at yourself much?

[Alicia]

Geez Modano...point that finger at yourself much?

[Alicia]

Geez Modano...point that finger at yourself much?

[Alicia]

Geez Modano...point that finger at yourself much?

[Alicia]

Geez Modano...point that finger at yourself much?

[Alicia]

Geez Modano...point that finger at yourself much?

[Alicia]

Geez Modano...point that finger at yourself much?

[nccanes]

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.


Actually, the shuttle bus schedule changed from an every 10 minutes to an every 30 minutes schedule and he didn't know. I guess you could chalk that up to poor planning, but I'm not sure how you'd know to double check that the interval was still the same.

If someone ratted him out for being rude, then I guess he has to live with the consequences of that. He didn't go on a public tirade or anything. He probably could have blamed the US Figure Skating support staff for not informing him (surely someone ahead of him rode the buses since he was in the last group), but he didn't. And really - a freaked out athlete losing their cool right before their competition is a tad more understandable. I suspect that even if he did apologize later, we'd never know.

And Shani? I still have failed to see what he's done to make him the villian. I think the two of them are silly boys, but I honestly haven't seen him do anything outragous. Remember he hugged Hedrick after his Gold medal, but Hedrick didn't reciprocate, and specifically congratulated Joey Cheek on the silver event and ignore Shani.

My personal UA list would still include him, but would look more like this:

Modano
Hedrick
Shani
Gunn

The hotdog list would probably include Weir and Jacobellis, but they are basically harmless kids imo.

[nccanes]

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.


Actually, the shuttle bus schedule changed from an every 10 minutes to an every 30 minutes schedule and he didn't know. I guess you could chalk that up to poor planning, but I'm not sure how you'd know to double check that the interval was still the same.

If someone ratted him out for being rude, then I guess he has to live with the consequences of that. He didn't go on a public tirade or anything. He probably could have blamed the US Figure Skating support staff for not informing him (surely someone ahead of him rode the buses since he was in the last group), but he didn't. And really - a freaked out athlete losing their cool right before their competition is a tad more understandable. I suspect that even if he did apologize later, we'd never know.

And Shani? I still have failed to see what he's done to make him the villian. I think the two of them are silly boys, but I honestly haven't seen him do anything outragous. Remember he hugged Hedrick after his Gold medal, but Hedrick didn't reciprocate, and specifically congratulated Joey Cheek on the silver event and ignore Shani.

My personal UA list would still include him, but would look more like this:

Modano
Hedrick
Shani
Gunn

The hotdog list would probably include Weir and Jacobellis, but they are basically harmless kids imo.

[nccanes]

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.


Actually, the shuttle bus schedule changed from an every 10 minutes to an every 30 minutes schedule and he didn't know. I guess you could chalk that up to poor planning, but I'm not sure how you'd know to double check that the interval was still the same.

If someone ratted him out for being rude, then I guess he has to live with the consequences of that. He didn't go on a public tirade or anything. He probably could have blamed the US Figure Skating support staff for not informing him (surely someone ahead of him rode the buses since he was in the last group), but he didn't. And really - a freaked out athlete losing their cool right before their competition is a tad more understandable. I suspect that even if he did apologize later, we'd never know.

And Shani? I still have failed to see what he's done to make him the villian. I think the two of them are silly boys, but I honestly haven't seen him do anything outragous. Remember he hugged Hedrick after his Gold medal, but Hedrick didn't reciprocate, and specifically congratulated Joey Cheek on the silver event and ignore Shani.

My personal UA list would still include him, but would look more like this:

Modano
Hedrick
Shani
Gunn

The hotdog list would probably include Weir and Jacobellis, but they are basically harmless kids imo.

[nccanes]

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.


Actually, the shuttle bus schedule changed from an every 10 minutes to an every 30 minutes schedule and he didn't know. I guess you could chalk that up to poor planning, but I'm not sure how you'd know to double check that the interval was still the same.

If someone ratted him out for being rude, then I guess he has to live with the consequences of that. He didn't go on a public tirade or anything. He probably could have blamed the US Figure Skating support staff for not informing him (surely someone ahead of him rode the buses since he was in the last group), but he didn't. And really - a freaked out athlete losing their cool right before their competition is a tad more understandable. I suspect that even if he did apologize later, we'd never know.

And Shani? I still have failed to see what he's done to make him the villian. I think the two of them are silly boys, but I honestly haven't seen him do anything outragous. Remember he hugged Hedrick after his Gold medal, but Hedrick didn't reciprocate, and specifically congratulated Joey Cheek on the silver event and ignore Shani.

My personal UA list would still include him, but would look more like this:

Modano
Hedrick
Shani
Gunn

The hotdog list would probably include Weir and Jacobellis, but they are basically harmless kids imo.

[nccanes]

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.


Actually, the shuttle bus schedule changed from an every 10 minutes to an every 30 minutes schedule and he didn't know. I guess you could chalk that up to poor planning, but I'm not sure how you'd know to double check that the interval was still the same.

If someone ratted him out for being rude, then I guess he has to live with the consequences of that. He didn't go on a public tirade or anything. He probably could have blamed the US Figure Skating support staff for not informing him (surely someone ahead of him rode the buses since he was in the last group), but he didn't. And really - a freaked out athlete losing their cool right before their competition is a tad more understandable. I suspect that even if he did apologize later, we'd never know.

And Shani? I still have failed to see what he's done to make him the villian. I think the two of them are silly boys, but I honestly haven't seen him do anything outragous. Remember he hugged Hedrick after his Gold medal, but Hedrick didn't reciprocate, and specifically congratulated Joey Cheek on the silver event and ignore Shani.

My personal UA list would still include him, but would look more like this:

Modano
Hedrick
Shani
Gunn

The hotdog list would probably include Weir and Jacobellis, but they are basically harmless kids imo.

[nccanes]

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.


Actually, the shuttle bus schedule changed from an every 10 minutes to an every 30 minutes schedule and he didn't know. I guess you could chalk that up to poor planning, but I'm not sure how you'd know to double check that the interval was still the same.

If someone ratted him out for being rude, then I guess he has to live with the consequences of that. He didn't go on a public tirade or anything. He probably could have blamed the US Figure Skating support staff for not informing him (surely someone ahead of him rode the buses since he was in the last group), but he didn't. And really - a freaked out athlete losing their cool right before their competition is a tad more understandable. I suspect that even if he did apologize later, we'd never know.

And Shani? I still have failed to see what he's done to make him the villian. I think the two of them are silly boys, but I honestly haven't seen him do anything outragous. Remember he hugged Hedrick after his Gold medal, but Hedrick didn't reciprocate, and specifically congratulated Joey Cheek on the silver event and ignore Shani.

My personal UA list would still include him, but would look more like this:

Modano
Hedrick
Shani
Gunn

The hotdog list would probably include Weir and Jacobellis, but they are basically harmless kids imo.

[nccanes]

As for Johnny, he was the steroetypical "Ugly American." He missed his bus the night of the final competition and dealt with his poor planning by yelling and swearing at the locals because he missed the bus and didn't know how to get to the rink. He didn't apologize for his actions.


Actually, the shuttle bus schedule changed from an every 10 minutes to an every 30 minutes schedule and he didn't know. I guess you could chalk that up to poor planning, but I'm not sure how you'd know to double check that the interval was still the same.

If someone ratted him out for being rude, then I guess he has to live with the consequences of that. He didn't go on a public tirade or anything. He probably could have blamed the US Figure Skating support staff for not informing him (surely someone ahead of him rode the buses since he was in the last group), but he didn't. And really - a freaked out athlete losing their cool right before their competition is a tad more understandable. I suspect that even if he did apologize later, we'd never know.

And Shani? I still have failed to see what he's done to make him the villian. I think the two of them are silly boys, but I honestly haven't seen him do anything outragous. Remember he hugged Hedrick after his Gold medal, but Hedrick didn't reciprocate, and specifically congratulated Joey Cheek on the silver event and ignore Shani.

My personal UA list would still include him, but would look more like this:

Modano
Hedrick
Shani
Gunn

The hotdog list would probably include Weir and Jacobellis, but they are basically harmless kids imo.

[SoCalcaniac]

OMG. Is this for real?

I'm looking for him to rip Laviolette for benching him - I'm guessing that'll be done in the Dallas papers.

How hard is it to book hotel rooms and reserve plan tickets? am I missing something? and it's not like he's married, so who is having to 'worry' about, his Mom and Dad? a girlfriend? his dog and all that dog food??
WTF-ever.

I wish I were in the room during his 'exit interview' :roll.

Mike Modano is a jackass.

[SoCalcaniac]

OMG. Is this for real?

I'm looking for him to rip Laviolette for benching him - I'm guessing that'll be done in the Dallas papers.

How hard is it to book hotel rooms and reserve plan tickets? am I missing something? and it's not like he's married, so who is having to 'worry' about, his Mom and Dad? a girlfriend? his dog and all that dog food??
WTF-ever.

I wish I were in the room during his 'exit interview' :roll.

Mike Modano is a jackass.

[SoCalcaniac]

OMG. Is this for real?

I'm looking for him to rip Laviolette for benching him - I'm guessing that'll be done in the Dallas papers.

How hard is it to book hotel rooms and reserve plan tickets? am I missing something? and it's not like he's married, so who is having to 'worry' about, his Mom and Dad? a girlfriend? his dog and all that dog food??
WTF-ever.

I wish I were in the room during his 'exit interview' :roll.

Mike Modano is a jackass.

[SoCalcaniac]

OMG. Is this for real?

I'm looking for him to rip Laviolette for benching him - I'm guessing that'll be done in the Dallas papers.

How hard is it to book hotel rooms and reserve plan tickets? am I missing something? and it's not like he's married, so who is having to 'worry' about, his Mom and Dad? a girlfriend? his dog and all that dog food??
WTF-ever.

I wish I were in the room during his 'exit interview' :roll.

Mike Modano is a jackass.

[SoCalcaniac]

OMG. Is this for real?

I'm looking for him to rip Laviolette for benching him - I'm guessing that'll be done in the Dallas papers.

How hard is it to book hotel rooms and reserve plan tickets? am I missing something? and it's not like he's married, so who is having to 'worry' about, his Mom and Dad? a girlfriend? his dog and all that dog food??
WTF-ever.

I wish I were in the room during his 'exit interview' :roll.

Mike Modano is a jackass.

[SoCalcaniac]

OMG. Is this for real?

I'm looking for him to rip Laviolette for benching him - I'm guessing that'll be done in the Dallas papers.

How hard is it to book hotel rooms and reserve plan tickets? am I missing something? and it's not like he's married, so who is having to 'worry' about, his Mom and Dad? a girlfriend? his dog and all that dog food??
WTF-ever.

I wish I were in the room during his 'exit interview' :roll.

Mike Modano is a jackass.

[SoCalcaniac]

OMG. Is this for real?

I'm looking for him to rip Laviolette for benching him - I'm guessing that'll be done in the Dallas papers.

How hard is it to book hotel rooms and reserve plan tickets? am I missing something? and it's not like he's married, so who is having to 'worry' about, his Mom and Dad? a girlfriend? his dog and all that dog food??
WTF-ever.

I wish I were in the room during his 'exit interview' :roll.

Mike Modano is a jackass.

[nccanes]

his dog and all that dog food??


:lol: :lol:

I bet CL would have hooked him up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Somehow I'm not getting the vision of Modano clicking away at expedia.com or anything.

[nccanes]

his dog and all that dog food??


:lol: :lol:

I bet CL would have hooked him up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Somehow I'm not getting the vision of Modano clicking away at expedia.com or anything.

[nccanes]

his dog and all that dog food??


:lol: :lol:

I bet CL would have hooked him up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Somehow I'm not getting the vision of Modano clicking away at expedia.com or anything.

[nccanes]

his dog and all that dog food??


:lol: :lol:

I bet CL would have hooked him up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Somehow I'm not getting the vision of Modano clicking away at expedia.com or anything.

[nccanes]

his dog and all that dog food??


:lol: :lol:

I bet CL would have hooked him up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Somehow I'm not getting the vision of Modano clicking away at expedia.com or anything.

[nccanes]

his dog and all that dog food??


:lol: :lol:

I bet CL would have hooked him up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Somehow I'm not getting the vision of Modano clicking away at expedia.com or anything.

[nccanes]

his dog and all that dog food??


:lol: :lol:

I bet CL would have hooked him up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Somehow I'm not getting the vision of Modano clicking away at expedia.com or anything.

[nccanes]

Well, props to our Coach Laviolette!!!

Here's an article that has a little more about the press conference.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2002823004_olyhockey23.html

Then Mike Modano stepped in front of all the tape recorders and asked for change in the USA Hockey hierarchy.

"Maybe some new blood in there to kind of run things a little differently," he said. "I've seen a lot of familiar faces. I've been with USA Hockey for a long time. It's probably time some things changed."

Someone pressed Modano on what, exactly, he would do differently.

"How things are operated," he said. "How things are run behind the scenes. The way ... USA Hockey, you would think, would be more of a loyal kind of operation. It's tough. It's frustrating. We've put a lot into it. We've come a long way ... and you want things to run smoothly behind the scenes."

His coach stared straight ahead when the gist of those words were relayed about 15 minutes later, stared holes into a wall some 30 feet away. He looked every bit the man who wanted to respond, but knew it would be better not to.

"No comment," Peter Laviolette said.

The moderator started talking, trying to ease the awkward tension in the room. Then Laviolette spoke.

"Actually, I do have a comment," he said. "I'll tell you that the people who run USA Hockey care more about this program than anybody I know. They're passionate about what they believe in."



I find it completely HILARIOUS that when pressed about changes made to USA Hockey Modano decides to finger the behind the scenes people rather than admit that the players didn't rise to the challenge. That's is freaking hilarious.

This is where these Olympics have brought the U.S. hockey team. To questions about whether it would be better playing college and semi-pro players who could practice more than one time, for one hour, before the Olympics start. To uncomfortable news conferences and internal bickering playing internationally.

To this rare rant-apology combination from forward Doug Weight, addressing the state of U.S. hockey and whether this tournament indicates some suffering.

"This is a great tournament," he said. "Give me a break. I mean, come on. Any team can beat anybody."



Another article.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-olyadande23feb23,1,6390343.column?coll=la-utilities-sports

A source close to the players said that whereas the Canadian national team provided travel for the players' families and coordinated transportation within Turin, U.S. players were on their own. That led to inconveniences ranging from defenseman Mathieu Schneider's wife, who is five months' pregnant, having to walk back to her room after a game, to families learning about a free-tickets program after they already had bought tickets.

"Basically, we were on our own, as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets," Modano said. "Normally, that's something you don't have to think about. That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it. We're [trying to be] focused on hockey, prepare ourselves to play and not have to deal with those things."

I know what you're thinking: Just log on to expedia.com and shut up.

As Finland's Olli Jokinen said, "My wife is here. She went on the Internet a couple months ago and booked her own tickets and flight."

When you bring highly paid professional athletes into the Olympics, you get their attitudes as well. You'll find all the happy-to-be-here stories you want in curling or cross-country skiing. But when you take American pros out of their comfort zone, fly them across an ocean and multiple time zones and ask them to volunteer in the middle of their season, they get cranky.

When NHL players first participated in the Olympics in 1998, the arrangement with the International Ice Hockey Federation provided for guest travel and accommodations. That ended after the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.

Other players might not have had the freedom or authority to publicly back Modano's remarks, but they didn't exactly say, "He's nuts."

"I'm not at liberty to talk about that, really," forward Brian Rolston said. "Mike has been in this program a long time. What he says. … I respect what he says."

[nccanes]

Well, props to our Coach Laviolette!!!

Here's an article that has a little more about the press conference.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2002823004_olyhockey23.html

Then Mike Modano stepped in front of all the tape recorders and asked for change in the USA Hockey hierarchy.

"Maybe some new blood in there to kind of run things a little differently," he said. "I've seen a lot of familiar faces. I've been with USA Hockey for a long time. It's probably time some things changed."

Someone pressed Modano on what, exactly, he would do differently.

"How things are operated," he said. "How things are run behind the scenes. The way ... USA Hockey, you would think, would be more of a loyal kind of operation. It's tough. It's frustrating. We've put a lot into it. We've come a long way ... and you want things to run smoothly behind the scenes."

His coach stared straight ahead when the gist of those words were relayed about 15 minutes later, stared holes into a wall some 30 feet away. He looked every bit the man who wanted to respond, but knew it would be better not to.

"No comment," Peter Laviolette said.

The moderator started talking, trying to ease the awkward tension in the room. Then Laviolette spoke.

"Actually, I do have a comment," he said. "I'll tell you that the people who run USA Hockey care more about this program than anybody I know. They're passionate about what they believe in."



I find it completely HILARIOUS that when pressed about changes made to USA Hockey Modano decides to finger the behind the scenes people rather than admit that the players didn't rise to the challenge. That's is freaking hilarious.

This is where these Olympics have brought the U.S. hockey team. To questions about whether it would be better playing college and semi-pro players who could practice more than one time, for one hour, before the Olympics start. To uncomfortable news conferences and internal bickering playing internationally.

To this rare rant-apology combination from forward Doug Weight, addressing the state of U.S. hockey and whether this tournament indicates some suffering.

"This is a great tournament," he said. "Give me a break. I mean, come on. Any team can beat anybody."



Another article.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-olyadande23feb23,1,6390343.column?coll=la-utilities-sports

A source close to the players said that whereas the Canadian national team provided travel for the players' families and coordinated transportation within Turin, U.S. players were on their own. That led to inconveniences ranging from defenseman Mathieu Schneider's wife, who is five months' pregnant, having to walk back to her room after a game, to families learning about a free-tickets program after they already had bought tickets.

"Basically, we were on our own, as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets," Modano said. "Normally, that's something you don't have to think about. That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it. We're [trying to be] focused on hockey, prepare ourselves to play and not have to deal with those things."

I know what you're thinking: Just log on to expedia.com and shut up.

As Finland's Olli Jokinen said, "My wife is here. She went on the Internet a couple months ago and booked her own tickets and flight."

When you bring highly paid professional athletes into the Olympics, you get their attitudes as well. You'll find all the happy-to-be-here stories you want in curling or cross-country skiing. But when you take American pros out of their comfort zone, fly them across an ocean and multiple time zones and ask them to volunteer in the middle of their season, they get cranky.

When NHL players first participated in the Olympics in 1998, the arrangement with the International Ice Hockey Federation provided for guest travel and accommodations. That ended after the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.

Other players might not have had the freedom or authority to publicly back Modano's remarks, but they didn't exactly say, "He's nuts."

"I'm not at liberty to talk about that, really," forward Brian Rolston said. "Mike has been in this program a long time. What he says. … I respect what he says."

[nccanes]

Well, props to our Coach Laviolette!!!

Here's an article that has a little more about the press conference.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2002823004_olyhockey23.html

Then Mike Modano stepped in front of all the tape recorders and asked for change in the USA Hockey hierarchy.

"Maybe some new blood in there to kind of run things a little differently," he said. "I've seen a lot of familiar faces. I've been with USA Hockey for a long time. It's probably time some things changed."

Someone pressed Modano on what, exactly, he would do differently.

"How things are operated," he said. "How things are run behind the scenes. The way ... USA Hockey, you would think, would be more of a loyal kind of operation. It's tough. It's frustrating. We've put a lot into it. We've come a long way ... and you want things to run smoothly behind the scenes."

His coach stared straight ahead when the gist of those words were relayed about 15 minutes later, stared holes into a wall some 30 feet away. He looked every bit the man who wanted to respond, but knew it would be better not to.

"No comment," Peter Laviolette said.

The moderator started talking, trying to ease the awkward tension in the room. Then Laviolette spoke.

"Actually, I do have a comment," he said. "I'll tell you that the people who run USA Hockey care more about this program than anybody I know. They're passionate about what they believe in."



I find it completely HILARIOUS that when pressed about changes made to USA Hockey Modano decides to finger the behind the scenes people rather than admit that the players didn't rise to the challenge. That's is freaking hilarious.

This is where these Olympics have brought the U.S. hockey team. To questions about whether it would be better playing college and semi-pro players who could practice more than one time, for one hour, before the Olympics start. To uncomfortable news conferences and internal bickering playing internationally.

To this rare rant-apology combination from forward Doug Weight, addressing the state of U.S. hockey and whether this tournament indicates some suffering.

"This is a great tournament," he said. "Give me a break. I mean, come on. Any team can beat anybody."



Another article.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-olyadande23feb23,1,6390343.column?coll=la-utilities-sports

A source close to the players said that whereas the Canadian national team provided travel for the players' families and coordinated transportation within Turin, U.S. players were on their own. That led to inconveniences ranging from defenseman Mathieu Schneider's wife, who is five months' pregnant, having to walk back to her room after a game, to families learning about a free-tickets program after they already had bought tickets.

"Basically, we were on our own, as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets," Modano said. "Normally, that's something you don't have to think about. That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it. We're [trying to be] focused on hockey, prepare ourselves to play and not have to deal with those things."

I know what you're thinking: Just log on to expedia.com and shut up.

As Finland's Olli Jokinen said, "My wife is here. She went on the Internet a couple months ago and booked her own tickets and flight."

When you bring highly paid professional athletes into the Olympics, you get their attitudes as well. You'll find all the happy-to-be-here stories you want in curling or cross-country skiing. But when you take American pros out of their comfort zone, fly them across an ocean and multiple time zones and ask them to volunteer in the middle of their season, they get cranky.

When NHL players first participated in the Olympics in 1998, the arrangement with the International Ice Hockey Federation provided for guest travel and accommodations. That ended after the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.

Other players might not have had the freedom or authority to publicly back Modano's remarks, but they didn't exactly say, "He's nuts."

"I'm not at liberty to talk about that, really," forward Brian Rolston said. "Mike has been in this program a long time. What he says. … I respect what he says."

[nccanes]

Well, props to our Coach Laviolette!!!

Here's an article that has a little more about the press conference.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2002823004_olyhockey23.html

Then Mike Modano stepped in front of all the tape recorders and asked for change in the USA Hockey hierarchy.

"Maybe some new blood in there to kind of run things a little differently," he said. "I've seen a lot of familiar faces. I've been with USA Hockey for a long time. It's probably time some things changed."

Someone pressed Modano on what, exactly, he would do differently.

"How things are operated," he said. "How things are run behind the scenes. The way ... USA Hockey, you would think, would be more of a loyal kind of operation. It's tough. It's frustrating. We've put a lot into it. We've come a long way ... and you want things to run smoothly behind the scenes."

His coach stared straight ahead when the gist of those words were relayed about 15 minutes later, stared holes into a wall some 30 feet away. He looked every bit the man who wanted to respond, but knew it would be better not to.

"No comment," Peter Laviolette said.

The moderator started talking, trying to ease the awkward tension in the room. Then Laviolette spoke.

"Actually, I do have a comment," he said. "I'll tell you that the people who run USA Hockey care more about this program than anybody I know. They're passionate about what they believe in."



I find it completely HILARIOUS that when pressed about changes made to USA Hockey Modano decides to finger the behind the scenes people rather than admit that the players didn't rise to the challenge. That's is freaking hilarious.

This is where these Olympics have brought the U.S. hockey team. To questions about whether it would be better playing college and semi-pro players who could practice more than one time, for one hour, before the Olympics start. To uncomfortable news conferences and internal bickering playing internationally.

To this rare rant-apology combination from forward Doug Weight, addressing the state of U.S. hockey and whether this tournament indicates some suffering.

"This is a great tournament," he said. "Give me a break. I mean, come on. Any team can beat anybody."



Another article.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-olyadande23feb23,1,6390343.column?coll=la-utilities-sports

A source close to the players said that whereas the Canadian national team provided travel for the players' families and coordinated transportation within Turin, U.S. players were on their own. That led to inconveniences ranging from defenseman Mathieu Schneider's wife, who is five months' pregnant, having to walk back to her room after a game, to families learning about a free-tickets program after they already had bought tickets.

"Basically, we were on our own, as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets," Modano said. "Normally, that's something you don't have to think about. That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it. We're [trying to be] focused on hockey, prepare ourselves to play and not have to deal with those things."

I know what you're thinking: Just log on to expedia.com and shut up.

As Finland's Olli Jokinen said, "My wife is here. She went on the Internet a couple months ago and booked her own tickets and flight."

When you bring highly paid professional athletes into the Olympics, you get their attitudes as well. You'll find all the happy-to-be-here stories you want in curling or cross-country skiing. But when you take American pros out of their comfort zone, fly them across an ocean and multiple time zones and ask them to volunteer in the middle of their season, they get cranky.

When NHL players first participated in the Olympics in 1998, the arrangement with the International Ice Hockey Federation provided for guest travel and accommodations. That ended after the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.

Other players might not have had the freedom or authority to publicly back Modano's remarks, but they didn't exactly say, "He's nuts."

"I'm not at liberty to talk about that, really," forward Brian Rolston said. "Mike has been in this program a long time. What he says. … I respect what he says."

[nccanes]

Well, props to our Coach Laviolette!!!

Here's an article that has a little more about the press conference.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2002823004_olyhockey23.html

Then Mike Modano stepped in front of all the tape recorders and asked for change in the USA Hockey hierarchy.

"Maybe some new blood in there to kind of run things a little differently," he said. "I've seen a lot of familiar faces. I've been with USA Hockey for a long time. It's probably time some things changed."

Someone pressed Modano on what, exactly, he would do differently.

"How things are operated," he said. "How things are run behind the scenes. The way ... USA Hockey, you would think, would be more of a loyal kind of operation. It's tough. It's frustrating. We've put a lot into it. We've come a long way ... and you want things to run smoothly behind the scenes."

His coach stared straight ahead when the gist of those words were relayed about 15 minutes later, stared holes into a wall some 30 feet away. He looked every bit the man who wanted to respond, but knew it would be better not to.

"No comment," Peter Laviolette said.

The moderator started talking, trying to ease the awkward tension in the room. Then Laviolette spoke.

"Actually, I do have a comment," he said. "I'll tell you that the people who run USA Hockey care more about this program than anybody I know. They're passionate about what they believe in."



I find it completely HILARIOUS that when pressed about changes made to USA Hockey Modano decides to finger the behind the scenes people rather than admit that the players didn't rise to the challenge. That's is freaking hilarious.

This is where these Olympics have brought the U.S. hockey team. To questions about whether it would be better playing college and semi-pro players who could practice more than one time, for one hour, before the Olympics start. To uncomfortable news conferences and internal bickering playing internationally.

To this rare rant-apology combination from forward Doug Weight, addressing the state of U.S. hockey and whether this tournament indicates some suffering.

"This is a great tournament," he said. "Give me a break. I mean, come on. Any team can beat anybody."



Another article.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-olyadande23feb23,1,6390343.column?coll=la-utilities-sports

A source close to the players said that whereas the Canadian national team provided travel for the players' families and coordinated transportation within Turin, U.S. players were on their own. That led to inconveniences ranging from defenseman Mathieu Schneider's wife, who is five months' pregnant, having to walk back to her room after a game, to families learning about a free-tickets program after they already had bought tickets.

"Basically, we were on our own, as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets," Modano said. "Normally, that's something you don't have to think about. That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it. We're [trying to be] focused on hockey, prepare ourselves to play and not have to deal with those things."

I know what you're thinking: Just log on to expedia.com and shut up.

As Finland's Olli Jokinen said, "My wife is here. She went on the Internet a couple months ago and booked her own tickets and flight."

When you bring highly paid professional athletes into the Olympics, you get their attitudes as well. You'll find all the happy-to-be-here stories you want in curling or cross-country skiing. But when you take American pros out of their comfort zone, fly them across an ocean and multiple time zones and ask them to volunteer in the middle of their season, they get cranky.

When NHL players first participated in the Olympics in 1998, the arrangement with the International Ice Hockey Federation provided for guest travel and accommodations. That ended after the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.

Other players might not have had the freedom or authority to publicly back Modano's remarks, but they didn't exactly say, "He's nuts."

"I'm not at liberty to talk about that, really," forward Brian Rolston said. "Mike has been in this program a long time. What he says. … I respect what he says."

[nccanes]

Well, props to our Coach Laviolette!!!

Here's an article that has a little more about the press conference.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2002823004_olyhockey23.html

Then Mike Modano stepped in front of all the tape recorders and asked for change in the USA Hockey hierarchy.

"Maybe some new blood in there to kind of run things a little differently," he said. "I've seen a lot of familiar faces. I've been with USA Hockey for a long time. It's probably time some things changed."

Someone pressed Modano on what, exactly, he would do differently.

"How things are operated," he said. "How things are run behind the scenes. The way ... USA Hockey, you would think, would be more of a loyal kind of operation. It's tough. It's frustrating. We've put a lot into it. We've come a long way ... and you want things to run smoothly behind the scenes."

His coach stared straight ahead when the gist of those words were relayed about 15 minutes later, stared holes into a wall some 30 feet away. He looked every bit the man who wanted to respond, but knew it would be better not to.

