The “Support Our Troops” slogan on US ice hockey goalie Jonathan Quick's helmet at the Olympics violates IOC rules. Quick will be told to remove it according the International Ice Hockey Federation..
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
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Hi Wallace, It's a beautiful helmet and a great message, but I can understand the problem. It can be construed as a political statement, and the point of the Olympics is that countries from all over leave their politics at the door. If the officials allow this helmet, they must allow other statements that may want Israel eliminated or US punished for perceived wrongs or who knows what else. It's sad, but it's the rule and overall it is a good rule.
I agreee with Susan, its a shame, but sometimes in these competitions where the sport is the focus and we want to encourage countries to put aside differences, slogans no matter how heartfelt or deserving need to left in the locker room and off the playing field.
I don't understand why they let them walk in at the opening ceremonies behind their country's flags; however, they don't let them wear patriotic symbols on their uniforms? It sort of like they forget how the Olympics started.
What a shame! If it were not for brave people standing in harms way....I wonder how many of these countries would have an olympic team. I Support our troops.
Hi Wallace - it does seem like a shame that a patriotic message is not allowed. And I do agree with your comment that it doesn't make sense that if flags are allowed that patriotic symbols should not be.
I can see that... They don't want the games to be political. Ryan Miller had to cover his "Miller Time" slogan on his helmet because it could be construed as advertising...
However, requiring the covering of "Matt Man" as a tribute to his cousin, who died of leukemia, was going too far. Obviously a stupid move by the IOC.
What else would one expect from a bunch of liberal elitists like the IOC?
Lane * too late * the Olympic games are TOTALLY POLITICAL * Under the Carter/Obama FIRST TERM the US BOYCOTTED the 1980 Olympics in Moscow because of Russia's invasion of Afghanistan....Let's also remember the San Jose State athletes with their raised BLACK POWER salutes from the podiums in Mexico City!!! The list is endless!!!
Much as I hate it, I support this decision. I don't want to the the America-hating helmets that others would wear if they could.
Will * I respectfully disagree. I think of this as being the same as HOAs removing US flags from homeowners just because they can and yes, the IOC is a political organization and it is the GOALIE'S helmet which is the DIFFERENCE between US and most of the other countries * we have FREE SPEECH.
I anyone thinks the Olympics games are not political - ask the Israelis in Germany when Palestinian terrorists killed them during the Olympics - was not an act of sending the world a message?
Supporting the Troops is not "hating" other nations - so it is not something that should be banned - remember that when Al Quada blows something up in a nation and wants America to come save them!
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Thank you Nic and I REMEMBER when we did not go to Moscow and I remember the photo of the athletes in Mexico City * 1968!!!
How about the IOC goes all the way then. No athlete can wear a uniform for a certain country. No flags allowed and no countries national anthem to be played. The judges cannot be listed as being from a certain country. The host country cannot allow any of its own flags or even its name to be displayed anywhere within site of an Olympic venue. In team sports, the athletes are to be divided up among the entire group so that no country has an advantage. There will be no official languages anymore. All languages are allowed and everything will be printed in every single language. We do not want anyone left out. The security for the games must be from multiple countries with no uniforms to show a flag or any indication of where they are from. No fans should be allowed to show what country they are from.
You get the idea.
UKH!!! I don't like that....I just want an athlete who wants to show his support on his HELMET which most sports don't even require.
I support our troops, but I have to agree on this point with the IOC. It is the wrong forum for this kind of message. The Olympics are supposed to be free from any political messages, regardless of the country.
I don't think Support Our Troops is a political slogan * it is a sentiment....these Olympics have been a disaster and this stuff is not making it any better.
Meanshile Ralph Lauren can have a HUGE POLO logo on athletes shirts and a small US flag.
Wallace - We should ban the games from the U.S., IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.
I agree - $$ for the host country and little for the teams.
Wallace - I am with the majority on this, marching behind a countries flag is not necessarily the same as sending a political message. Theoretically, the Olympics is all about individual (or team in certain events) effortrs. However, the number of metals has been politicized. It is one venue where political messages should not be allowed.
WADR * Support our troops is not a political slogan * Dennis Miller and Bill O'Reilly are on this so my work is done.
Much as I hate to disagree with you on this Wallace, I do. I love the helmet and the message. It's just not the place for it. All uniforms and gear should be logo free and just the number (if necessary) and country on it. Very simple.
That's my 2 cents worth.
Yet * Ralph Lauren gets to run his POLO logo on uniforms! See * this is what I don't understand?!
Wallace, looks like there are a number of opinions. But if we are to be totally open to facts. lets go ahead and admit that the Olympic ideal is no more. We can't support our troops, but there are games in Germany in front of Nazis? In China, which before the games, bans public displays and shuts down communications? Forget being PC everybody. Today's games are about money. Period. Look at the uniforms, do you think Nike isn't political? Heck no, they sell to anybody, just so long they can get shoes made at 5 cent a piece through slave labor! Miller Time, get real. The cities that want to host, billions of tax dollars spent on pork projects!
