"Only gold matters"?

[10coach*]

So let me get this straight. You get selected to represent your country. You travel halfway around the world for the opportunity to do something 99.9 percent of people never have a shot at doing. You get a chance to win a medal. So you lay an egg and don't try because it's not a gold one? Give me a damn break. If they really did have that attitude then they are a disgraceful group. But I think they did try and got their ***** handed to them by a better team with a better coach.

I don't think anyone is saying that?

 

[Johnny B Good]

Some people don't mind being in third place. Then there are winners.

Personally, I like being a winner and not enjoying a loser medal. But to each their own.

And just because the media counts all medals, doesn't mean people like winning Bronze or that it makes it ok.

You've seen a lot of American Olympians this year be extremely pissed about winning silver.

It was gold or bust for this hockey team. I barely watched the game today. Who cares about Bronze.

In the heat of the moment, you will always be pissed or dissapointed that you were 1 inch away from gold..Later on they are probably gonna appriciate and have very good memories about the silver/bronze they got. Getting a bronze in the Olympics is not a common thing. Earning a medal in the Olympics is a great achievment.

 

[FanHabtic*]

We have, 1996 World Cup.

That is almost 20 years ago!! Back then Canada had the fastest sprinter in the world.

 

[Nexus]

Why are so many Americans pissed over losing a mere bronze game? Why did you watch it in the first place if nobody gives a damn about bronze?

 

[samuraifailure]

I don't think anyone is saying that?

You of all people should know that several persons in these forums have sayed that, as you keep quoting them in every thread. "Sarcasm?" etc.

It must be tough trying to be proud of your team today.

 

[FanHabtic*]

Its like Canada having a gold or bust mentality in soccer.

 

[Chara-3]

Some people don't mind being in third place. Then there are winners.

Obviously if you number one (CAN) or number two (USA) contender, than anything below gold is a fail.

I am sure Latvia or Swiss wouldn't mind finishing 3rd.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

That is almost 20 years ago!! Back then Canada had the fastest sprinter in the world.

So?
Has Finland won a best on best, ever?

Nobody remembers who finished 3rd.

 

[Plural]

Fan's caring about the bronze is a different thing.

But I assure you that professional athlete cares about winning even if it is a meaningless game with your local pub-friends. You don't become one of the best players in any sport without having a desire to win.

 

[samuraifailure]

So?
Has Finland won a best on best, ever?

Nobody remembers who finished 3rd.

Pretty much every person in these boards probably knows 3rd place finishers in best-on-best Olympics.

 

[Tomas W]

Only Gold matters in every sport. There is 1 winner and the rest are losers.

Nobody cares about who the runner up for the Stanley Cup is. As a Canadian I don't blame the USA players for not giving a **** about a 3rd place game. I wouldn't either.

When I at this site it seems very important to have a high rank. Well as it is we can rank USA 4th best hockey nation in the world. Feels good for USA?

 

[MikeK]

I thought the USA hockey team quit. I don't care what anybody says about the matter. They flat out didn't give a crap about the bronze and barely showed up to play in the game. They were nowhere near the team they were 2 days ago. It was a disgraceful effort and the reason they rarely ever medal on the international stage.

 

[FanHabtic*]

So?
Has Finland won a best on best, ever?

Nobody remembers who finished 3rd.

No they haven't (although they have won the WHC's). But Finland doesn't have a gold or bust mentality. They play their heart out in every game.

 

[Harvest]

Some people don't mind being in third place. Then there are winners.

Personally, I like being a winner and not enjoying a loser medal. But to each their own.

And just because the media counts all medals, doesn't mean people like winning Bronze or that it makes it ok.

You've seen a lot of American Olympians this year be extremely pissed about winning silver.

It was gold or bust for this hockey team. I barely watched the game today. Who cares about Bronze.

Yeah, if we are talking about some street hockey, or how many times you have been playing in Olympics?

 

[Flyrs21]

I think its arrogant fir the US to have a gold or bust mentality. Win one in a best on best then you've earned the right.

It's not arrogance, why should anyone be happy coming in 2nd or 3rd in a 12 team tournament. You lost.

Oh we won a silver....you lost.....oh we a bronze....you lost. We just lost the Stanley Cup but we came in second place ......woo hoo!!!!!!

What are we in kindergarten where everyone gets a star because you did your homework or t-ball where every game ends in a tie because we can't have a loser because it will hurt someone's feelings.

But to not show up for a hockey game that " didn't matter" is disgraceful. You try to win every game you play

 

[bareza]

So?
Has Finland won a best on best, ever?

Nobody remembers who finished 3rd.

And nobody remembers who finished second 2 times by your mentally

 

[DaveG]

Anything other than gold is a failure for the USA. Silver and bronze medals are nothing other than dubious honors. American sports culture does not allow celebration for anything other than first.

As the great Athletic Legend/Philosopher Richard Robert once said:

If perchance you do not win, henceforth you may as well have been last.


or in laymans terms: "If you ain't first, you're last"

 

[jonlin]

Funny that a mediocre team like USA could have a mentality of "gold or bust"! 2 medals the last 30 years in olympics and none of them gold... In the same time Finland has 6 medals. It`s like Brasil winning bronze in world cup(soccer) and Iceland coming 4th, claiming "gold or nothing"!

 

[pepty]

Some people don't mind being in third place. Then there are winners.

Personally, I like being a winner and not enjoying a loser medal. But to each their own.

And just because the media counts all medals, doesn't mean people like winning Bronze or that it makes it ok.

You've seen a lot of American Olympians this year be extremely pissed about winning silver.

It was gold or bust for this hockey team. I barely watched the game today. Who cares about Bronze.

Now is that a winners mentality or a sore losers mentality?

 

[Mass]

Funny that a mediocre team like USA could have a mentality of "gold or bust"! 2 medals the last 30 years in olympics and none of them gold... In the same time Finland has 6 medals. It`s like Brasil winning bronze in world cup(soccer) and Iceland coming 4th, claiming "gold or nothing"!

mediocre? What a terrible argument, tell me, what exactly does the past thirty years have to do with this years team?

 

[MessierII]

Such a loser mentality. Take a lesson from the Finns and have some pride.

 

[jonlin]

Some people don't mind being in third place. Then there are winners.

Personally, I like being a winner and not enjoying a loser medal. But to each their own.

And just because the media counts all medals, doesn't mean people like winning Bronze or that it makes it ok.

You've seen a lot of American Olympians this year be extremely pissed about winning silver.

It was gold or bust for this hockey team. I barely watched the game today. Who cares about Bronze.

I bet the US-team loves 4th place over medals! All the relatives at home are proud over them "giving up" the bronze-medal game! Looser.

 

[jonlin]

mediocre? What a terrible argument, tell me, what exactly does the past thirty years have to do with this years team?

They lost?

 

[svartgul]

It's a prety good excuse for when your lose and that's all it is.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Funny that a mediocre team like USA could have a mentality of "gold or bust"! 2 medals the last 30 years in olympics and none of them gold... In the same time Finland has 6 medals. It`s like Brasil winning bronze in world cup(soccer) and Iceland coming 4th, claiming "gold or nothing"!

Is there a link to the US coach and players saying this that I somehow missed?


Or is it just people making things up to bash the US team?