"No comment," Peter Laviolette said.

The moderator started talking, trying to ease the awkward tension in the room. Then Laviolette spoke.

"Actually, I do have a comment," he said. "I'll tell you that the people who run USA Hockey care more about this program than anybody I know. They're passionate about what they believe in."



I find it completely HILARIOUS that when pressed about changes made to USA Hockey Modano decides to finger the behind the scenes people rather than admit that the players didn't rise to the challenge. That's is freaking hilarious.

This is where these Olympics have brought the U.S. hockey team. To questions about whether it would be better playing college and semi-pro players who could practice more than one time, for one hour, before the Olympics start. To uncomfortable news conferences and internal bickering playing internationally.

To this rare rant-apology combination from forward Doug Weight, addressing the state of U.S. hockey and whether this tournament indicates some suffering.

"This is a great tournament," he said. "Give me a break. I mean, come on. Any team can beat anybody."



Another article.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-olyadande23feb23,1,6390343.column?coll=la-utilities-sports

A source close to the players said that whereas the Canadian national team provided travel for the players' families and coordinated transportation within Turin, U.S. players were on their own. That led to inconveniences ranging from defenseman Mathieu Schneider's wife, who is five months' pregnant, having to walk back to her room after a game, to families learning about a free-tickets program after they already had bought tickets.

"Basically, we were on our own, as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets," Modano said. "Normally, that's something you don't have to think about. That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it. We're [trying to be] focused on hockey, prepare ourselves to play and not have to deal with those things."

I know what you're thinking: Just log on to expedia.com and shut up.

As Finland's Olli Jokinen said, "My wife is here. She went on the Internet a couple months ago and booked her own tickets and flight."

When you bring highly paid professional athletes into the Olympics, you get their attitudes as well. You'll find all the happy-to-be-here stories you want in curling or cross-country skiing. But when you take American pros out of their comfort zone, fly them across an ocean and multiple time zones and ask them to volunteer in the middle of their season, they get cranky.

When NHL players first participated in the Olympics in 1998, the arrangement with the International Ice Hockey Federation provided for guest travel and accommodations. That ended after the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.

Other players might not have had the freedom or authority to publicly back Modano's remarks, but they didn't exactly say, "He's nuts."

"I'm not at liberty to talk about that, really," forward Brian Rolston said. "Mike has been in this program a long time. What he says. … I respect what he says."

[nccanes]

Well, props to our Coach Laviolette!!!

Here's an article that has a little more about the press conference.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2002823004_olyhockey23.html

Then Mike Modano stepped in front of all the tape recorders and asked for change in the USA Hockey hierarchy.

"Maybe some new blood in there to kind of run things a little differently," he said. "I've seen a lot of familiar faces. I've been with USA Hockey for a long time. It's probably time some things changed."

Someone pressed Modano on what, exactly, he would do differently.

"How things are operated," he said. "How things are run behind the scenes. The way ... USA Hockey, you would think, would be more of a loyal kind of operation. It's tough. It's frustrating. We've put a lot into it. We've come a long way ... and you want things to run smoothly behind the scenes."

His coach stared straight ahead when the gist of those words were relayed about 15 minutes later, stared holes into a wall some 30 feet away. He looked every bit the man who wanted to respond, but knew it would be better not to.

"No comment," Peter Laviolette said.

The moderator started talking, trying to ease the awkward tension in the room. Then Laviolette spoke.

"Actually, I do have a comment," he said. "I'll tell you that the people who run USA Hockey care more about this program than anybody I know. They're passionate about what they believe in."



I find it completely HILARIOUS that when pressed about changes made to USA Hockey Modano decides to finger the behind the scenes people rather than admit that the players didn't rise to the challenge. That's is freaking hilarious.

This is where these Olympics have brought the U.S. hockey team. To questions about whether it would be better playing college and semi-pro players who could practice more than one time, for one hour, before the Olympics start. To uncomfortable news conferences and internal bickering playing internationally.

To this rare rant-apology combination from forward Doug Weight, addressing the state of U.S. hockey and whether this tournament indicates some suffering.

"This is a great tournament," he said. "Give me a break. I mean, come on. Any team can beat anybody."



Another article.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-olyadande23feb23,1,6390343.column?coll=la-utilities-sports

A source close to the players said that whereas the Canadian national team provided travel for the players' families and coordinated transportation within Turin, U.S. players were on their own. That led to inconveniences ranging from defenseman Mathieu Schneider's wife, who is five months' pregnant, having to walk back to her room after a game, to families learning about a free-tickets program after they already had bought tickets.

"Basically, we were on our own, as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets," Modano said. "Normally, that's something you don't have to think about. That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it. We're [trying to be] focused on hockey, prepare ourselves to play and not have to deal with those things."

I know what you're thinking: Just log on to expedia.com and shut up.

As Finland's Olli Jokinen said, "My wife is here. She went on the Internet a couple months ago and booked her own tickets and flight."

When you bring highly paid professional athletes into the Olympics, you get their attitudes as well. You'll find all the happy-to-be-here stories you want in curling or cross-country skiing. But when you take American pros out of their comfort zone, fly them across an ocean and multiple time zones and ask them to volunteer in the middle of their season, they get cranky.

When NHL players first participated in the Olympics in 1998, the arrangement with the International Ice Hockey Federation provided for guest travel and accommodations. That ended after the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.

Other players might not have had the freedom or authority to publicly back Modano's remarks, but they didn't exactly say, "He's nuts."

"I'm not at liberty to talk about that, really," forward Brian Rolston said. "Mike has been in this program a long time. What he says. … I respect what he says."

[Turbulence]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

[Turbulence]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

[Turbulence]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

[Turbulence]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

[Turbulence]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

[Turbulence]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

[Turbulence]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

[nickgregory]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

I could care less how much truth there is to the argument. These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

[nickgregory]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

I could care less how much truth there is to the argument. These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

[nickgregory]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

I could care less how much truth there is to the argument. These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

[nickgregory]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

I could care less how much truth there is to the argument. These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

[nickgregory]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

I could care less how much truth there is to the argument. These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

[nickgregory]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

I could care less how much truth there is to the argument. These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

[nickgregory]

Mike seems like he's digging himself a hole, though I do find it interesting that Rolston "respects what he says..."
I wonder how much truth there is to the argument...though you can't say Modano went about complaining the right way.

I could care less how much truth there is to the argument. These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

[Turbulence]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

[Turbulence]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

[Turbulence]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

[Turbulence]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

[Turbulence]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

[Turbulence]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

[Turbulence]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

[SoCalcaniac]

On the day after I posted Mike Modano is a Jackass, he remains a Jackass or perhaps he needs internet travel arranging tips from Mrs. Jokinen. :roll.

Reading these articles and the comments in their entirety (thanks E) just makes me think that a shake up must occur. I had yet another de ja vu moment, between last night after watching the games (US & Canada) and the futility that ensued, and the Canadian thing was a totally different vibe so I have to talk about that separately, but my de ja vu moment happened, in recalling all the hope/expectation that surrounded the World Cup of Hockey that Fall before the whole hockey world ended. As I was standing and chatting wtih a friend who made the trip to Columbus for Team USA's training camp, and sat on a curb outside the Hyatt waiting for Team USA to emerge so she could get an auto or a pic (only to wait in vain- and wound up with a pic with Weight, Gomez and Paul Martin hours later), I was wondering out loud to hub, if 'this team just doesn't think that they are entitled to all this - the adulation, the expectation that they'll just be on the team' and here we are with a good core group of them except the Gionta, Cole, Rolston types kinda just there- Modano- should be ashamed of himself. No if's ands or buts about it. and fingering everyone and not looking at himself. Class. :roll

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.

Modano says new blood needs to come into USA hockey- yeah, someone to replace #9.

[SoCalcaniac]

On the day after I posted Mike Modano is a Jackass, he remains a Jackass or perhaps he needs internet travel arranging tips from Mrs. Jokinen. :roll.

Reading these articles and the comments in their entirety (thanks E) just makes me think that a shake up must occur. I had yet another de ja vu moment, between last night after watching the games (US & Canada) and the futility that ensued, and the Canadian thing was a totally different vibe so I have to talk about that separately, but my de ja vu moment happened, in recalling all the hope/expectation that surrounded the World Cup of Hockey that Fall before the whole hockey world ended. As I was standing and chatting wtih a friend who made the trip to Columbus for Team USA's training camp, and sat on a curb outside the Hyatt waiting for Team USA to emerge so she could get an auto or a pic (only to wait in vain- and wound up with a pic with Weight, Gomez and Paul Martin hours later), I was wondering out loud to hub, if 'this team just doesn't think that they are entitled to all this - the adulation, the expectation that they'll just be on the team' and here we are with a good core group of them except the Gionta, Cole, Rolston types kinda just there- Modano- should be ashamed of himself. No if's ands or buts about it. and fingering everyone and not looking at himself. Class. :roll

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.

Modano says new blood needs to come into USA hockey- yeah, someone to replace #9.

[SoCalcaniac]

On the day after I posted Mike Modano is a Jackass, he remains a Jackass or perhaps he needs internet travel arranging tips from Mrs. Jokinen. :roll.

Reading these articles and the comments in their entirety (thanks E) just makes me think that a shake up must occur. I had yet another de ja vu moment, between last night after watching the games (US & Canada) and the futility that ensued, and the Canadian thing was a totally different vibe so I have to talk about that separately, but my de ja vu moment happened, in recalling all the hope/expectation that surrounded the World Cup of Hockey that Fall before the whole hockey world ended. As I was standing and chatting wtih a friend who made the trip to Columbus for Team USA's training camp, and sat on a curb outside the Hyatt waiting for Team USA to emerge so she could get an auto or a pic (only to wait in vain- and wound up with a pic with Weight, Gomez and Paul Martin hours later), I was wondering out loud to hub, if 'this team just doesn't think that they are entitled to all this - the adulation, the expectation that they'll just be on the team' and here we are with a good core group of them except the Gionta, Cole, Rolston types kinda just there- Modano- should be ashamed of himself. No if's ands or buts about it. and fingering everyone and not looking at himself. Class. :roll

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.

Modano says new blood needs to come into USA hockey- yeah, someone to replace #9.

[SoCalcaniac]

On the day after I posted Mike Modano is a Jackass, he remains a Jackass or perhaps he needs internet travel arranging tips from Mrs. Jokinen. :roll.

Reading these articles and the comments in their entirety (thanks E) just makes me think that a shake up must occur. I had yet another de ja vu moment, between last night after watching the games (US & Canada) and the futility that ensued, and the Canadian thing was a totally different vibe so I have to talk about that separately, but my de ja vu moment happened, in recalling all the hope/expectation that surrounded the World Cup of Hockey that Fall before the whole hockey world ended. As I was standing and chatting wtih a friend who made the trip to Columbus for Team USA's training camp, and sat on a curb outside the Hyatt waiting for Team USA to emerge so she could get an auto or a pic (only to wait in vain- and wound up with a pic with Weight, Gomez and Paul Martin hours later), I was wondering out loud to hub, if 'this team just doesn't think that they are entitled to all this - the adulation, the expectation that they'll just be on the team' and here we are with a good core group of them except the Gionta, Cole, Rolston types kinda just there- Modano- should be ashamed of himself. No if's ands or buts about it. and fingering everyone and not looking at himself. Class. :roll

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.

Modano says new blood needs to come into USA hockey- yeah, someone to replace #9.

[SoCalcaniac]

On the day after I posted Mike Modano is a Jackass, he remains a Jackass or perhaps he needs internet travel arranging tips from Mrs. Jokinen. :roll.

Reading these articles and the comments in their entirety (thanks E) just makes me think that a shake up must occur. I had yet another de ja vu moment, between last night after watching the games (US & Canada) and the futility that ensued, and the Canadian thing was a totally different vibe so I have to talk about that separately, but my de ja vu moment happened, in recalling all the hope/expectation that surrounded the World Cup of Hockey that Fall before the whole hockey world ended. As I was standing and chatting wtih a friend who made the trip to Columbus for Team USA's training camp, and sat on a curb outside the Hyatt waiting for Team USA to emerge so she could get an auto or a pic (only to wait in vain- and wound up with a pic with Weight, Gomez and Paul Martin hours later), I was wondering out loud to hub, if 'this team just doesn't think that they are entitled to all this - the adulation, the expectation that they'll just be on the team' and here we are with a good core group of them except the Gionta, Cole, Rolston types kinda just there- Modano- should be ashamed of himself. No if's ands or buts about it. and fingering everyone and not looking at himself. Class. :roll

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.

Modano says new blood needs to come into USA hockey- yeah, someone to replace #9.

[SoCalcaniac]

On the day after I posted Mike Modano is a Jackass, he remains a Jackass or perhaps he needs internet travel arranging tips from Mrs. Jokinen. :roll.

Reading these articles and the comments in their entirety (thanks E) just makes me think that a shake up must occur. I had yet another de ja vu moment, between last night after watching the games (US & Canada) and the futility that ensued, and the Canadian thing was a totally different vibe so I have to talk about that separately, but my de ja vu moment happened, in recalling all the hope/expectation that surrounded the World Cup of Hockey that Fall before the whole hockey world ended. As I was standing and chatting wtih a friend who made the trip to Columbus for Team USA's training camp, and sat on a curb outside the Hyatt waiting for Team USA to emerge so she could get an auto or a pic (only to wait in vain- and wound up with a pic with Weight, Gomez and Paul Martin hours later), I was wondering out loud to hub, if 'this team just doesn't think that they are entitled to all this - the adulation, the expectation that they'll just be on the team' and here we are with a good core group of them except the Gionta, Cole, Rolston types kinda just there- Modano- should be ashamed of himself. No if's ands or buts about it. and fingering everyone and not looking at himself. Class. :roll

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.

Modano says new blood needs to come into USA hockey- yeah, someone to replace #9.

[SoCalcaniac]

On the day after I posted Mike Modano is a Jackass, he remains a Jackass or perhaps he needs internet travel arranging tips from Mrs. Jokinen. :roll.

Reading these articles and the comments in their entirety (thanks E) just makes me think that a shake up must occur. I had yet another de ja vu moment, between last night after watching the games (US & Canada) and the futility that ensued, and the Canadian thing was a totally different vibe so I have to talk about that separately, but my de ja vu moment happened, in recalling all the hope/expectation that surrounded the World Cup of Hockey that Fall before the whole hockey world ended. As I was standing and chatting wtih a friend who made the trip to Columbus for Team USA's training camp, and sat on a curb outside the Hyatt waiting for Team USA to emerge so she could get an auto or a pic (only to wait in vain- and wound up with a pic with Weight, Gomez and Paul Martin hours later), I was wondering out loud to hub, if 'this team just doesn't think that they are entitled to all this - the adulation, the expectation that they'll just be on the team' and here we are with a good core group of them except the Gionta, Cole, Rolston types kinda just there- Modano- should be ashamed of himself. No if's ands or buts about it. and fingering everyone and not looking at himself. Class. :roll

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.

Modano says new blood needs to come into USA hockey- yeah, someone to replace #9.

[nccanes]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

I'm not even going to say they shouldn't complain. But there's a time and place for everything and in this case it was neither. If Modano wants to strive to improve things at USA Hockey - great. Go help, but to complain after you just lost is absurd.

It's too bad, because whether or not Modano is right or wrong, there were probably people that have busted their asses for the last few weeks on behalf of these guys. Perhaps they were not well directed or whatever, but to throw some poor low paid schmucks under a bus as a parting shot is crappy.

[nccanes]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

I'm not even going to say they shouldn't complain. But there's a time and place for everything and in this case it was neither. If Modano wants to strive to improve things at USA Hockey - great. Go help, but to complain after you just lost is absurd.

It's too bad, because whether or not Modano is right or wrong, there were probably people that have busted their asses for the last few weeks on behalf of these guys. Perhaps they were not well directed or whatever, but to throw some poor low paid schmucks under a bus as a parting shot is crappy.

[nccanes]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

I'm not even going to say they shouldn't complain. But there's a time and place for everything and in this case it was neither. If Modano wants to strive to improve things at USA Hockey - great. Go help, but to complain after you just lost is absurd.

It's too bad, because whether or not Modano is right or wrong, there were probably people that have busted their asses for the last few weeks on behalf of these guys. Perhaps they were not well directed or whatever, but to throw some poor low paid schmucks under a bus as a parting shot is crappy.

[nccanes]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

I'm not even going to say they shouldn't complain. But there's a time and place for everything and in this case it was neither. If Modano wants to strive to improve things at USA Hockey - great. Go help, but to complain after you just lost is absurd.

It's too bad, because whether or not Modano is right or wrong, there were probably people that have busted their asses for the last few weeks on behalf of these guys. Perhaps they were not well directed or whatever, but to throw some poor low paid schmucks under a bus as a parting shot is crappy.

[nccanes]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

I'm not even going to say they shouldn't complain. But there's a time and place for everything and in this case it was neither. If Modano wants to strive to improve things at USA Hockey - great. Go help, but to complain after you just lost is absurd.

It's too bad, because whether or not Modano is right or wrong, there were probably people that have busted their asses for the last few weeks on behalf of these guys. Perhaps they were not well directed or whatever, but to throw some poor low paid schmucks under a bus as a parting shot is crappy.

[nccanes]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

I'm not even going to say they shouldn't complain. But there's a time and place for everything and in this case it was neither. If Modano wants to strive to improve things at USA Hockey - great. Go help, but to complain after you just lost is absurd.

It's too bad, because whether or not Modano is right or wrong, there were probably people that have busted their asses for the last few weeks on behalf of these guys. Perhaps they were not well directed or whatever, but to throw some poor low paid schmucks under a bus as a parting shot is crappy.

[nccanes]

These are multi million dollar athletes who are lucky enough to play a game for a living. As a result, they bear no resemblance to the amateurs who it truly matters to them if they win gold or not

There's no doubt about that...they have no right to complain.

I'm not even going to say they shouldn't complain. But there's a time and place for everything and in this case it was neither. If Modano wants to strive to improve things at USA Hockey - great. Go help, but to complain after you just lost is absurd.

It's too bad, because whether or not Modano is right or wrong, there were probably people that have busted their asses for the last few weeks on behalf of these guys. Perhaps they were not well directed or whatever, but to throw some poor low paid schmucks under a bus as a parting shot is crappy.

[nccanes]

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.



I think he already made one with some implications. Can't remember where I read it.

Here's a new article:

Modano absent from final Team USA meeting

09:07 AM CST on Thursday, February 23, 2006
By JEFF MILLER / The Dallas Morning News



TURIN, Italy - The United States men's Olympic hockey team gathered one last time in the basement of Palasport Olympico on Thursday morning. The agenda included the humbling duty of rebooking flights for players who didn't plan to leave days before the gold medal game.

Stars center Mike Modano, who criticized USA Hockey administration and coaching after Wednesday night's quarterfinal loss, wasn't present.

Walking into Palasport, defenseman John-Michael Liles of Colorado told a U.S. media coordinator that he saw Modano and his family at the Turin airport on Thursday morning and that he's gone.

The coordinator said he couldn't confirm that Modano was the only player not present at Thursday's meeting or that Modano had left Turin.

The Americans lost to Finland in the quarterfinals, 4-3. That ended a 1-4-1 run after winning the silver medal in 2002.

Following the game and before the players reached the locker room, Modano told reporters that he'd like to see new blood atop USA Hockey. He expressed frustration with first-year national team coach Peter Laviolette for not playing him much in the final stages of Thursday's loss and for taking the team's only timeout midway through the first period. He also said it was a distraction for players to have to make travel arrangements for their families.

Modano scored twice in the tournament, in the second game against Kazakhstan and in the fourth game against Sweden. He played on Team USA's first power play unit in most games. He sat for the bulk of the third period Wednesday and spent most of the final minute and a half on the bench hanging over the boards when the Americans had four forwards on the ice after pulling goalie Rick DiPietro.

Laviolette, coach of Carolina, explained Modano's absence in the third period by saying some players didn't have jump.

Only two players met with reporters on Thursday before the final squad meeting. Neither agreed with nor took issue with Modano's opinions.

Center Craig Conroy of Los Angeles said most of the players didn't know about Modano's comments until Thursday morning.

"I knew he was upset; he didn't say much in the room,” Conroy said. "He just kind of packed up his stuff, took a shower and he left.

"... I felt bad that he didn't play a lot down the stretch. He's such a great player, deserves a lot. If those are his opinions, I've got to say, 'OK.'

"He's been around a long time. He's got his opinions. I think when you get to talk to him again - you know, he's emotional after the games. I don't know if was just emotional or if he really meant it."

Said center Doug Weight of Carolina: "It was an emotional night last night. We certainly felt like we were going to be here today [practicing for Friday's semifinals]. It was a tough couple of weeks.

"Mike's a great guy. He's a tremendous player. Like I said, it was an emotional night. I'll try to leave it at that.”

[nccanes]

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.



I think he already made one with some implications. Can't remember where I read it.

Here's a new article:

Modano absent from final Team USA meeting

09:07 AM CST on Thursday, February 23, 2006
By JEFF MILLER / The Dallas Morning News



TURIN, Italy - The United States men's Olympic hockey team gathered one last time in the basement of Palasport Olympico on Thursday morning. The agenda included the humbling duty of rebooking flights for players who didn't plan to leave days before the gold medal game.

Stars center Mike Modano, who criticized USA Hockey administration and coaching after Wednesday night's quarterfinal loss, wasn't present.

Walking into Palasport, defenseman John-Michael Liles of Colorado told a U.S. media coordinator that he saw Modano and his family at the Turin airport on Thursday morning and that he's gone.

The coordinator said he couldn't confirm that Modano was the only player not present at Thursday's meeting or that Modano had left Turin.

The Americans lost to Finland in the quarterfinals, 4-3. That ended a 1-4-1 run after winning the silver medal in 2002.

Following the game and before the players reached the locker room, Modano told reporters that he'd like to see new blood atop USA Hockey. He expressed frustration with first-year national team coach Peter Laviolette for not playing him much in the final stages of Thursday's loss and for taking the team's only timeout midway through the first period. He also said it was a distraction for players to have to make travel arrangements for their families.

Modano scored twice in the tournament, in the second game against Kazakhstan and in the fourth game against Sweden. He played on Team USA's first power play unit in most games. He sat for the bulk of the third period Wednesday and spent most of the final minute and a half on the bench hanging over the boards when the Americans had four forwards on the ice after pulling goalie Rick DiPietro.

Laviolette, coach of Carolina, explained Modano's absence in the third period by saying some players didn't have jump.

Only two players met with reporters on Thursday before the final squad meeting. Neither agreed with nor took issue with Modano's opinions.

Center Craig Conroy of Los Angeles said most of the players didn't know about Modano's comments until Thursday morning.

"I knew he was upset; he didn't say much in the room,” Conroy said. "He just kind of packed up his stuff, took a shower and he left.

"... I felt bad that he didn't play a lot down the stretch. He's such a great player, deserves a lot. If those are his opinions, I've got to say, 'OK.'

"He's been around a long time. He's got his opinions. I think when you get to talk to him again - you know, he's emotional after the games. I don't know if was just emotional or if he really meant it."

Said center Doug Weight of Carolina: "It was an emotional night last night. We certainly felt like we were going to be here today [practicing for Friday's semifinals]. It was a tough couple of weeks.

"Mike's a great guy. He's a tremendous player. Like I said, it was an emotional night. I'll try to leave it at that.”

[nccanes]

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.



I think he already made one with some implications. Can't remember where I read it.

Here's a new article:

Modano absent from final Team USA meeting

09:07 AM CST on Thursday, February 23, 2006
By JEFF MILLER / The Dallas Morning News



TURIN, Italy - The United States men's Olympic hockey team gathered one last time in the basement of Palasport Olympico on Thursday morning. The agenda included the humbling duty of rebooking flights for players who didn't plan to leave days before the gold medal game.

Stars center Mike Modano, who criticized USA Hockey administration and coaching after Wednesday night's quarterfinal loss, wasn't present.

Walking into Palasport, defenseman John-Michael Liles of Colorado told a U.S. media coordinator that he saw Modano and his family at the Turin airport on Thursday morning and that he's gone.

The coordinator said he couldn't confirm that Modano was the only player not present at Thursday's meeting or that Modano had left Turin.

The Americans lost to Finland in the quarterfinals, 4-3. That ended a 1-4-1 run after winning the silver medal in 2002.

Following the game and before the players reached the locker room, Modano told reporters that he'd like to see new blood atop USA Hockey. He expressed frustration with first-year national team coach Peter Laviolette for not playing him much in the final stages of Thursday's loss and for taking the team's only timeout midway through the first period. He also said it was a distraction for players to have to make travel arrangements for their families.

Modano scored twice in the tournament, in the second game against Kazakhstan and in the fourth game against Sweden. He played on Team USA's first power play unit in most games. He sat for the bulk of the third period Wednesday and spent most of the final minute and a half on the bench hanging over the boards when the Americans had four forwards on the ice after pulling goalie Rick DiPietro.

Laviolette, coach of Carolina, explained Modano's absence in the third period by saying some players didn't have jump.

Only two players met with reporters on Thursday before the final squad meeting. Neither agreed with nor took issue with Modano's opinions.

Center Craig Conroy of Los Angeles said most of the players didn't know about Modano's comments until Thursday morning.

"I knew he was upset; he didn't say much in the room,” Conroy said. "He just kind of packed up his stuff, took a shower and he left.

"... I felt bad that he didn't play a lot down the stretch. He's such a great player, deserves a lot. If those are his opinions, I've got to say, 'OK.'

"He's been around a long time. He's got his opinions. I think when you get to talk to him again - you know, he's emotional after the games. I don't know if was just emotional or if he really meant it."

Said center Doug Weight of Carolina: "It was an emotional night last night. We certainly felt like we were going to be here today [practicing for Friday's semifinals]. It was a tough couple of weeks.

"Mike's a great guy. He's a tremendous player. Like I said, it was an emotional night. I'll try to leave it at that.”

[nccanes]

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.



I think he already made one with some implications. Can't remember where I read it.

Here's a new article:

Modano absent from final Team USA meeting

09:07 AM CST on Thursday, February 23, 2006
By JEFF MILLER / The Dallas Morning News



TURIN, Italy - The United States men's Olympic hockey team gathered one last time in the basement of Palasport Olympico on Thursday morning. The agenda included the humbling duty of rebooking flights for players who didn't plan to leave days before the gold medal game.

Stars center Mike Modano, who criticized USA Hockey administration and coaching after Wednesday night's quarterfinal loss, wasn't present.

Walking into Palasport, defenseman John-Michael Liles of Colorado told a U.S. media coordinator that he saw Modano and his family at the Turin airport on Thursday morning and that he's gone.

The coordinator said he couldn't confirm that Modano was the only player not present at Thursday's meeting or that Modano had left Turin.

The Americans lost to Finland in the quarterfinals, 4-3. That ended a 1-4-1 run after winning the silver medal in 2002.

Following the game and before the players reached the locker room, Modano told reporters that he'd like to see new blood atop USA Hockey. He expressed frustration with first-year national team coach Peter Laviolette for not playing him much in the final stages of Thursday's loss and for taking the team's only timeout midway through the first period. He also said it was a distraction for players to have to make travel arrangements for their families.

Modano scored twice in the tournament, in the second game against Kazakhstan and in the fourth game against Sweden. He played on Team USA's first power play unit in most games. He sat for the bulk of the third period Wednesday and spent most of the final minute and a half on the bench hanging over the boards when the Americans had four forwards on the ice after pulling goalie Rick DiPietro.

Laviolette, coach of Carolina, explained Modano's absence in the third period by saying some players didn't have jump.

Only two players met with reporters on Thursday before the final squad meeting. Neither agreed with nor took issue with Modano's opinions.

Center Craig Conroy of Los Angeles said most of the players didn't know about Modano's comments until Thursday morning.

"I knew he was upset; he didn't say much in the room,” Conroy said. "He just kind of packed up his stuff, took a shower and he left.

"... I felt bad that he didn't play a lot down the stretch. He's such a great player, deserves a lot. If those are his opinions, I've got to say, 'OK.'

"He's been around a long time. He's got his opinions. I think when you get to talk to him again - you know, he's emotional after the games. I don't know if was just emotional or if he really meant it."

Said center Doug Weight of Carolina: "It was an emotional night last night. We certainly felt like we were going to be here today [practicing for Friday's semifinals]. It was a tough couple of weeks.

"Mike's a great guy. He's a tremendous player. Like I said, it was an emotional night. I'll try to leave it at that.”

[nccanes]

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.



I think he already made one with some implications. Can't remember where I read it.

Here's a new article:

Modano absent from final Team USA meeting

09:07 AM CST on Thursday, February 23, 2006
By JEFF MILLER / The Dallas Morning News



TURIN, Italy - The United States men's Olympic hockey team gathered one last time in the basement of Palasport Olympico on Thursday morning. The agenda included the humbling duty of rebooking flights for players who didn't plan to leave days before the gold medal game.

