Olympic Hockey Pressure

by Erin Gee in Blog on February 23rd, 2010

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The internet has been a-Twitter since Sunday night. Once Martin Brodeur let in the second goal against Team USA, the Roberto Luongo campaign began. I believe that there was even a point where ‘Luongo’ was trending on Twitter.

The loss to the Americans created some tension in the Canadian hockey world. Hockey gold belongs to us. Yesterday we learned that Luongo would get the start tonight against the Germans. Why not? I’m not a big Luongo fan, but the guy deserves his shot.

Why am I not a Luongo fan? It actually has nothing to do with him, I can totally respect any and everything that he does. He takes accountability for his actions and realizes that he’s human. It is everyone else’s love for him that irks me. People put him on a pedestal, making him some sort of Hockey God. But he hasn’t once backed that up.

But back to the Olympics. And back to the Luongo campaign. I don’t doubt that Luongo deserves his spot, not one bit. But the campaigning? Making him out to be some sort of Savior, the chosen one who will right the wrongs of the USA game. The one, hand-picked by God himself, to lead Canada to golden glory.

It is these same people who are campaigning, that are saying that the Own the Podium program and Canadians are putting too much pressure on the athletes to perform.

Isn’t that a but hypocritical?

Imagine the pressure on Luongo tonight. The country (rather than just Vancouver) is putting their faith in him to lead Canada to gold. Don’t tell me he doesn’t know, or that it doesn’t affect him. He’s human, not a God. He will be just as, if not more nervous, than Brodeur the other night, because tonight’s game is make or break. Playing in the NHL doesn’t make him immune to pressure.

And should it happen that Canada doesn’t end up wining gold in mens’ hockey, for those of you making sure that we recognize the efforts of our athletes, not just the accolades, remember just that.

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Erin Gee

Coming from a strong sporting background, Erin Gee is one of the most competitive people you will ever meet. She can turn everything into a competition, giving her all until the she crosses the finish line. With a BA in Criminology, Erin criminological interests lie on the international level. Her other passions are fashion, softball and travel.

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http://clarkandpearle.com Pearle

To those who are putting Luongo on a pedestal, let’s put things into perspective: Brodeur fans brashly placed him on a pedestal prior to his start at the Games – those people are strangely quiet now.

Really, to laud any one player as the impending “saviour” of the team is to ignore the idea of a team to begin with. Let’s also not forget to mention the fact that, at the end of the day, a professional “I-get-paid-to-do-this-outside-of-the-Olympics” athlete probably has the experience tune this kind of pressure-adding conversation out. So really it’s just energy wasted!

Cheer the team, not the man – you’ll probably feel better for it for not wasting your time!
Samir

Athletes are meant to be put on the pedestal, regardless of whether it’s a team or an individual sport. To excel at a sport you need the obvious skill, you need the endurance to train and practice hard, and you need to be able to adapt to the pressure that will come. If you can’t handle the pressure you will never reach that point where you’re better than all the rest in your discipline.

I can’t believe people are saying that we’re putting too much pressure on Olympic athletes. That’s ludicris. The only athletes that win gold are the ones that are immune to the pressure and are able to ignore it.

Look at A-Rod. He was forever reviled because when the time came for him to deliver he couldn’t handle the pressure. When he adapted, got his home runs, and helped win the World Series, that all changed. Gretzky did it. Jordan did it. Virtue/Moir did it. Will Luongo make the saves required of him? Can he handle the pressure of the biggest game of his career?
http://hausofhybrid.com Erin Gee

Pedestal is one thing, touting someone as a God is another. Especially in Luongo’s case where he has yet to prove himself. I sincerely hope that Luongo is able to get out of his head and perform when his team needs him to.