Foghorn signals the perfect ending

VANCOUVER, B,C. – A foghorn here in the harbour just belted out the first four notes of O Canada, eliciting another roar from all corners. Between that and the car horns blasting downtown, it’s a sure sign that Canada just won its record 14th gold medal, but more importantly the one gold medal it would sacrifice any other to get: The men’s hockey bauble.

Terrific game, 3-2 over the U.S. on Sidney Crosby’s overtime winner, and now the men are parading around the rink. No cigars or under-age drinking yet and speaking of that kerfuffle, which arose after the women’s team likewise beat the U.S. to win gold, wasn’t that a whole lot about nothing?

Some people think that on the same day IOC president Jacques Rogge put women’s hockey on life support, perhaps they shouldn’t have been doing anything to draw unwanted attention to themselves.

But others would suggest the IOC, given its history, is the last body in the world that should be examining the alleged moral failings of other groups. And besides, when that Canadian skeleton gold-man, Jon Montgomery, paraded through the streets of Whistler drinking from a pitcher of beer, it was considered a moment of pure irrepressible Canadiana. Plus, he was escorted four four Mounties who clearly considered the circumstances and decided to look the other way on the open-container stuff.

But enough of all that. They’re dancing in the streets out here, justifiably overjoyed at this sweetest of all endings, and let’s hope that’s as robust as the activity gets as the evening wears on.

Comments

[Charles]

I was just out at Yonge and Eglinton, and there is a sea of Canadian flags and red and white apparel in the middle of the intersection, as people dance there, pretend to be toreadors fighting the car s (not bulls) with their Canadian flags, and have a great time. I have not seen so many people so happy for a long time, in fact back to October 1993 when the Blue Jays won the World Series!!

It's a great ending to a wonderful winter Olympics. There were events that saddened us, among them the death of Nador Kumaritashvili, the passing of Joannie Rochette's mother, and the earthquake tragedy in Chile that meant the Chilean team has left early. But there are some positive things, for example: the number of medals and good finishes by so many Canadian athletes; the bronze for perseverance to Joannie Rochette; the gold medal for women's hockey; the gold medal for men's hockey; and the general good logistics of the games.

Yes some things did not go well, but we have to look at the positive, given the tragedy and destruction in so much of the world, for example Haiti and Chile and Afghanistan.

Let us celebrate tonight our strengths and accomplishments so that we may go on to seek out how we can improve ourselves and to make our nation a better place to live for ourselves and our children!!

Go Canada Go!!

[pawel]

I'm impressed - whichever way you look at it, very good results.
Sweet ending - beating the team of the (tm) greatest nation on earth.

Gives me more reasons to overcome my laziness and finally apply for canadian citizenship. My poor home country - Poalnd, only 6 medals... I donno.. :-|

[Brad]

Why no Cdn men's hockey players at the closing ceremonies - makes it look like they are too good to parade with the commoners - hope it's not true but sure looks like it

[davidm]

the reason why there were no men from canada at closing ceremonies is that they have other obligations to fulfill.they have had thier plane flights booked for weeks by nhlpa,they need to get back to work.the nhl starts up almost immediately

[Barrie Richardson]

I once attended a game between the Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens back in 1960 or so.
Frank Mahovolich beat Jacques Plante in the first period, and the game took on a pace and constancy of intensity that nobody in the Gardens sat down for two periods. It was up and down, fast, hard. That goal stood up and the entire leaf defense was named the First Star. Scott Young told his son,"I hope at your age, that that was not the best hockey game you will ever see." It was. Yesterday his son saw one better.

As a biassed Canadian fan, I enjoy the outcome immensely, but the game was unbelievably played by both teams. Great Goal-tending, furious puck movement, close calls, goal posts acting as game changers, and an equally maximum effort from every player on both teams.

Had Canada lost, it would be Wednesday before I could say objectively that it was still the best game of hockey I have seen. The 3 - 3 tie New years game between Red Army and the Canadians now ranks third in my personal rating system.