TEAM USA

[MACMAN]

While no one can, in my eyes, formualte an argument that is sound, that would say that the pros are not the best players in the usa hockey system. i personally would like to see the USOC and US Hockey make the return to show casing the best amature athletes that USA hockey has to offer.
The selection is set to come out if its not out already, they will throw together an NHL alstar team and go play hockey. i would just rather see a bunch of nobodys who I think would try harder, and have more opurtunity to train as a team give it a go. Now if the pros would give up a better part of a year to get ready I could see that, but lets face it, that is alot of lost money for those guys, so why not go back and try for another miracle, and showcase the best Amatures we have.

[pdt1081]

While no one can, in my eyes, formualte an argument that is sound, that would say that the pros are not the best players in the usa hockey system. i personally would like to see the USOC and US Hockey make the return to show casing the best amature athletes that USA hockey has to offer.
The selection is set to come out if its not out already, they will throw together an NHL alstar team and go play hockey. i would just rather see a bunch of nobodys who I think would try harder, and have more opurtunity to train as a team give it a go. Now if the pros would give up a better part of a year to get ready I could see that, but lets face it, that is alot of lost money for those guys, so why not go back and try for another miracle, and showcase the best Amatures we have.

I agree. Using professionals just takes away from the purity of the sport. There really is no time to prepare for the games and make the unit a TEAM anymore. Yes, the action is fun to watch sometimes. Other times, it's so sloppy that it actually hurts to watch. You can put all the talent in the world on the ice at one time, but unless they know how to play together, you won't see a very good game.

[Falcons4Life]

A) Hoping for another Miracle is ridiculous...I am sick of people comparing other events to the miracle.....Nothing will ever come close....unless you are puerto rico and your basketball team beat the US in the 2004 Olympics.....that would come close!

B) Whether you choose to beleive it or not, the pros are pros for a reason....if you put our amateurs out there with these other countries Pros, you might as well go play yourself!

c) You can be for darn sure that the other countries would never agree to all Ams. cause they all have pro leagues where their future NHL stars play. They dont have a 'college' league or anything similar....it would be shot down like an ugly kid at a beauty pagaent!

[MACMAN]

Your right there most likely will never be another miralce...esp as long as we play nhl players.
NHL players are NHL players your right about that as well.
As for other nations playing AM's who cares what they do, we should showcase our amatures.

[Dayons_Den]

I like the idea of collegians in the basketball olympics as well. We created the dream team ibecause the collegians lost in 1988 and the AMericans didn't want to be shown up so we had to avert our power and show our NBA players are the world's best (no sh!t , sherlock)

I think that sort of carried over to hockey with the mantra "the russians have used pro players for years" not to mention the olympic people saw money in marketing NHL stars.

I agree with what has been said about nobodies trying harder and truly representing their country.

Besides, the amatuers are easier on the hotel rooms.

[Freddie]

Besides, the amatuers are easier on the hotel rooms.

"I live in hotels, tear out the walls.
I have accountants pay for it all."

- Joe Walsh
"Life's Been Good" (1978)

Yes, I know this has nothing to do with the subject at hand, but this CD is playing on my computer right now as I'm reading this, and I couldn't resist.

[MACMAN]

I like the idea of collegians in the basketball olympics as well. We created the dream team ibecause the collegians lost in 1988 and the AMericans didn't want to be shown up so we had to avert our power and show our NBA players are the world's best (no sh!t , sherlock)

I think that sort of carried over to hockey with the mantra "the russians have used pro players for years" not to mention the olympic people saw money in marketing NHL stars.

I agree with what has been said about nobodies trying harder and truly representing their country.

Besides, the amatuers are easier on the hotel rooms.

One example is Eddie the Eagle...A terrible ski jumper, but he was trying to compete for GB. I respect that.
Now as for hockey, i wonder about two ideas.
one what if we had a true national team, a team that was built and played together from the end of one Olympics through their competition in the next and then a new team created. this is similiar to what the russians and chezks had.
Two why not just take a pro team in whole as our olymipic team coach and all...except for the international players of course. this way you have men who are playing in a system together playing in the olympics. that is far better than the hodge podge they do now, but still not as good as show casing our AM's

[Falcons4Life]

Look at any NHL roster and take away the Internationals, and see whats left....three decent players and a water boy!