Give the Canadian Women a break

It's a double standard. The media backlash that has chased Canada's Womens Hockey team after their post gold medal, on-ice celebration is overblown and unnecessary.

The Team Canada women were seen on-ice drinking beer and smoking cigars following their Gold Medal 2-0 victory over the USA. Yes, the women should have kept their celebrations in the dressing room, but nothing they did was outrageous.

Look at every single Stanley Cup celebration. The boys are seen smoking cigars, drinking beer and champagne, and partying like there is no tomorrow. The same goes for any major sport. And if we want to debate the moral actions of the Olympic athletes partying in the Olympic Village, we can. The Olympic Village is known for sex, drugs, and alcohol.

What these Canadian women did was harmless. They did not hurt anyone, they did not do this for the media, they did not damage the image of the Olympic Games. Led by Haley Irwin, Meghan Agosta, and others, the Canadians were having innocent fun.

All they did was celebrate a hard fought victory. They celebrated committment, effort, dedication, and the realization of a dream. Beer and cigars? That doesn't seem outrageous.

In fact, watching the girls on ice together, looking at the pictures, the comradery and togetherness of the Canadian team is apparent and refreshing. Nothing they did was illegal. Think of it this way, only hours before, children were exposed to drunken debauchery and foul language of innebriated Canadian and American fans in the stands. These women played the game with class and deserve their moment to celebrate.

Team Canada was celebrating in front of an empty arena. No fans or children remained and only a small handful of media were present. The media needs to give these girls a break. If this were a party following the men's final, it would be accepted and likely praised.

Way to go Canada, you deserved every moment of your celebration.

Let the games begin.

Follow Instant Replay on Twitter

Canada gives up on Olympic athletes

Millions and millions of dollars have been sunk into numberous Canadian athletic programs in the past years in order to help Canada make it to the podium in the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.

At Vancouer 2010, Canada is a favorite to lead the medal count, but this will not be the case during the next Olympic Games.

Only days before the Olympic Games in Vancouver commence, Canadian Sport officials have told 37 of their top athletic trainers, strength coaches, physicians, and nutritionists, that they will be out of a job as of April 1.

Well, after years of gains in the international sporting world, I guess the 2010 Olympic Games are a one stop chance for Canadian athletes to succeed before the money disappears.

It appears Canadian officials were out for public success at the games, and didn't care about Canadian athletes after all.

Since 2005, the Canadian Olympic program pegged "Own the Podium," has provided athletes with more than $110 million worth of financial support.

I guess officials refused to not win a gold medal on home soil for the third consecutive time, after serving as the only country never to win a gold on their home soil for years. Who cares about the next Olympic Games, or the World Championships, or any other international event right?

Let's only try when the Olympic Games are in our own country. Ridiculous. Officials need to keep the trainers, coaches, and support staff in place. Without funding for these personel, most athletes, who survive off tiny sponsorships, would not be able to utilize these training services.

Go for gold Canada, and Canadians better dominate the podium this year. After all, coming April 1, Canadian athletes will lose the support and coaching that has made them successful in recent years. If you're a Canadian athlete, you should start praying for another Olympic Games on Canadian soil in the near future. Or you should start writing your Member of Parliament angry letters, whatever works best for you.

Let the games begin.

Follow Instant Replay on Twitter

Matt Mapletoft wins National Championship

ryanstewartphoto.com

When you're from a small town, it's not often that athletes go on to greatness or to shine on a National scale. For Matt Mapletoft, however, that is just what he did.

The 20-year-old Wallaceburg, Ontario native recently won the Canadian National Junior Curling Championships as a member of team Ontario. Before you go huffing and puffing that it's "only" curling, just step out on the ice and try it. The sport is difficult.

It is no fluke that Mapletoft has carried each and every team he's participated on to greatness. While in high school, his team won an OFSAA silver medal. As he moved on to curl at the university level with Wilfred Laurier in Waterloo, Ontario, he helped his team win an OUA and National Championship.

Now, after winning the National Junior Championships as lead for Team Ontario, Mapletoft has one larger goal ahead...a World Junior Championship as the lead for Team Canada.

If history serves itself, Mapletoft's chances of gold in Switzerland this March are extremely good. This 20-year-old has all the skills necessary to help his team win gold. Mapletoft, however, hasn't let this all go to his head. After asking Matt about his win, lifetime highlights, and the other obligatory sports questions, I asked Matt if he had anything else to add.

Instead of boasting, or talking about his achievements, he ranted and raved about his community, and his hometown curling club. I guess that is what makes him such an excellent curler, a level head, and an ability to see the bigger picture, even when he is surrounded by excitement.

Watch this blog and the Chatham-Kent Daily Post for updates on Matt Mapletoft as the World Junior Championships approach.