[OPP]

bootlegga bootlegga:

Regina Regina:

newfette newfette:

I agree with not having NHL players play in the Olympics but for different reasons. no other sport allows professional athleats except basketball (dont agree with that either) to compete in the olympics so why should someone who gets paid MILLIONS to play a game be able to compete in amature competition.

The Russians did it for decades.

No doubt.

I don't think we need to send the NHLers to the Winter Olympics if they on the other side of the world. The only reason we went to Nagano was to pump up crowds for 2002 (Salt Lake City). Same went for Turin last year. It was a precursor to Vancouver.

You're not sending them anywhere! The individual players 'll go if they want to represent their country in the olympics. If this is a popular sentiment in north america then I'm GLAD that Russia is starting to challenge the NHL for the best league in the world.

[Regina]

An NHL player can't go if the league, NHLPA and the team don't unanimously approve it. A team and league won't let anyone go who's under contract because of possible career ending injuries. The players have little to say in the matter other than if they're allowed to go, they may consider it. Russia will never contend with a league that can rival the NHL. Money is needed and it's been proven in the past they stiff players for money owed them. Russian players have flooded the Euro leagues because they play for peanuts and not because they're better than anyone else. Even in the rich European counties, players get stiffed for their money.

[Alta_redneck]

$1:

And why on earth would a team liaison in Moscow insist on picking up McDonald’s hamburgers for a post-game meal six hours before that game ends?

One of the questions Dave King answers in his new book, King of Russia.

[newfette]

Alta_redneck Alta_redneck:

newfette newfette:

but they aren't being paid for a medal.. they are being rewarded for you're accomplishments.

being paid to play a game to me meand that game is your only profession hence making you a professional.

the Gushue rink that won gold in curling for example.. if they had gotten the 20000 for the gold is in no way the same as brier signing for 52 mil and going to the olympics.

the olympics are for amature athleats with the exception of hockey and basket ball

MLB players dont play in the olympics. so why are the other sports so damn special

Gushue rink are pros, they pay in a tour that the top rink wins close to a 1/4 million $ each year.

but they all need to have outside full time jobs in order to live.

hockey and basketball players do not

[Alta_redneck]

newfette newfette:

Alta_redneck Alta_redneck:

newfette newfette:

but they aren't being paid for a medal.. they are being rewarded for you're accomplishments.

being paid to play a game to me meand that game is your only profession hence making you a professional.

the Gushue rink that won gold in curling for example.. if they had gotten the 20000 for the gold is in no way the same as brier signing for 52 mil and going to the olympics.

the olympics are for amature athleats with the exception of hockey and basket ball

MLB players dont play in the olympics. so why are the other sports so damn special

Gushue rink are pros, they pay in a tour that the top rink wins close to a 1/4 million $ each year.

but they all need to have outside full time jobs in order to live.

hockey and basketball players do not

And the top, so called amateur athletes have corporate sponsors so they don’t have to work either. Free Style Skiers have lost their Federal funding but they seem to make to all the big meets around the world just because their wear those little patches from their sponsors.

[newfette]

Alta_redneck Alta_redneck:

newfette newfette:

Alta_redneck Alta_redneck:

newfette newfette:

but they aren't being paid for a medal.. they are being rewarded for you're accomplishments.

being paid to play a game to me meand that game is your only profession hence making you a professional.

the Gushue rink that won gold in curling for example.. if they had gotten the 20000 for the gold is in no way the same as brier signing for 52 mil and going to the olympics.

the olympics are for amature athleats with the exception of hockey and basket ball

MLB players dont play in the olympics. so why are the other sports so damn special

Gushue rink are pros, they pay in a tour that the top rink wins close to a 1/4 million $ each year.

but they all need to have outside full time jobs in order to live.

hockey and basketball players do not

And the top, so called amateur athletes have corporate sponsors so they don’t have to work either. Free Style Skiers have lost their Federal funding but they seem to make to all the big meets around the world just because their wear those little patches from their sponsors.

not all sports are like that though

[OPP]

Regina Regina:

An NHL player can't go if the league, NHLPA and the team don't unanimously approve it. A team and league won't let anyone go who's under contract because of possible career ending injuries. The players have little to say in the matter other than if they're allowed to go, they may consider it. Russia will never contend with a league that can rival the NHL. Money is needed and it's been proven in the past they stiff players for money owed them. Russian players have flooded the Euro leagues because they play for peanuts and not because they're better than anyone else. Even in the rich European counties, players get stiffed for their money.

Russia is in the fast lain. Swedish players are jumping ship and they aren't going to the NHL. They risk a lot going to north america. Ending up in an AHL team is a worse fait than ending up in a polish whorehous. The money is definately there and even if the league is a bit uneven the top teams are better in Russia than the swedish teams.