IOC Goes Five-Hole on USA Goalies

[Col Hogan]

In a typical heavy-handed approach, the IOC has ordered all three USA Hockey goalies to remove art/initials from their masks...

Citing International Olympic Committee Rule No. 51 against “Advertising, Demonstrations, Propaganda,” the international hockey federation told three goalies on the United States team, Ryan Miller, Tim Thomas and Jonathan Quick, that they had to remove several designs from their helmets and masks.

http://vancouver2010.blogs.nytimes.com/ ... o-c-rules/

Former UMass, now Los Angles Kings goalie Jonathon Quick was ordered to remove his "Support The Troops" artwork from the back of his mask...



Ryan Miller, the starting goalie is all the games so far, was ordered to remove his "Miller Time" art work and the words "Matt Man", a tribute to a cousin who died of cancer. Third goalie Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins was ordered to remove his childrens initials from his mask...

The same rule was evoked by the I.O.C. in 2008 to dissuade athletes from staging any sort of protests at the Beijing Games when it feared athletes might use their athletic stage to protest Chinese policies.

The I.O.C. has long been known for heavy-handed measures to keep political expression — or the kind it doesn’t approve, anyway — out of the Games, most notably the harsh treatment of the American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos after their black-fist protest at the 1968 Olympics. They were thrown out of the Olympic Village.

[SuperHornet]

I really wanted to use the puke smilie because that's what I think of this. Shooting down a guy's tribute to his kids, to his family, and to our Nation's armed forces? These guys are Javerts, pure and simple. This has nothing to do with "protests," and therefore this overenforcement has NOTHING to do with the spirit of the rule. About as dumb and the NBA fining a guy for "leaving the bench" during a fight just because he figured he'd take advantage of it to go back to the locker room to take a leak.

And, yes, the McMahon Rule is just another example of this PC cr@p running amok. That proposed rule is the same cr@p as what's happening to these goalies. Though, of course, in the case of the goalies, it COULD just be anti-American cr@p. In which case, it's STILL cr@p.

[JayJ79]

I thought the Olympics were supposed to be (in spirit at least) an event free from whatever current wars going on in the world. So I can see not wanting messages about troops from whatever country.

[BlueHen86]

Maybe if the troops paid to advertise, like Nike, it would be okay to mention them on a uniform.

[93henfan]

Well, the good Col certainly dug up a tough issue here. It's pretty clear that none of the USA masks are in poor taste, but like Jay said, troops are mentioned and that's creeping close to a political statement. What if the Iranians had a hockey team and the goalie had "Support Our Nuclear Technicians" scrawled in Arabic on the back?

I don't have a ton of heartburn with this. I don't think they should have ever been allowed to start the olympics wearing them though. There should have been clear guidance from the IOC before the games saying that goalies have to use all-white helmets, solid team-color helmets, etc. or that they can put whatever TF they want on them. Don't make people guess and them slam them two games in for guessing wrong.

[BlueHen86]

Well, the good Col certainly dug up a tough issue here. It's pretty clear that none of the USA masks are in poor taste, but like Jay said, troops are mentioned and that's creeping close to a political statement. What if the Iranians had a hockey team and the goalie had "Support Our Nuclear Technicians" scrawled in Arabic on the back?

I don't have a ton of heartburn with this. I don't think they should have ever been allowed to start the olympics wearing them though. There should have been clear guidance from the IOC before the games saying that goalies have to use all-white helmets, solid team-color helmets, etc. or that they can put whatever TF they want on them. Don't make people guess and them slam them two games in for guessing wrong.

This wouldn't be a problem if they competed in the nude like in ancient Greece.

Well, on second thought, maybe it would. The IOC would probably outlaw tattoos, unless the tattoo was a Nike swoosh.

[JayJ79]

This wouldn't be a problem if they competed in the nude like in ancient Greece.

I would definitely be watching womens curling if this were the case.

[SuperHornet]

Why specifically curling, Jay? What about figure skating, skiing, snowboarding, track, gymastics, etc.?

LOL.

I think just about EVERY red-blooded guy here would agree with you, though.

[JayJ79]

Why specifically curling, Jay? What about figure skating, skiing, snowboarding, track, gymastics, etc.?
LOL.
I think just about EVERY red-blooded guy here would agree with you, though.

Naked curling would probably bit a bit nippy, but give 'em legwarmers and it would be tolerable.
However, naked skiing would just be cruel, especially on those wipeouts.

Never much cared for figure skating or snowboarding (though if there were hot naked chicks participating, I'd check it out). Didn't mention track or gymnastics because the discussion was about the winter games. (besides, too many of the gymnastics girls are underage anyway)