Lou Marsh goes to a Bobsledder Skater?!?

[Boges]

So you are suggesting awards should be made according to the popularity of the sport rather than the achievement of its athletes?

In some ways, yes. In this instance we're comparing a sports that's only been around four 4 Olympics.

This award has done it before. I mentioned 2012's winner earlier. Olympic success is usually fodder for the LMA but I think what Bouchard did this year was remarkable.

[Wilber]

In some ways, yes. In this instance we're comparing a sports that's only been around four 4 Olympics.

This award has done it before. I mentioned 2012's winner earlier. Olympic success is usually fodder for the LMA but I think what Bouchard did this year was remarkable.

Bobsled has been around for a lot more than four Olympics. Tennis didn't get back into the Olympics until 1988. Bouchard has done very well but I guess the committee decided back to back Olympic gold trumped getting blown out in a Wimbledon final. Makes sense to me.

[Boges]

Bobsled has been around for a lot more than four Olympics. Tennis didn't get back into the Olympics until 1988. Bouchard has done very well but I guess the committee decided back to back Olympic gold trumped getting blown out in a Wimbledon final. Makes sense to me.

Women's Bobsled has only been in four Olympics.

Tennis is one of those sports where the Olympics don't matter too much. Sort of like Men's soccer. It's a sport that has international profile outside of the Olympics. Bobsled does not.

Again Christine Sinclare won a LM because of her success in the Olympics in a sport Canada has never been all that successful in, she never even won Gold. Why not give it to the one Canadian that did win a Gold in that Olympics? Oh because it was won in the historically relevant sports of . . . . . . Trampoline.

My position is that the sample size of Women's Bobsled is too small to really appreciate what Humphries has done.

Edited December 12, 2014 by Boges

[Wilber]

Bobsled does have a profile outside the Olympics. There is a world championship race series every year just like ski racing. Personally I like the idea that one doesn't have to compete in a big buck pro sport to win one of these things.

[Boges]

Bobsled does have a profile outside the Olympics. There is a world championship race series every year just like ski racing. Personally I like the idea that one doesn't have to compete in a big buck pro sport to win one of these things.

In many Olympic years people who don't participate in "big buck" sports do win (Silken Lauman, Cindy Klassen, Merrian Beard). But when a Canadian does something no Canadian has ever done in a legit "big buck" sport I'd argue that's more of an accomplishment.

All Olympic sports have World Championships and a World Cup circuit. Those are prerequisites of being allowed in the Olympics in the first place. But for many sports, an athlete only gets any publicity for winning in the Olympics.

[Wilber]

In many Olympic years people who don't participate in "big buck" sports do win (Silken Lauman, Cindy Klassen, Merrian Beard). But when a Canadian does something no Canadian has ever done in a legit "big buck" sport I'd argue that's more of an accomplishment.

All Olympic sports have World Championships and a World Cup circuit. Those are prerequisites of being allowed in the Olympics in the first place. But for many sports, an athlete only gets any publicity for winning in the Olympics.

Big bucks shouldn't be part of the criteria and I am glad it is not.

I'm also glad that ignorance of a sport is also not a criteria. Because it is not big buck and your knowledge of it is minimal, doesn't make the accomplishments of those who practice it any less.

Bouchard gets paid a lot of money to do what she does, Sinclair may well go into debt. Who's is the greater accomplishment?

[Boges]

Bouchard gets paid a lot of money to do what she does, Sinclair may well go into debt. Who's is the greater accomplishment?

Depends on the level of competition in the sport worldwide.

Being a World Class Soccer player is far more impressive than being a world class hockey player.

[Boges]

Another thing that bugs me about this selection is that she won as part as a team. The fact that she can compete in men's Bobsled now only proves that a good chunk of an athletes success of the sport is the person that helps push you down the hill. Heather Moyse is partially responsible for this Gold Medal too.

[Wilber]

Another thing that bugs me about this selection is that she won as part as a team. The fact that she can compete in men's Bobsled now only proves that a good chunk of an athletes success of the sport is the person that helps push you down the hill. Heather Moyse is partially responsible for this Gold Medal too.

So now members of teams aren't eligible for the award either. There will be a lot of hockey players who won't be happy about that. Also people like Steve Nash and Larry Walker.

[Wilber]

Being a World Class Soccer player is far more impressive than being a world class hockey player.

Not in this country.

[Boges]

Not in this country.

How often do hockey players win?

[Wilber]

How often do hockey players win?

I counted twelve since the Rocket won it in 57, including Gretzky four times and Crosby twice.

[WestCoastRunner]

How often do hockey players win?

Have a look at the women's hockey team performance in the olympics. They provided great incentive for the men.

[WestCoastRunner]

Remember when the women's gold medal winning team in Vancouver 2010 got chastised from every media except Canada's media for smoking cigars on the ice. Hell yes, they know how to celebrate.

[overthere]

Remember when the women's gold medal winning team in Vancouver 2010 got chastised from every media except Canada's media for smoking cigars on the ice. Hell yes, they know how to celebrate.

Yes they know how to celebrate and no they were not chastised.

It was not an incident at all, just a few of them extending the party onto the rink after nearly everybody had gone home. It was no biggie.

They provided great incentive for the men.

The men appeared pretty incentivized before the womens win, they were undefeated and looked unbeatable. And in the end, they were both with perhaps the most dominant team in several decades.

I would say they were proud of the womens mighty comeback win and encouraged.

[WestCoastRunner]

Yes they know how to celebrate and no they were not chastised.

Really? I watched the game and I distinctly remember the fallout. After all, I live in BC. and I was in Vancouver at the time of the olympics.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1253923/Guzzling-champagne-swigging-beer-puffing-cigars--Canadian-womens-ice-hockey-team-celebrated-winning-gold.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/winter-olympics/7326057/Canadian-womens-ice-hockey-team-apologise-for-beer-and-cigars-on-ice.html

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/288154

http://www.canada.com/sports/Canadian+women+apologize+antics+after+winning+gold/2618299/story.html

And if anyone wants to relive that moment, here you go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toieStGHtfI

[Wilber]

I thought it was pretty neat. So typically Canadian.

[WestCoastRunner]

I thought it was pretty neat. So typically Canadian.

Those 2 hockey games will be right up there with memories to hang on to.

[The_Squid]

The Lou Marsh award is largely irrelevant to most Canadians, including sports fans.

[Wilber]

The Lou Marsh award is largely irrelevant to most Canadians, including sports fans.

Really, the only important thing is what it means to the athletes themselves and that I couldn't say.

[The_Squid]

Really, the only important thing is what it means to the athletes themselves and that I couldn't say.

that's true.... I'm sure it's an honour..,

But if you look at who votes on it, it's a few Toronto media outlets, and that's about it. Not representative of the country at all, even though it's made out to be a national award.

[Wilber]

that's true.... I'm sure it's an honour..,

But if you look at who votes on it, it's a few Toronto media outlets, and that's about it. Not representative of the country at all, even though it's made out to be a national award.

I agree, the panel hardy represents a cross section of the country.

[guyser]

I agree, the panel hardy represents a cross section of the country.

Do you or the Squid know the names of the people on the committee?

[The_Squid]

Do you or the Squid know the names of the people on the committee?

From wiki:

....representatives from the Toronto Star, the Canadian Press, FAN590, the Globe and Mail, CBC, Rogers Sportsnet, CTV/TSN, La Presse and the National Post.

[guyser]

From wiki:

In other words, No you dont but can make the case without knowing?

I do wonder how that works.