Own The Podium ? Groan

Let me start by saying I hope I am wrong. I hope I am dead wrong. I took some heat a few days ago when I suggested in an article that Canada was really putting pressure on itself and a target on it's back with it's slogan "Own the Podium".
The British media, in particular, was all over that one with it's complaints of poor sportsmanship and accusing Canada of a "non Olympic spirit"
I said at the time the Brits didn't have to worry about that. Canada could end up making their own slogan look bad by simply not delivering. So here we are at the half way point of the Olympics and Canada has eight medals. Four years ago at the half way point of the 2006 Olympics Canada had eleven medals. The United States leads the way in 2010 with 20 medals or a pretty substantial 12 medal lead and Canada is not even in second place. We are fourth in the medal standings and not exactly "owning the podium". Even to a Brit, it would appear pretty obvious that it is the Americans who are "owning the podium" and not the Canadians. By the way it's not the Brits either. They sit with one medal so perhaps instead of so carefully scrutinizing and disecting the Canadians, the British need to look at what is happening with their own athletes.
So what has gone wrong for Canada ? Or has anything ? There still is a long ways to go but Canada has missed on some pretty good chances to claim more medals.
It seems no matter how much money Government's and sports bodies pour into improving out athletes, and I am all for funding, it comes down to one thing. Heart. No matter how well trained you are, no matter how much funding you have been given it comes down to desire, translated heart.
Look at our gold medal winners. Most recently Jon Montgomery in skeleton. You could just see the fire in this guy's eyes. He was not going to be denied.
Funding won't buy that. It comes from inside. Likewise Alex Bilodeau and Maelle Ricker and Kristine Nesbitt. Heart. How else do you explain Switzerland forcing Canada into a game that ends only in a 3 - 2 shootout victory for Canada. Does anyone seriously think the Swiss team is on a par with the Canadians. But they played with heart, none bigger than Jonas Hiller, the Swiss goaltender who did everything but stop Sydney Crosby in the shootout.
There is still lots of time for Canada to improve on their medal count and there is nothing wrong with what they have accomplished thus far. But Own The Podium. Relax British media, calm down offended Aussies - if our slogan "Own The Podium" is the embarrassment you claim it is, well it may end up with Canada embarrassing ourselves and then Dear British media, when you host the Olympics in two years, we will carefully scrutinize everything that you do.

The Olympics

Hard to believe that I haven't posted anything on here since the storm of January 26th. I really wish this city would invest in some snow ploughs. I mean thats a long time to be snowed in. Just kidding. The storm was a bit over played. I mean I have seen worse but snow removal in this city is slow going.
The Olympics are on. Like most everyone else, I am enjoying all of it but really looking forward to the mens hockey. For many of the European players, including those who play in the NHL, winning an Olympic gold is bigger than the Stanley Cup. I think Canadian and American players are just starting to realize that now. The dream of almost every Canadian boy is to win a Stanley Cup. The dream of most European players is to win Olympic gold.
Canada should be in the medal hunt this time around but I am not sure about gold. They certainly have the ability to win the gold but so do about five other teams. I am looking for a Canada - Russia final. With Ovechkin and Malkin and a few others, their power play should be something. I think they are really weak on defense with only three really known defencemen.
If you recall Vladislav Tretiak that doesn't mean much though. No-one had heard of him in the great Canada Russia series and he was only one of the best goaltenders in the world.
Sweden also has a great team and could push Canada down to a bronze and when you look at the Americans and Finland's roster you can't count them out either although Finland has been diluted quite a bit.
Should be exciting. Would love to have tickets for the final rounds. I really enjoyed the World Juniors in Saskatoon and this would just be so much better.
And last night it was exciting to see Canada finally get that gold medal on home soil. Kind of sad this morning to wake up and see the Australians are accusing Canada of cheating and saying their guy won the gold but thats the way it goes. So much for sportsman ship but I am always reminded of this:

An Englishman wanted to become an Irishman, so he visited a doctor to find out how to go about this. "Well" said the doctor, "this is a very delicate operation and there is a lot that can go wrong. I will have to remove half your brain". "That's OK" said the Englishman. "I've always wanted to be Irish and I'm prepared to take the risk".
The operation went ahead but the Englishman woke to find a look of horror on the face of the doctor. "I'm so terribly sorry!!" the doctor said. "Instead of removing half the brain, I've taken the whole brain out". The patient replied, "No worries, mate!!"