Quote:
Originally Posted by rubecube
The problem with the World Cup is that the stakes just aren't that high and therefore you're not going to get the same kind of emotion out of watching it as you do the Olympics. You're not going to see people pouring into the streets if Canada wins, or bars opening up at 4 AM for the final. It's a B tournament.
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That sounds like the opinion of someone who doesn't remember or wasn't around for The World Cup in 96 and any other World Cup and Canada Cup or Summit series prior to that date.
When it becomes the only best on best, the fans and the players start to really really care. National pride to say who's the best at hockey takes over. Our 87 Canada Cup victory meant every bit as much to me as any of our three gold medals did since the NHL has gone to the Olympics, and the 96 loss to the US is easily the most devastating international hockey loss I've experienced. History shows, the care will be there, no doubt.