i oe By Garth McLennan, Sports Editor a women’s hockey, but I have to say, the Canadian women produced yet another classic in a thrilling gold medal game against their arch-rivals, the United States. It was another tremendous game spawned from one of the most enduring rivalries in sport. The U.S. and Canada. Canada and the U.S. When it comes to the women’s game, those are the only two teams that matter, and at every significant competition, be it the Olympics or the World Championships, it is these two teams that always meet in the gold medal game. _ So after Canada managed to hold [= not be the biggest fan of kidding me? Plus, can anyone honestly say that the same thing would have happened if that had been the men’s hockey team? Hell no. This is a double standard, plain and simple. Look at when Jim Montgomery won the skeleton gold for Canada. He guzzled back a full pitcher on camera with millions watching. Did we shout him down for that? Nope, we all laughed and said “That’a boy Jim!” So why doesn’t the same apply to our female athletes? Whenever the Stanley Cup, World Series or Superbowl it won, it is completely accepted that the winning athletes engage in the traditional celebratory drink or two. Hell, they not only do it full view of the media, “These girls just played the game of their lives, and instead of praising them for that and for bringing home gold for Canada, we give them a hard time for having some cigars and champagne? Are you kidding me?” on and down the States 2-0 at Canada Hockey Place during the twilight of the Vancouver Olympics, the team indulged in some cigars and drinks after their hard-fought victory. However, when they re-took to the ice for a group photo about a half hour after the gold medal game finished, a few unofficial pictures were snapped of the Canadians, including 18-year-old Marie-Philip Poulin, with drinks in hand. Apparantely, this has caused an uproar and goes against the “Olympic image.” What a bunch of crap. These girls just played the game of their lives, and instead of praising them for that and for bringing home gold for Canada, we give them a hard time for having some cigars and champagne? Are you 18 the reporters often join in with them! So can someone objectively explain to me why it is so different for the women? All of this is just yet another example of the PC police storming in and causing a stir where there doesn’t need to be one. Yes, Poulin was underage, I get that, but come on, the girl just won an Olympic gold medal. But, oh, I guess that she’s the only 18 year old in Canada to have had a beer. That’s what we should be focusing on, right? Not that an 18 year old just won a gold medal on the senior national team, but that she was so arrogant to think that having a beer would be okay? Give me a break, this whole thing is just ridiculous. Ice dancing Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir By Garth McLennan, Sports Editor very time the Olympics He and goes, I’m always left looking back on the Games and thinking about some of the stranger “sports” that I’ve seen in the past two weeks. One that really stood out in Vancouver this time around was ice dancing. Now, it was very nice that Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir brought home the gold for Canada, but looking at ice dancing objectively, can we honestly call it a sport? Now, there is obviously skating skill required in ice dance, and there’s no denying that much like running, skating is an athletic skill. But just any activity involving running doesn’t make it a legitimate sport, and I think that the same can be said for being able to skate. Yes, it’s difficult to be able to skate well, but just because you can doesn’t immediately qualify you as an athlete. Ice dancing, while undoubtedly difficult to perform, doesn’t have the same intensity level that something like figure skating does either. Yes, I understand that the important aspects of ice dancing are more about flow and aesthetics, but still, it just isn’t the same. On the other side of the coin though, just because something is performed at a slower pace shouldn’t mean it isn’t a sport either. There are certainly parts of ice dancing that suggest it is indeed a real sport. It’s competitive, scores are awarded, superb balance and creativity are required. You have to have exceptional timing, and obviously excellent teamwork to perform well. All of those, plus the ability to skate at the necessary level, are all athletic components that not just anyone can do. THE VERDICT: I would say that in the end, ice dancing is a sport. However, it is as borderline as you can get. There’s no contact (well, unless you fall), and it is probably among the least physically demanding sports out there. Still though, it is a sport.