Stars center Mike Modano, who criticized USA Hockey administration and coaching after Wednesday night's quarterfinal loss, wasn't present.

Walking into Palasport, defenseman John-Michael Liles of Colorado told a U.S. media coordinator that he saw Modano and his family at the Turin airport on Thursday morning and that he's gone.

The coordinator said he couldn't confirm that Modano was the only player not present at Thursday's meeting or that Modano had left Turin.

The Americans lost to Finland in the quarterfinals, 4-3. That ended a 1-4-1 run after winning the silver medal in 2002.

Following the game and before the players reached the locker room, Modano told reporters that he'd like to see new blood atop USA Hockey. He expressed frustration with first-year national team coach Peter Laviolette for not playing him much in the final stages of Thursday's loss and for taking the team's only timeout midway through the first period. He also said it was a distraction for players to have to make travel arrangements for their families.

Modano scored twice in the tournament, in the second game against Kazakhstan and in the fourth game against Sweden. He played on Team USA's first power play unit in most games. He sat for the bulk of the third period Wednesday and spent most of the final minute and a half on the bench hanging over the boards when the Americans had four forwards on the ice after pulling goalie Rick DiPietro.

Laviolette, coach of Carolina, explained Modano's absence in the third period by saying some players didn't have jump.

Only two players met with reporters on Thursday before the final squad meeting. Neither agreed with nor took issue with Modano's opinions.

Center Craig Conroy of Los Angeles said most of the players didn't know about Modano's comments until Thursday morning.

"I knew he was upset; he didn't say much in the room,” Conroy said. "He just kind of packed up his stuff, took a shower and he left.

"... I felt bad that he didn't play a lot down the stretch. He's such a great player, deserves a lot. If those are his opinions, I've got to say, 'OK.'

"He's been around a long time. He's got his opinions. I think when you get to talk to him again - you know, he's emotional after the games. I don't know if was just emotional or if he really meant it."

Said center Doug Weight of Carolina: "It was an emotional night last night. We certainly felt like we were going to be here today [practicing for Friday's semifinals]. It was a tough couple of weeks.

"Mike's a great guy. He's a tremendous player. Like I said, it was an emotional night. I'll try to leave it at that.”

[nccanes]

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.



I think he already made one with some implications. Can't remember where I read it.

Here's a new article:

Modano absent from final Team USA meeting

09:07 AM CST on Thursday, February 23, 2006
By JEFF MILLER / The Dallas Morning News



TURIN, Italy - The United States men's Olympic hockey team gathered one last time in the basement of Palasport Olympico on Thursday morning. The agenda included the humbling duty of rebooking flights for players who didn't plan to leave days before the gold medal game.

Stars center Mike Modano, who criticized USA Hockey administration and coaching after Wednesday night's quarterfinal loss, wasn't present.

Walking into Palasport, defenseman John-Michael Liles of Colorado told a U.S. media coordinator that he saw Modano and his family at the Turin airport on Thursday morning and that he's gone.

The coordinator said he couldn't confirm that Modano was the only player not present at Thursday's meeting or that Modano had left Turin.

The Americans lost to Finland in the quarterfinals, 4-3. That ended a 1-4-1 run after winning the silver medal in 2002.

Following the game and before the players reached the locker room, Modano told reporters that he'd like to see new blood atop USA Hockey. He expressed frustration with first-year national team coach Peter Laviolette for not playing him much in the final stages of Thursday's loss and for taking the team's only timeout midway through the first period. He also said it was a distraction for players to have to make travel arrangements for their families.

Modano scored twice in the tournament, in the second game against Kazakhstan and in the fourth game against Sweden. He played on Team USA's first power play unit in most games. He sat for the bulk of the third period Wednesday and spent most of the final minute and a half on the bench hanging over the boards when the Americans had four forwards on the ice after pulling goalie Rick DiPietro.

Laviolette, coach of Carolina, explained Modano's absence in the third period by saying some players didn't have jump.

Only two players met with reporters on Thursday before the final squad meeting. Neither agreed with nor took issue with Modano's opinions.

Center Craig Conroy of Los Angeles said most of the players didn't know about Modano's comments until Thursday morning.

"I knew he was upset; he didn't say much in the room,” Conroy said. "He just kind of packed up his stuff, took a shower and he left.

"... I felt bad that he didn't play a lot down the stretch. He's such a great player, deserves a lot. If those are his opinions, I've got to say, 'OK.'

"He's been around a long time. He's got his opinions. I think when you get to talk to him again - you know, he's emotional after the games. I don't know if was just emotional or if he really meant it."

Said center Doug Weight of Carolina: "It was an emotional night last night. We certainly felt like we were going to be here today [practicing for Friday's semifinals]. It was a tough couple of weeks.

"Mike's a great guy. He's a tremendous player. Like I said, it was an emotional night. I'll try to leave it at that.”

[nccanes]

I'm waiting for him to say something about how the team was coached. Surely that's coming.



I think he already made one with some implications. Can't remember where I read it.

Here's a new article:

Modano absent from final Team USA meeting

09:07 AM CST on Thursday, February 23, 2006
By JEFF MILLER / The Dallas Morning News



TURIN, Italy - The United States men's Olympic hockey team gathered one last time in the basement of Palasport Olympico on Thursday morning. The agenda included the humbling duty of rebooking flights for players who didn't plan to leave days before the gold medal game.

Stars center Mike Modano, who criticized USA Hockey administration and coaching after Wednesday night's quarterfinal loss, wasn't present.

Walking into Palasport, defenseman John-Michael Liles of Colorado told a U.S. media coordinator that he saw Modano and his family at the Turin airport on Thursday morning and that he's gone.

The coordinator said he couldn't confirm that Modano was the only player not present at Thursday's meeting or that Modano had left Turin.

The Americans lost to Finland in the quarterfinals, 4-3. That ended a 1-4-1 run after winning the silver medal in 2002.

Following the game and before the players reached the locker room, Modano told reporters that he'd like to see new blood atop USA Hockey. He expressed frustration with first-year national team coach Peter Laviolette for not playing him much in the final stages of Thursday's loss and for taking the team's only timeout midway through the first period. He also said it was a distraction for players to have to make travel arrangements for their families.

Modano scored twice in the tournament, in the second game against Kazakhstan and in the fourth game against Sweden. He played on Team USA's first power play unit in most games. He sat for the bulk of the third period Wednesday and spent most of the final minute and a half on the bench hanging over the boards when the Americans had four forwards on the ice after pulling goalie Rick DiPietro.

Laviolette, coach of Carolina, explained Modano's absence in the third period by saying some players didn't have jump.

Only two players met with reporters on Thursday before the final squad meeting. Neither agreed with nor took issue with Modano's opinions.

Center Craig Conroy of Los Angeles said most of the players didn't know about Modano's comments until Thursday morning.

"I knew he was upset; he didn't say much in the room,” Conroy said. "He just kind of packed up his stuff, took a shower and he left.

"... I felt bad that he didn't play a lot down the stretch. He's such a great player, deserves a lot. If those are his opinions, I've got to say, 'OK.'

"He's been around a long time. He's got his opinions. I think when you get to talk to him again - you know, he's emotional after the games. I don't know if was just emotional or if he really meant it."

Said center Doug Weight of Carolina: "It was an emotional night last night. We certainly felt like we were going to be here today [practicing for Friday's semifinals]. It was a tough couple of weeks.

"Mike's a great guy. He's a tremendous player. Like I said, it was an emotional night. I'll try to leave it at that.”

[nccanes]

This isn't the comment I saw, but it fits anyway:

Laviolette was unhappy enough with the team's start that he called his one timeout at 10:24 of the first period, with the U.S. already trailing 1-0 and Finland swarming in the U.S. end.

He called it, he said, because he felt like the team "was not going anywhere. ... And before the score got out of hand, I thought it was an opportunity to gather them in and see if we could get fired up emotionally and play a little harder."

While the U.S. came out and immediately started playing a more physical game, Modano clearly didn't agree with the early use of the team's lone timeout.

"It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there, to give some guys some rest," he said. "There's certainly a lot of game to play. Ten minutes into it, (show) a little composure, a little less panic and just play the game, and know there's 50 minutes left."



Well, I guess Modano is going to let everyone else play the villian. USA hockey and Laviolette.

[nccanes]

This isn't the comment I saw, but it fits anyway:

Laviolette was unhappy enough with the team's start that he called his one timeout at 10:24 of the first period, with the U.S. already trailing 1-0 and Finland swarming in the U.S. end.

He called it, he said, because he felt like the team "was not going anywhere. ... And before the score got out of hand, I thought it was an opportunity to gather them in and see if we could get fired up emotionally and play a little harder."

While the U.S. came out and immediately started playing a more physical game, Modano clearly didn't agree with the early use of the team's lone timeout.

"It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there, to give some guys some rest," he said. "There's certainly a lot of game to play. Ten minutes into it, (show) a little composure, a little less panic and just play the game, and know there's 50 minutes left."



Well, I guess Modano is going to let everyone else play the villian. USA hockey and Laviolette.

[nccanes]

This isn't the comment I saw, but it fits anyway:

Laviolette was unhappy enough with the team's start that he called his one timeout at 10:24 of the first period, with the U.S. already trailing 1-0 and Finland swarming in the U.S. end.

He called it, he said, because he felt like the team "was not going anywhere. ... And before the score got out of hand, I thought it was an opportunity to gather them in and see if we could get fired up emotionally and play a little harder."

While the U.S. came out and immediately started playing a more physical game, Modano clearly didn't agree with the early use of the team's lone timeout.

"It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there, to give some guys some rest," he said. "There's certainly a lot of game to play. Ten minutes into it, (show) a little composure, a little less panic and just play the game, and know there's 50 minutes left."



Well, I guess Modano is going to let everyone else play the villian. USA hockey and Laviolette.

[nccanes]

This isn't the comment I saw, but it fits anyway:

Laviolette was unhappy enough with the team's start that he called his one timeout at 10:24 of the first period, with the U.S. already trailing 1-0 and Finland swarming in the U.S. end.

He called it, he said, because he felt like the team "was not going anywhere. ... And before the score got out of hand, I thought it was an opportunity to gather them in and see if we could get fired up emotionally and play a little harder."

While the U.S. came out and immediately started playing a more physical game, Modano clearly didn't agree with the early use of the team's lone timeout.

"It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there, to give some guys some rest," he said. "There's certainly a lot of game to play. Ten minutes into it, (show) a little composure, a little less panic and just play the game, and know there's 50 minutes left."



Well, I guess Modano is going to let everyone else play the villian. USA hockey and Laviolette.

[nccanes]

This isn't the comment I saw, but it fits anyway:

Laviolette was unhappy enough with the team's start that he called his one timeout at 10:24 of the first period, with the U.S. already trailing 1-0 and Finland swarming in the U.S. end.

He called it, he said, because he felt like the team "was not going anywhere. ... And before the score got out of hand, I thought it was an opportunity to gather them in and see if we could get fired up emotionally and play a little harder."

While the U.S. came out and immediately started playing a more physical game, Modano clearly didn't agree with the early use of the team's lone timeout.

"It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there, to give some guys some rest," he said. "There's certainly a lot of game to play. Ten minutes into it, (show) a little composure, a little less panic and just play the game, and know there's 50 minutes left."



Well, I guess Modano is going to let everyone else play the villian. USA hockey and Laviolette.

[nccanes]

This isn't the comment I saw, but it fits anyway:

Laviolette was unhappy enough with the team's start that he called his one timeout at 10:24 of the first period, with the U.S. already trailing 1-0 and Finland swarming in the U.S. end.

He called it, he said, because he felt like the team "was not going anywhere. ... And before the score got out of hand, I thought it was an opportunity to gather them in and see if we could get fired up emotionally and play a little harder."

While the U.S. came out and immediately started playing a more physical game, Modano clearly didn't agree with the early use of the team's lone timeout.

"It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there, to give some guys some rest," he said. "There's certainly a lot of game to play. Ten minutes into it, (show) a little composure, a little less panic and just play the game, and know there's 50 minutes left."



Well, I guess Modano is going to let everyone else play the villian. USA hockey and Laviolette.

[nccanes]

This isn't the comment I saw, but it fits anyway:

Laviolette was unhappy enough with the team's start that he called his one timeout at 10:24 of the first period, with the U.S. already trailing 1-0 and Finland swarming in the U.S. end.

He called it, he said, because he felt like the team "was not going anywhere. ... And before the score got out of hand, I thought it was an opportunity to gather them in and see if we could get fired up emotionally and play a little harder."

While the U.S. came out and immediately started playing a more physical game, Modano clearly didn't agree with the early use of the team's lone timeout.

"It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there, to give some guys some rest," he said. "There's certainly a lot of game to play. Ten minutes into it, (show) a little composure, a little less panic and just play the game, and know there's 50 minutes left."



Well, I guess Modano is going to let everyone else play the villian. USA hockey and Laviolette.

[SoCalcaniac]

E- didn't Coach & Waddell say they were unpaid and volunteers?

Well, somebody must have known I was looking for some stupid ass quote about our Coach and his coaching style from Modano, and whaddya know? ask and you shall receive:



TORINO, Italy -- Dallas Stars captain Mike Modano wasn't pleased with head coach Peter Laviolette and his coaching strategy, saying he thought Laviolette shouldn't have called a time out in the first period.

"There was a lot of game to be played. It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there," Modano said. "Give some guys some rest. A bit of composure and a little less panic and just play the game, you know there's 50 minutes left in the game."

Modano, as we know, was well-rested :lol: without benefit of the time out, having been benched for much of the third period in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Finland.


The long-time member of the U.S. national team also ripped USA Hockey for not doing enough for the players and suggested there needs to be changes at the top.


"Maybe they need some new blood in there to run things a little differently," Modano said. "It's probably time some things changed."


Modano complained that, among other things, the players had to look after travel, hotel and tickets for their families without the help of USA Hockey. Other nations, like Canada, try and help facilitate the planning of those details, but it's a country by country situation.


"Basically, we're on our own as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets. I believe that's something you don't have to think about," Modano said. "That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it and we can focus on hockey and prepare ourselves to play."


Teammates disagreed that there was any kind of distraction relating to USA Hockey. Family arrangements were all taken care of before the tournament started, Brian Gionta said.

"I have no comment on that," Laviolette said.

But WAIT- there's more...... Scott Burnside sums up nicely......



Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Never-say-die 'tude not enough for Team USA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Scott Burnside
ESPN.com

TORINO, Italy -- There always will be something off-putting about the American men's hockey team at this Olympic tournament, even with its never-say-die mentality and its surprising tenacity.

Off-putting performances and off-putting qualities ultimately will leave the most lasting impression and define this team after four straight one-goal losses, including Wednesday's 4-3 quarterfinal loss to Finland.

Veteran Mike Modano came off the ice after the Americans had come from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to make a game of it until the dying seconds and carped about head coach Peter Laviolette's strategy. He moaned that USA Hockey didn't do enough to look after the players' families and the distraction that caused.

Nice.

Someone asked Modano why he wasn't on the ice in the third period, when the Americans were desperate for the tying goal.

"I don't know, you'll have to ask Peter," Modano said, implying it was a tremendous error in coaching judgment that he of the two-goals, zero-assists performance wasn't on the ice.
He didn't deserve to be. Plain and simple.

Look at the players Laviolette sent over the boards time and again in the last half of the third period. Brian Gionta, who scored the third American goal with 4:27 left in the game, and Jason Blake and Chris Drury and Erik Cole. Veteran Doug Weight was there ostensibly for his face-off acumen, but it was the kids that Laviolette turned to, not Keith Tkachuk, who finished the tournament with zero points and took three minor penalties in the quarterfinal game, or Bill Guerin or Modano.

"We're down, looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't, to be honest, it wasn't about Mike Modano. It's never been about any one player on the team. It was about trying to get the players out on the ice that were going," Laviolette said. "The third period was clearly our best period. We wanted guys out there that jump, that could go down into the offensive end.

"I think some players, in general, didn't seem to have the jump and some players did, and it varied from game to game," Laviolette added. "And you do the best you can to try and get the players out there that had the jump. Again, we were close in the third period, but for me, it was too little, too late. We lost the game in the first 40 minutes."

How about the first 10 minutes.

Instead of taking advantage of their strong performance in a 5-4 loss to Russia on Tuesday night, the Americans came out timid and out of sorts.

The undefeated Finns, who have made their mark in this tournament with strong, energetic starts, made the Americans resemble table hockey characters instead of highly-paid and, presumably, highly-motivated NHLers.

So clueless was the U.S. performance that less than a minute after Ville Peltonen gave the Finns a 1-0 lead, a red-faced Laviolette called a timeout 10:24 into the first period. We could read some of the words Laviolette uttered during the timeout and let's just say we can't in all good conscience repeat them.

"The time out I called because I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game and we were clearly sitting back on our heels and before the score got out of hand, I thought it was just an opportunity to gather them and see if we couldn't somehow get fired up emotionally and play a little bit harder."

And for a time, Laviolette's move appeared to be a stroke of genius. (yes, cause it was GENUIS)

And for a moment, it appeared that all the hard work and diligence that hadn't paid off in the preliminary round, where the Americans lost three straight one-goals games, was going to bear fruit when it mattered most.


True, less than two minutes later, Sami Salo ripped home a short-handed effort off Mathieu Schneider's stick to give the Finns a 2-0 lead. But the Americans did show some signs of life.


They started to generate the kind of forecheck that had marked their earlier efforts in this tournament.

Schneider, trying to atone for a miserable tournament marked by blind passes and poor decisions, caromed a shot off Mike Knuble's torso to make it 2-1. Then Schneider was at it again, blasting a shot over Finnish netminder Antero Niittymaki's glove hand just 1:29 into the second period to tie the game.

Derian Hatcher, who seemed woefully out of place for most of this tournament, was called for hooking, as was Bret Hedican shortly thereafter, giving the potent Finnish power play a two-man advantage for 1:35. They waited until there was just four seconds left in Hedican's penalty before Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen drilled a bad angle shot over netminder Rick DiPietro and under the crossbar to re-establish the Finns' one-goal lead.

Tkachuk went off for hooking, and then Schneider's brainless hit from behind once again gave the Finns a two-man advantage, which Jokinen converted to give Finland a 4-2 lead by the end of the second.

If the Americans hadn't continued their penalty woes well into the third period, they might have had more time to convert on the comeback, but Hatcher took a double-minor high sticking and was followed to the box by Gionta, Tkachuk and Scott Gomez, who took a 10-minute misconduct. Given his lack of productivity, it probably was the best place for him.

"I think as a group I think we're probably disappointed with the way we played tonight. It was our game where we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy. We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said.

One wonders what kind of effort the Americans would have produced had GM Don Waddell and the rest of the USA Hockey brain trust gone a different direction with this team.

The thinking was that by taking a mix of older players like Chris Chelios, who actually had his best game of the tournament Wednesday, Tkachuk, Bill Guerin and Weight, they would provide leadership for younger players like Cole, John-Michael Liles and Jordan Leopold, and that the team's depth would keep them competitive.

But it didn't pan out that way.

The Americans finished with one win in six games, a 4-1 victory over Kazakhstan. They lost four in a row to medal-caliber teams. All one-goal losses, but losses nonetheless.

What would have happened if USA Hockey had bit the bullet and said, no, forget sending a team built on wishes and maybes and yesterdays, we're going to send a team for tomorrow?

What would have happened if young American defensemen Paul Martin and Paul Mara, and even NHL rookie Ryan Suter, had been on this team? And forwards Tim Connolly and Zach Parise?

Would such a team have won a medal? Not likely. Could it have matched the results of the team that came to Italy? It would be hard not to accomplish that. And they would likely have accepted defeat a little more graciously. (hmmm what a concept)

[SoCalcaniac]

E- didn't Coach & Waddell say they were unpaid and volunteers?

Well, somebody must have known I was looking for some stupid ass quote about our Coach and his coaching style from Modano, and whaddya know? ask and you shall receive:



TORINO, Italy -- Dallas Stars captain Mike Modano wasn't pleased with head coach Peter Laviolette and his coaching strategy, saying he thought Laviolette shouldn't have called a time out in the first period.

"There was a lot of game to be played. It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there," Modano said. "Give some guys some rest. A bit of composure and a little less panic and just play the game, you know there's 50 minutes left in the game."

Modano, as we know, was well-rested :lol: without benefit of the time out, having been benched for much of the third period in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Finland.


The long-time member of the U.S. national team also ripped USA Hockey for not doing enough for the players and suggested there needs to be changes at the top.


"Maybe they need some new blood in there to run things a little differently," Modano said. "It's probably time some things changed."


Modano complained that, among other things, the players had to look after travel, hotel and tickets for their families without the help of USA Hockey. Other nations, like Canada, try and help facilitate the planning of those details, but it's a country by country situation.


"Basically, we're on our own as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets. I believe that's something you don't have to think about," Modano said. "That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it and we can focus on hockey and prepare ourselves to play."


Teammates disagreed that there was any kind of distraction relating to USA Hockey. Family arrangements were all taken care of before the tournament started, Brian Gionta said.

"I have no comment on that," Laviolette said.

But WAIT- there's more...... Scott Burnside sums up nicely......



Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Never-say-die 'tude not enough for Team USA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Scott Burnside
ESPN.com

TORINO, Italy -- There always will be something off-putting about the American men's hockey team at this Olympic tournament, even with its never-say-die mentality and its surprising tenacity.

Off-putting performances and off-putting qualities ultimately will leave the most lasting impression and define this team after four straight one-goal losses, including Wednesday's 4-3 quarterfinal loss to Finland.

Veteran Mike Modano came off the ice after the Americans had come from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to make a game of it until the dying seconds and carped about head coach Peter Laviolette's strategy. He moaned that USA Hockey didn't do enough to look after the players' families and the distraction that caused.

Nice.

Someone asked Modano why he wasn't on the ice in the third period, when the Americans were desperate for the tying goal.

"I don't know, you'll have to ask Peter," Modano said, implying it was a tremendous error in coaching judgment that he of the two-goals, zero-assists performance wasn't on the ice.
He didn't deserve to be. Plain and simple.

Look at the players Laviolette sent over the boards time and again in the last half of the third period. Brian Gionta, who scored the third American goal with 4:27 left in the game, and Jason Blake and Chris Drury and Erik Cole. Veteran Doug Weight was there ostensibly for his face-off acumen, but it was the kids that Laviolette turned to, not Keith Tkachuk, who finished the tournament with zero points and took three minor penalties in the quarterfinal game, or Bill Guerin or Modano.

"We're down, looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't, to be honest, it wasn't about Mike Modano. It's never been about any one player on the team. It was about trying to get the players out on the ice that were going," Laviolette said. "The third period was clearly our best period. We wanted guys out there that jump, that could go down into the offensive end.

"I think some players, in general, didn't seem to have the jump and some players did, and it varied from game to game," Laviolette added. "And you do the best you can to try and get the players out there that had the jump. Again, we were close in the third period, but for me, it was too little, too late. We lost the game in the first 40 minutes."

How about the first 10 minutes.

Instead of taking advantage of their strong performance in a 5-4 loss to Russia on Tuesday night, the Americans came out timid and out of sorts.

The undefeated Finns, who have made their mark in this tournament with strong, energetic starts, made the Americans resemble table hockey characters instead of highly-paid and, presumably, highly-motivated NHLers.

So clueless was the U.S. performance that less than a minute after Ville Peltonen gave the Finns a 1-0 lead, a red-faced Laviolette called a timeout 10:24 into the first period. We could read some of the words Laviolette uttered during the timeout and let's just say we can't in all good conscience repeat them.

"The time out I called because I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game and we were clearly sitting back on our heels and before the score got out of hand, I thought it was just an opportunity to gather them and see if we couldn't somehow get fired up emotionally and play a little bit harder."

And for a time, Laviolette's move appeared to be a stroke of genius. (yes, cause it was GENUIS)

And for a moment, it appeared that all the hard work and diligence that hadn't paid off in the preliminary round, where the Americans lost three straight one-goals games, was going to bear fruit when it mattered most.


True, less than two minutes later, Sami Salo ripped home a short-handed effort off Mathieu Schneider's stick to give the Finns a 2-0 lead. But the Americans did show some signs of life.


They started to generate the kind of forecheck that had marked their earlier efforts in this tournament.

Schneider, trying to atone for a miserable tournament marked by blind passes and poor decisions, caromed a shot off Mike Knuble's torso to make it 2-1. Then Schneider was at it again, blasting a shot over Finnish netminder Antero Niittymaki's glove hand just 1:29 into the second period to tie the game.

Derian Hatcher, who seemed woefully out of place for most of this tournament, was called for hooking, as was Bret Hedican shortly thereafter, giving the potent Finnish power play a two-man advantage for 1:35. They waited until there was just four seconds left in Hedican's penalty before Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen drilled a bad angle shot over netminder Rick DiPietro and under the crossbar to re-establish the Finns' one-goal lead.

Tkachuk went off for hooking, and then Schneider's brainless hit from behind once again gave the Finns a two-man advantage, which Jokinen converted to give Finland a 4-2 lead by the end of the second.

If the Americans hadn't continued their penalty woes well into the third period, they might have had more time to convert on the comeback, but Hatcher took a double-minor high sticking and was followed to the box by Gionta, Tkachuk and Scott Gomez, who took a 10-minute misconduct. Given his lack of productivity, it probably was the best place for him.

"I think as a group I think we're probably disappointed with the way we played tonight. It was our game where we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy. We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said.

One wonders what kind of effort the Americans would have produced had GM Don Waddell and the rest of the USA Hockey brain trust gone a different direction with this team.

The thinking was that by taking a mix of older players like Chris Chelios, who actually had his best game of the tournament Wednesday, Tkachuk, Bill Guerin and Weight, they would provide leadership for younger players like Cole, John-Michael Liles and Jordan Leopold, and that the team's depth would keep them competitive.

But it didn't pan out that way.

The Americans finished with one win in six games, a 4-1 victory over Kazakhstan. They lost four in a row to medal-caliber teams. All one-goal losses, but losses nonetheless.

What would have happened if USA Hockey had bit the bullet and said, no, forget sending a team built on wishes and maybes and yesterdays, we're going to send a team for tomorrow?

What would have happened if young American defensemen Paul Martin and Paul Mara, and even NHL rookie Ryan Suter, had been on this team? And forwards Tim Connolly and Zach Parise?

Would such a team have won a medal? Not likely. Could it have matched the results of the team that came to Italy? It would be hard not to accomplish that. And they would likely have accepted defeat a little more graciously. (hmmm what a concept)

[SoCalcaniac]

E- didn't Coach & Waddell say they were unpaid and volunteers?

Well, somebody must have known I was looking for some stupid ass quote about our Coach and his coaching style from Modano, and whaddya know? ask and you shall receive:



TORINO, Italy -- Dallas Stars captain Mike Modano wasn't pleased with head coach Peter Laviolette and his coaching strategy, saying he thought Laviolette shouldn't have called a time out in the first period.

"There was a lot of game to be played. It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there," Modano said. "Give some guys some rest. A bit of composure and a little less panic and just play the game, you know there's 50 minutes left in the game."

Modano, as we know, was well-rested :lol: without benefit of the time out, having been benched for much of the third period in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Finland.


The long-time member of the U.S. national team also ripped USA Hockey for not doing enough for the players and suggested there needs to be changes at the top.


"Maybe they need some new blood in there to run things a little differently," Modano said. "It's probably time some things changed."


Modano complained that, among other things, the players had to look after travel, hotel and tickets for their families without the help of USA Hockey. Other nations, like Canada, try and help facilitate the planning of those details, but it's a country by country situation.


"Basically, we're on our own as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets. I believe that's something you don't have to think about," Modano said. "That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it and we can focus on hockey and prepare ourselves to play."


Teammates disagreed that there was any kind of distraction relating to USA Hockey. Family arrangements were all taken care of before the tournament started, Brian Gionta said.

"I have no comment on that," Laviolette said.

But WAIT- there's more...... Scott Burnside sums up nicely......



Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Never-say-die 'tude not enough for Team USA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Scott Burnside
ESPN.com

TORINO, Italy -- There always will be something off-putting about the American men's hockey team at this Olympic tournament, even with its never-say-die mentality and its surprising tenacity.

Off-putting performances and off-putting qualities ultimately will leave the most lasting impression and define this team after four straight one-goal losses, including Wednesday's 4-3 quarterfinal loss to Finland.

Veteran Mike Modano came off the ice after the Americans had come from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to make a game of it until the dying seconds and carped about head coach Peter Laviolette's strategy. He moaned that USA Hockey didn't do enough to look after the players' families and the distraction that caused.

Nice.

Someone asked Modano why he wasn't on the ice in the third period, when the Americans were desperate for the tying goal.

"I don't know, you'll have to ask Peter," Modano said, implying it was a tremendous error in coaching judgment that he of the two-goals, zero-assists performance wasn't on the ice.
He didn't deserve to be. Plain and simple.

