Winter Olympic Coverage - by Moses

Now last I left you we had summised the first six days of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Perhaps I should have included the following item. A fifth place finish earlier in the Games by Erik Guay in the Men's Alpine Downhill, and a sixth place finish by Britt Janyk in the Women's Alpine Downhill. To some Nations this would be considered failure. To most Canadians however, fifth or sixth in the World is an accomplishment to be proud of. Jeremy Wotherspoon and Melissa Hollingsworth were both visibly dissappointed with their performances. This being Wotherspoon's last Olympics (third in total), it was a sad day when he didn't bring home a Medal (to add to his high ranking pedigree in the sport of Long-Track Speed Skating).
With respect to Melissa Hollingsworth; Starting her final run in Skeleton, she was in second place. She pushed herself in the final run and it cost her a Medal. With tears streaming down her face as she addressed the Canadian Public, she said 'I feel like I let everyone down - my Country, my family, and all my friends.' In all honesty I would look at Melissa Hollingsworths' journey through the Games as being a success. Well spoken, a go-getter, trying to achieve Gold. She'll be back for the next Winter Olympics and Canada will be behind her once again.
Earlier that Thursday, Christine Nesbitt brought Canada yet another Gold Medal, in the 1000 Metre Long-Track Speed Skating, winning by .03 Seconds.
On Friday we got to witness perhaps the most gutsy performance by a Canadian to date. In the Men's Skeleton, Jon Montgomery looked over matched by Latvian Martin Dukurs. Most thought Montgomery was over-matched by a Mario Andretti like Dukurs. In his third run, Montgomery posted a track record and shaved more than half the lead away from Dukurs. It was going to take another outstanding run by Montgomery to bring home Gold, and that's exactly what he did. When all was said and done, Montgomery was .07 seconds faster than Dukurs. Walking the streets of Vancouver in Whistler, Jon Montgomery appeared almost hero-like in the performance and persona he brought to the Canadian Public that evening. Drinking a pitcher of beer and in full salute, it gave the Games its' first sense of character.
The following day, the Games took another scare as Petra Majdic, from Slovenia, (favourited in Cross Country Skiing) took a fall in qualifying in the 1.2 km Cross Country event. She stayed in the Games anyway, and with four broken ribs and a punctured lung she battled to a Bronze finish. All her work was not for not, and this extrodinary effort reminds me of Silken Laumann's Bronze 10 years ago when she had a torn calf muscle, another injury that would seemingly make for an unsurmountable uphill climb to finish a race, let alone win a Medal.
We also saw Erik Guay take home another fifth place, this time in the Super Slalom. What was unfortunate however, was that Guay was .03 seconds away from winning a Bronze Medal. But as I stated earlier, this was still quite an accomplishment. We should also give some credit for a fourth and fifth Finish by Charles and Francois Hamelin, as most of Canada thought there would be Medals from the Short Track Speed Skating 500 Metreas Finals, but was not to be that evening.
Then Sunday February 21 came around, and it was Game Day, Canada versus the U.S.A in Men's Ice Hockey. Just prior, Russia had defeated the Czech Republic 3-2 to squeak into the number 1 spot in their division. For Canada it looked like a win was almost mandatory. After a sloppy effort against Switzerland we needed to re-establish ourselves as favourites of the Tournament. That being said, it just didn't happen for us. We outshot them, we outhit them, but we just couldn't beat them. Ryan Miller stood on his head. It was a fair fight, and we have to come out better against Germany in our next game. We didn't go throughout the day without any Medals however, as Kristina Groves won her second Medal of the Games, a Silver in the 1500 Metres, to go along with a Bronze in the 500 Metre Long-Track Speed Skating.
On the second Monday of the Games, we watched the U.S.A Women's Hockey Team pummel Sweden 9-1. Canada did pretty much the same thing to Finland, and we will now see the Game everyone is waiting for in the Women's Hockey Finals. Go CANADA!!!
In Ice Dancing, the Canadian Team of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir engaged themselves to all that attended the Ice Dance Competition and won Canada's First ever Gold Medal in Ice Dancing. Already being compared to Torvill and Dean (of the 1984 Sarejevo Winter Olympics), Virtue and Moir lifted an entire Nations' spirits with the performance of their life.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Men's Curling Team, headed by Kevin Martin, is 8-0, and the Women's Team is 7-1. Go figure, EH !!

