Wednesday, February 20, 2002
Canada front and centre
By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun
SALT LAKE CITY -- Leave it to Team Canada to steal the show at the Olympic Games.
First, the figure skaters did it with the Jamie Sale and David Pelletier controversy, and now Wayne Gretzky has put the focus on the hockey team by taking shots at Americans and Europeans in a press conference following a 3-3 tie with the Czechs Monday.
An emotional Gretzky told reporters he believed Americans were planting stories about trouble in the dressing room, while he also said he believes the Europeans hate the Canucks and the whole world wants the country to lose.
While this was out of character for Gretzky, there's a belief at these Games that Canadians are earning a reputation as whiners. Everybody is getting sick and tired of the constant complaining from the guys north of the border.
The idea was floated over dinner following the Canadian game that perhaps Gretzky was trying to take some of the focus off his team and put it on himself.
Pressure was being put on back home because the team was being viewed as too slow, poorly coached and unfit to play the international game.
That put even more heat on Team Canada to get back on track.
Many believe Gretzky decided to take the microphone because he was feeling the heat.
The reaction in the United States to this particular rant hasn't been good and The Great One had better hope Canada wins these games fair and square.
THE MEDAL PLAZA:
The people who run the Roots company are staying next to a Quebec City reporter at a downtown hotel and he overheard them on the phone the other day screaming to get more stock. While Canadians have always flocked to the stuff, the Americans haven't been able to get enough of it and they've been snapping it up by the ton. A guy walking the streets in Salt Lake Saturday told me he could get $240 for one of those Team USA berets, which left me with the feeling that he should just keep it ... Senators coach Jacques Martin is going to get heat in Ottawa. Wasn't that RW Martin Havlat playing on the left side with Jaromir Jagr against Canada Sunday. "Put something in for me and let the people know he doesn't usually want to play left wing," said the coach yesterday. "I was watching him on the left side with Jagr and I'm thinking, 'I'm going to get in trouble for this at home.' He really did look outstanding." ... The group Creed, which was on the stage at The Medal Plaza last night, sat in front of me at the hockey game. They arrived fashionably late and then appeared to spend a lot of time on their cellphones, but enjoyed the game.
STANDING ON THE PODIUM:
Haven't been to The Dead Goat for about 10 days. Better remedy that ... Just a note: The bars here closed at midnight the last two days because of Sunday and President's Day in the United States so this columnist is well-rested. I'll need it to stay up for that Team-Canada-Finland game tonight at 10:15 p.m ... Spotted at Bud World: Brett Hull, Chris Chelios, Mike Modano, Mike Dunham, Brian Leetch, John LeClair, Brian Rolston and Mike York. You'd think these guys would know better to stay out of those places after their experience in Nagano ... Martin has been taking care of all the video for Team Canada throughout these Games. "I'm becoming the Roger Neilson of this team. I've got to go to my room and break down video for our meeting at 4 p.m.," said Martin yesterday ... I got lucky today. The lady at the security stop at the E Center didn't make me turn on my laptop ... Can't wait for the result of the Sweden-Belarus game today ... Nice to see the Canadians get a game from Finland yesterday ... Senators president Roy Mlakar just sent an e-mail to say he's enjoying his vacation. Guess some guys have all the luck.
2002 Games Columnists