Look at the players Laviolette sent over the boards time and again in the last half of the third period. Brian Gionta, who scored the third American goal with 4:27 left in the game, and Jason Blake and Chris Drury and Erik Cole. Veteran Doug Weight was there ostensibly for his face-off acumen, but it was the kids that Laviolette turned to, not Keith Tkachuk, who finished the tournament with zero points and took three minor penalties in the quarterfinal game, or Bill Guerin or Modano.

"We're down, looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't, to be honest, it wasn't about Mike Modano. It's never been about any one player on the team. It was about trying to get the players out on the ice that were going," Laviolette said. "The third period was clearly our best period. We wanted guys out there that jump, that could go down into the offensive end.

"I think some players, in general, didn't seem to have the jump and some players did, and it varied from game to game," Laviolette added. "And you do the best you can to try and get the players out there that had the jump. Again, we were close in the third period, but for me, it was too little, too late. We lost the game in the first 40 minutes."

How about the first 10 minutes.

Instead of taking advantage of their strong performance in a 5-4 loss to Russia on Tuesday night, the Americans came out timid and out of sorts.

The undefeated Finns, who have made their mark in this tournament with strong, energetic starts, made the Americans resemble table hockey characters instead of highly-paid and, presumably, highly-motivated NHLers.

So clueless was the U.S. performance that less than a minute after Ville Peltonen gave the Finns a 1-0 lead, a red-faced Laviolette called a timeout 10:24 into the first period. We could read some of the words Laviolette uttered during the timeout and let's just say we can't in all good conscience repeat them.

"The time out I called because I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game and we were clearly sitting back on our heels and before the score got out of hand, I thought it was just an opportunity to gather them and see if we couldn't somehow get fired up emotionally and play a little bit harder."

And for a time, Laviolette's move appeared to be a stroke of genius. (yes, cause it was GENUIS)

And for a moment, it appeared that all the hard work and diligence that hadn't paid off in the preliminary round, where the Americans lost three straight one-goals games, was going to bear fruit when it mattered most.


True, less than two minutes later, Sami Salo ripped home a short-handed effort off Mathieu Schneider's stick to give the Finns a 2-0 lead. But the Americans did show some signs of life.


They started to generate the kind of forecheck that had marked their earlier efforts in this tournament.

Schneider, trying to atone for a miserable tournament marked by blind passes and poor decisions, caromed a shot off Mike Knuble's torso to make it 2-1. Then Schneider was at it again, blasting a shot over Finnish netminder Antero Niittymaki's glove hand just 1:29 into the second period to tie the game.

Derian Hatcher, who seemed woefully out of place for most of this tournament, was called for hooking, as was Bret Hedican shortly thereafter, giving the potent Finnish power play a two-man advantage for 1:35. They waited until there was just four seconds left in Hedican's penalty before Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen drilled a bad angle shot over netminder Rick DiPietro and under the crossbar to re-establish the Finns' one-goal lead.

Tkachuk went off for hooking, and then Schneider's brainless hit from behind once again gave the Finns a two-man advantage, which Jokinen converted to give Finland a 4-2 lead by the end of the second.

If the Americans hadn't continued their penalty woes well into the third period, they might have had more time to convert on the comeback, but Hatcher took a double-minor high sticking and was followed to the box by Gionta, Tkachuk and Scott Gomez, who took a 10-minute misconduct. Given his lack of productivity, it probably was the best place for him.

"I think as a group I think we're probably disappointed with the way we played tonight. It was our game where we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy. We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said.

One wonders what kind of effort the Americans would have produced had GM Don Waddell and the rest of the USA Hockey brain trust gone a different direction with this team.

The thinking was that by taking a mix of older players like Chris Chelios, who actually had his best game of the tournament Wednesday, Tkachuk, Bill Guerin and Weight, they would provide leadership for younger players like Cole, John-Michael Liles and Jordan Leopold, and that the team's depth would keep them competitive.

But it didn't pan out that way.

The Americans finished with one win in six games, a 4-1 victory over Kazakhstan. They lost four in a row to medal-caliber teams. All one-goal losses, but losses nonetheless.

What would have happened if USA Hockey had bit the bullet and said, no, forget sending a team built on wishes and maybes and yesterdays, we're going to send a team for tomorrow?

What would have happened if young American defensemen Paul Martin and Paul Mara, and even NHL rookie Ryan Suter, had been on this team? And forwards Tim Connolly and Zach Parise?

Would such a team have won a medal? Not likely. Could it have matched the results of the team that came to Italy? It would be hard not to accomplish that. And they would likely have accepted defeat a little more graciously. (hmmm what a concept)

[SoCalcaniac]

E- didn't Coach & Waddell say they were unpaid and volunteers?

Well, somebody must have known I was looking for some stupid ass quote about our Coach and his coaching style from Modano, and whaddya know? ask and you shall receive:



TORINO, Italy -- Dallas Stars captain Mike Modano wasn't pleased with head coach Peter Laviolette and his coaching strategy, saying he thought Laviolette shouldn't have called a time out in the first period.

"There was a lot of game to be played. It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there," Modano said. "Give some guys some rest. A bit of composure and a little less panic and just play the game, you know there's 50 minutes left in the game."

Modano, as we know, was well-rested :lol: without benefit of the time out, having been benched for much of the third period in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Finland.


The long-time member of the U.S. national team also ripped USA Hockey for not doing enough for the players and suggested there needs to be changes at the top.


"Maybe they need some new blood in there to run things a little differently," Modano said. "It's probably time some things changed."


Modano complained that, among other things, the players had to look after travel, hotel and tickets for their families without the help of USA Hockey. Other nations, like Canada, try and help facilitate the planning of those details, but it's a country by country situation.


"Basically, we're on our own as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets. I believe that's something you don't have to think about," Modano said. "That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it and we can focus on hockey and prepare ourselves to play."


Teammates disagreed that there was any kind of distraction relating to USA Hockey. Family arrangements were all taken care of before the tournament started, Brian Gionta said.

"I have no comment on that," Laviolette said.

But WAIT- there's more...... Scott Burnside sums up nicely......



Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Never-say-die 'tude not enough for Team USA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Scott Burnside
ESPN.com

TORINO, Italy -- There always will be something off-putting about the American men's hockey team at this Olympic tournament, even with its never-say-die mentality and its surprising tenacity.

Off-putting performances and off-putting qualities ultimately will leave the most lasting impression and define this team after four straight one-goal losses, including Wednesday's 4-3 quarterfinal loss to Finland.

Veteran Mike Modano came off the ice after the Americans had come from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to make a game of it until the dying seconds and carped about head coach Peter Laviolette's strategy. He moaned that USA Hockey didn't do enough to look after the players' families and the distraction that caused.

Nice.

Someone asked Modano why he wasn't on the ice in the third period, when the Americans were desperate for the tying goal.

"I don't know, you'll have to ask Peter," Modano said, implying it was a tremendous error in coaching judgment that he of the two-goals, zero-assists performance wasn't on the ice.
He didn't deserve to be. Plain and simple.

Look at the players Laviolette sent over the boards time and again in the last half of the third period. Brian Gionta, who scored the third American goal with 4:27 left in the game, and Jason Blake and Chris Drury and Erik Cole. Veteran Doug Weight was there ostensibly for his face-off acumen, but it was the kids that Laviolette turned to, not Keith Tkachuk, who finished the tournament with zero points and took three minor penalties in the quarterfinal game, or Bill Guerin or Modano.

"We're down, looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't, to be honest, it wasn't about Mike Modano. It's never been about any one player on the team. It was about trying to get the players out on the ice that were going," Laviolette said. "The third period was clearly our best period. We wanted guys out there that jump, that could go down into the offensive end.

"I think some players, in general, didn't seem to have the jump and some players did, and it varied from game to game," Laviolette added. "And you do the best you can to try and get the players out there that had the jump. Again, we were close in the third period, but for me, it was too little, too late. We lost the game in the first 40 minutes."

How about the first 10 minutes.

Instead of taking advantage of their strong performance in a 5-4 loss to Russia on Tuesday night, the Americans came out timid and out of sorts.

The undefeated Finns, who have made their mark in this tournament with strong, energetic starts, made the Americans resemble table hockey characters instead of highly-paid and, presumably, highly-motivated NHLers.

So clueless was the U.S. performance that less than a minute after Ville Peltonen gave the Finns a 1-0 lead, a red-faced Laviolette called a timeout 10:24 into the first period. We could read some of the words Laviolette uttered during the timeout and let's just say we can't in all good conscience repeat them.

"The time out I called because I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game and we were clearly sitting back on our heels and before the score got out of hand, I thought it was just an opportunity to gather them and see if we couldn't somehow get fired up emotionally and play a little bit harder."

And for a time, Laviolette's move appeared to be a stroke of genius. (yes, cause it was GENUIS)

And for a moment, it appeared that all the hard work and diligence that hadn't paid off in the preliminary round, where the Americans lost three straight one-goals games, was going to bear fruit when it mattered most.


True, less than two minutes later, Sami Salo ripped home a short-handed effort off Mathieu Schneider's stick to give the Finns a 2-0 lead. But the Americans did show some signs of life.


They started to generate the kind of forecheck that had marked their earlier efforts in this tournament.

Schneider, trying to atone for a miserable tournament marked by blind passes and poor decisions, caromed a shot off Mike Knuble's torso to make it 2-1. Then Schneider was at it again, blasting a shot over Finnish netminder Antero Niittymaki's glove hand just 1:29 into the second period to tie the game.

Derian Hatcher, who seemed woefully out of place for most of this tournament, was called for hooking, as was Bret Hedican shortly thereafter, giving the potent Finnish power play a two-man advantage for 1:35. They waited until there was just four seconds left in Hedican's penalty before Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen drilled a bad angle shot over netminder Rick DiPietro and under the crossbar to re-establish the Finns' one-goal lead.

Tkachuk went off for hooking, and then Schneider's brainless hit from behind once again gave the Finns a two-man advantage, which Jokinen converted to give Finland a 4-2 lead by the end of the second.

If the Americans hadn't continued their penalty woes well into the third period, they might have had more time to convert on the comeback, but Hatcher took a double-minor high sticking and was followed to the box by Gionta, Tkachuk and Scott Gomez, who took a 10-minute misconduct. Given his lack of productivity, it probably was the best place for him.

"I think as a group I think we're probably disappointed with the way we played tonight. It was our game where we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy. We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said.

One wonders what kind of effort the Americans would have produced had GM Don Waddell and the rest of the USA Hockey brain trust gone a different direction with this team.

The thinking was that by taking a mix of older players like Chris Chelios, who actually had his best game of the tournament Wednesday, Tkachuk, Bill Guerin and Weight, they would provide leadership for younger players like Cole, John-Michael Liles and Jordan Leopold, and that the team's depth would keep them competitive.

But it didn't pan out that way.

The Americans finished with one win in six games, a 4-1 victory over Kazakhstan. They lost four in a row to medal-caliber teams. All one-goal losses, but losses nonetheless.

What would have happened if USA Hockey had bit the bullet and said, no, forget sending a team built on wishes and maybes and yesterdays, we're going to send a team for tomorrow?

What would have happened if young American defensemen Paul Martin and Paul Mara, and even NHL rookie Ryan Suter, had been on this team? And forwards Tim Connolly and Zach Parise?

Would such a team have won a medal? Not likely. Could it have matched the results of the team that came to Italy? It would be hard not to accomplish that. And they would likely have accepted defeat a little more graciously. (hmmm what a concept)

[SoCalcaniac]

E- didn't Coach & Waddell say they were unpaid and volunteers?

Well, somebody must have known I was looking for some stupid ass quote about our Coach and his coaching style from Modano, and whaddya know? ask and you shall receive:



TORINO, Italy -- Dallas Stars captain Mike Modano wasn't pleased with head coach Peter Laviolette and his coaching strategy, saying he thought Laviolette shouldn't have called a time out in the first period.

"There was a lot of game to be played. It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there," Modano said. "Give some guys some rest. A bit of composure and a little less panic and just play the game, you know there's 50 minutes left in the game."

Modano, as we know, was well-rested :lol: without benefit of the time out, having been benched for much of the third period in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Finland.


The long-time member of the U.S. national team also ripped USA Hockey for not doing enough for the players and suggested there needs to be changes at the top.


"Maybe they need some new blood in there to run things a little differently," Modano said. "It's probably time some things changed."


Modano complained that, among other things, the players had to look after travel, hotel and tickets for their families without the help of USA Hockey. Other nations, like Canada, try and help facilitate the planning of those details, but it's a country by country situation.


"Basically, we're on our own as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets. I believe that's something you don't have to think about," Modano said. "That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it and we can focus on hockey and prepare ourselves to play."


Teammates disagreed that there was any kind of distraction relating to USA Hockey. Family arrangements were all taken care of before the tournament started, Brian Gionta said.

"I have no comment on that," Laviolette said.

But WAIT- there's more...... Scott Burnside sums up nicely......



Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Never-say-die 'tude not enough for Team USA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Scott Burnside
ESPN.com

TORINO, Italy -- There always will be something off-putting about the American men's hockey team at this Olympic tournament, even with its never-say-die mentality and its surprising tenacity.

Off-putting performances and off-putting qualities ultimately will leave the most lasting impression and define this team after four straight one-goal losses, including Wednesday's 4-3 quarterfinal loss to Finland.

Veteran Mike Modano came off the ice after the Americans had come from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to make a game of it until the dying seconds and carped about head coach Peter Laviolette's strategy. He moaned that USA Hockey didn't do enough to look after the players' families and the distraction that caused.

Nice.

Someone asked Modano why he wasn't on the ice in the third period, when the Americans were desperate for the tying goal.

"I don't know, you'll have to ask Peter," Modano said, implying it was a tremendous error in coaching judgment that he of the two-goals, zero-assists performance wasn't on the ice.
He didn't deserve to be. Plain and simple.

Look at the players Laviolette sent over the boards time and again in the last half of the third period. Brian Gionta, who scored the third American goal with 4:27 left in the game, and Jason Blake and Chris Drury and Erik Cole. Veteran Doug Weight was there ostensibly for his face-off acumen, but it was the kids that Laviolette turned to, not Keith Tkachuk, who finished the tournament with zero points and took three minor penalties in the quarterfinal game, or Bill Guerin or Modano.

"We're down, looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't, to be honest, it wasn't about Mike Modano. It's never been about any one player on the team. It was about trying to get the players out on the ice that were going," Laviolette said. "The third period was clearly our best period. We wanted guys out there that jump, that could go down into the offensive end.

"I think some players, in general, didn't seem to have the jump and some players did, and it varied from game to game," Laviolette added. "And you do the best you can to try and get the players out there that had the jump. Again, we were close in the third period, but for me, it was too little, too late. We lost the game in the first 40 minutes."

How about the first 10 minutes.

Instead of taking advantage of their strong performance in a 5-4 loss to Russia on Tuesday night, the Americans came out timid and out of sorts.

The undefeated Finns, who have made their mark in this tournament with strong, energetic starts, made the Americans resemble table hockey characters instead of highly-paid and, presumably, highly-motivated NHLers.

So clueless was the U.S. performance that less than a minute after Ville Peltonen gave the Finns a 1-0 lead, a red-faced Laviolette called a timeout 10:24 into the first period. We could read some of the words Laviolette uttered during the timeout and let's just say we can't in all good conscience repeat them.

"The time out I called because I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game and we were clearly sitting back on our heels and before the score got out of hand, I thought it was just an opportunity to gather them and see if we couldn't somehow get fired up emotionally and play a little bit harder."

And for a time, Laviolette's move appeared to be a stroke of genius. (yes, cause it was GENUIS)

And for a moment, it appeared that all the hard work and diligence that hadn't paid off in the preliminary round, where the Americans lost three straight one-goals games, was going to bear fruit when it mattered most.


True, less than two minutes later, Sami Salo ripped home a short-handed effort off Mathieu Schneider's stick to give the Finns a 2-0 lead. But the Americans did show some signs of life.


They started to generate the kind of forecheck that had marked their earlier efforts in this tournament.

Schneider, trying to atone for a miserable tournament marked by blind passes and poor decisions, caromed a shot off Mike Knuble's torso to make it 2-1. Then Schneider was at it again, blasting a shot over Finnish netminder Antero Niittymaki's glove hand just 1:29 into the second period to tie the game.

Derian Hatcher, who seemed woefully out of place for most of this tournament, was called for hooking, as was Bret Hedican shortly thereafter, giving the potent Finnish power play a two-man advantage for 1:35. They waited until there was just four seconds left in Hedican's penalty before Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen drilled a bad angle shot over netminder Rick DiPietro and under the crossbar to re-establish the Finns' one-goal lead.

Tkachuk went off for hooking, and then Schneider's brainless hit from behind once again gave the Finns a two-man advantage, which Jokinen converted to give Finland a 4-2 lead by the end of the second.

If the Americans hadn't continued their penalty woes well into the third period, they might have had more time to convert on the comeback, but Hatcher took a double-minor high sticking and was followed to the box by Gionta, Tkachuk and Scott Gomez, who took a 10-minute misconduct. Given his lack of productivity, it probably was the best place for him.

"I think as a group I think we're probably disappointed with the way we played tonight. It was our game where we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy. We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said.

One wonders what kind of effort the Americans would have produced had GM Don Waddell and the rest of the USA Hockey brain trust gone a different direction with this team.

The thinking was that by taking a mix of older players like Chris Chelios, who actually had his best game of the tournament Wednesday, Tkachuk, Bill Guerin and Weight, they would provide leadership for younger players like Cole, John-Michael Liles and Jordan Leopold, and that the team's depth would keep them competitive.

But it didn't pan out that way.

The Americans finished with one win in six games, a 4-1 victory over Kazakhstan. They lost four in a row to medal-caliber teams. All one-goal losses, but losses nonetheless.

What would have happened if USA Hockey had bit the bullet and said, no, forget sending a team built on wishes and maybes and yesterdays, we're going to send a team for tomorrow?

What would have happened if young American defensemen Paul Martin and Paul Mara, and even NHL rookie Ryan Suter, had been on this team? And forwards Tim Connolly and Zach Parise?

Would such a team have won a medal? Not likely. Could it have matched the results of the team that came to Italy? It would be hard not to accomplish that. And they would likely have accepted defeat a little more graciously. (hmmm what a concept)

[SoCalcaniac]

E- didn't Coach & Waddell say they were unpaid and volunteers?

Well, somebody must have known I was looking for some stupid ass quote about our Coach and his coaching style from Modano, and whaddya know? ask and you shall receive:



TORINO, Italy -- Dallas Stars captain Mike Modano wasn't pleased with head coach Peter Laviolette and his coaching strategy, saying he thought Laviolette shouldn't have called a time out in the first period.

"There was a lot of game to be played. It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there," Modano said. "Give some guys some rest. A bit of composure and a little less panic and just play the game, you know there's 50 minutes left in the game."

Modano, as we know, was well-rested :lol: without benefit of the time out, having been benched for much of the third period in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Finland.


The long-time member of the U.S. national team also ripped USA Hockey for not doing enough for the players and suggested there needs to be changes at the top.


"Maybe they need some new blood in there to run things a little differently," Modano said. "It's probably time some things changed."


Modano complained that, among other things, the players had to look after travel, hotel and tickets for their families without the help of USA Hockey. Other nations, like Canada, try and help facilitate the planning of those details, but it's a country by country situation.


"Basically, we're on our own as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets. I believe that's something you don't have to think about," Modano said. "That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it and we can focus on hockey and prepare ourselves to play."


Teammates disagreed that there was any kind of distraction relating to USA Hockey. Family arrangements were all taken care of before the tournament started, Brian Gionta said.

"I have no comment on that," Laviolette said.

But WAIT- there's more...... Scott Burnside sums up nicely......



Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Never-say-die 'tude not enough for Team USA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Scott Burnside
ESPN.com

TORINO, Italy -- There always will be something off-putting about the American men's hockey team at this Olympic tournament, even with its never-say-die mentality and its surprising tenacity.

Off-putting performances and off-putting qualities ultimately will leave the most lasting impression and define this team after four straight one-goal losses, including Wednesday's 4-3 quarterfinal loss to Finland.

Veteran Mike Modano came off the ice after the Americans had come from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to make a game of it until the dying seconds and carped about head coach Peter Laviolette's strategy. He moaned that USA Hockey didn't do enough to look after the players' families and the distraction that caused.

Nice.

Someone asked Modano why he wasn't on the ice in the third period, when the Americans were desperate for the tying goal.

"I don't know, you'll have to ask Peter," Modano said, implying it was a tremendous error in coaching judgment that he of the two-goals, zero-assists performance wasn't on the ice.
He didn't deserve to be. Plain and simple.

Look at the players Laviolette sent over the boards time and again in the last half of the third period. Brian Gionta, who scored the third American goal with 4:27 left in the game, and Jason Blake and Chris Drury and Erik Cole. Veteran Doug Weight was there ostensibly for his face-off acumen, but it was the kids that Laviolette turned to, not Keith Tkachuk, who finished the tournament with zero points and took three minor penalties in the quarterfinal game, or Bill Guerin or Modano.

"We're down, looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't, to be honest, it wasn't about Mike Modano. It's never been about any one player on the team. It was about trying to get the players out on the ice that were going," Laviolette said. "The third period was clearly our best period. We wanted guys out there that jump, that could go down into the offensive end.

"I think some players, in general, didn't seem to have the jump and some players did, and it varied from game to game," Laviolette added. "And you do the best you can to try and get the players out there that had the jump. Again, we were close in the third period, but for me, it was too little, too late. We lost the game in the first 40 minutes."

How about the first 10 minutes.

Instead of taking advantage of their strong performance in a 5-4 loss to Russia on Tuesday night, the Americans came out timid and out of sorts.

The undefeated Finns, who have made their mark in this tournament with strong, energetic starts, made the Americans resemble table hockey characters instead of highly-paid and, presumably, highly-motivated NHLers.

So clueless was the U.S. performance that less than a minute after Ville Peltonen gave the Finns a 1-0 lead, a red-faced Laviolette called a timeout 10:24 into the first period. We could read some of the words Laviolette uttered during the timeout and let's just say we can't in all good conscience repeat them.

"The time out I called because I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game and we were clearly sitting back on our heels and before the score got out of hand, I thought it was just an opportunity to gather them and see if we couldn't somehow get fired up emotionally and play a little bit harder."

And for a time, Laviolette's move appeared to be a stroke of genius. (yes, cause it was GENUIS)

And for a moment, it appeared that all the hard work and diligence that hadn't paid off in the preliminary round, where the Americans lost three straight one-goals games, was going to bear fruit when it mattered most.


True, less than two minutes later, Sami Salo ripped home a short-handed effort off Mathieu Schneider's stick to give the Finns a 2-0 lead. But the Americans did show some signs of life.


They started to generate the kind of forecheck that had marked their earlier efforts in this tournament.

Schneider, trying to atone for a miserable tournament marked by blind passes and poor decisions, caromed a shot off Mike Knuble's torso to make it 2-1. Then Schneider was at it again, blasting a shot over Finnish netminder Antero Niittymaki's glove hand just 1:29 into the second period to tie the game.

Derian Hatcher, who seemed woefully out of place for most of this tournament, was called for hooking, as was Bret Hedican shortly thereafter, giving the potent Finnish power play a two-man advantage for 1:35. They waited until there was just four seconds left in Hedican's penalty before Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen drilled a bad angle shot over netminder Rick DiPietro and under the crossbar to re-establish the Finns' one-goal lead.

Tkachuk went off for hooking, and then Schneider's brainless hit from behind once again gave the Finns a two-man advantage, which Jokinen converted to give Finland a 4-2 lead by the end of the second.

If the Americans hadn't continued their penalty woes well into the third period, they might have had more time to convert on the comeback, but Hatcher took a double-minor high sticking and was followed to the box by Gionta, Tkachuk and Scott Gomez, who took a 10-minute misconduct. Given his lack of productivity, it probably was the best place for him.

"I think as a group I think we're probably disappointed with the way we played tonight. It was our game where we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy. We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said.

One wonders what kind of effort the Americans would have produced had GM Don Waddell and the rest of the USA Hockey brain trust gone a different direction with this team.

The thinking was that by taking a mix of older players like Chris Chelios, who actually had his best game of the tournament Wednesday, Tkachuk, Bill Guerin and Weight, they would provide leadership for younger players like Cole, John-Michael Liles and Jordan Leopold, and that the team's depth would keep them competitive.

But it didn't pan out that way.

The Americans finished with one win in six games, a 4-1 victory over Kazakhstan. They lost four in a row to medal-caliber teams. All one-goal losses, but losses nonetheless.

What would have happened if USA Hockey had bit the bullet and said, no, forget sending a team built on wishes and maybes and yesterdays, we're going to send a team for tomorrow?

What would have happened if young American defensemen Paul Martin and Paul Mara, and even NHL rookie Ryan Suter, had been on this team? And forwards Tim Connolly and Zach Parise?

Would such a team have won a medal? Not likely. Could it have matched the results of the team that came to Italy? It would be hard not to accomplish that. And they would likely have accepted defeat a little more graciously. (hmmm what a concept)

[SoCalcaniac]

E- didn't Coach & Waddell say they were unpaid and volunteers?

Well, somebody must have known I was looking for some stupid ass quote about our Coach and his coaching style from Modano, and whaddya know? ask and you shall receive:



TORINO, Italy -- Dallas Stars captain Mike Modano wasn't pleased with head coach Peter Laviolette and his coaching strategy, saying he thought Laviolette shouldn't have called a time out in the first period.

"There was a lot of game to be played. It's early on and we could have probably used it at the end of the game there," Modano said. "Give some guys some rest. A bit of composure and a little less panic and just play the game, you know there's 50 minutes left in the game."

Modano, as we know, was well-rested :lol: without benefit of the time out, having been benched for much of the third period in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Finland.


The long-time member of the U.S. national team also ripped USA Hockey for not doing enough for the players and suggested there needs to be changes at the top.


"Maybe they need some new blood in there to run things a little differently," Modano said. "It's probably time some things changed."


Modano complained that, among other things, the players had to look after travel, hotel and tickets for their families without the help of USA Hockey. Other nations, like Canada, try and help facilitate the planning of those details, but it's a country by country situation.


"Basically, we're on our own as far as arrangements, hotels, flights, tickets. I believe that's something you don't have to think about," Modano said. "That's something that should be taken care of so we don't have to worry about it and we can focus on hockey and prepare ourselves to play."


Teammates disagreed that there was any kind of distraction relating to USA Hockey. Family arrangements were all taken care of before the tournament started, Brian Gionta said.

"I have no comment on that," Laviolette said.

But WAIT- there's more...... Scott Burnside sums up nicely......



Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Never-say-die 'tude not enough for Team USA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Scott Burnside
ESPN.com

TORINO, Italy -- There always will be something off-putting about the American men's hockey team at this Olympic tournament, even with its never-say-die mentality and its surprising tenacity.

Off-putting performances and off-putting qualities ultimately will leave the most lasting impression and define this team after four straight one-goal losses, including Wednesday's 4-3 quarterfinal loss to Finland.

Veteran Mike Modano came off the ice after the Americans had come from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to make a game of it until the dying seconds and carped about head coach Peter Laviolette's strategy. He moaned that USA Hockey didn't do enough to look after the players' families and the distraction that caused.

Nice.

Someone asked Modano why he wasn't on the ice in the third period, when the Americans were desperate for the tying goal.

"I don't know, you'll have to ask Peter," Modano said, implying it was a tremendous error in coaching judgment that he of the two-goals, zero-assists performance wasn't on the ice.
He didn't deserve to be. Plain and simple.

Look at the players Laviolette sent over the boards time and again in the last half of the third period. Brian Gionta, who scored the third American goal with 4:27 left in the game, and Jason Blake and Chris Drury and Erik Cole. Veteran Doug Weight was there ostensibly for his face-off acumen, but it was the kids that Laviolette turned to, not Keith Tkachuk, who finished the tournament with zero points and took three minor penalties in the quarterfinal game, or Bill Guerin or Modano.

"We're down, looking for goals and looking for offense, and it wasn't, to be honest, it wasn't about Mike Modano. It's never been about any one player on the team. It was about trying to get the players out on the ice that were going," Laviolette said. "The third period was clearly our best period. We wanted guys out there that jump, that could go down into the offensive end.

"I think some players, in general, didn't seem to have the jump and some players did, and it varied from game to game," Laviolette added. "And you do the best you can to try and get the players out there that had the jump. Again, we were close in the third period, but for me, it was too little, too late. We lost the game in the first 40 minutes."

How about the first 10 minutes.

Instead of taking advantage of their strong performance in a 5-4 loss to Russia on Tuesday night, the Americans came out timid and out of sorts.

The undefeated Finns, who have made their mark in this tournament with strong, energetic starts, made the Americans resemble table hockey characters instead of highly-paid and, presumably, highly-motivated NHLers.

So clueless was the U.S. performance that less than a minute after Ville Peltonen gave the Finns a 1-0 lead, a red-faced Laviolette called a timeout 10:24 into the first period. We could read some of the words Laviolette uttered during the timeout and let's just say we can't in all good conscience repeat them.

