Miracle on Ice 2010

At the start of the preliminary round men's hockey game between Team Canada and Team USA, a Canadian fan held up a sign invoking Al Michaels' famous call at the end of the USA-Russia game at Lake Placid in 1980.

He asked "Do you believe in miracles" as the team of collegiate American boys defeated the Big Red Machine.

The sign asked "Do you believe in miracles".  Just below, it answered itself with a "NO".

For me Olympic hockey has lost much of its lustre since watching that famous upset at Lake Placid.  Canada won gold at Salt Lake City and as a Canadian I was happy.  However, there is something strangely uninspiring about the best team with the best players winning the tournament.

The USA defeated Canada in that round robin game 5-3.  However that fan was still right.  This was no miracle.  A solid Team USA filled with NHL players beat a star studded Team Canada filled with ......NHL players.  The Canadians were favoured but it was no shock and no disgrace to lose to this American team.

They will play again in the Gold Medal Game on Sunday.  These are the two best teams playing for the Gold and one of them will lose to a worthy opponent.  It will be no miracle either way.

For me the great sporting moment of these Olympics was captured by Joannie Rochette.  As many already know, her mother died of a heart attack shortly after arriving in Vancouver to watch her daughter skate in the Olympics.

A very emotional Rochette skated on and was third after the short program. She burst into tears at the end of her program undoubtedly thinking of her mother.  After the long program she did not move up but she skated well and captured the Bronze medal.

Joannie Rochette's bronze medal was the miracle on ice this time.  Watching her family and friends bursting with tears of pride as she stood on the podium it was clear that the colour of the medal did not matter.  In fact, I'm sure they would have been just as proud had she not won a medal at all.

A team of millionaire professional Canadian hockey players will win either a silver or gold on Sunday.  Our nation will weep if they fail to win gold and thump our collective chests if should succeed.

In a sporting sense, none of that will matter more than Joannie Rochette who reminded us that it's not whether you win or lose......it's how you play the game.  She won simply by playing on.

Bravo Joannie!!!