Team USA Beats Canada: A Great Olympic Moment

Musings from Sunday's scintillating hockey battle between the United States and Canada, won by the U.S.:

---I am not a loyal follower of the NHL, but I absolutely love Olympic hockey. For my money, it is the most exciting Olympic sport. The United States' thrilling upset of host Canada on Sunday served as a reminder of why I adore Olympic hockey so much.

---While yesterday's game came nowhere close to approaching the historic magnitude of the Miracle on Ice thirty years ago, it was still a shining moment for our country, the most memorable moment of the Olympics thus far. And most importantly, the victory for the U.S. showed that Team USA should be taken seriously as a gold medal contender in hockey at these Games.

---Both Team USA and Team Canada are flush with NHL stars, but make no mistake: This was a big upset. Hockey is Canada's national past time. Nothing means more to Canadiens during these Vancouver Olympics than winning the gold in hockey. And up until yesterday, Team Canada was considered the clear-cut favorite to win the gold. After all, Team Canada has a loaded roster that includes Sid "The Kid" Crosby and Joe Thornton, and they have a rabid fan base rooting for them every night. According to popular belief, Team USA had no business walking away with a win.

---The unquestionable MVP yesterday for Team USA was Ryan Miller. Miller's goalie work was beyond extraordinary. Much of the third period was played in front of our net, as Canada continually threatened to score. But Miller smothered practically every cup that came his way. It was a truly spectacular performance by Miller, a performance that conjured memories of the great Jim Craig.

---On the flipside, Canada's goalie, the legendary Martin Brodeur, is under fire for his underwhelming performance. There is talk that Team Canada is considering replacing Brodeur, but that would be an epically stupid decision. Brodeur is one of the greatest to ever skate the ice. Who are you going to find that's better?

---Rumor has it that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is complaining that his league gets no benefits from the Olympics, and that there may be no more Olympic hockey after these games. If this comes to fruition, it would be a tragic shame. Let's hope Bettman comes to his senses and realizes that the Winter Olympics brings the sport of hockey international attention, something that can only be good for the NHL.

---Anyone who watched yesterday's hockey game and still insists that the Olympics are no big deal is clinically insane. As yesterday shows, the Olympics are a symbol of exhilarating athleticism and national pride. It's hard to find anything better than that.