"The time out I called because I felt like it was not going anywhere," Laviolette said. "They were clearly on top of their game and we were clearly sitting back on our heels and before the score got out of hand, I thought it was just an opportunity to gather them and see if we couldn't somehow get fired up emotionally and play a little bit harder."

And for a time, Laviolette's move appeared to be a stroke of genius. (yes, cause it was GENUIS)

And for a moment, it appeared that all the hard work and diligence that hadn't paid off in the preliminary round, where the Americans lost three straight one-goals games, was going to bear fruit when it mattered most.


True, less than two minutes later, Sami Salo ripped home a short-handed effort off Mathieu Schneider's stick to give the Finns a 2-0 lead. But the Americans did show some signs of life.


They started to generate the kind of forecheck that had marked their earlier efforts in this tournament.

Schneider, trying to atone for a miserable tournament marked by blind passes and poor decisions, caromed a shot off Mike Knuble's torso to make it 2-1. Then Schneider was at it again, blasting a shot over Finnish netminder Antero Niittymaki's glove hand just 1:29 into the second period to tie the game.

Derian Hatcher, who seemed woefully out of place for most of this tournament, was called for hooking, as was Bret Hedican shortly thereafter, giving the potent Finnish power play a two-man advantage for 1:35. They waited until there was just four seconds left in Hedican's penalty before Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen drilled a bad angle shot over netminder Rick DiPietro and under the crossbar to re-establish the Finns' one-goal lead.

Tkachuk went off for hooking, and then Schneider's brainless hit from behind once again gave the Finns a two-man advantage, which Jokinen converted to give Finland a 4-2 lead by the end of the second.

If the Americans hadn't continued their penalty woes well into the third period, they might have had more time to convert on the comeback, but Hatcher took a double-minor high sticking and was followed to the box by Gionta, Tkachuk and Scott Gomez, who took a 10-minute misconduct. Given his lack of productivity, it probably was the best place for him.

"I think as a group I think we're probably disappointed with the way we played tonight. It was our game where we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy. We never seemed to get it on track throughout the tournament," Laviolette said.

One wonders what kind of effort the Americans would have produced had GM Don Waddell and the rest of the USA Hockey brain trust gone a different direction with this team.

The thinking was that by taking a mix of older players like Chris Chelios, who actually had his best game of the tournament Wednesday, Tkachuk, Bill Guerin and Weight, they would provide leadership for younger players like Cole, John-Michael Liles and Jordan Leopold, and that the team's depth would keep them competitive.

But it didn't pan out that way.

The Americans finished with one win in six games, a 4-1 victory over Kazakhstan. They lost four in a row to medal-caliber teams. All one-goal losses, but losses nonetheless.

What would have happened if USA Hockey had bit the bullet and said, no, forget sending a team built on wishes and maybes and yesterdays, we're going to send a team for tomorrow?

What would have happened if young American defensemen Paul Martin and Paul Mara, and even NHL rookie Ryan Suter, had been on this team? And forwards Tim Connolly and Zach Parise?

Would such a team have won a medal? Not likely. Could it have matched the results of the team that came to Italy? It would be hard not to accomplish that. And they would likely have accepted defeat a little more graciously. (hmmm what a concept)

[Mona]

Modano = Ass

[Mona]

Modano = Ass

[Mona]

Modano = Ass

[Mona]

Modano = Ass

[Mona]

Modano = Ass

[Mona]

Modano = Ass

[Mona]

Modano = Ass

[Canesluver]

I bet CL would have hooked him [Modano] up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Yeah! And then I would have stuck him in center seats!!! :evil:

Jackass!!!

[Canesluver]

I bet CL would have hooked him [Modano] up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Yeah! And then I would have stuck him in center seats!!! :evil:

Jackass!!!

[Canesluver]

I bet CL would have hooked him [Modano] up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Yeah! And then I would have stuck him in center seats!!! :evil:

Jackass!!!

[Canesluver]

I bet CL would have hooked him [Modano] up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Yeah! And then I would have stuck him in center seats!!! :evil:

Jackass!!!

[Canesluver]

I bet CL would have hooked him [Modano] up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Yeah! And then I would have stuck him in center seats!!! :evil:

Jackass!!!

[Canesluver]

I bet CL would have hooked him [Modano] up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Yeah! And then I would have stuck him in center seats!!! :evil:

Jackass!!!

[Canesluver]

I bet CL would have hooked him [Modano] up with first rate travel plans, accomodations, and had dog bones left on the dog's pillows....all for a nice fee.

Yeah! And then I would have stuck him in center seats!!! :evil:

Jackass!!!

[talkingcanes]

the biggest problem with the US team is that they weren't a team, not in any real sense of the word. Dogfood Modano's comments are just confirmation of that IMO.

[talkingcanes]

the biggest problem with the US team is that they weren't a team, not in any real sense of the word. Dogfood Modano's comments are just confirmation of that IMO.

[talkingcanes]

the biggest problem with the US team is that they weren't a team, not in any real sense of the word. Dogfood Modano's comments are just confirmation of that IMO.

[talkingcanes]

the biggest problem with the US team is that they weren't a team, not in any real sense of the word. Dogfood Modano's comments are just confirmation of that IMO.

[talkingcanes]

the biggest problem with the US team is that they weren't a team, not in any real sense of the word. Dogfood Modano's comments are just confirmation of that IMO.

[talkingcanes]

the biggest problem with the US team is that they weren't a team, not in any real sense of the word. Dogfood Modano's comments are just confirmation of that IMO.

[talkingcanes]

the biggest problem with the US team is that they weren't a team, not in any real sense of the word. Dogfood Modano's comments are just confirmation of that IMO.

[Esbee]

You can't look much worse than this. The two teams with the highest calibre (theoretically) and quantity (by player count) of NHL talent both fall in their first medal game.

This isn't just about us. Our continent sucks! It wasn't the planes, hotels, media or USA Hockey. Wayne and Waddle put the wrong egos errrr, players on the ice.

Modano and most of the all-stars looked like the typical gold-level team that comes into a tournament expecting to plow through the competition and then can't find a way to pull their head out of their butt.

And here's another good write-up from Dan Wetzel:

TURIN, Italy – His eyes still full of Finnish pride, his still lip bloodied from earning it, Teemu Selanne still had the energy to snicker a crooked grin at the silly charges centering around the implosion of USA Hockey.

Following a 4-3 loss to Finland, which ran Team USA's mark to a humiliating 1-4-1 and mercifully eliminated it from the Olympics, Mike Modano blew up at team management, at team policy, at everything and everyone. He said it needed "new blood." He said, "It is probably time some things changed."

He said inconveniences such as the players making their own travel arrangements and having to find housing for family members were the kind of unnecessary distractions that can be the difference in a close tournament.

"That's something you [normally] don't have to think about," said Modano. "That's something that should be taken care of so we can focus on hockey."

Selanne just laughed through his own blood.

"Everybody has to do it [on their] own," he said, noting Team Finland offer no assistance for its grown millionaires to arrange travel. "Nobody help us. I think it is the same for everybody. I wouldn't say that, I wouldn't use that as an excuse.

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

It is all that should matter, but it didn't with this team. Not even close. There was never a sense of urgency here. Never a bit of hunger. Team USA, with 23 roster spots filled with 23 NHL players (a number matched only by Canada) spent too much time pointing fingers, worrying about management slights and playing time, never pressing, barely caring.

Maybe this collection of Americans wasn't good enough to win gold, but there is no excuse to play an entire tournament and only beat Kazakhstan. Go ahead and mock that victory all you want, but you don't beat the world's largest landlocked nation by accident.

Besides, at this point, it's all they have.

Wednesday's loss was just one more disaster, coach Peter Laviolette forced to call an embarrassing first-period timeout because here in an elimination game his pro players "were flat" and already trailing 2-0.

"It was the game we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy," said Laviolette. "I thought from the start we were standing instead of skating. We did not seem to find our energy until the last 12 minutes when the desperation level was what it was, with the score and the elimination from the tournament."

It should have surprised no one. When Team USA tied lowly Latvia, it blamed it on jet lag. When it couldn't score against Slovakia and Sweden, it assured that things would get better. When Russia and Finland simply wanted it more, well, hope you enjoyed the Chianti.

So everyone started blaming each other. Whether Modano has a point hardly matters. Yes, Team Canada chartered a flight to get the team here in comfort while the U.S. flew commercial. But that was over a week ago. By now you get over it.

All the blame game about throwing these teams together and having one practice session before the tournament is a waste of time. Yes, it is a stupid idea, born of marketing desperation from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

"[But] everybody was in the same boat," said Laviolette. "Everybody was dealt the same cards and you have to make the most of it."

No one was happy afterward. A number of players gave tacit approval to what Modano said without making as bold of statements – "Mike's been in this program a long time, I respect what he says," said Brian Rolston. Others seemed to back USA Hockey. Some just had no idea what had happened.

On a personal note, Modano was angry with Laviolette for benching him in the third period, but as Laviolette pointed out, "the third period was clearly our best period." We won't even bother with the back and forth between Laviolette and back-up goaltender John Grahame; just know that it's more of the same.

Then there was USA general manager Don Waddle, who nearly broke down in tears in disappointment.

The problem lies everywhere, of course. In the players who can't deal with not being pampered. In an organization that didn't see that coming. In an executive staff that didn't select enough young, hungry legs and offensive firepower.

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

No idea. No clue. No pride.

"We know we can beat everybody when we play at our level," said Selanne. "And we [didn't] have to play that well tonight."

That's the sorry state of USA Hockey right now – it's not even worthy of the Fins' best effort.

At least they'll always have Kazakhstan.

[Esbee]

You can't look much worse than this. The two teams with the highest calibre (theoretically) and quantity (by player count) of NHL talent both fall in their first medal game.

This isn't just about us. Our continent sucks! It wasn't the planes, hotels, media or USA Hockey. Wayne and Waddle put the wrong egos errrr, players on the ice.

Modano and most of the all-stars looked like the typical gold-level team that comes into a tournament expecting to plow through the competition and then can't find a way to pull their head out of their butt.

And here's another good write-up from Dan Wetzel:

TURIN, Italy – His eyes still full of Finnish pride, his still lip bloodied from earning it, Teemu Selanne still had the energy to snicker a crooked grin at the silly charges centering around the implosion of USA Hockey.

Following a 4-3 loss to Finland, which ran Team USA's mark to a humiliating 1-4-1 and mercifully eliminated it from the Olympics, Mike Modano blew up at team management, at team policy, at everything and everyone. He said it needed "new blood." He said, "It is probably time some things changed."

He said inconveniences such as the players making their own travel arrangements and having to find housing for family members were the kind of unnecessary distractions that can be the difference in a close tournament.

"That's something you [normally] don't have to think about," said Modano. "That's something that should be taken care of so we can focus on hockey."

Selanne just laughed through his own blood.

"Everybody has to do it [on their] own," he said, noting Team Finland offer no assistance for its grown millionaires to arrange travel. "Nobody help us. I think it is the same for everybody. I wouldn't say that, I wouldn't use that as an excuse.

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

It is all that should matter, but it didn't with this team. Not even close. There was never a sense of urgency here. Never a bit of hunger. Team USA, with 23 roster spots filled with 23 NHL players (a number matched only by Canada) spent too much time pointing fingers, worrying about management slights and playing time, never pressing, barely caring.

Maybe this collection of Americans wasn't good enough to win gold, but there is no excuse to play an entire tournament and only beat Kazakhstan. Go ahead and mock that victory all you want, but you don't beat the world's largest landlocked nation by accident.

Besides, at this point, it's all they have.

Wednesday's loss was just one more disaster, coach Peter Laviolette forced to call an embarrassing first-period timeout because here in an elimination game his pro players "were flat" and already trailing 2-0.

"It was the game we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy," said Laviolette. "I thought from the start we were standing instead of skating. We did not seem to find our energy until the last 12 minutes when the desperation level was what it was, with the score and the elimination from the tournament."

It should have surprised no one. When Team USA tied lowly Latvia, it blamed it on jet lag. When it couldn't score against Slovakia and Sweden, it assured that things would get better. When Russia and Finland simply wanted it more, well, hope you enjoyed the Chianti.

So everyone started blaming each other. Whether Modano has a point hardly matters. Yes, Team Canada chartered a flight to get the team here in comfort while the U.S. flew commercial. But that was over a week ago. By now you get over it.

All the blame game about throwing these teams together and having one practice session before the tournament is a waste of time. Yes, it is a stupid idea, born of marketing desperation from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

"[But] everybody was in the same boat," said Laviolette. "Everybody was dealt the same cards and you have to make the most of it."

No one was happy afterward. A number of players gave tacit approval to what Modano said without making as bold of statements – "Mike's been in this program a long time, I respect what he says," said Brian Rolston. Others seemed to back USA Hockey. Some just had no idea what had happened.

On a personal note, Modano was angry with Laviolette for benching him in the third period, but as Laviolette pointed out, "the third period was clearly our best period." We won't even bother with the back and forth between Laviolette and back-up goaltender John Grahame; just know that it's more of the same.

Then there was USA general manager Don Waddle, who nearly broke down in tears in disappointment.

The problem lies everywhere, of course. In the players who can't deal with not being pampered. In an organization that didn't see that coming. In an executive staff that didn't select enough young, hungry legs and offensive firepower.

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

No idea. No clue. No pride.

"We know we can beat everybody when we play at our level," said Selanne. "And we [didn't] have to play that well tonight."

That's the sorry state of USA Hockey right now – it's not even worthy of the Fins' best effort.

At least they'll always have Kazakhstan.

[Esbee]

You can't look much worse than this. The two teams with the highest calibre (theoretically) and quantity (by player count) of NHL talent both fall in their first medal game.

This isn't just about us. Our continent sucks! It wasn't the planes, hotels, media or USA Hockey. Wayne and Waddle put the wrong egos errrr, players on the ice.

Modano and most of the all-stars looked like the typical gold-level team that comes into a tournament expecting to plow through the competition and then can't find a way to pull their head out of their butt.

And here's another good write-up from Dan Wetzel:

TURIN, Italy – His eyes still full of Finnish pride, his still lip bloodied from earning it, Teemu Selanne still had the energy to snicker a crooked grin at the silly charges centering around the implosion of USA Hockey.

Following a 4-3 loss to Finland, which ran Team USA's mark to a humiliating 1-4-1 and mercifully eliminated it from the Olympics, Mike Modano blew up at team management, at team policy, at everything and everyone. He said it needed "new blood." He said, "It is probably time some things changed."

He said inconveniences such as the players making their own travel arrangements and having to find housing for family members were the kind of unnecessary distractions that can be the difference in a close tournament.

"That's something you [normally] don't have to think about," said Modano. "That's something that should be taken care of so we can focus on hockey."

Selanne just laughed through his own blood.

"Everybody has to do it [on their] own," he said, noting Team Finland offer no assistance for its grown millionaires to arrange travel. "Nobody help us. I think it is the same for everybody. I wouldn't say that, I wouldn't use that as an excuse.

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

It is all that should matter, but it didn't with this team. Not even close. There was never a sense of urgency here. Never a bit of hunger. Team USA, with 23 roster spots filled with 23 NHL players (a number matched only by Canada) spent too much time pointing fingers, worrying about management slights and playing time, never pressing, barely caring.

Maybe this collection of Americans wasn't good enough to win gold, but there is no excuse to play an entire tournament and only beat Kazakhstan. Go ahead and mock that victory all you want, but you don't beat the world's largest landlocked nation by accident.

Besides, at this point, it's all they have.

Wednesday's loss was just one more disaster, coach Peter Laviolette forced to call an embarrassing first-period timeout because here in an elimination game his pro players "were flat" and already trailing 2-0.

"It was the game we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy," said Laviolette. "I thought from the start we were standing instead of skating. We did not seem to find our energy until the last 12 minutes when the desperation level was what it was, with the score and the elimination from the tournament."

It should have surprised no one. When Team USA tied lowly Latvia, it blamed it on jet lag. When it couldn't score against Slovakia and Sweden, it assured that things would get better. When Russia and Finland simply wanted it more, well, hope you enjoyed the Chianti.

So everyone started blaming each other. Whether Modano has a point hardly matters. Yes, Team Canada chartered a flight to get the team here in comfort while the U.S. flew commercial. But that was over a week ago. By now you get over it.

All the blame game about throwing these teams together and having one practice session before the tournament is a waste of time. Yes, it is a stupid idea, born of marketing desperation from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

"[But] everybody was in the same boat," said Laviolette. "Everybody was dealt the same cards and you have to make the most of it."

No one was happy afterward. A number of players gave tacit approval to what Modano said without making as bold of statements – "Mike's been in this program a long time, I respect what he says," said Brian Rolston. Others seemed to back USA Hockey. Some just had no idea what had happened.

On a personal note, Modano was angry with Laviolette for benching him in the third period, but as Laviolette pointed out, "the third period was clearly our best period." We won't even bother with the back and forth between Laviolette and back-up goaltender John Grahame; just know that it's more of the same.

Then there was USA general manager Don Waddle, who nearly broke down in tears in disappointment.

The problem lies everywhere, of course. In the players who can't deal with not being pampered. In an organization that didn't see that coming. In an executive staff that didn't select enough young, hungry legs and offensive firepower.

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

No idea. No clue. No pride.

"We know we can beat everybody when we play at our level," said Selanne. "And we [didn't] have to play that well tonight."

That's the sorry state of USA Hockey right now – it's not even worthy of the Fins' best effort.

At least they'll always have Kazakhstan.

[Esbee]

You can't look much worse than this. The two teams with the highest calibre (theoretically) and quantity (by player count) of NHL talent both fall in their first medal game.

This isn't just about us. Our continent sucks! It wasn't the planes, hotels, media or USA Hockey. Wayne and Waddle put the wrong egos errrr, players on the ice.

Modano and most of the all-stars looked like the typical gold-level team that comes into a tournament expecting to plow through the competition and then can't find a way to pull their head out of their butt.

And here's another good write-up from Dan Wetzel:

TURIN, Italy – His eyes still full of Finnish pride, his still lip bloodied from earning it, Teemu Selanne still had the energy to snicker a crooked grin at the silly charges centering around the implosion of USA Hockey.

Following a 4-3 loss to Finland, which ran Team USA's mark to a humiliating 1-4-1 and mercifully eliminated it from the Olympics, Mike Modano blew up at team management, at team policy, at everything and everyone. He said it needed "new blood." He said, "It is probably time some things changed."

He said inconveniences such as the players making their own travel arrangements and having to find housing for family members were the kind of unnecessary distractions that can be the difference in a close tournament.

"That's something you [normally] don't have to think about," said Modano. "That's something that should be taken care of so we can focus on hockey."

Selanne just laughed through his own blood.

"Everybody has to do it [on their] own," he said, noting Team Finland offer no assistance for its grown millionaires to arrange travel. "Nobody help us. I think it is the same for everybody. I wouldn't say that, I wouldn't use that as an excuse.

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

It is all that should matter, but it didn't with this team. Not even close. There was never a sense of urgency here. Never a bit of hunger. Team USA, with 23 roster spots filled with 23 NHL players (a number matched only by Canada) spent too much time pointing fingers, worrying about management slights and playing time, never pressing, barely caring.

Maybe this collection of Americans wasn't good enough to win gold, but there is no excuse to play an entire tournament and only beat Kazakhstan. Go ahead and mock that victory all you want, but you don't beat the world's largest landlocked nation by accident.

Besides, at this point, it's all they have.

Wednesday's loss was just one more disaster, coach Peter Laviolette forced to call an embarrassing first-period timeout because here in an elimination game his pro players "were flat" and already trailing 2-0.

"It was the game we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy," said Laviolette. "I thought from the start we were standing instead of skating. We did not seem to find our energy until the last 12 minutes when the desperation level was what it was, with the score and the elimination from the tournament."

It should have surprised no one. When Team USA tied lowly Latvia, it blamed it on jet lag. When it couldn't score against Slovakia and Sweden, it assured that things would get better. When Russia and Finland simply wanted it more, well, hope you enjoyed the Chianti.

So everyone started blaming each other. Whether Modano has a point hardly matters. Yes, Team Canada chartered a flight to get the team here in comfort while the U.S. flew commercial. But that was over a week ago. By now you get over it.

All the blame game about throwing these teams together and having one practice session before the tournament is a waste of time. Yes, it is a stupid idea, born of marketing desperation from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

"[But] everybody was in the same boat," said Laviolette. "Everybody was dealt the same cards and you have to make the most of it."

No one was happy afterward. A number of players gave tacit approval to what Modano said without making as bold of statements – "Mike's been in this program a long time, I respect what he says," said Brian Rolston. Others seemed to back USA Hockey. Some just had no idea what had happened.

On a personal note, Modano was angry with Laviolette for benching him in the third period, but as Laviolette pointed out, "the third period was clearly our best period." We won't even bother with the back and forth between Laviolette and back-up goaltender John Grahame; just know that it's more of the same.

Then there was USA general manager Don Waddle, who nearly broke down in tears in disappointment.

The problem lies everywhere, of course. In the players who can't deal with not being pampered. In an organization that didn't see that coming. In an executive staff that didn't select enough young, hungry legs and offensive firepower.

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

No idea. No clue. No pride.

"We know we can beat everybody when we play at our level," said Selanne. "And we [didn't] have to play that well tonight."

That's the sorry state of USA Hockey right now – it's not even worthy of the Fins' best effort.

At least they'll always have Kazakhstan.

[Esbee]

You can't look much worse than this. The two teams with the highest calibre (theoretically) and quantity (by player count) of NHL talent both fall in their first medal game.

This isn't just about us. Our continent sucks! It wasn't the planes, hotels, media or USA Hockey. Wayne and Waddle put the wrong egos errrr, players on the ice.

Modano and most of the all-stars looked like the typical gold-level team that comes into a tournament expecting to plow through the competition and then can't find a way to pull their head out of their butt.

And here's another good write-up from Dan Wetzel:

TURIN, Italy – His eyes still full of Finnish pride, his still lip bloodied from earning it, Teemu Selanne still had the energy to snicker a crooked grin at the silly charges centering around the implosion of USA Hockey.

Following a 4-3 loss to Finland, which ran Team USA's mark to a humiliating 1-4-1 and mercifully eliminated it from the Olympics, Mike Modano blew up at team management, at team policy, at everything and everyone. He said it needed "new blood." He said, "It is probably time some things changed."

He said inconveniences such as the players making their own travel arrangements and having to find housing for family members were the kind of unnecessary distractions that can be the difference in a close tournament.

"That's something you [normally] don't have to think about," said Modano. "That's something that should be taken care of so we can focus on hockey."

Selanne just laughed through his own blood.

"Everybody has to do it [on their] own," he said, noting Team Finland offer no assistance for its grown millionaires to arrange travel. "Nobody help us. I think it is the same for everybody. I wouldn't say that, I wouldn't use that as an excuse.

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

It is all that should matter, but it didn't with this team. Not even close. There was never a sense of urgency here. Never a bit of hunger. Team USA, with 23 roster spots filled with 23 NHL players (a number matched only by Canada) spent too much time pointing fingers, worrying about management slights and playing time, never pressing, barely caring.

Maybe this collection of Americans wasn't good enough to win gold, but there is no excuse to play an entire tournament and only beat Kazakhstan. Go ahead and mock that victory all you want, but you don't beat the world's largest landlocked nation by accident.

Besides, at this point, it's all they have.

Wednesday's loss was just one more disaster, coach Peter Laviolette forced to call an embarrassing first-period timeout because here in an elimination game his pro players "were flat" and already trailing 2-0.

"It was the game we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy," said Laviolette. "I thought from the start we were standing instead of skating. We did not seem to find our energy until the last 12 minutes when the desperation level was what it was, with the score and the elimination from the tournament."

It should have surprised no one. When Team USA tied lowly Latvia, it blamed it on jet lag. When it couldn't score against Slovakia and Sweden, it assured that things would get better. When Russia and Finland simply wanted it more, well, hope you enjoyed the Chianti.

So everyone started blaming each other. Whether Modano has a point hardly matters. Yes, Team Canada chartered a flight to get the team here in comfort while the U.S. flew commercial. But that was over a week ago. By now you get over it.

All the blame game about throwing these teams together and having one practice session before the tournament is a waste of time. Yes, it is a stupid idea, born of marketing desperation from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

"[But] everybody was in the same boat," said Laviolette. "Everybody was dealt the same cards and you have to make the most of it."

No one was happy afterward. A number of players gave tacit approval to what Modano said without making as bold of statements – "Mike's been in this program a long time, I respect what he says," said Brian Rolston. Others seemed to back USA Hockey. Some just had no idea what had happened.

On a personal note, Modano was angry with Laviolette for benching him in the third period, but as Laviolette pointed out, "the third period was clearly our best period." We won't even bother with the back and forth between Laviolette and back-up goaltender John Grahame; just know that it's more of the same.

Then there was USA general manager Don Waddle, who nearly broke down in tears in disappointment.

The problem lies everywhere, of course. In the players who can't deal with not being pampered. In an organization that didn't see that coming. In an executive staff that didn't select enough young, hungry legs and offensive firepower.

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

No idea. No clue. No pride.

"We know we can beat everybody when we play at our level," said Selanne. "And we [didn't] have to play that well tonight."

That's the sorry state of USA Hockey right now – it's not even worthy of the Fins' best effort.

At least they'll always have Kazakhstan.

[Esbee]

You can't look much worse than this. The two teams with the highest calibre (theoretically) and quantity (by player count) of NHL talent both fall in their first medal game.

This isn't just about us. Our continent sucks! It wasn't the planes, hotels, media or USA Hockey. Wayne and Waddle put the wrong egos errrr, players on the ice.

Modano and most of the all-stars looked like the typical gold-level team that comes into a tournament expecting to plow through the competition and then can't find a way to pull their head out of their butt.

And here's another good write-up from Dan Wetzel:

TURIN, Italy – His eyes still full of Finnish pride, his still lip bloodied from earning it, Teemu Selanne still had the energy to snicker a crooked grin at the silly charges centering around the implosion of USA Hockey.

Following a 4-3 loss to Finland, which ran Team USA's mark to a humiliating 1-4-1 and mercifully eliminated it from the Olympics, Mike Modano blew up at team management, at team policy, at everything and everyone. He said it needed "new blood." He said, "It is probably time some things changed."

He said inconveniences such as the players making their own travel arrangements and having to find housing for family members were the kind of unnecessary distractions that can be the difference in a close tournament.

"That's something you [normally] don't have to think about," said Modano. "That's something that should be taken care of so we can focus on hockey."

Selanne just laughed through his own blood.

"Everybody has to do it [on their] own," he said, noting Team Finland offer no assistance for its grown millionaires to arrange travel. "Nobody help us. I think it is the same for everybody. I wouldn't say that, I wouldn't use that as an excuse.

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

It is all that should matter, but it didn't with this team. Not even close. There was never a sense of urgency here. Never a bit of hunger. Team USA, with 23 roster spots filled with 23 NHL players (a number matched only by Canada) spent too much time pointing fingers, worrying about management slights and playing time, never pressing, barely caring.

Maybe this collection of Americans wasn't good enough to win gold, but there is no excuse to play an entire tournament and only beat Kazakhstan. Go ahead and mock that victory all you want, but you don't beat the world's largest landlocked nation by accident.

Besides, at this point, it's all they have.

Wednesday's loss was just one more disaster, coach Peter Laviolette forced to call an embarrassing first-period timeout because here in an elimination game his pro players "were flat" and already trailing 2-0.

"It was the game we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy," said Laviolette. "I thought from the start we were standing instead of skating. We did not seem to find our energy until the last 12 minutes when the desperation level was what it was, with the score and the elimination from the tournament."

It should have surprised no one. When Team USA tied lowly Latvia, it blamed it on jet lag. When it couldn't score against Slovakia and Sweden, it assured that things would get better. When Russia and Finland simply wanted it more, well, hope you enjoyed the Chianti.

So everyone started blaming each other. Whether Modano has a point hardly matters. Yes, Team Canada chartered a flight to get the team here in comfort while the U.S. flew commercial. But that was over a week ago. By now you get over it.

All the blame game about throwing these teams together and having one practice session before the tournament is a waste of time. Yes, it is a stupid idea, born of marketing desperation from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

"[But] everybody was in the same boat," said Laviolette. "Everybody was dealt the same cards and you have to make the most of it."

No one was happy afterward. A number of players gave tacit approval to what Modano said without making as bold of statements – "Mike's been in this program a long time, I respect what he says," said Brian Rolston. Others seemed to back USA Hockey. Some just had no idea what had happened.

On a personal note, Modano was angry with Laviolette for benching him in the third period, but as Laviolette pointed out, "the third period was clearly our best period." We won't even bother with the back and forth between Laviolette and back-up goaltender John Grahame; just know that it's more of the same.

Then there was USA general manager Don Waddle, who nearly broke down in tears in disappointment.

