By Tim Clark / / Column, Tim's Two Cents
Two

Once you get passed junior high, winning is the most important part of sports. Sometimes we lose sight of that fact for various reasons. Maybe it is seeing the ridiculous money many athletes make. We think winning becomes an afterthought to making piles and piles of money. Occasionally you hear players say they love playing for a coach despite that coach not winning. Other times it is just the occasional lackadaisical attitude of some athletes.

If you want affirmation that winning is indeed the goal of sports then you should have watched the Olympics. Seeing the unbridled joy of the American ice hockey team when they won the gold medal was all the proof you need. A bunch of multimillion dollar players, many who are enemies during the NHL season, showing pure jubilation as the winning goal hit the back of the Canadian net.

I am not a fan of sending professional players to the Olympics. The Olympics were designed with amateurs in mind. Then again, what really is amateurism these days?

The NHL players’ passion for playing for their respective countries is off the charts. Competing at the Olympics is one thing. It is fun participating in all of the ceremonial hoopla that goes with this once every four years event. But winning and getting that gold medal placed around your neck and then hearing your country’s national anthem is goosebumps worthy stuff, for athletes and fans alike.

The United States hadn’t heard the Star Spangled Banner at the end of the Olympic hockey tournament in 46 years. That goes back to the Miracle on Ice team that shocked the world. That ended Sunday when Jack Hughes, playing with two less teeth in the front of his mouth, slammed an overtime goal into the back of the net. It was improbable considering how the game was played. The Americans goalie, Conner Hellabuck, turned away shot after shot after shot after shot. The Canadians peppered him for three periods. He got his team to overtime, and Graves took care of business in the three on three.

Canadian fans complained about the Olympic tournament ending with a contrived three on three. I personally love three on three overtime play. It forces skill to determine the outcome. The rules were the same for everyone.

Ultimately, the only thing that matters is the final score.

USA 2 Canada 1.

Even though I don’t like the pros competing in the Olympics, it reconfirmed one thing. Everyone wants to play for their country. Listen to NBA players when talking about making the Olympic team. In golf the Ryder Cup is the ultimate competition because you play for your country. Look no further than how Sidney Crosby did everything in his power to come back from injury to play for Canada on Sunday.

In America we have become so divided due to a broken political system. The Olympics provide a chance for everyone to come together. Nobody cares if you are a Democrat or Republican. Nobody cares if you are black or white, male or female, Catholic or Protestant.

Sports tend to do that.

Penguins hate Flyers. Pirates hate Phillies. Steelers hate Ravens.

 However, when it comes to the Olympics it is us against the world. That’s the way hockey was in the Olympics. It may force fans to cheer for players they typically would boo. Tomorrow these guys will go back to trying to check one another through the boards. During this two week period they were teammates. Americans. Red, white, and blue.

For the Americans there was also the extra motivation of wanting to show how far American hockey has grown. They have been trying to prove that American hockey is no longer lurking in the shadows and can compete with anyone on the grand stage.

They proved just that.

Then they celebrated.

Winning for country takes it to a whole new level. If you had any doubt about that go back and look at video of the Americans getting their gold medals and listening to the National Anthem. Then look at the devastated faces of the Canadians as they received their silver medals.

I’ll discuss the antics in the locker room with the FBI Director on my Musings podcast this week. For now I want to focus on winning. Winning for yourself and your country.

This win proved that winning is still the most important thing in sports. We saw it with Sam Darnold and the Seahawks a few weeks ago. We will see it again in five weeks when college basketball crowns a national champ.

Again, against my opinion, baseball will soon play the World Baseball Classic. A tournament that allows baseball players to represent their country. Much like the hockey players, baseball players desperately want to play in this event.

Winning is always important in sports, but sometimes we lose sight of that. Winning never matters more than when you are playing for your country. The Olympics just drove that point home for the last two weeks.

Tweet of the Week

Give me Sean McDonough on play by play, and give me Mike Tirico for all studio pieces. Here Tirico sums up the Olympic dream perfectly. As always.

 


The Weekly Shiny Penny

Next week at this time it will be March. UCLA gave us a March Madness preview with a Tyus Edney flashback —this time starring Donovan Dent— to beat Illinois.

 


A Penny For My Final Thoughts…

Next week at this time it will be March. Madness will ensue. Here are some Final Thoughts on college hoops…

  • More games like Duke/Michigan in February please.
  • Arizona beating Houston without Koa Peat was as impressive as any win this year.
  • I am watching Kansas and Houston as I type this. Darryn Peterson is still playing in the second half. If he manages to keep playing full games, Bill Self’s bunch will be a tough out.
  • Duke is good because their stars are willing to play great defense.
  • Michigan is really good, but marginally unlikable.
  • Mick Cronin can still coach. He is just psychotic, and I am here for it.
  • Eric Mussleman’s team’s at USC can blow games late like nobody’s business. Losing to Oregon with a six point lead and just over a minute to play will most likely be the death knell for the Trojans.
  • There may not be as many upsets in the first two rounds of the tournament this year. I feel like there is a pretty big divide between the first 15-20 teams and everyone else.
  • Darius Acuff of Arkansas may be as good as any of the freshman out there. He is certainly the best pure guard.
  • Louisville’s Mikel Brown is a good pure guard as well, but he needs to get stronger and finish at the rim more consistently. He also gets loose with the ball from time to time.
  • I am not worried about UConn. Too many veterans on that roster.
  • Officials continue to do too many games. We aren’t getting their best every night because of it.
  • Court storms are fun, but not if you are going to get in the faces of the opponents. Then you get what you deserve.
  • Iowa State is NOT a one seed.
  • One early bracket reveal is the right approach, and college football should take notes.
  • Word is that Penn State will be required to finish the season.
  • Can you believe there is only one and a half more weeks until conference tourney time?
Just my two cents…