USA vs. Canada: Bittersweet Sid-Phony, Crosby Downs Americans in OT

With sweat soaking the armpits of my Team USA hockey shirt recently purchased from my wife's retail temple (Target), I leaped from my couch and celebrated as our boys sent the gold medal match of the 2010 Winter Olympics into overtime on a blue-collar effort from Zach Parise.  

A rabid hockey fan, well aware of the potential of a late-game comeback goal, I thought the Canadians had the gold in hand as the seconds ticked by in the third period.  The goal caught me and my equally interested black Labrador Retriever off guard.  

I celebrated in typical white-guy fashion with a double high-five to my buddy and his wife who joined us to witness history.

"No way can they lose this game now," I thought to myself, "not after this comeback from a two-goal deficit."  Ryan Miller was too hot in goal for Team USA, and it was only a matter of time before the Yanks stunned the Canucks in overtime to seize only the second victory in 46 years from our neighbors to the north.  (Keep in mind "Canuck" is used affectionately and merely as a descriptive term, not an insult.)

I was quickly expelled from Cloud Nine when Sidney Crosby slung the game-winning goal through Ryan Miller's "five-hole"; a shot which seemed to go straight through the net and lodge itself into the hearts of millions nationwide.  I can say it knocked me back into the soft cushions of our couch, dejected and deflated.  

Sure, the Canadians deserved to claim the gold for their beloved sport on home ice, even though the actual national sport is lacrosse (ahhh, trivia!).  And who is it better for the U.S. to lose to in the final, in overtime no less, than our brothers across the border? 

All things considered, the loss didn't anger me.  It wasn't until the cameras panned to Miller, face down on the ice, the hopes of a nation on his heavily-padded shoulders dashed with one well-placed wrist shot.  

Miller carried the team past Canada in the qualifying round (42 saves on 45 shots) into the semi-final where the talented young American stars quickly downed Finland with a barrage of goals (six) in the first period, securing their place in the final.  

Canada limped into the gold medal match, barely squeaking by Slovakia, which proved to be a worthy challenger.

Miller appeared invincible, turning aside shot after shot, only allowing goals on point-blank attempts with practically no defense to be found.  However, Crosby's goal appeared to sneak through Miller's legs with ease from a difficult angle.

All that was left was the Canadian celebration that left Miller and his teammates looking on, sobered and stunned.  Miller took his place in the handshake line and exchanged a brief "good game" with Crosby before skating off to receive the silver medal.

I watched the medal ceremony as a kind of self-torture just as I watched the Stanley Cup ceremony 11 years ago when the Buffalo Sabres were downed in the final by Brett Hull and the immortal "crease rule" loss to the Dallas Stars.  

This loss is equally painful and listening to the triumphant Canadian national anthem, while beautiful, is engraved in my memory like the Stars skating around with the Cup...our Cup.

As our guests left and my dog searched for the perfect place to relieve herself in our yard (I had neglected her basic needs while the game was broadcasted), I couldn't help but think that these Winter Olympic Games were the most memorable of my lifetime.

Unfortunately my memories don't reach back to Lack Placid in 1980 and the miracle win versus the Soviets.  My earliest sports memories are of the Buffalo Bills choking on the foot of Scott Norwood in Super Bowl XXV.  I can't help but think somehow Buffalo is cursed, and this isn't the first time I've had that thought.  

That said, the news of the NHL potentially pulling its players out of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia has never made less sense.  

The stars of the NHL, namely Miller, Crosby, and Ovechkin, shone brighter than expected on the world stage and did nothing but promote the NHL.  I couldn't count the number of times the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins were mentioned during the telecasts.

The qualifying round Canada-USA game was witnessed by more viewers than any event in the history of Canada, with the gold-medal match poised to surpass those numbers.

Furthermore, if you're telling me that goal-machine Alexander Ovechkin won't participate in the Olympics held in his homeland for a chance at a gold medal because the NHL tells him he "isn't allowed," you might also try selling me poolside tickets to a Shamu show at Sea World.  I'm not buying it.

The NHL can only benefit from the increased viewership and interest in these games.  If sports fans didn't already know about Sidney Crosby and Ryan Miller, they certainly do now.  

Sure, the Summer Games don't necessarily increase the fan-base for swimming and track and field, but if you don't know who Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt are, you live in a cardboard box.  And not a box conveniently located behind a Starbucks with an excellent wireless network output. 

My goal (pun intended) is not to bash the already-inept front office of the NHL (Gary Bettman and his quest to destroy the league accomplishes that daily without my help), but to voice my pride and appreciation for what our NHL-ers did for the 2010 Vancouver Games.  

Today, Canada-USA insured an appreciation for hockey in America much like the Miracle on Ice did for an entire generation in 1980. In 10 minutes, we experienced both an instant high and a lasting low that will sting for four years until we meet again in Sochi.

And for at least one day, we share more than just a border with our Canadian counterparts.

Today, we all love hockey...but I still hate Sidney Crosby.