The problem lies everywhere, of course. In the players who can't deal with not being pampered. In an organization that didn't see that coming. In an executive staff that didn't select enough young, hungry legs and offensive firepower.

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

No idea. No clue. No pride.

"We know we can beat everybody when we play at our level," said Selanne. "And we [didn't] have to play that well tonight."

That's the sorry state of USA Hockey right now – it's not even worthy of the Fins' best effort.

At least they'll always have Kazakhstan.

[Esbee]

You can't look much worse than this. The two teams with the highest calibre (theoretically) and quantity (by player count) of NHL talent both fall in their first medal game.

This isn't just about us. Our continent sucks! It wasn't the planes, hotels, media or USA Hockey. Wayne and Waddle put the wrong egos errrr, players on the ice.

Modano and most of the all-stars looked like the typical gold-level team that comes into a tournament expecting to plow through the competition and then can't find a way to pull their head out of their butt.

And here's another good write-up from Dan Wetzel:

TURIN, Italy – His eyes still full of Finnish pride, his still lip bloodied from earning it, Teemu Selanne still had the energy to snicker a crooked grin at the silly charges centering around the implosion of USA Hockey.

Following a 4-3 loss to Finland, which ran Team USA's mark to a humiliating 1-4-1 and mercifully eliminated it from the Olympics, Mike Modano blew up at team management, at team policy, at everything and everyone. He said it needed "new blood." He said, "It is probably time some things changed."

He said inconveniences such as the players making their own travel arrangements and having to find housing for family members were the kind of unnecessary distractions that can be the difference in a close tournament.

"That's something you [normally] don't have to think about," said Modano. "That's something that should be taken care of so we can focus on hockey."

Selanne just laughed through his own blood.

"Everybody has to do it [on their] own," he said, noting Team Finland offer no assistance for its grown millionaires to arrange travel. "Nobody help us. I think it is the same for everybody. I wouldn't say that, I wouldn't use that as an excuse.

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

It is all that should matter, but it didn't with this team. Not even close. There was never a sense of urgency here. Never a bit of hunger. Team USA, with 23 roster spots filled with 23 NHL players (a number matched only by Canada) spent too much time pointing fingers, worrying about management slights and playing time, never pressing, barely caring.

Maybe this collection of Americans wasn't good enough to win gold, but there is no excuse to play an entire tournament and only beat Kazakhstan. Go ahead and mock that victory all you want, but you don't beat the world's largest landlocked nation by accident.

Besides, at this point, it's all they have.

Wednesday's loss was just one more disaster, coach Peter Laviolette forced to call an embarrassing first-period timeout because here in an elimination game his pro players "were flat" and already trailing 2-0.

"It was the game we seemed to have the least amount of pop and energy," said Laviolette. "I thought from the start we were standing instead of skating. We did not seem to find our energy until the last 12 minutes when the desperation level was what it was, with the score and the elimination from the tournament."

It should have surprised no one. When Team USA tied lowly Latvia, it blamed it on jet lag. When it couldn't score against Slovakia and Sweden, it assured that things would get better. When Russia and Finland simply wanted it more, well, hope you enjoyed the Chianti.

So everyone started blaming each other. Whether Modano has a point hardly matters. Yes, Team Canada chartered a flight to get the team here in comfort while the U.S. flew commercial. But that was over a week ago. By now you get over it.

All the blame game about throwing these teams together and having one practice session before the tournament is a waste of time. Yes, it is a stupid idea, born of marketing desperation from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

"[But] everybody was in the same boat," said Laviolette. "Everybody was dealt the same cards and you have to make the most of it."

No one was happy afterward. A number of players gave tacit approval to what Modano said without making as bold of statements – "Mike's been in this program a long time, I respect what he says," said Brian Rolston. Others seemed to back USA Hockey. Some just had no idea what had happened.

On a personal note, Modano was angry with Laviolette for benching him in the third period, but as Laviolette pointed out, "the third period was clearly our best period." We won't even bother with the back and forth between Laviolette and back-up goaltender John Grahame; just know that it's more of the same.

Then there was USA general manager Don Waddle, who nearly broke down in tears in disappointment.

The problem lies everywhere, of course. In the players who can't deal with not being pampered. In an organization that didn't see that coming. In an executive staff that didn't select enough young, hungry legs and offensive firepower.

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

No idea. No clue. No pride.

"We know we can beat everybody when we play at our level," said Selanne. "And we [didn't] have to play that well tonight."

That's the sorry state of USA Hockey right now – it's not even worthy of the Fins' best effort.

At least they'll always have Kazakhstan.

[Turbulence]

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

Now you can chalk this attitude up to being the winner instead of the loser, but it really is the right attitude to go in with. Making excuses isn't constructive and doesn't help anybody out, and while Modano masked them as complaints, they really were excuses. They all had to deal with it, with the exception of Canada, so it isn't a big deal. The European teams just wanted to win a little bit more...

[Turbulence]

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

Now you can chalk this attitude up to being the winner instead of the loser, but it really is the right attitude to go in with. Making excuses isn't constructive and doesn't help anybody out, and while Modano masked them as complaints, they really were excuses. They all had to deal with it, with the exception of Canada, so it isn't a big deal. The European teams just wanted to win a little bit more...

[Turbulence]

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

Now you can chalk this attitude up to being the winner instead of the loser, but it really is the right attitude to go in with. Making excuses isn't constructive and doesn't help anybody out, and while Modano masked them as complaints, they really were excuses. They all had to deal with it, with the exception of Canada, so it isn't a big deal. The European teams just wanted to win a little bit more...

[Turbulence]

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

Now you can chalk this attitude up to being the winner instead of the loser, but it really is the right attitude to go in with. Making excuses isn't constructive and doesn't help anybody out, and while Modano masked them as complaints, they really were excuses. They all had to deal with it, with the exception of Canada, so it isn't a big deal. The European teams just wanted to win a little bit more...

[Turbulence]

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

Now you can chalk this attitude up to being the winner instead of the loser, but it really is the right attitude to go in with. Making excuses isn't constructive and doesn't help anybody out, and while Modano masked them as complaints, they really were excuses. They all had to deal with it, with the exception of Canada, so it isn't a big deal. The European teams just wanted to win a little bit more...

[Turbulence]

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

Now you can chalk this attitude up to being the winner instead of the loser, but it really is the right attitude to go in with. Making excuses isn't constructive and doesn't help anybody out, and while Modano masked them as complaints, they really were excuses. They all had to deal with it, with the exception of Canada, so it isn't a big deal. The European teams just wanted to win a little bit more...

[Turbulence]

"It isn't easy for anybody. The jet lag and the no breaks, you play six games in eight, nine days, it's not easy. [But] it only matters who wants to win more. Nothing else matters."

Now you can chalk this attitude up to being the winner instead of the loser, but it really is the right attitude to go in with. Making excuses isn't constructive and doesn't help anybody out, and while Modano masked them as complaints, they really were excuses. They all had to deal with it, with the exception of Canada, so it isn't a big deal. The European teams just wanted to win a little bit more...

[crazy4canes]

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

So what's Canada's excuse?

[crazy4canes]

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

So what's Canada's excuse?

[crazy4canes]

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

So what's Canada's excuse?

[crazy4canes]

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

So what's Canada's excuse?

[crazy4canes]

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

So what's Canada's excuse?

[crazy4canes]

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

So what's Canada's excuse?

[crazy4canes]

But mostly it lies with a widely held sense that none of this matters all that much. That the fans don't care, that the media doesn't care, that America doesn't care. So why should anyone? This isn't basketball, where the country goes nuts over a loss. Even after being eliminated, there were mostly just shrugs.

So what's Canada's excuse?

[CanesChic]

Hockey shockers: USA, Canada out

February 23, 2006

BY GREG COUCH Staff Reporter Advertisement






TURIN, Italy -- Doug Weight walked off the ice after the U.S. hockey team had been eliminated Wednesday, having beaten just one team, Kazakhstan, throughout the Olympic tournament. This time the U.S. lost 4-3 Wednesday to Finland.

And to the day, it was the 26th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the moment that all U.S. hockey teams will forever by held to.

Miracle-Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan-miracle. Is this a measure of how far U.S. hockey has fallen? Is this the state of U.S. hockey?

"It's a great tournament,'' Weight said to the reporter who asked. "Give me a break. Switzerland beat Canada 2-0. Does that mean Canadian hockey is the [deleted]? Next question.''

Then Weight didn't take another question before saying quietly, "It's a legitimate question. I'm just angry right now.''

Then he looked for another question, but instead said, "I just feel adamant that it's not ... it's not the state of U.S. hockey. I apologize.''

And right there, you can see the frustration of an American hockey player, wanting so badly to win, uncertain why the U.S. did so poorly and what it really means. As for the question of whether Canadian hockey is the (deleted), they are surely asking that question seriously in Canada now, too.

The Canadians, supposedly the world's dominant hockey force, lost to Russia 2-0 Wednesday. They also were eliminated in the final eight.

"I think everybody learned what it really takes,'' Canadian forward Joe Sakic said. "We didn't play well enough. We didn't deserve to win.''

The NHL bought into Olympic hockey. It stopped its season to send players to the Games, as a means of promoting the sport, hoping a big showdown between Canada and the U.S. in the Olympics would help to spark interest in the league.

Instead, those countries combined to win four games out of 12, with the U.S. going 1-4-1 and Canada going 3-3.

Neither country will win a medal.

"Good teams find a way to win,'' said U.S. defenseman Chris Chelios, the former Blackhawk. "We didn't do that.''

Finland will play Russia in the semifinals Friday. In the other semifinal, Sweden will play the Czech Republic. Sweden beat Switzerland 6-2 and the Czechs beat Slovakia 3-1.

Canada's experience in Italy was overshadowed by the gambling scandal allegedly involving Janet Jones, wife of Wayne Gretzky.

Gretzky, executive director of the Canadian team, was responsible for personnel decisions. He was asked similar questions to the ones U.S. officials were asked, about the makeup of the team and the state of the nation's hockey.

He wiped away tears while answering:

"The pressure of representing this country is pretty high,'' he said. "I'll take all, deservedly so, the responsibility for not winning. It's nobody else's fault.''

He was no more emotional than U.S. team officials. General manager Don Waddell nearly broke down in tears, too.

"We're out of the tournament,'' he said, "but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over.''

U.S. forward Mike Modano disagreed, going into a rant attacking the U.S. hockey governing body, saying "You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine.''

Modano might have been upset, too, that he didn't play in the third period.

"We were down, looking for goals and looking for offense,'' U.S. coach Peter Laviolette said. "It wasn't about Mike Modano. The third period was clearly our best period. I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump.''

In the middle of the first period, Finland scored twice in 2-1/2 minutes. Sami Salo scored on a short-handed slapshot for a 2-0 lead. The U.S., still on the power play, scored at 13:14 in the period when Mathieu Schneider's slapshot deflected off a teammate and into the net. Schneider tied the game 1:29 into the second period.

But then Finland took charge. The Americans were trying to kill off a 5-on-3 disadvantage when Olli Jokinen's shot bounced off U.S. goalie Rick DiPietro over his head, back onto the crossbar. The puck popped back up into the air, hit off the back of DiPietro's shoulder and into the net for a 4-2 lead.

"There are a lot of better players to come for U.S. Hockey,'' forward Chris Drury said. "But this isn't too good right now.''



So with all the frustration - Weight keeps himself in check. Think you can learn a thing or two Modano? I can understand a moment of frustration, but then you have to check yourself, apologize if you have gone too far and stop this selfish, egotistical trajectory you have started for yourself.

Laviolette has earned my respect a hundred-fold. I can't imagine what it was like to bite your tongue time and time again - and I can't find one interview where he didn't take the high road when confronted with stupid-ass comments. So Modano has ego after being on a losing team??

Makes me appreciate our winning team with NO ego a hell of a lot more.

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Modano - here's a thought - I'm sure you hired a state of the art dog trainer too. Why don't you send yourself to obedience school along with him and get the heck out of USA Hockey?

[CanesChic]

Hockey shockers: USA, Canada out

February 23, 2006

BY GREG COUCH Staff Reporter Advertisement






TURIN, Italy -- Doug Weight walked off the ice after the U.S. hockey team had been eliminated Wednesday, having beaten just one team, Kazakhstan, throughout the Olympic tournament. This time the U.S. lost 4-3 Wednesday to Finland.

And to the day, it was the 26th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the moment that all U.S. hockey teams will forever by held to.

Miracle-Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan-miracle. Is this a measure of how far U.S. hockey has fallen? Is this the state of U.S. hockey?

"It's a great tournament,'' Weight said to the reporter who asked. "Give me a break. Switzerland beat Canada 2-0. Does that mean Canadian hockey is the [deleted]? Next question.''

Then Weight didn't take another question before saying quietly, "It's a legitimate question. I'm just angry right now.''

Then he looked for another question, but instead said, "I just feel adamant that it's not ... it's not the state of U.S. hockey. I apologize.''

And right there, you can see the frustration of an American hockey player, wanting so badly to win, uncertain why the U.S. did so poorly and what it really means. As for the question of whether Canadian hockey is the (deleted), they are surely asking that question seriously in Canada now, too.

The Canadians, supposedly the world's dominant hockey force, lost to Russia 2-0 Wednesday. They also were eliminated in the final eight.

"I think everybody learned what it really takes,'' Canadian forward Joe Sakic said. "We didn't play well enough. We didn't deserve to win.''

The NHL bought into Olympic hockey. It stopped its season to send players to the Games, as a means of promoting the sport, hoping a big showdown between Canada and the U.S. in the Olympics would help to spark interest in the league.

Instead, those countries combined to win four games out of 12, with the U.S. going 1-4-1 and Canada going 3-3.

Neither country will win a medal.

"Good teams find a way to win,'' said U.S. defenseman Chris Chelios, the former Blackhawk. "We didn't do that.''

Finland will play Russia in the semifinals Friday. In the other semifinal, Sweden will play the Czech Republic. Sweden beat Switzerland 6-2 and the Czechs beat Slovakia 3-1.

Canada's experience in Italy was overshadowed by the gambling scandal allegedly involving Janet Jones, wife of Wayne Gretzky.

Gretzky, executive director of the Canadian team, was responsible for personnel decisions. He was asked similar questions to the ones U.S. officials were asked, about the makeup of the team and the state of the nation's hockey.

He wiped away tears while answering:

"The pressure of representing this country is pretty high,'' he said. "I'll take all, deservedly so, the responsibility for not winning. It's nobody else's fault.''

He was no more emotional than U.S. team officials. General manager Don Waddell nearly broke down in tears, too.

"We're out of the tournament,'' he said, "but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over.''

U.S. forward Mike Modano disagreed, going into a rant attacking the U.S. hockey governing body, saying "You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine.''

Modano might have been upset, too, that he didn't play in the third period.

"We were down, looking for goals and looking for offense,'' U.S. coach Peter Laviolette said. "It wasn't about Mike Modano. The third period was clearly our best period. I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump.''

In the middle of the first period, Finland scored twice in 2-1/2 minutes. Sami Salo scored on a short-handed slapshot for a 2-0 lead. The U.S., still on the power play, scored at 13:14 in the period when Mathieu Schneider's slapshot deflected off a teammate and into the net. Schneider tied the game 1:29 into the second period.

But then Finland took charge. The Americans were trying to kill off a 5-on-3 disadvantage when Olli Jokinen's shot bounced off U.S. goalie Rick DiPietro over his head, back onto the crossbar. The puck popped back up into the air, hit off the back of DiPietro's shoulder and into the net for a 4-2 lead.

"There are a lot of better players to come for U.S. Hockey,'' forward Chris Drury said. "But this isn't too good right now.''



So with all the frustration - Weight keeps himself in check. Think you can learn a thing or two Modano? I can understand a moment of frustration, but then you have to check yourself, apologize if you have gone too far and stop this selfish, egotistical trajectory you have started for yourself.

Laviolette has earned my respect a hundred-fold. I can't imagine what it was like to bite your tongue time and time again - and I can't find one interview where he didn't take the high road when confronted with stupid-ass comments. So Modano has ego after being on a losing team??

Makes me appreciate our winning team with NO ego a hell of a lot more.

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Modano - here's a thought - I'm sure you hired a state of the art dog trainer too. Why don't you send yourself to obedience school along with him and get the heck out of USA Hockey?

[CanesChic]

Hockey shockers: USA, Canada out

February 23, 2006

BY GREG COUCH Staff Reporter Advertisement






TURIN, Italy -- Doug Weight walked off the ice after the U.S. hockey team had been eliminated Wednesday, having beaten just one team, Kazakhstan, throughout the Olympic tournament. This time the U.S. lost 4-3 Wednesday to Finland.

And to the day, it was the 26th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the moment that all U.S. hockey teams will forever by held to.

Miracle-Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan-miracle. Is this a measure of how far U.S. hockey has fallen? Is this the state of U.S. hockey?

"It's a great tournament,'' Weight said to the reporter who asked. "Give me a break. Switzerland beat Canada 2-0. Does that mean Canadian hockey is the [deleted]? Next question.''

Then Weight didn't take another question before saying quietly, "It's a legitimate question. I'm just angry right now.''

Then he looked for another question, but instead said, "I just feel adamant that it's not ... it's not the state of U.S. hockey. I apologize.''

And right there, you can see the frustration of an American hockey player, wanting so badly to win, uncertain why the U.S. did so poorly and what it really means. As for the question of whether Canadian hockey is the (deleted), they are surely asking that question seriously in Canada now, too.

The Canadians, supposedly the world's dominant hockey force, lost to Russia 2-0 Wednesday. They also were eliminated in the final eight.

"I think everybody learned what it really takes,'' Canadian forward Joe Sakic said. "We didn't play well enough. We didn't deserve to win.''

The NHL bought into Olympic hockey. It stopped its season to send players to the Games, as a means of promoting the sport, hoping a big showdown between Canada and the U.S. in the Olympics would help to spark interest in the league.

Instead, those countries combined to win four games out of 12, with the U.S. going 1-4-1 and Canada going 3-3.

Neither country will win a medal.

"Good teams find a way to win,'' said U.S. defenseman Chris Chelios, the former Blackhawk. "We didn't do that.''

Finland will play Russia in the semifinals Friday. In the other semifinal, Sweden will play the Czech Republic. Sweden beat Switzerland 6-2 and the Czechs beat Slovakia 3-1.

Canada's experience in Italy was overshadowed by the gambling scandal allegedly involving Janet Jones, wife of Wayne Gretzky.

Gretzky, executive director of the Canadian team, was responsible for personnel decisions. He was asked similar questions to the ones U.S. officials were asked, about the makeup of the team and the state of the nation's hockey.

He wiped away tears while answering:

"The pressure of representing this country is pretty high,'' he said. "I'll take all, deservedly so, the responsibility for not winning. It's nobody else's fault.''

He was no more emotional than U.S. team officials. General manager Don Waddell nearly broke down in tears, too.

"We're out of the tournament,'' he said, "but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over.''

U.S. forward Mike Modano disagreed, going into a rant attacking the U.S. hockey governing body, saying "You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine.''

Modano might have been upset, too, that he didn't play in the third period.

"We were down, looking for goals and looking for offense,'' U.S. coach Peter Laviolette said. "It wasn't about Mike Modano. The third period was clearly our best period. I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump.''

In the middle of the first period, Finland scored twice in 2-1/2 minutes. Sami Salo scored on a short-handed slapshot for a 2-0 lead. The U.S., still on the power play, scored at 13:14 in the period when Mathieu Schneider's slapshot deflected off a teammate and into the net. Schneider tied the game 1:29 into the second period.

But then Finland took charge. The Americans were trying to kill off a 5-on-3 disadvantage when Olli Jokinen's shot bounced off U.S. goalie Rick DiPietro over his head, back onto the crossbar. The puck popped back up into the air, hit off the back of DiPietro's shoulder and into the net for a 4-2 lead.

"There are a lot of better players to come for U.S. Hockey,'' forward Chris Drury said. "But this isn't too good right now.''



So with all the frustration - Weight keeps himself in check. Think you can learn a thing or two Modano? I can understand a moment of frustration, but then you have to check yourself, apologize if you have gone too far and stop this selfish, egotistical trajectory you have started for yourself.

Laviolette has earned my respect a hundred-fold. I can't imagine what it was like to bite your tongue time and time again - and I can't find one interview where he didn't take the high road when confronted with stupid-ass comments. So Modano has ego after being on a losing team??

Makes me appreciate our winning team with NO ego a hell of a lot more.

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Modano - here's a thought - I'm sure you hired a state of the art dog trainer too. Why don't you send yourself to obedience school along with him and get the heck out of USA Hockey?

[CanesChic]

Hockey shockers: USA, Canada out

February 23, 2006

BY GREG COUCH Staff Reporter Advertisement






TURIN, Italy -- Doug Weight walked off the ice after the U.S. hockey team had been eliminated Wednesday, having beaten just one team, Kazakhstan, throughout the Olympic tournament. This time the U.S. lost 4-3 Wednesday to Finland.

And to the day, it was the 26th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the moment that all U.S. hockey teams will forever by held to.

Miracle-Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan-miracle. Is this a measure of how far U.S. hockey has fallen? Is this the state of U.S. hockey?

"It's a great tournament,'' Weight said to the reporter who asked. "Give me a break. Switzerland beat Canada 2-0. Does that mean Canadian hockey is the [deleted]? Next question.''

Then Weight didn't take another question before saying quietly, "It's a legitimate question. I'm just angry right now.''

Then he looked for another question, but instead said, "I just feel adamant that it's not ... it's not the state of U.S. hockey. I apologize.''

And right there, you can see the frustration of an American hockey player, wanting so badly to win, uncertain why the U.S. did so poorly and what it really means. As for the question of whether Canadian hockey is the (deleted), they are surely asking that question seriously in Canada now, too.

The Canadians, supposedly the world's dominant hockey force, lost to Russia 2-0 Wednesday. They also were eliminated in the final eight.

"I think everybody learned what it really takes,'' Canadian forward Joe Sakic said. "We didn't play well enough. We didn't deserve to win.''

The NHL bought into Olympic hockey. It stopped its season to send players to the Games, as a means of promoting the sport, hoping a big showdown between Canada and the U.S. in the Olympics would help to spark interest in the league.

Instead, those countries combined to win four games out of 12, with the U.S. going 1-4-1 and Canada going 3-3.

Neither country will win a medal.

"Good teams find a way to win,'' said U.S. defenseman Chris Chelios, the former Blackhawk. "We didn't do that.''

Finland will play Russia in the semifinals Friday. In the other semifinal, Sweden will play the Czech Republic. Sweden beat Switzerland 6-2 and the Czechs beat Slovakia 3-1.

Canada's experience in Italy was overshadowed by the gambling scandal allegedly involving Janet Jones, wife of Wayne Gretzky.

Gretzky, executive director of the Canadian team, was responsible for personnel decisions. He was asked similar questions to the ones U.S. officials were asked, about the makeup of the team and the state of the nation's hockey.

He wiped away tears while answering:

"The pressure of representing this country is pretty high,'' he said. "I'll take all, deservedly so, the responsibility for not winning. It's nobody else's fault.''

He was no more emotional than U.S. team officials. General manager Don Waddell nearly broke down in tears, too.

"We're out of the tournament,'' he said, "but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over.''

U.S. forward Mike Modano disagreed, going into a rant attacking the U.S. hockey governing body, saying "You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine.''

Modano might have been upset, too, that he didn't play in the third period.

"We were down, looking for goals and looking for offense,'' U.S. coach Peter Laviolette said. "It wasn't about Mike Modano. The third period was clearly our best period. I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump.''

In the middle of the first period, Finland scored twice in 2-1/2 minutes. Sami Salo scored on a short-handed slapshot for a 2-0 lead. The U.S., still on the power play, scored at 13:14 in the period when Mathieu Schneider's slapshot deflected off a teammate and into the net. Schneider tied the game 1:29 into the second period.

But then Finland took charge. The Americans were trying to kill off a 5-on-3 disadvantage when Olli Jokinen's shot bounced off U.S. goalie Rick DiPietro over his head, back onto the crossbar. The puck popped back up into the air, hit off the back of DiPietro's shoulder and into the net for a 4-2 lead.

"There are a lot of better players to come for U.S. Hockey,'' forward Chris Drury said. "But this isn't too good right now.''



So with all the frustration - Weight keeps himself in check. Think you can learn a thing or two Modano? I can understand a moment of frustration, but then you have to check yourself, apologize if you have gone too far and stop this selfish, egotistical trajectory you have started for yourself.

Laviolette has earned my respect a hundred-fold. I can't imagine what it was like to bite your tongue time and time again - and I can't find one interview where he didn't take the high road when confronted with stupid-ass comments. So Modano has ego after being on a losing team??

Makes me appreciate our winning team with NO ego a hell of a lot more.

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Modano - here's a thought - I'm sure you hired a state of the art dog trainer too. Why don't you send yourself to obedience school along with him and get the heck out of USA Hockey?

[CanesChic]

Hockey shockers: USA, Canada out

February 23, 2006

BY GREG COUCH Staff Reporter Advertisement






TURIN, Italy -- Doug Weight walked off the ice after the U.S. hockey team had been eliminated Wednesday, having beaten just one team, Kazakhstan, throughout the Olympic tournament. This time the U.S. lost 4-3 Wednesday to Finland.

And to the day, it was the 26th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the moment that all U.S. hockey teams will forever by held to.

Miracle-Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan-miracle. Is this a measure of how far U.S. hockey has fallen? Is this the state of U.S. hockey?

"It's a great tournament,'' Weight said to the reporter who asked. "Give me a break. Switzerland beat Canada 2-0. Does that mean Canadian hockey is the [deleted]? Next question.''

Then Weight didn't take another question before saying quietly, "It's a legitimate question. I'm just angry right now.''

Then he looked for another question, but instead said, "I just feel adamant that it's not ... it's not the state of U.S. hockey. I apologize.''

And right there, you can see the frustration of an American hockey player, wanting so badly to win, uncertain why the U.S. did so poorly and what it really means. As for the question of whether Canadian hockey is the (deleted), they are surely asking that question seriously in Canada now, too.

The Canadians, supposedly the world's dominant hockey force, lost to Russia 2-0 Wednesday. They also were eliminated in the final eight.

"I think everybody learned what it really takes,'' Canadian forward Joe Sakic said. "We didn't play well enough. We didn't deserve to win.''

The NHL bought into Olympic hockey. It stopped its season to send players to the Games, as a means of promoting the sport, hoping a big showdown between Canada and the U.S. in the Olympics would help to spark interest in the league.

Instead, those countries combined to win four games out of 12, with the U.S. going 1-4-1 and Canada going 3-3.

Neither country will win a medal.

"Good teams find a way to win,'' said U.S. defenseman Chris Chelios, the former Blackhawk. "We didn't do that.''

Finland will play Russia in the semifinals Friday. In the other semifinal, Sweden will play the Czech Republic. Sweden beat Switzerland 6-2 and the Czechs beat Slovakia 3-1.

Canada's experience in Italy was overshadowed by the gambling scandal allegedly involving Janet Jones, wife of Wayne Gretzky.

Gretzky, executive director of the Canadian team, was responsible for personnel decisions. He was asked similar questions to the ones U.S. officials were asked, about the makeup of the team and the state of the nation's hockey.

He wiped away tears while answering:

"The pressure of representing this country is pretty high,'' he said. "I'll take all, deservedly so, the responsibility for not winning. It's nobody else's fault.''

He was no more emotional than U.S. team officials. General manager Don Waddell nearly broke down in tears, too.

"We're out of the tournament,'' he said, "but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over.''

U.S. forward Mike Modano disagreed, going into a rant attacking the U.S. hockey governing body, saying "You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine.''

Modano might have been upset, too, that he didn't play in the third period.

"We were down, looking for goals and looking for offense,'' U.S. coach Peter Laviolette said. "It wasn't about Mike Modano. The third period was clearly our best period. I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump.''

In the middle of the first period, Finland scored twice in 2-1/2 minutes. Sami Salo scored on a short-handed slapshot for a 2-0 lead. The U.S., still on the power play, scored at 13:14 in the period when Mathieu Schneider's slapshot deflected off a teammate and into the net. Schneider tied the game 1:29 into the second period.

But then Finland took charge. The Americans were trying to kill off a 5-on-3 disadvantage when Olli Jokinen's shot bounced off U.S. goalie Rick DiPietro over his head, back onto the crossbar. The puck popped back up into the air, hit off the back of DiPietro's shoulder and into the net for a 4-2 lead.

"There are a lot of better players to come for U.S. Hockey,'' forward Chris Drury said. "But this isn't too good right now.''



So with all the frustration - Weight keeps himself in check. Think you can learn a thing or two Modano? I can understand a moment of frustration, but then you have to check yourself, apologize if you have gone too far and stop this selfish, egotistical trajectory you have started for yourself.

Laviolette has earned my respect a hundred-fold. I can't imagine what it was like to bite your tongue time and time again - and I can't find one interview where he didn't take the high road when confronted with stupid-ass comments. So Modano has ego after being on a losing team??

