And the same fans that booed the Canadian All Star team during a loss in the ‘72 summit series and were shamed after the game by a frustrated and disappointed Phil Esposito.

Let’s improve US - Canadian relations! Here’s to great hockey at the Turin Olympics - cheering for great international hockey without politics.

I was lucky enough to be in the stands watching Canada playing Slovakia in the 2005 WC semifinal which Canada won. The Slovakians came out strong and it looked bad for us. I surrounded by Slovak fans but we managed to keep things together and playfully made comments about the game. I again and again was appreciative of the Slovakians’ skill. I was there to watch good hockey, not start another war over something as trivial as sport.

I make my living through sport, but I try to keep it in perspective.

A friend whom I work with is a Czech and he got the last laugh on me as the Czechs won the 2005 WC, beating Canada in the final. I congratulated him. Next time.

Enjoy it. Watch it and appreciate the beauty of people giving their best and doing things most mortals can’t even dream of doing. But don’t let a game or a team be your identity and life. It’s only a game.

To the boobirds out there: Get a life and show some class.