Getting ready for a game

Last night, I was perusing YouTube, and stumbled upon a couple of clips that should get anyone amped up about the United States’ hockey team’s success in the Olympics thus far and their semifinal game today against Finland.

Great movie. Great scenes.

Ok, so if the Americans won the gold medal this year — which would probably involve beating Canada once again — it’s no miracle. But doesn’t the movie Miracle just get you pumped up about the semifinals and the finals?

For this year’s American team, the formula is great goaltending, along with the size and speed to match up with any other team in the tournament.

Ryan Miller has been stellar, which, coming into the tournament, was thought had to be the case if the Americans medaled. Team USA’s size and speed actually matched up extremely well in the tournament, and was especially evident against Team Canada as the Americans didn’t give anything away in terms of the ability to skate and hit with the uber-talented Canadians.

Throw in the talent that the Americans possess (all NHL players on the team) along with the balance, character, and chemistry of the team, and you have a 4-0 squad making a gold medal push.

I haven’t seen much of their next opponent, Finland, but if the Americans use the size, speed, talent and character that they’ve shown in their past four games, one has to like the odds of moving onto the gold medal game.

I’m just wondering why a semifinal game is being played at noon local time in Vancouver. Aren’t big games supposed to be played, so, like, people can watch?

A 4 p.m. local start time for the American game, followed by an 8 p.m. local start time for the Canadian semifinal seems logical to me. That way, you get the American game at 7 p.m. Eastern time, and many more people can watch the game and ratings would increase. And those in Vancouver would get the Canadian game in prime-time.

Me and silly common sense.

The only thing that would derail this plan is that NBC would rather televise ridiculous ice dancing at 7 p.m. Eastern time than an actual sport, so hockey would be relegated to a channel with no HD.

Yes, I’m still bitter.

I’ll take the Americans, 3-2, over Finland, and I’ll take the Canadians, 5-2, over the Slovaks, setting up a rematch for the ages on Sunday night.