Makes me appreciate our winning team with NO ego a hell of a lot more.

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Modano - here's a thought - I'm sure you hired a state of the art dog trainer too. Why don't you send yourself to obedience school along with him and get the heck out of USA Hockey?

[CanesChic]

Hockey shockers: USA, Canada out

February 23, 2006

BY GREG COUCH Staff Reporter Advertisement






TURIN, Italy -- Doug Weight walked off the ice after the U.S. hockey team had been eliminated Wednesday, having beaten just one team, Kazakhstan, throughout the Olympic tournament. This time the U.S. lost 4-3 Wednesday to Finland.

And to the day, it was the 26th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the moment that all U.S. hockey teams will forever by held to.

Miracle-Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan-miracle. Is this a measure of how far U.S. hockey has fallen? Is this the state of U.S. hockey?

"It's a great tournament,'' Weight said to the reporter who asked. "Give me a break. Switzerland beat Canada 2-0. Does that mean Canadian hockey is the [deleted]? Next question.''

Then Weight didn't take another question before saying quietly, "It's a legitimate question. I'm just angry right now.''

Then he looked for another question, but instead said, "I just feel adamant that it's not ... it's not the state of U.S. hockey. I apologize.''

And right there, you can see the frustration of an American hockey player, wanting so badly to win, uncertain why the U.S. did so poorly and what it really means. As for the question of whether Canadian hockey is the (deleted), they are surely asking that question seriously in Canada now, too.

The Canadians, supposedly the world's dominant hockey force, lost to Russia 2-0 Wednesday. They also were eliminated in the final eight.

"I think everybody learned what it really takes,'' Canadian forward Joe Sakic said. "We didn't play well enough. We didn't deserve to win.''

The NHL bought into Olympic hockey. It stopped its season to send players to the Games, as a means of promoting the sport, hoping a big showdown between Canada and the U.S. in the Olympics would help to spark interest in the league.

Instead, those countries combined to win four games out of 12, with the U.S. going 1-4-1 and Canada going 3-3.

Neither country will win a medal.

"Good teams find a way to win,'' said U.S. defenseman Chris Chelios, the former Blackhawk. "We didn't do that.''

Finland will play Russia in the semifinals Friday. In the other semifinal, Sweden will play the Czech Republic. Sweden beat Switzerland 6-2 and the Czechs beat Slovakia 3-1.

Canada's experience in Italy was overshadowed by the gambling scandal allegedly involving Janet Jones, wife of Wayne Gretzky.

Gretzky, executive director of the Canadian team, was responsible for personnel decisions. He was asked similar questions to the ones U.S. officials were asked, about the makeup of the team and the state of the nation's hockey.

He wiped away tears while answering:

"The pressure of representing this country is pretty high,'' he said. "I'll take all, deservedly so, the responsibility for not winning. It's nobody else's fault.''

He was no more emotional than U.S. team officials. General manager Don Waddell nearly broke down in tears, too.

"We're out of the tournament,'' he said, "but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over.''

U.S. forward Mike Modano disagreed, going into a rant attacking the U.S. hockey governing body, saying "You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine.''

Modano might have been upset, too, that he didn't play in the third period.

"We were down, looking for goals and looking for offense,'' U.S. coach Peter Laviolette said. "It wasn't about Mike Modano. The third period was clearly our best period. I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump.''

In the middle of the first period, Finland scored twice in 2-1/2 minutes. Sami Salo scored on a short-handed slapshot for a 2-0 lead. The U.S., still on the power play, scored at 13:14 in the period when Mathieu Schneider's slapshot deflected off a teammate and into the net. Schneider tied the game 1:29 into the second period.

But then Finland took charge. The Americans were trying to kill off a 5-on-3 disadvantage when Olli Jokinen's shot bounced off U.S. goalie Rick DiPietro over his head, back onto the crossbar. The puck popped back up into the air, hit off the back of DiPietro's shoulder and into the net for a 4-2 lead.

"There are a lot of better players to come for U.S. Hockey,'' forward Chris Drury said. "But this isn't too good right now.''



So with all the frustration - Weight keeps himself in check. Think you can learn a thing or two Modano? I can understand a moment of frustration, but then you have to check yourself, apologize if you have gone too far and stop this selfish, egotistical trajectory you have started for yourself.

Laviolette has earned my respect a hundred-fold. I can't imagine what it was like to bite your tongue time and time again - and I can't find one interview where he didn't take the high road when confronted with stupid-ass comments. So Modano has ego after being on a losing team??

Makes me appreciate our winning team with NO ego a hell of a lot more.

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Modano - here's a thought - I'm sure you hired a state of the art dog trainer too. Why don't you send yourself to obedience school along with him and get the heck out of USA Hockey?

[CanesChic]

Hockey shockers: USA, Canada out

February 23, 2006

BY GREG COUCH Staff Reporter Advertisement






TURIN, Italy -- Doug Weight walked off the ice after the U.S. hockey team had been eliminated Wednesday, having beaten just one team, Kazakhstan, throughout the Olympic tournament. This time the U.S. lost 4-3 Wednesday to Finland.

And to the day, it was the 26th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the moment that all U.S. hockey teams will forever by held to.

Miracle-Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan-miracle. Is this a measure of how far U.S. hockey has fallen? Is this the state of U.S. hockey?

"It's a great tournament,'' Weight said to the reporter who asked. "Give me a break. Switzerland beat Canada 2-0. Does that mean Canadian hockey is the [deleted]? Next question.''

Then Weight didn't take another question before saying quietly, "It's a legitimate question. I'm just angry right now.''

Then he looked for another question, but instead said, "I just feel adamant that it's not ... it's not the state of U.S. hockey. I apologize.''

And right there, you can see the frustration of an American hockey player, wanting so badly to win, uncertain why the U.S. did so poorly and what it really means. As for the question of whether Canadian hockey is the (deleted), they are surely asking that question seriously in Canada now, too.

The Canadians, supposedly the world's dominant hockey force, lost to Russia 2-0 Wednesday. They also were eliminated in the final eight.

"I think everybody learned what it really takes,'' Canadian forward Joe Sakic said. "We didn't play well enough. We didn't deserve to win.''

The NHL bought into Olympic hockey. It stopped its season to send players to the Games, as a means of promoting the sport, hoping a big showdown between Canada and the U.S. in the Olympics would help to spark interest in the league.

Instead, those countries combined to win four games out of 12, with the U.S. going 1-4-1 and Canada going 3-3.

Neither country will win a medal.

"Good teams find a way to win,'' said U.S. defenseman Chris Chelios, the former Blackhawk. "We didn't do that.''

Finland will play Russia in the semifinals Friday. In the other semifinal, Sweden will play the Czech Republic. Sweden beat Switzerland 6-2 and the Czechs beat Slovakia 3-1.

Canada's experience in Italy was overshadowed by the gambling scandal allegedly involving Janet Jones, wife of Wayne Gretzky.

Gretzky, executive director of the Canadian team, was responsible for personnel decisions. He was asked similar questions to the ones U.S. officials were asked, about the makeup of the team and the state of the nation's hockey.

He wiped away tears while answering:

"The pressure of representing this country is pretty high,'' he said. "I'll take all, deservedly so, the responsibility for not winning. It's nobody else's fault.''

He was no more emotional than U.S. team officials. General manager Don Waddell nearly broke down in tears, too.

"We're out of the tournament,'' he said, "but it's not like we have to blow it up and start over.''

U.S. forward Mike Modano disagreed, going into a rant attacking the U.S. hockey governing body, saying "You'd think USA Hockey would be a well-oiled machine.''

Modano might have been upset, too, that he didn't play in the third period.

"We were down, looking for goals and looking for offense,'' U.S. coach Peter Laviolette said. "It wasn't about Mike Modano. The third period was clearly our best period. I think some players in general didn't seem to have the jump, and you do your best to get the players out there that have the jump.''

In the middle of the first period, Finland scored twice in 2-1/2 minutes. Sami Salo scored on a short-handed slapshot for a 2-0 lead. The U.S., still on the power play, scored at 13:14 in the period when Mathieu Schneider's slapshot deflected off a teammate and into the net. Schneider tied the game 1:29 into the second period.

But then Finland took charge. The Americans were trying to kill off a 5-on-3 disadvantage when Olli Jokinen's shot bounced off U.S. goalie Rick DiPietro over his head, back onto the crossbar. The puck popped back up into the air, hit off the back of DiPietro's shoulder and into the net for a 4-2 lead.

"There are a lot of better players to come for U.S. Hockey,'' forward Chris Drury said. "But this isn't too good right now.''



So with all the frustration - Weight keeps himself in check. Think you can learn a thing or two Modano? I can understand a moment of frustration, but then you have to check yourself, apologize if you have gone too far and stop this selfish, egotistical trajectory you have started for yourself.

Laviolette has earned my respect a hundred-fold. I can't imagine what it was like to bite your tongue time and time again - and I can't find one interview where he didn't take the high road when confronted with stupid-ass comments. So Modano has ego after being on a losing team??

Makes me appreciate our winning team with NO ego a hell of a lot more.

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Modano - here's a thought - I'm sure you hired a state of the art dog trainer too. Why don't you send yourself to obedience school along with him and get the heck out of USA Hockey?

[nccanes]

Wow. Great post CC! Well said.

[nccanes]

Wow. Great post CC! Well said.

[nccanes]

Wow. Great post CC! Well said.

[nccanes]

Wow. Great post CC! Well said.

[nccanes]

Wow. Great post CC! Well said.

[nccanes]

Wow. Great post CC! Well said.

[nccanes]

Wow. Great post CC! Well said.

[Canesluver]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Absolutely! I keep being reminded of a slogan that Lavi had put up over the doorway from the locker room to the bench..... I'm paraphrasing, but if I remember right from the locker room tour, it says, "It's not you. It's the man (guy?) in front of you." I love that -- it's one last reminder before they hit the ice that it's all about the team.

It's like that corny expression, "There's no "I" in team."

[Canesluver]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Absolutely! I keep being reminded of a slogan that Lavi had put up over the doorway from the locker room to the bench..... I'm paraphrasing, but if I remember right from the locker room tour, it says, "It's not you. It's the man (guy?) in front of you." I love that -- it's one last reminder before they hit the ice that it's all about the team.

It's like that corny expression, "There's no "I" in team."

[Canesluver]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Absolutely! I keep being reminded of a slogan that Lavi had put up over the doorway from the locker room to the bench..... I'm paraphrasing, but if I remember right from the locker room tour, it says, "It's not you. It's the man (guy?) in front of you." I love that -- it's one last reminder before they hit the ice that it's all about the team.

It's like that corny expression, "There's no "I" in team."

[Canesluver]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Absolutely! I keep being reminded of a slogan that Lavi had put up over the doorway from the locker room to the bench..... I'm paraphrasing, but if I remember right from the locker room tour, it says, "It's not you. It's the man (guy?) in front of you." I love that -- it's one last reminder before they hit the ice that it's all about the team.

It's like that corny expression, "There's no "I" in team."

[Canesluver]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Absolutely! I keep being reminded of a slogan that Lavi had put up over the doorway from the locker room to the bench..... I'm paraphrasing, but if I remember right from the locker room tour, it says, "It's not you. It's the man (guy?) in front of you." I love that -- it's one last reminder before they hit the ice that it's all about the team.

It's like that corny expression, "There's no "I" in team."

[Canesluver]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Absolutely! I keep being reminded of a slogan that Lavi had put up over the doorway from the locker room to the bench..... I'm paraphrasing, but if I remember right from the locker room tour, it says, "It's not you. It's the man (guy?) in front of you." I love that -- it's one last reminder before they hit the ice that it's all about the team.

It's like that corny expression, "There's no "I" in team."

[Canesluver]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Absolutely! I keep being reminded of a slogan that Lavi had put up over the doorway from the locker room to the bench..... I'm paraphrasing, but if I remember right from the locker room tour, it says, "It's not you. It's the man (guy?) in front of you." I love that -- it's one last reminder before they hit the ice that it's all about the team.

It's like that corny expression, "There's no "I" in team."

[SoCalcaniac]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Excellent post CC- and I thought the exact same thing when they panned into the bench when Lavi called that timeout, and he was beyond red-faced (is there such thing as purple faced?) and he was imploring these guys to go out there and get 'pucks in deep' I said to hub, "he needs this crap like he needs a hole in the head. he needs to just come on home and coach the guys who care enough to hang on his every word, and who care enough about each guy sitting next to him in that room" meanwhile, hub and his calm self told me to pipe down. :roll. But he knew I was right.

This whole scene has me more than upset, it's now turned to complete disgust- I'm still fuming.

[SoCalcaniac]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Excellent post CC- and I thought the exact same thing when they panned into the bench when Lavi called that timeout, and he was beyond red-faced (is there such thing as purple faced?) and he was imploring these guys to go out there and get 'pucks in deep' I said to hub, "he needs this crap like he needs a hole in the head. he needs to just come on home and coach the guys who care enough to hang on his every word, and who care enough about each guy sitting next to him in that room" meanwhile, hub and his calm self told me to pipe down. :roll. But he knew I was right.

This whole scene has me more than upset, it's now turned to complete disgust- I'm still fuming.

[SoCalcaniac]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Excellent post CC- and I thought the exact same thing when they panned into the bench when Lavi called that timeout, and he was beyond red-faced (is there such thing as purple faced?) and he was imploring these guys to go out there and get 'pucks in deep' I said to hub, "he needs this crap like he needs a hole in the head. he needs to just come on home and coach the guys who care enough to hang on his every word, and who care enough about each guy sitting next to him in that room" meanwhile, hub and his calm self told me to pipe down. :roll. But he knew I was right.

This whole scene has me more than upset, it's now turned to complete disgust- I'm still fuming.

[SoCalcaniac]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Excellent post CC- and I thought the exact same thing when they panned into the bench when Lavi called that timeout, and he was beyond red-faced (is there such thing as purple faced?) and he was imploring these guys to go out there and get 'pucks in deep' I said to hub, "he needs this crap like he needs a hole in the head. he needs to just come on home and coach the guys who care enough to hang on his every word, and who care enough about each guy sitting next to him in that room" meanwhile, hub and his calm self told me to pipe down. :roll. But he knew I was right.

This whole scene has me more than upset, it's now turned to complete disgust- I'm still fuming.

[SoCalcaniac]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Excellent post CC- and I thought the exact same thing when they panned into the bench when Lavi called that timeout, and he was beyond red-faced (is there such thing as purple faced?) and he was imploring these guys to go out there and get 'pucks in deep' I said to hub, "he needs this crap like he needs a hole in the head. he needs to just come on home and coach the guys who care enough to hang on his every word, and who care enough about each guy sitting next to him in that room" meanwhile, hub and his calm self told me to pipe down. :roll. But he knew I was right.

This whole scene has me more than upset, it's now turned to complete disgust- I'm still fuming.

[SoCalcaniac]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Excellent post CC- and I thought the exact same thing when they panned into the bench when Lavi called that timeout, and he was beyond red-faced (is there such thing as purple faced?) and he was imploring these guys to go out there and get 'pucks in deep' I said to hub, "he needs this crap like he needs a hole in the head. he needs to just come on home and coach the guys who care enough to hang on his every word, and who care enough about each guy sitting next to him in that room" meanwhile, hub and his calm self told me to pipe down. :roll. But he knew I was right.

This whole scene has me more than upset, it's now turned to complete disgust- I'm still fuming.

[SoCalcaniac]

How much do you think Lavi wants to get back and coach guys that actually care about winning vs. themselves?? I'd love to think there was a little :roll -ing going on between Lavi and Cole, Hedican Weight etc. :-)

Excellent post CC- and I thought the exact same thing when they panned into the bench when Lavi called that timeout, and he was beyond red-faced (is there such thing as purple faced?) and he was imploring these guys to go out there and get 'pucks in deep' I said to hub, "he needs this crap like he needs a hole in the head. he needs to just come on home and coach the guys who care enough to hang on his every word, and who care enough about each guy sitting next to him in that room" meanwhile, hub and his calm self told me to pipe down. :roll. But he knew I was right.

This whole scene has me more than upset, it's now turned to complete disgust- I'm still fuming.

[CanesChic]

Thanks guys - I was ranting and fuming too SoCal..posting is a nice little way to vent some of that frustration.

So out of curiosity I went over and checked out the Dallas boards, and sure enough there are a majority of people supporting Modano, and saying based upon his experience he has earned the right to voice his opinion. Some brought up that Lavi shouldn't have made the decision to take that 1st period TO and that Lavi shouldn't have benched Modano.

Way to be objective over there. :roll. I know we over here have unanimously supported Lavi - but he wasn't the one using the public as an audience to his frustration.

Here is a post by a Canes supporter - don't know who it was - but it got pulled over there by a mod - but now of course its being batted back and forth by angry Stars fans:

I don't know if the players ever read these boards, but I hope they do, because I've got a message for you, Mr. Mike "I'm above the team" Modano: I don't know that much about Stars hockey, or your coach. I do know quite a bit about Coach Laviolette, being a Hurricanes fan. Half-assing it may be acceptable for the "superstars" in Dallas, but to Lavi, it's something that will get you benched no matter what your name is. Effort and determination matter more to our coach than a name does, and if you don't show that you deserve to be out there then you won't be out there. Why were Cole and Gionta out there so much in the 3rd? Because they played 110% and showed that they wanted to win while you hadn't done that at all the entire tournament. You are an embarassment to the team, the game, and the USA, and the fact that YOU complained about a hardworking coach that thinks these games mean something is an insult to everything USA Hockey stands for. Shut your trap, because if anyone should be complaining, it should be Coach that YOU didn't give any effort at all.

[CanesChic]

Thanks guys - I was ranting and fuming too SoCal..posting is a nice little way to vent some of that frustration.

So out of curiosity I went over and checked out the Dallas boards, and sure enough there are a majority of people supporting Modano, and saying based upon his experience he has earned the right to voice his opinion. Some brought up that Lavi shouldn't have made the decision to take that 1st period TO and that Lavi shouldn't have benched Modano.

Way to be objective over there. :roll. I know we over here have unanimously supported Lavi - but he wasn't the one using the public as an audience to his frustration.

Here is a post by a Canes supporter - don't know who it was - but it got pulled over there by a mod - but now of course its being batted back and forth by angry Stars fans:

I don't know if the players ever read these boards, but I hope they do, because I've got a message for you, Mr. Mike "I'm above the team" Modano: I don't know that much about Stars hockey, or your coach. I do know quite a bit about Coach Laviolette, being a Hurricanes fan. Half-assing it may be acceptable for the "superstars" in Dallas, but to Lavi, it's something that will get you benched no matter what your name is. Effort and determination matter more to our coach than a name does, and if you don't show that you deserve to be out there then you won't be out there. Why were Cole and Gionta out there so much in the 3rd? Because they played 110% and showed that they wanted to win while you hadn't done that at all the entire tournament. You are an embarassment to the team, the game, and the USA, and the fact that YOU complained about a hardworking coach that thinks these games mean something is an insult to everything USA Hockey stands for. Shut your trap, because if anyone should be complaining, it should be Coach that YOU didn't give any effort at all.

[CanesChic]

Thanks guys - I was ranting and fuming too SoCal..posting is a nice little way to vent some of that frustration.

So out of curiosity I went over and checked out the Dallas boards, and sure enough there are a majority of people supporting Modano, and saying based upon his experience he has earned the right to voice his opinion. Some brought up that Lavi shouldn't have made the decision to take that 1st period TO and that Lavi shouldn't have benched Modano.

Way to be objective over there. :roll. I know we over here have unanimously supported Lavi - but he wasn't the one using the public as an audience to his frustration.

Here is a post by a Canes supporter - don't know who it was - but it got pulled over there by a mod - but now of course its being batted back and forth by angry Stars fans:

I don't know if the players ever read these boards, but I hope they do, because I've got a message for you, Mr. Mike "I'm above the team" Modano: I don't know that much about Stars hockey, or your coach. I do know quite a bit about Coach Laviolette, being a Hurricanes fan. Half-assing it may be acceptable for the "superstars" in Dallas, but to Lavi, it's something that will get you benched no matter what your name is. Effort and determination matter more to our coach than a name does, and if you don't show that you deserve to be out there then you won't be out there. Why were Cole and Gionta out there so much in the 3rd? Because they played 110% and showed that they wanted to win while you hadn't done that at all the entire tournament. You are an embarassment to the team, the game, and the USA, and the fact that YOU complained about a hardworking coach that thinks these games mean something is an insult to everything USA Hockey stands for. Shut your trap, because if anyone should be complaining, it should be Coach that YOU didn't give any effort at all.

[CanesChic]

Thanks guys - I was ranting and fuming too SoCal..posting is a nice little way to vent some of that frustration.

So out of curiosity I went over and checked out the Dallas boards, and sure enough there are a majority of people supporting Modano, and saying based upon his experience he has earned the right to voice his opinion. Some brought up that Lavi shouldn't have made the decision to take that 1st period TO and that Lavi shouldn't have benched Modano.

Way to be objective over there. :roll. I know we over here have unanimously supported Lavi - but he wasn't the one using the public as an audience to his frustration.

Here is a post by a Canes supporter - don't know who it was - but it got pulled over there by a mod - but now of course its being batted back and forth by angry Stars fans:

I don't know if the players ever read these boards, but I hope they do, because I've got a message for you, Mr. Mike "I'm above the team" Modano: I don't know that much about Stars hockey, or your coach. I do know quite a bit about Coach Laviolette, being a Hurricanes fan. Half-assing it may be acceptable for the "superstars" in Dallas, but to Lavi, it's something that will get you benched no matter what your name is. Effort and determination matter more to our coach than a name does, and if you don't show that you deserve to be out there then you won't be out there. Why were Cole and Gionta out there so much in the 3rd? Because they played 110% and showed that they wanted to win while you hadn't done that at all the entire tournament. You are an embarassment to the team, the game, and the USA, and the fact that YOU complained about a hardworking coach that thinks these games mean something is an insult to everything USA Hockey stands for. Shut your trap, because if anyone should be complaining, it should be Coach that YOU didn't give any effort at all.

[CanesChic]

Thanks guys - I was ranting and fuming too SoCal..posting is a nice little way to vent some of that frustration.

So out of curiosity I went over and checked out the Dallas boards, and sure enough there are a majority of people supporting Modano, and saying based upon his experience he has earned the right to voice his opinion. Some brought up that Lavi shouldn't have made the decision to take that 1st period TO and that Lavi shouldn't have benched Modano.

Way to be objective over there. :roll. I know we over here have unanimously supported Lavi - but he wasn't the one using the public as an audience to his frustration.

Here is a post by a Canes supporter - don't know who it was - but it got pulled over there by a mod - but now of course its being batted back and forth by angry Stars fans:

I don't know if the players ever read these boards, but I hope they do, because I've got a message for you, Mr. Mike "I'm above the team" Modano: I don't know that much about Stars hockey, or your coach. I do know quite a bit about Coach Laviolette, being a Hurricanes fan. Half-assing it may be acceptable for the "superstars" in Dallas, but to Lavi, it's something that will get you benched no matter what your name is. Effort and determination matter more to our coach than a name does, and if you don't show that you deserve to be out there then you won't be out there. Why were Cole and Gionta out there so much in the 3rd? Because they played 110% and showed that they wanted to win while you hadn't done that at all the entire tournament. You are an embarassment to the team, the game, and the USA, and the fact that YOU complained about a hardworking coach that thinks these games mean something is an insult to everything USA Hockey stands for. Shut your trap, because if anyone should be complaining, it should be Coach that YOU didn't give any effort at all.

[CanesChic]

Thanks guys - I was ranting and fuming too SoCal..posting is a nice little way to vent some of that frustration.

So out of curiosity I went over and checked out the Dallas boards, and sure enough there are a majority of people supporting Modano, and saying based upon his experience he has earned the right to voice his opinion. Some brought up that Lavi shouldn't have made the decision to take that 1st period TO and that Lavi shouldn't have benched Modano.

Way to be objective over there. :roll. I know we over here have unanimously supported Lavi - but he wasn't the one using the public as an audience to his frustration.

Here is a post by a Canes supporter - don't know who it was - but it got pulled over there by a mod - but now of course its being batted back and forth by angry Stars fans:

I don't know if the players ever read these boards, but I hope they do, because I've got a message for you, Mr. Mike "I'm above the team" Modano: I don't know that much about Stars hockey, or your coach. I do know quite a bit about Coach Laviolette, being a Hurricanes fan. Half-assing it may be acceptable for the "superstars" in Dallas, but to Lavi, it's something that will get you benched no matter what your name is. Effort and determination matter more to our coach than a name does, and if you don't show that you deserve to be out there then you won't be out there. Why were Cole and Gionta out there so much in the 3rd? Because they played 110% and showed that they wanted to win while you hadn't done that at all the entire tournament. You are an embarassment to the team, the game, and the USA, and the fact that YOU complained about a hardworking coach that thinks these games mean something is an insult to everything USA Hockey stands for. Shut your trap, because if anyone should be complaining, it should be Coach that YOU didn't give any effort at all.

[CanesChic]

Thanks guys - I was ranting and fuming too SoCal..posting is a nice little way to vent some of that frustration.

So out of curiosity I went over and checked out the Dallas boards, and sure enough there are a majority of people supporting Modano, and saying based upon his experience he has earned the right to voice his opinion. Some brought up that Lavi shouldn't have made the decision to take that 1st period TO and that Lavi shouldn't have benched Modano.

Way to be objective over there. :roll. I know we over here have unanimously supported Lavi - but he wasn't the one using the public as an audience to his frustration.

Here is a post by a Canes supporter - don't know who it was - but it got pulled over there by a mod - but now of course its being batted back and forth by angry Stars fans:

I don't know if the players ever read these boards, but I hope they do, because I've got a message for you, Mr. Mike "I'm above the team" Modano: I don't know that much about Stars hockey, or your coach. I do know quite a bit about Coach Laviolette, being a Hurricanes fan. Half-assing it may be acceptable for the "superstars" in Dallas, but to Lavi, it's something that will get you benched no matter what your name is. Effort and determination matter more to our coach than a name does, and if you don't show that you deserve to be out there then you won't be out there. Why were Cole and Gionta out there so much in the 3rd? Because they played 110% and showed that they wanted to win while you hadn't done that at all the entire tournament. You are an embarassment to the team, the game, and the USA, and the fact that YOU complained about a hardworking coach that thinks these games mean something is an insult to everything USA Hockey stands for. Shut your trap, because if anyone should be complaining, it should be Coach that YOU didn't give any effort at all.

[CanesChic]

Another good article..

This from NY Daily News:

Modano goal:
whine, not win





TURIN - Old. Slow. Small. Team USA was all of that, even before it took the ice against Finland.
Then as Peter Laviolette watched his once-great generation of American hockey players go about its sad business of losing an Olympic hockey quarterfinal, 4-3, the coach came up with his own adjective: Disinterested.

This was something he hadn't counted on, so Laviolette called timeout midway through the first period and screamed at his players that if they didn't find a modicum of passion out there, "We're done."

His face was flushed. His tongue was sharp. But on the anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, this was as close to Herb Brooks as Laviolette would get. His players didn't really pay much attention, until there were 12 minutes left in the game and the cause was fairly hopeless.

Laviolette tried a bunch of different players, benched some of the guys who pass as stars, and watched it all go down the drain. The Americans peppered the net in those final moments, and as usual couldn't score.

Then it was done, left to the participants to justify how it was possible for such a large nation with vast regions of frigid winters and fresh water lakes could go 1-4-1 in an Olympic tournament, beating only Kazakhstan and drawing with Latvia along the way.

It turns out, fortunately, that the Americans are very good at explaining failure, far better than they are at playing hockey. Laviolette persisted that the team didn't try hard enough all tournament long.

"We were standing instead of skating," he said. "We were on our heels and they were on their toes."

Mike Modano, assistant captain, said it was because the team didn't have a charter flight and the players' wives weren't taken care of properly. Believe it or not, he seemed to really mean it.

Then, as a final dart aimed at the coach who had just benched him, Modano suggested the Americans may have lost because Laviolette called his inspirational timeout.

"We could have used (the timeout) at the end of the game, give the guys some rest," Modano said. "A little composure, a little less panic. There was 50 minutes left in the game."

It wouldn't be Team USA if the Americans didn't exit with a complete absence of grace, and so Modano filled a very real need as team knucklehead. He said USA Hockey required change, top to bottom, that it was the bureaucrats' fault, and that the players had not really lost this tournament.

"I don't think we're far off at all," said Modano, who had a total of two goals and no assists in the tournament, with a minus-one rating. "The talent is there, the personality is there. The hockey part was OK. We played pretty good hockey."

This sort of self-delusion was just the ticket out of Turin, so that the Americans can now return to the NHL believing they were brilliant and merely sabotaged by travel agents and stand-on-your-head goaltenders.

If only everybody was honest about his own shortcomings, it would become difficult to assign such specific blame to an effort so terribly doomed from the start.

