Re: Cheaters and Quitters never win

[Cecil <cecil@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jay Triano, the Canadian coach, is an idiot.  Furthermore, in my opinion,
has not earned enough stripes to have even earned the job.  He was a member
of the team for quite some time but his actual coaching experience is
limited,

There was a bit of controversy a few years back when the prior coach, Steve
Konchalski, was released from his contract shortly before Triano was hired.
All Konchalski has done is coached St. Francis Xavier University to a couple
of Canadian championships with a resume that includes over 25 years
experience as a head coach.  He loses his job though to a former player with
a fraction of the experience or talent as a coach.  Explain to me how the
powers that be could place the National Team in the hands of a virtual
novice and not expect issues to develop.

Cecil

----- Original Message -----
From: Snoopy the Celtics Beagle <snoopy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <celtics@xxxxxxxx>; <Celticsstuffgroup@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2003 11:02 PM
Subject: Cheaters and Quitters never win


> As I type this, Canada is in the process--late in the third quarter--of
> getting beaten by Puerto Rico at the Olympic Qualifiers.  While some fans
> north of the border may be dismayed by this, I have to say something about
> that.
>
> Canada deserves to lose, because they cheated.
>
> No, there's no flunked drug tests, no side bets, none of that.  I say they
> cheated because Canada's own coach said as much.  Their schedule was not a
> favorable one, not getting a day off until late in the tournament.  So
they
> decided that since the USA was such a powerhouse there was no way to win,
> they'd tank the game.
>
> So the game started, and lo and behold, Canada is UP five points after one
> quarter.  Steve Nash is playing as advertised, their best player.  And
> Canada's coach sits him down.  After the game, the coach said, in so many
> words, they figured they couldn't win, so they didn't bother to try.
>
> So why show up at all?  The idea of a competition is to play your best and
> see who wins.  But Canada decided to cheapen the entire event by basically
> saying they let the US win.  They're not the only team to say this, but to
> my knowledge Canada is the only team whose coach is on record as having
> said so.
>
> It's one thing if you're down by 30 with 5 minutes left in the game.  But
> to toss it with a lead after one?
>
> That's cheating.  Canada's fans did not support their national team to see
> them throw a game, however likely--or UNlikely--they were to win it.  OUR
> fans did not send a team just to hear that the opponents gave up.  Before
> it started, all we heard was how hard the US would have to play to ensure
> they didn't end up on the outside looking in at Athens.  We saw the
> accounts of the games, how they were close at the beginning--and often
> throughout--before the US pulled out the win.  Everyone was commenting how
> the other teams were playing better, and thank goodness, the USA turned on
> the gas in time.
>
> And now, thanks a lot, Coach Triano--they tell us the fix was in.
>
> I generally like Canada.  I've met several people from there, and have
> always had a positive experience.  I've visited twice, once to Montreal
and
> Quebec, once to the Canadian Rockies.  I had a great trip both times.
I've
> enjoyed their culture, history, people and music--check out Stan and
Garnet
> Rogers if you haven't already made their musical acquaintance--and Cecil
> here on line has been a friendly, classy guy every time I've had the
> occasion to exchange e-mail with him.
>
> But after reading what their basketball team seems perfectly comfortable
> acknowledging having done, I don't think much of their national basketball
> team.  I'm disappointed in them, and don't believe they deserve to go to
> the Olympics.  The same for any other team that admits they threw a game
> just because the odds were against them.
>
> But, contrary to the infamous song, I do NOT "Blame Canada".  I blame the
> coach of their team, and the players who let him get away with such a
> cowardly decision.
>
> I feel sorry for the rest of their countrymen, who must endure the
> embarrassment of knowing their national team gave up without a fight.
>
> In the time since I started this post, Puerto Rico has beaten Canada,
> 79-66.  Puerto Rico will go to Athens.
>
> Canada will just go.
>
> With sympathy to my Canadian friends on and off list.
>
> Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
> Please visit the <http://www.celticsbeagle.net/>Celtics Beagle Website