sport in crisis

It was a rematch of the 2006 Gold Medal game, Canada versus Sweden, two proud nations, both undefeated in their bracket, looking for a top seeding in the medal round. It was brutal. Sweden's Kim Martin, one of the sports most talented goalie's and whose sunny disposition makes her the most popular, was bludgeoned for 10 goals before being replaced. It was way past Globetrotters versus Washington wizards, it was much more like Christians and Lions. Canada's coach Melody Davidson described her forwards as "hungry". They swarmed the Sweden net like angry mad dogs, ravenous in their pursuit of goals, and the Swedes acted like, well, Swedes, a tad too mellow for the assault that resulted in a 5-goal first period and a SEVEN goal second. Waiting out a 15 minute intermission in a 12-0 game between two undefeated teams got the writers typing early editorial copy, none of it good for the sport.

In the press conference after the game, both coaches tried to defend their sport, but Canada's paper of record sliced them both up. "How long can this be considered an Olympic sport?" was the prevailing question. Sweden's Peter Elander suggested that the IIHF or the IOC start funding the world's national governing bodies so that more teams can centralize than USA and Canada. Fat chance. Melody Davidson reminded the press that Canada's men's team smoked Norway 8-0, and where were the critics? It didn't stand up.

the most poignant remark was from Davidson, saying that her girls in the dressing room were "conflicted". They knew that running up the score was bad for the sport, but they also were driven athletes that weren't about to take the pedal off the medal because of their drive to win gold. Athletes first, ambassadors second. 12 spectacular forwards, all deserving of power play minutes, all in supreme physical shape, all passionately driven for a golden rout of every opponent, all terrified that the U.S. will mark them "Losers" in the hockey history books. (I suspect those books sell best in Canada). So this team of well-rounded best and brightest, two wonderful moms and bushels of graduate degrees,whose Captain who proudly read the athlete's oath at the opening ceremonies, is jeopardizing their sport's Olympic future with every blowout. that is why they are conflicted. and rightfully so.

Solution: keep 8 teams. Top two go into a special bracket. round robin divisions are now 3 teams instead of 4, and they all play 2 games to find a single team to advance. Two advancing teams play off to yield one "Sub-Champ." Meanwhile, the super teams (USA and Canada for time being) play a best of three to determine who gets a bye. Loser of the best of three must face the winner of the sub pool. That winner faces the team with the Bye for the Gold Medal.

Nations will play nearly identical amount of games as they currently do, with no ugly blowouts other than one game between sub champs and elite two.

Readers, feel free to offer a better solution. In the meantime I'll be pitching this to Jen at the IIHF.