The worst is the notion that the Olympic ideal is still there, The original athletes were amateurs, not the professionals of today. Most get stipends from the AOC and many play in professional leagues. Would you care if you couldn't see it on TV? Where is all of that money going?
The original games weren't about having everybody under the tent. If fact, what is the logic of letting the oppressive regimes of the world have their team participate? Isn't that political in the end?
Dale * that's my point...I see it, the world sees it, the IOC just needs to acknowledge it and not try to say they ARE what they ARE NOT
Unbelieveable! These are the soldiers that have saved the tail of a lot of non-americans. absolutely shameful!
Agreed * thank you Joseph
The Olympics have become political movement in itself -
Wallace: As much as I firmly and heartily am in support of the men and women who serve in the United States Armed Forces... I totally agree that this slogan SHOULD be banned. The reason is simple. The Olympics is NOT a venu for the participating countries to do ANYTHING political, or anything that could be either taken or construed as being political... or supporting some sort of "cause."
If this were able to stand... as admirable as the thought is... then why not allow someone from the Pakistani ski team to wear a slogan supporting the Taliban ? Sorry... but it is the same thing.
It is either allow them all... or ban them all.
And... to someone who talked about the phrase "liberal psycho-babble comment"... or something supportive of Obama... or of the Pro-Choice movement... all this as well should ALSO be banned if it were to become a question. "Nothing Politcal"... period.
Karen * meanwhile, snowboard commercialism is alive and on TV!!!
Wallace: Honestly, commercialism is not a problem with me... or at least not something I am concerned about. It's not a "political statement." It is not "issue oriented." But... this question just hit me.
I know you are a Nascar fan. What if... two cars in next week's race each had a sign or logo on them ? One said something either about Sarah Palin, Support Our Troops, or Anti-Abortion... and the other was supportive of Iran, or of the Taliban. Would you ban them both, or support the right of both cars to their right of "free speech..." or would you keep the Palin one, and scratch the Taliban one ?
Not a trick question, here. I am just curious. Meanwhile... pass the cheesecake, please... :)
Karen * sponsors are approved by NASCAR and NASCAR is about the $$$ to keep the cars on the track.
A Taliban logo would not go on a car just like the one below never made it on a car - no one would sponsor it because no one wants to see it much less pay the hundreds of thousands to put it on a car.
Richard Petty vowed he wouldnever have whiskey as a sponsor on his car(s) and NASCAR banned cigarettes and changed the WINSTON CUP name * RPM now runs the Budweiser #9 Ford and SPRINT now sponsors the Cup races.
I think you make my point. Let the viewers decide not the IOC
Wallace: Rather than drag this out further... there really ARE times... when the "will" of the people is simply wrong ! What happens then ?
Karen Anne: Yes you are right there are times when the will of the people is wrong. We are living in that time now under Obama.
JP
Jay-Paul: I am sure that is not the case. Sometimes you are talking about the lesser of two evils. Even though Obama may be not-so-good... McCain and Palin would have been worse.
So... if Obama is wrong, McCain/Palin would have been wrong-er.
Now... what I really meant about how sometimes the "will of the people" can simply be wrong... is in the case of Prop 8 in California, which refused equality to gays and lesbians. In that case... the will of the people WAS wrong. I do NOT want to change the subject of this post... so, plainly and simply... that is what I meant.
As far as this comment being "off topic" Wallace... I was just answering Jay-Paul's mention of Obama being wrong.
Karne Anne: Its odd how the "will of the people" can only be wrong when you say so.
I feel that Prop 8 (since I live in California) was the will of the people and is right. This is the second time a majority of the state spoke out against gay marriage.
Also how do you know that McCain/Palin would have been "wrong-er"? How can something be wrong that never was? There never was McCain/Palin so to judge them on something they never did would be in error.
I love how liberals have can't defend Obama's crappy leadership so instead they attack the people who were running against him. How does that help your cause? Yah it doesnt.
JP
McCain/Palin could not have been MORE WRONG than what we currently have. Both McCain AND Palin have more executive and administrative experience that Obama WHOLE administration...Palin balanced the books/budgets of a large CITY and the LARGEST STATE IN THE UNION * aye!
Wallace: The "large CITY" that you mentioned for Ms Palin... was Wasilla, AK... which when she was there had a population of about 10,000. Not sure I'd call that "large." And, while she was there... she had city workers work on the construction of her home, while they were on the city payroll. A real ethical whiz, doncha think.
Also, the "largest state" in the Union... has a pretty small population, too. The city of Fort Worth has a population of 703,000 and the entire state of Alaska has a population of 698,000. Hmmmm.
Wasilla is VERY LARGE for Alaska!!! You make my point although I'd rather be in Fort Worth * the shopping is GREAT!!