Booman Tribune

The Ugly American -- Case 5,483

by Cali Scribe
Mon May 15th, 2006 at 04:26:42 AM EST

Americans have been getting a bad rap in the last few years...mostly deservedly. I even heard a travel tip for Americans going abroad: say you're Canadian.

Well, Canadians might not want to be associated with us either; from SI.com:

 SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- San Jose Sharks fans loudly booed the Canadian national anthem Sunday night before Game 5 of their team's second-round playoff series with the Edmonton Oilers.

The vociferous booing started from the opening notes of singer Annmarie Martin's rendition of O Canada. While other fans attempted to drown it out by singing along, the boos were audible until the final notes.

I had the dubious honor of being present at the game -- dubious because the Sharks proceeded to stink up the ice like a skunk on steroids.

Most of the boos seemed to come from the "end zone" areas of the HP Pavilion (the arena where the game was held) -- that would be the area behind the goal net for those unfamiliar with hockey terminology. Those are usually the "cheap seats" -- cheap being a relative term when talking about playoff tickets; the spouse and I were about 3 sections away, same upper level, and our tickets were $42 each (would've been $27 during regular season).

There were a few shouts of "shut up assholes", including from yours truly. What made it even more hurtful and pathetic is that many of the Sharks key players are from Canada -- one wonders what they were thinking.

The same people who booed "O Canada" seemed to also cheer and hoot and holler throughout "The Star-Spangled Banner" -- I put them in the same ilk as the 101st Fighting Keyboardists, those who are so gung-ho about Bush and America as long as their blood and guts aren't required.

I also participate in a hockey message board that's been visited by a large contingent of Edmonton Oiler fans; to their credit, they mostly are able to chalk up this behavior to a relatively small crowd of bastards and not blame Sharks fans, nor the city of San Jose, nor Americans, as a whole.

But while many may chalk it up to hockey rivalry, there are those who will look at this story and just consider it as more evidence against "the Ugly American".



Display:
The inevitable result of a "Uniter" President.

A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward. Franklin D. Roosevelt
by Steven D on Mon May 15th, 2006 at 07:25:12 AM EST
wasn't their an ugly incident with Canadian hockey fans taunting a Native Canadian coach?
by BooMan on Mon May 15th, 2006 at 08:01:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Hi Boo ... that was a diary I wrote a while back ... [link].

parvum opus
by olivia on Tue May 16th, 2006 at 10:02:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]
That is ugly.

I guess when the politicos of our day have brought so much shame on America and have successfully sold fear to so many Americans, it is not surprising that some people can only feel "good" about themselves by denigrating others.

If you want things to get better, be prepared to deal with change.

by Kahli on Mon May 15th, 2006 at 08:33:14 AM EST
and fellow Shark's fan.

I am just so saddened by this. I didn't catch the game opener. I got in just after 5 minutes into the game.

It's classless and disgusting to boo another's anthem.

They boo another's anthem. They are the same who would call me a "terrorist" or a "f*cking c*nt" for wearing a Stop The Next War Now. They are cowards who strike out at anything because that is their only way to feel "patriotic". They are too ignorant or apathetic to be involved in politics so they act like losers.

As for anthems:

I can't even stomache singing or hearing our anthem anymore. Do I boo it? No. I just stand and look down. I don't sing. I don't cover my heart and I don't look at the flag.... nor the propganada crap playing on the jumbotron usually at that time.

I now know why our team stunk last night. Thornton, Hannan, McCauley, Cheechoo... all Canadian.

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix

by Damnit Janet on Mon May 15th, 2006 at 10:20:50 AM EST
(we didn't lost because of Canadian players LOL) I meant:

I think our Canadian players were possibly disheartened by hearing their anthem booed by the fans. Most are Canadian or another nationality. In fact, I'm not sure there is an American on the team...

It would have really sucked to be wearing teal and hear your anthem booed like that. NO wonder there wasn't any heart in the game.

Another reason to make "Joy to the world" our global anthem :) JEREMIAH WAS A BULLFROG! We all know the words :)

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix

by Damnit Janet on Mon May 15th, 2006 at 11:25:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Love ya DJ and Cali -- there're jerks everywhere, but good peeps too. And we've had similar nasty instances up here wrt to the American anthem. You've got this Cdn cheering on Joe and the boys ... Go Sharks!

parvum opus
by olivia on Mon May 15th, 2006 at 11:38:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Joy to you and me! :) ((((Olivia))))))

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix
by Damnit Janet on Mon May 15th, 2006 at 11:51:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Pssst  I shared your wonderful message with me and Cali's hockey buddies :)

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix
by Damnit Janet on Mon May 15th, 2006 at 11:59:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]


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