The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C, Canada - by Moses

It started with tragedy. The first time ever, that an athlete died during an Olympic Games, in training for an event. A Georgian luger went crashing into a steel girder, after sling-shooting off a turn. The World mourned. What could be said of an athlete at this level, dying at such a young age. To live in regret throughout your life could very well be more painful. Nodar Kumaritashvili died tragically and suddenly, doing something he loved to do. Canada was not to blame. This unforseen forcast of events brings to light a mans' humility. To appreciate what we have, when we have it. Life.
During the first five days of the Winter Games, there has been much to remember. The Opening Gala was spectacular, each Country proud to be involved. From the massive teams of the U.S.A, Russia, Germany, and Canada, to the minute representatives of Nations such as Ethiopia, and Estonia. Of course, the representatives from Georgia were still in shock of the loss of their Countryman from the previous day. By the end of the evening, Olympic spirit shined brightly.
On Day One Jennifer Heil won Canada's first Medal, a Silver in the Women's Mogul Freestyle event. Our Nations' elite Female Olympians shined through immensely. The Canadian Women's Hockey Team completely dominated Slovakia and left the Arena with the most lopsided victory in the history of Ice Hockey during an Olympics, defeating the Slovak's 18-0.
As Canada was hosting our third Olympics, neigh one Gold Medal, we all watched expectantly.
Then came day two and with it a day Canadians will surely remember for a long time coming. Alexandre Bilodeau. Becoming the first Canadian to win Gold on Home soil, Bilodeau performed magnificantly at Cyprus Hill in the Mogul Freestyle. Much deserving of his place in history, some would say his win was as huge as David Percy's 100 Metre sprint victory in 1932.
It wasn't just his talent, his immense talent. Alexandre had one completely loyal fan, his inspiration, older brother Frederic. Near tears during his victory speech to the Canadian Public, Alexandre praised his older brother Frederic Bilodeau, who suffers from Cerebral Pulsy. It was clear that Frederic's heart was with Alexandre in his claim of the Gold Medal he achieved for the Nation.
Monday rolled around, and we got a taste of what the Olympics is all about; trials and tribulations of competition. As Mike Robertson raced for Canada in the Snowboarding Finals he looked like a sure lock for Gold. An American caught him on the second last jump, and though Robertson competed valiently, he settled for Silver. During his address to Canada, he spoke volumes of character that we as Canadians all share. As he was asked about finishing Second, taking home Silver; 'It's unbelievable. I still can't belive that I'm at the Olympics, and I've finished second. It still hasn't hit me yet. I'm extremely happy to win Silver.' Canadian humility at its' best. The Canadian Women's Hockey team also shined, defeating an over-matched Swiss Team 10-1, with Hayley Wickenheiser tying Danielle Goyette for most Goals scored in Olympics competition, with her 15th goal.
Tuesday brought Canada its' second Gold Medal in the Games thus far. Vancouver Francophon Maelle Ricker was the class of the field in Women's Snowboarding, taking home the Gold. She reminded this journalist of what it was like to be 22 again. A pure joy to watch. Later in the evening, as the 7:30 P.M (Eastern Time Zone) Hockey Game rolled around, we saw a preview of what to expect from Team Canada and the boys in Red, White, and Black. Behind the solid Goaltending of Roberto Luongo, we looked respectable against Norway winning 8-0. Mike Babcock and his Coaching Staff did a fine job putting lines together, and we saw Iggy pot a Hatrick, Two goals from Cory Perry, and one wicked snapshot to the top right corner off the stick of Dany Heatley from the slot.
Wednesday, February 17th provided a taste of America to the World on Center Stage. The U.S.A won Gold and Silver in the Women's Downhill Ski Event, with Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso finishing One and Two respectively. Shawn Davis took home Gold in the 1000 Metre Speedskating event with decisiveness, and it was also a shining moment for Shaun White, as he dominated the Men's snowboard halfpipe with an incredibly electrifying performance. Our friends to the South were gracious to the Olympic spirit and lead all Nations, with 14 medals to date, Canada sitting fourth with six medals. At the end of the day Marianne St. Gelais took home Silver for Canada (our sixth) in the 500 Metre Short Track, and was darling to the Camera's eye. The Women's Hockey team also dominated on this day defeating a clearly overmatched Sweden, 13-1, and Hayley Wickenheiser now has the most goals scored amongst all Women Hockey players in the Olympics, all-time.
To cap the day, we watched the ever growing rivalry between the Czech Republic and Slovakia in Men's Hockey. Behind the usual brilliant Netminding of Tomas Vokoun, the Czechs defeated the disbanded Slovakia 3-1, with Jaromir Jagr returning to the Media Spotlight, netting the winning goal.
Today to come has our Men's Hockey team squaring off against Team Switzerland. Babcock has the intriguing argument of either staying with a hot goalie in Luongo, or playing the best goalie of all-time in Martin Brodeur. I would imagine that only an idiot would second guess his decision for later today. Maybe Babcock will surprise everyone and start Marc-Andre Fleury.
Oh, and did I mention, our Men's Curling Team is 2-0 up to date.