These Winter Games are a 'tweener. This generation of American players is too old now, too resentful. The next generation of juniors is too young.

If you are looking for historical precedent, then consider the U.S. national soccer team's World Cup disaster of 1998 in France, also pockmarked by bad performances and dissension from players who had seen their best days. Four years later, with the right coach and a new group of players, the U.S. made a serious World Cup run in Korea.

The same probably will happen for Team USA, which will surely be revived by Vancouver 2010. For hockey nations not quite as deep as Canada or Russia, down cycles are inevitable.

This was nobody's fault, really. Don Waddell, the general manager, didn't exactly have his pick of Peter Forsberg or Jaromir Jagr. Laviolette is the victim here, the guy who comes off unfairly as a failure.

The only real shame is that U.S. hockey players never know how to leave the building without sacking the joint, figuratively or literally. Modano went after U.S. Hockey yesterday, blamed officials for forcing him to buy his own airline tickets. Then he went after Laviolette, because the coach didn't play him down the stretch.

The players here became so fed up with losing, they forgot to try to win.

Batten down the dorm furniture. We'll always have Kazakhstan.

Originally published on February 23, 2006

[CanesChic]

Another good article..

This from NY Daily News:

Modano goal:
whine, not win





TURIN - Old. Slow. Small. Team USA was all of that, even before it took the ice against Finland.
Then as Peter Laviolette watched his once-great generation of American hockey players go about its sad business of losing an Olympic hockey quarterfinal, 4-3, the coach came up with his own adjective: Disinterested.

This was something he hadn't counted on, so Laviolette called timeout midway through the first period and screamed at his players that if they didn't find a modicum of passion out there, "We're done."

His face was flushed. His tongue was sharp. But on the anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, this was as close to Herb Brooks as Laviolette would get. His players didn't really pay much attention, until there were 12 minutes left in the game and the cause was fairly hopeless.

Laviolette tried a bunch of different players, benched some of the guys who pass as stars, and watched it all go down the drain. The Americans peppered the net in those final moments, and as usual couldn't score.

Then it was done, left to the participants to justify how it was possible for such a large nation with vast regions of frigid winters and fresh water lakes could go 1-4-1 in an Olympic tournament, beating only Kazakhstan and drawing with Latvia along the way.

It turns out, fortunately, that the Americans are very good at explaining failure, far better than they are at playing hockey. Laviolette persisted that the team didn't try hard enough all tournament long.

"We were standing instead of skating," he said. "We were on our heels and they were on their toes."

Mike Modano, assistant captain, said it was because the team didn't have a charter flight and the players' wives weren't taken care of properly. Believe it or not, he seemed to really mean it.

Then, as a final dart aimed at the coach who had just benched him, Modano suggested the Americans may have lost because Laviolette called his inspirational timeout.

"We could have used (the timeout) at the end of the game, give the guys some rest," Modano said. "A little composure, a little less panic. There was 50 minutes left in the game."

It wouldn't be Team USA if the Americans didn't exit with a complete absence of grace, and so Modano filled a very real need as team knucklehead. He said USA Hockey required change, top to bottom, that it was the bureaucrats' fault, and that the players had not really lost this tournament.

"I don't think we're far off at all," said Modano, who had a total of two goals and no assists in the tournament, with a minus-one rating. "The talent is there, the personality is there. The hockey part was OK. We played pretty good hockey."

This sort of self-delusion was just the ticket out of Turin, so that the Americans can now return to the NHL believing they were brilliant and merely sabotaged by travel agents and stand-on-your-head goaltenders.

If only everybody was honest about his own shortcomings, it would become difficult to assign such specific blame to an effort so terribly doomed from the start.

These Winter Games are a 'tweener. This generation of American players is too old now, too resentful. The next generation of juniors is too young.

If you are looking for historical precedent, then consider the U.S. national soccer team's World Cup disaster of 1998 in France, also pockmarked by bad performances and dissension from players who had seen their best days. Four years later, with the right coach and a new group of players, the U.S. made a serious World Cup run in Korea.

The same probably will happen for Team USA, which will surely be revived by Vancouver 2010. For hockey nations not quite as deep as Canada or Russia, down cycles are inevitable.

This was nobody's fault, really. Don Waddell, the general manager, didn't exactly have his pick of Peter Forsberg or Jaromir Jagr. Laviolette is the victim here, the guy who comes off unfairly as a failure.

The only real shame is that U.S. hockey players never know how to leave the building without sacking the joint, figuratively or literally. Modano went after U.S. Hockey yesterday, blamed officials for forcing him to buy his own airline tickets. Then he went after Laviolette, because the coach didn't play him down the stretch.

The players here became so fed up with losing, they forgot to try to win.

Batten down the dorm furniture. We'll always have Kazakhstan.

Originally published on February 23, 2006

[CanesChic]

Another good article..

This from NY Daily News:

Modano goal:
whine, not win





TURIN - Old. Slow. Small. Team USA was all of that, even before it took the ice against Finland.
Then as Peter Laviolette watched his once-great generation of American hockey players go about its sad business of losing an Olympic hockey quarterfinal, 4-3, the coach came up with his own adjective: Disinterested.

This was something he hadn't counted on, so Laviolette called timeout midway through the first period and screamed at his players that if they didn't find a modicum of passion out there, "We're done."

His face was flushed. His tongue was sharp. But on the anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, this was as close to Herb Brooks as Laviolette would get. His players didn't really pay much attention, until there were 12 minutes left in the game and the cause was fairly hopeless.

Laviolette tried a bunch of different players, benched some of the guys who pass as stars, and watched it all go down the drain. The Americans peppered the net in those final moments, and as usual couldn't score.

Then it was done, left to the participants to justify how it was possible for such a large nation with vast regions of frigid winters and fresh water lakes could go 1-4-1 in an Olympic tournament, beating only Kazakhstan and drawing with Latvia along the way.

It turns out, fortunately, that the Americans are very good at explaining failure, far better than they are at playing hockey. Laviolette persisted that the team didn't try hard enough all tournament long.

"We were standing instead of skating," he said. "We were on our heels and they were on their toes."

Mike Modano, assistant captain, said it was because the team didn't have a charter flight and the players' wives weren't taken care of properly. Believe it or not, he seemed to really mean it.

Then, as a final dart aimed at the coach who had just benched him, Modano suggested the Americans may have lost because Laviolette called his inspirational timeout.

"We could have used (the timeout) at the end of the game, give the guys some rest," Modano said. "A little composure, a little less panic. There was 50 minutes left in the game."

It wouldn't be Team USA if the Americans didn't exit with a complete absence of grace, and so Modano filled a very real need as team knucklehead. He said USA Hockey required change, top to bottom, that it was the bureaucrats' fault, and that the players had not really lost this tournament.

"I don't think we're far off at all," said Modano, who had a total of two goals and no assists in the tournament, with a minus-one rating. "The talent is there, the personality is there. The hockey part was OK. We played pretty good hockey."

This sort of self-delusion was just the ticket out of Turin, so that the Americans can now return to the NHL believing they were brilliant and merely sabotaged by travel agents and stand-on-your-head goaltenders.

If only everybody was honest about his own shortcomings, it would become difficult to assign such specific blame to an effort so terribly doomed from the start.

These Winter Games are a 'tweener. This generation of American players is too old now, too resentful. The next generation of juniors is too young.

If you are looking for historical precedent, then consider the U.S. national soccer team's World Cup disaster of 1998 in France, also pockmarked by bad performances and dissension from players who had seen their best days. Four years later, with the right coach and a new group of players, the U.S. made a serious World Cup run in Korea.

The same probably will happen for Team USA, which will surely be revived by Vancouver 2010. For hockey nations not quite as deep as Canada or Russia, down cycles are inevitable.

This was nobody's fault, really. Don Waddell, the general manager, didn't exactly have his pick of Peter Forsberg or Jaromir Jagr. Laviolette is the victim here, the guy who comes off unfairly as a failure.

The only real shame is that U.S. hockey players never know how to leave the building without sacking the joint, figuratively or literally. Modano went after U.S. Hockey yesterday, blamed officials for forcing him to buy his own airline tickets. Then he went after Laviolette, because the coach didn't play him down the stretch.

The players here became so fed up with losing, they forgot to try to win.

Batten down the dorm furniture. We'll always have Kazakhstan.

Originally published on February 23, 2006

[CanesChic]

Another good article..

This from NY Daily News:

Modano goal:
whine, not win





TURIN - Old. Slow. Small. Team USA was all of that, even before it took the ice against Finland.
Then as Peter Laviolette watched his once-great generation of American hockey players go about its sad business of losing an Olympic hockey quarterfinal, 4-3, the coach came up with his own adjective: Disinterested.

This was something he hadn't counted on, so Laviolette called timeout midway through the first period and screamed at his players that if they didn't find a modicum of passion out there, "We're done."

His face was flushed. His tongue was sharp. But on the anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, this was as close to Herb Brooks as Laviolette would get. His players didn't really pay much attention, until there were 12 minutes left in the game and the cause was fairly hopeless.

Laviolette tried a bunch of different players, benched some of the guys who pass as stars, and watched it all go down the drain. The Americans peppered the net in those final moments, and as usual couldn't score.

Then it was done, left to the participants to justify how it was possible for such a large nation with vast regions of frigid winters and fresh water lakes could go 1-4-1 in an Olympic tournament, beating only Kazakhstan and drawing with Latvia along the way.

It turns out, fortunately, that the Americans are very good at explaining failure, far better than they are at playing hockey. Laviolette persisted that the team didn't try hard enough all tournament long.

"We were standing instead of skating," he said. "We were on our heels and they were on their toes."

Mike Modano, assistant captain, said it was because the team didn't have a charter flight and the players' wives weren't taken care of properly. Believe it or not, he seemed to really mean it.

Then, as a final dart aimed at the coach who had just benched him, Modano suggested the Americans may have lost because Laviolette called his inspirational timeout.

"We could have used (the timeout) at the end of the game, give the guys some rest," Modano said. "A little composure, a little less panic. There was 50 minutes left in the game."

It wouldn't be Team USA if the Americans didn't exit with a complete absence of grace, and so Modano filled a very real need as team knucklehead. He said USA Hockey required change, top to bottom, that it was the bureaucrats' fault, and that the players had not really lost this tournament.

"I don't think we're far off at all," said Modano, who had a total of two goals and no assists in the tournament, with a minus-one rating. "The talent is there, the personality is there. The hockey part was OK. We played pretty good hockey."

This sort of self-delusion was just the ticket out of Turin, so that the Americans can now return to the NHL believing they were brilliant and merely sabotaged by travel agents and stand-on-your-head goaltenders.

If only everybody was honest about his own shortcomings, it would become difficult to assign such specific blame to an effort so terribly doomed from the start.

These Winter Games are a 'tweener. This generation of American players is too old now, too resentful. The next generation of juniors is too young.

If you are looking for historical precedent, then consider the U.S. national soccer team's World Cup disaster of 1998 in France, also pockmarked by bad performances and dissension from players who had seen their best days. Four years later, with the right coach and a new group of players, the U.S. made a serious World Cup run in Korea.

The same probably will happen for Team USA, which will surely be revived by Vancouver 2010. For hockey nations not quite as deep as Canada or Russia, down cycles are inevitable.

This was nobody's fault, really. Don Waddell, the general manager, didn't exactly have his pick of Peter Forsberg or Jaromir Jagr. Laviolette is the victim here, the guy who comes off unfairly as a failure.

The only real shame is that U.S. hockey players never know how to leave the building without sacking the joint, figuratively or literally. Modano went after U.S. Hockey yesterday, blamed officials for forcing him to buy his own airline tickets. Then he went after Laviolette, because the coach didn't play him down the stretch.

The players here became so fed up with losing, they forgot to try to win.

Batten down the dorm furniture. We'll always have Kazakhstan.

Originally published on February 23, 2006

[CanesChic]

Another good article..

This from NY Daily News:

Modano goal:
whine, not win





TURIN - Old. Slow. Small. Team USA was all of that, even before it took the ice against Finland.
Then as Peter Laviolette watched his once-great generation of American hockey players go about its sad business of losing an Olympic hockey quarterfinal, 4-3, the coach came up with his own adjective: Disinterested.

This was something he hadn't counted on, so Laviolette called timeout midway through the first period and screamed at his players that if they didn't find a modicum of passion out there, "We're done."

His face was flushed. His tongue was sharp. But on the anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, this was as close to Herb Brooks as Laviolette would get. His players didn't really pay much attention, until there were 12 minutes left in the game and the cause was fairly hopeless.

Laviolette tried a bunch of different players, benched some of the guys who pass as stars, and watched it all go down the drain. The Americans peppered the net in those final moments, and as usual couldn't score.

Then it was done, left to the participants to justify how it was possible for such a large nation with vast regions of frigid winters and fresh water lakes could go 1-4-1 in an Olympic tournament, beating only Kazakhstan and drawing with Latvia along the way.

It turns out, fortunately, that the Americans are very good at explaining failure, far better than they are at playing hockey. Laviolette persisted that the team didn't try hard enough all tournament long.

"We were standing instead of skating," he said. "We were on our heels and they were on their toes."

Mike Modano, assistant captain, said it was because the team didn't have a charter flight and the players' wives weren't taken care of properly. Believe it or not, he seemed to really mean it.

Then, as a final dart aimed at the coach who had just benched him, Modano suggested the Americans may have lost because Laviolette called his inspirational timeout.

"We could have used (the timeout) at the end of the game, give the guys some rest," Modano said. "A little composure, a little less panic. There was 50 minutes left in the game."

It wouldn't be Team USA if the Americans didn't exit with a complete absence of grace, and so Modano filled a very real need as team knucklehead. He said USA Hockey required change, top to bottom, that it was the bureaucrats' fault, and that the players had not really lost this tournament.

"I don't think we're far off at all," said Modano, who had a total of two goals and no assists in the tournament, with a minus-one rating. "The talent is there, the personality is there. The hockey part was OK. We played pretty good hockey."

This sort of self-delusion was just the ticket out of Turin, so that the Americans can now return to the NHL believing they were brilliant and merely sabotaged by travel agents and stand-on-your-head goaltenders.

If only everybody was honest about his own shortcomings, it would become difficult to assign such specific blame to an effort so terribly doomed from the start.

These Winter Games are a 'tweener. This generation of American players is too old now, too resentful. The next generation of juniors is too young.

If you are looking for historical precedent, then consider the U.S. national soccer team's World Cup disaster of 1998 in France, also pockmarked by bad performances and dissension from players who had seen their best days. Four years later, with the right coach and a new group of players, the U.S. made a serious World Cup run in Korea.

The same probably will happen for Team USA, which will surely be revived by Vancouver 2010. For hockey nations not quite as deep as Canada or Russia, down cycles are inevitable.

This was nobody's fault, really. Don Waddell, the general manager, didn't exactly have his pick of Peter Forsberg or Jaromir Jagr. Laviolette is the victim here, the guy who comes off unfairly as a failure.

The only real shame is that U.S. hockey players never know how to leave the building without sacking the joint, figuratively or literally. Modano went after U.S. Hockey yesterday, blamed officials for forcing him to buy his own airline tickets. Then he went after Laviolette, because the coach didn't play him down the stretch.

The players here became so fed up with losing, they forgot to try to win.

Batten down the dorm furniture. We'll always have Kazakhstan.

Originally published on February 23, 2006

[CanesChic]

Another good article..

This from NY Daily News:

Modano goal:
whine, not win





TURIN - Old. Slow. Small. Team USA was all of that, even before it took the ice against Finland.
Then as Peter Laviolette watched his once-great generation of American hockey players go about its sad business of losing an Olympic hockey quarterfinal, 4-3, the coach came up with his own adjective: Disinterested.

This was something he hadn't counted on, so Laviolette called timeout midway through the first period and screamed at his players that if they didn't find a modicum of passion out there, "We're done."

His face was flushed. His tongue was sharp. But on the anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, this was as close to Herb Brooks as Laviolette would get. His players didn't really pay much attention, until there were 12 minutes left in the game and the cause was fairly hopeless.

Laviolette tried a bunch of different players, benched some of the guys who pass as stars, and watched it all go down the drain. The Americans peppered the net in those final moments, and as usual couldn't score.

Then it was done, left to the participants to justify how it was possible for such a large nation with vast regions of frigid winters and fresh water lakes could go 1-4-1 in an Olympic tournament, beating only Kazakhstan and drawing with Latvia along the way.

It turns out, fortunately, that the Americans are very good at explaining failure, far better than they are at playing hockey. Laviolette persisted that the team didn't try hard enough all tournament long.

"We were standing instead of skating," he said. "We were on our heels and they were on their toes."

Mike Modano, assistant captain, said it was because the team didn't have a charter flight and the players' wives weren't taken care of properly. Believe it or not, he seemed to really mean it.

Then, as a final dart aimed at the coach who had just benched him, Modano suggested the Americans may have lost because Laviolette called his inspirational timeout.

"We could have used (the timeout) at the end of the game, give the guys some rest," Modano said. "A little composure, a little less panic. There was 50 minutes left in the game."

It wouldn't be Team USA if the Americans didn't exit with a complete absence of grace, and so Modano filled a very real need as team knucklehead. He said USA Hockey required change, top to bottom, that it was the bureaucrats' fault, and that the players had not really lost this tournament.

"I don't think we're far off at all," said Modano, who had a total of two goals and no assists in the tournament, with a minus-one rating. "The talent is there, the personality is there. The hockey part was OK. We played pretty good hockey."

This sort of self-delusion was just the ticket out of Turin, so that the Americans can now return to the NHL believing they were brilliant and merely sabotaged by travel agents and stand-on-your-head goaltenders.

If only everybody was honest about his own shortcomings, it would become difficult to assign such specific blame to an effort so terribly doomed from the start.

These Winter Games are a 'tweener. This generation of American players is too old now, too resentful. The next generation of juniors is too young.

If you are looking for historical precedent, then consider the U.S. national soccer team's World Cup disaster of 1998 in France, also pockmarked by bad performances and dissension from players who had seen their best days. Four years later, with the right coach and a new group of players, the U.S. made a serious World Cup run in Korea.

The same probably will happen for Team USA, which will surely be revived by Vancouver 2010. For hockey nations not quite as deep as Canada or Russia, down cycles are inevitable.

This was nobody's fault, really. Don Waddell, the general manager, didn't exactly have his pick of Peter Forsberg or Jaromir Jagr. Laviolette is the victim here, the guy who comes off unfairly as a failure.

The only real shame is that U.S. hockey players never know how to leave the building without sacking the joint, figuratively or literally. Modano went after U.S. Hockey yesterday, blamed officials for forcing him to buy his own airline tickets. Then he went after Laviolette, because the coach didn't play him down the stretch.

The players here became so fed up with losing, they forgot to try to win.

Batten down the dorm furniture. We'll always have Kazakhstan.

Originally published on February 23, 2006

[CanesChic]

Another good article..

This from NY Daily News:

Modano goal:
whine, not win





TURIN - Old. Slow. Small. Team USA was all of that, even before it took the ice against Finland.
Then as Peter Laviolette watched his once-great generation of American hockey players go about its sad business of losing an Olympic hockey quarterfinal, 4-3, the coach came up with his own adjective: Disinterested.

This was something he hadn't counted on, so Laviolette called timeout midway through the first period and screamed at his players that if they didn't find a modicum of passion out there, "We're done."

His face was flushed. His tongue was sharp. But on the anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, this was as close to Herb Brooks as Laviolette would get. His players didn't really pay much attention, until there were 12 minutes left in the game and the cause was fairly hopeless.

Laviolette tried a bunch of different players, benched some of the guys who pass as stars, and watched it all go down the drain. The Americans peppered the net in those final moments, and as usual couldn't score.

Then it was done, left to the participants to justify how it was possible for such a large nation with vast regions of frigid winters and fresh water lakes could go 1-4-1 in an Olympic tournament, beating only Kazakhstan and drawing with Latvia along the way.

It turns out, fortunately, that the Americans are very good at explaining failure, far better than they are at playing hockey. Laviolette persisted that the team didn't try hard enough all tournament long.

"We were standing instead of skating," he said. "We were on our heels and they were on their toes."

Mike Modano, assistant captain, said it was because the team didn't have a charter flight and the players' wives weren't taken care of properly. Believe it or not, he seemed to really mean it.

Then, as a final dart aimed at the coach who had just benched him, Modano suggested the Americans may have lost because Laviolette called his inspirational timeout.

"We could have used (the timeout) at the end of the game, give the guys some rest," Modano said. "A little composure, a little less panic. There was 50 minutes left in the game."

It wouldn't be Team USA if the Americans didn't exit with a complete absence of grace, and so Modano filled a very real need as team knucklehead. He said USA Hockey required change, top to bottom, that it was the bureaucrats' fault, and that the players had not really lost this tournament.

"I don't think we're far off at all," said Modano, who had a total of two goals and no assists in the tournament, with a minus-one rating. "The talent is there, the personality is there. The hockey part was OK. We played pretty good hockey."

This sort of self-delusion was just the ticket out of Turin, so that the Americans can now return to the NHL believing they were brilliant and merely sabotaged by travel agents and stand-on-your-head goaltenders.

If only everybody was honest about his own shortcomings, it would become difficult to assign such specific blame to an effort so terribly doomed from the start.

These Winter Games are a 'tweener. This generation of American players is too old now, too resentful. The next generation of juniors is too young.

If you are looking for historical precedent, then consider the U.S. national soccer team's World Cup disaster of 1998 in France, also pockmarked by bad performances and dissension from players who had seen their best days. Four years later, with the right coach and a new group of players, the U.S. made a serious World Cup run in Korea.

The same probably will happen for Team USA, which will surely be revived by Vancouver 2010. For hockey nations not quite as deep as Canada or Russia, down cycles are inevitable.

This was nobody's fault, really. Don Waddell, the general manager, didn't exactly have his pick of Peter Forsberg or Jaromir Jagr. Laviolette is the victim here, the guy who comes off unfairly as a failure.

The only real shame is that U.S. hockey players never know how to leave the building without sacking the joint, figuratively or literally. Modano went after U.S. Hockey yesterday, blamed officials for forcing him to buy his own airline tickets. Then he went after Laviolette, because the coach didn't play him down the stretch.

The players here became so fed up with losing, they forgot to try to win.

Batten down the dorm furniture. We'll always have Kazakhstan.

Originally published on February 23, 2006

[puckin_A]

Mike has friggin lost his mind. Very disappointed in him. Acting like a friggin 2 year old that didn't get his way. Someone said he had no heart.....I don't believe this. If he didn't care he would of never said anyhing. HOWEVER.....what a moron. He is off my list. It would take a miracle for him to get back on and I don't see that happening. Why can't these guys FOR ONCE lose with dignity?

I like the fact that Gionta said that everybody had their reservations and such taken care of way before hand so it wasn't an issue.

I still contend that Modano was just deferring the media while Chelios and company were destroying the hotel. :D

[puckin_A]

Mike has friggin lost his mind. Very disappointed in him. Acting like a friggin 2 year old that didn't get his way. Someone said he had no heart.....I don't believe this. If he didn't care he would of never said anyhing. HOWEVER.....what a moron. He is off my list. It would take a miracle for him to get back on and I don't see that happening. Why can't these guys FOR ONCE lose with dignity?

I like the fact that Gionta said that everybody had their reservations and such taken care of way before hand so it wasn't an issue.

I still contend that Modano was just deferring the media while Chelios and company were destroying the hotel. :D

[puckin_A]

Mike has friggin lost his mind. Very disappointed in him. Acting like a friggin 2 year old that didn't get his way. Someone said he had no heart.....I don't believe this. If he didn't care he would of never said anyhing. HOWEVER.....what a moron. He is off my list. It would take a miracle for him to get back on and I don't see that happening. Why can't these guys FOR ONCE lose with dignity?

I like the fact that Gionta said that everybody had their reservations and such taken care of way before hand so it wasn't an issue.

I still contend that Modano was just deferring the media while Chelios and company were destroying the hotel. :D

[puckin_A]

Mike has friggin lost his mind. Very disappointed in him. Acting like a friggin 2 year old that didn't get his way. Someone said he had no heart.....I don't believe this. If he didn't care he would of never said anyhing. HOWEVER.....what a moron. He is off my list. It would take a miracle for him to get back on and I don't see that happening. Why can't these guys FOR ONCE lose with dignity?

I like the fact that Gionta said that everybody had their reservations and such taken care of way before hand so it wasn't an issue.

I still contend that Modano was just deferring the media while Chelios and company were destroying the hotel. :D

[puckin_A]

Mike has friggin lost his mind. Very disappointed in him. Acting like a friggin 2 year old that didn't get his way. Someone said he had no heart.....I don't believe this. If he didn't care he would of never said anyhing. HOWEVER.....what a moron. He is off my list. It would take a miracle for him to get back on and I don't see that happening. Why can't these guys FOR ONCE lose with dignity?

I like the fact that Gionta said that everybody had their reservations and such taken care of way before hand so it wasn't an issue.

I still contend that Modano was just deferring the media while Chelios and company were destroying the hotel. :D

[puckin_A]

Mike has friggin lost his mind. Very disappointed in him. Acting like a friggin 2 year old that didn't get his way. Someone said he had no heart.....I don't believe this. If he didn't care he would of never said anyhing. HOWEVER.....what a moron. He is off my list. It would take a miracle for him to get back on and I don't see that happening. Why can't these guys FOR ONCE lose with dignity?

I like the fact that Gionta said that everybody had their reservations and such taken care of way before hand so it wasn't an issue.

I still contend that Modano was just deferring the media while Chelios and company were destroying the hotel. :D

[puckin_A]

Mike has friggin lost his mind. Very disappointed in him. Acting like a friggin 2 year old that didn't get his way. Someone said he had no heart.....I don't believe this. If he didn't care he would of never said anyhing. HOWEVER.....what a moron. He is off my list. It would take a miracle for him to get back on and I don't see that happening. Why can't these guys FOR ONCE lose with dignity?

I like the fact that Gionta said that everybody had their reservations and such taken care of way before hand so it wasn't an issue.

I still contend that Modano was just deferring the media while Chelios and company were destroying the hotel. :D

[IceSaber]

Laviolette called timeout midway through the first perio

I don't have the greatest memory - but don't we have at least 2 games on record this seasaon where a cleverly place timeout early in the game stopped and onslaught by the opposing team and got US (the Canes) back in it? I've seen Lavi use his timeouts too efficiently this season to stem the bleeding and get the boys on track to not believe he made the right call at the right time.

I hate blame - unl;ess you are taking the responsibility of a loss on your own shoulders - SHUT THE HE - double hockey sticks UP!!!

*excuse me - I tried to stay quiet - whining just pisses me off something fierce*

[IceSaber]

Laviolette called timeout midway through the first perio

I don't have the greatest memory - but don't we have at least 2 games on record this seasaon where a cleverly place timeout early in the game stopped and onslaught by the opposing team and got US (the Canes) back in it? I've seen Lavi use his timeouts too efficiently this season to stem the bleeding and get the boys on track to not believe he made the right call at the right time.

I hate blame - unl;ess you are taking the responsibility of a loss on your own shoulders - SHUT THE HE - double hockey sticks UP!!!

*excuse me - I tried to stay quiet - whining just pisses me off something fierce*

[IceSaber]

Laviolette called timeout midway through the first perio

I don't have the greatest memory - but don't we have at least 2 games on record this seasaon where a cleverly place timeout early in the game stopped and onslaught by the opposing team and got US (the Canes) back in it? I've seen Lavi use his timeouts too efficiently this season to stem the bleeding and get the boys on track to not believe he made the right call at the right time.

I hate blame - unl;ess you are taking the responsibility of a loss on your own shoulders - SHUT THE HE - double hockey sticks UP!!!

*excuse me - I tried to stay quiet - whining just pisses me off something fierce*

[IceSaber]

Laviolette called timeout midway through the first perio

I don't have the greatest memory - but don't we have at least 2 games on record this seasaon where a cleverly place timeout early in the game stopped and onslaught by the opposing team and got US (the Canes) back in it? I've seen Lavi use his timeouts too efficiently this season to stem the bleeding and get the boys on track to not believe he made the right call at the right time.

I hate blame - unl;ess you are taking the responsibility of a loss on your own shoulders - SHUT THE HE - double hockey sticks UP!!!

*excuse me - I tried to stay quiet - whining just pisses me off something fierce*

[IceSaber]

Laviolette called timeout midway through the first perio

I don't have the greatest memory - but don't we have at least 2 games on record this seasaon where a cleverly place timeout early in the game stopped and onslaught by the opposing team and got US (the Canes) back in it? I've seen Lavi use his timeouts too efficiently this season to stem the bleeding and get the boys on track to not believe he made the right call at the right time.

I hate blame - unl;ess you are taking the responsibility of a loss on your own shoulders - SHUT THE HE - double hockey sticks UP!!!

*excuse me - I tried to stay quiet - whining just pisses me off something fierce*