Modern Day Unions Within North America - by Moses (a.k.a Stacey Marc Goldman)

1. National Hockey League Players Association - was formed in 1955 est. by Ted Lindsey and Doug Harvey (amongst others), creating a pension fund for Hockey players. Ted Lindsey was traded by the Detroit Red Wings to the Chicago Black Hawks for his role in establishing the N.H.L.P.A. In 1985 est. Alan Eagleson was found to be involved in embezzling funds from Contracts he signed for players, and shortly thereafter N.H.L player salaries skyrocketed. The average annual salary of an N.H.L player was $15,000/year in 1955, $50,000/year in 1977, and is roughly $1.7 million dollars per annum today.

2. In 1970 Marvin Miller was named the first leader of the MLBPA. During the 1971 season, Curt Flood sat out the year and challenged the Reserve Clause (essentially the ownership that a Team had, pertaining to their players). Andy Messersmith did the same during the 1975 campaign, and an arbitrator named by the Owners granted Messersmith Free-Agency. This was the first occurance of Free-Agency in Professional Sports. In 1971 the average salary within MLB was roughly $30,000/year, it was roughly $150,000/year in 1979, and is now at roughly $3.5 Million/annum.

3. The Negro League Baseball Players Association was formed in 2002 est. and is instrumental in creating a market for Negro League Team Merchandising. This is a market that many speculate to be one of the most financially promising ventures in sports fashions within the fashion world.

4. The United Autoworkers Union expanded into Canada in 1983 and the Canadian Autoworkers Union in that year was headed by Bob White. The U.A.W and C.A.W have downsized positions within Canada and the U.S.A significantly over the past sixteen years and many jobs have moved to Mexico since the advent of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994. Many people in Canada would say that Buzz Hargrove missed the warning signs in 2008 when he took a hardline stance in negotiating with the U.S Auto Manufacturers. This led to the loss of roughly 6,000 jobs in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.

5. The Steelworkers Union was headed by Marvin Miller in 1967, and through a deadlock in negotiation with the Steel Plants, U.S President Lyndon Johnson stepped in and signed an agreement in good faith with Miller, saving 200,000 jobs.

6. National Football League Players Associationw was formed in 1977 and Gene Upshaw was named the first President. The NFLPA is heavily influential today in long term strategies treating brain injuries within the sport of U.S Football. These long-term treatments of players that have suffered concussions is starting to be implemented by the NHLPA.

In 1994, U.S President Bill Clinton, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo signed the North American Free Trade Agreement leading to many manufacturing jobs in Mexico. The agreement also provided technology positions within the States and Canada, and Silicone Valley, North and South of the border has flourished since. In 2006 most of North America was hit with an economic recession that we're still feeling today. As U.S and Canadian unemployment rate is at roughly 9.5% today, there will surely be changes in both the Private and Public Sectors. To strive for 6% unemployment rates in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.A would probably lead to jobs plentifold. It is of this writers' opinion to lower high income positions (any position paying $3 Million +) by 20% and pro-create positions by the difference. In other words; $5 Million=$4 Million and presto, there is now a team of twenty people working $50,000/year postions (through delegation). I would have to say that unionized sectors within the Private Sector would create this parity.