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medals

Thursday August 14, 2008

August 14, 2008 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday August 14, 2008 Why are we so bad at the Olympics? If we are, then here's something else you may have heard before: You get what you pay for at the Olympics. Ê Medals don't fallÊout of trees - not at the Summer Games. They come through sheer volume of legitimate medal chances, and the countries withÊmost darts come away with the most hardware. The early results? We're through five days of competition and our batting average is still .000. -- Togo has a medal. KyrgyzstanÊhas two. Azerbaijan has three. And Michael Phelps has five. We'll pass them all by the end, barring an absolute disaster, but still, as the calls from editors begin to roll into the press centresÊhere - all looking for the "What's going wrong?" angle that usually doesn't arrive for a few more days at these things - it isÊclear that Canadians are getting edgy. Don't forget. There are about a dozen countries in the world who are serious about hockey. Two - Canada and the U.S. - areÊgold medal threats in women's hockey. There are 200 countries that take track and field, boxing and swimming seriously. "I think [we're] disappointed because we had some dreams, or expectation, and it seemed that it was going to be easy. But youÊcan see, nothing's ever easy," said Pierre Lafontaine, the team leader for Canada's swimming team. His team has posted all kinds of personal bests, but zero results. "There's much more than just medals, but medals is whatÊshows on the books," he admits.(Source: National Post)Êhttp://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=606ca39f-a76d-47ae-ba90-f6d4c2c50d48&p=2 Letters: http://mackaycartoons.blogdrive.com/archive/210.html Canada, Olympic, Summer, games, sports, athletics, swimming, ranking, medals, results, Michael Phelps

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 14, 2008

Why are we so bad at the Olympics?

If we are, then here’s something else you may have heard before: You get what you pay for at the Olympics.

Medals don’t fall out of trees – not at the Summer Games. They come through sheer volume of legitimate medal chances, and the countries with most darts come away with the most hardware.

The early results? We’re through five days of competition and our batting average is still .000. — Togo has a medal. Kyrgyzstan has two. Azerbaijan has three. And Michael Phelps has five.

We’ll pass them all by the end, barring an absolute disaster, but still, as the calls from editors begin to roll into the press centres here – all looking for the “What’s going wrong?” angle that usually doesn’t arrive for a few more days at these things – it is clear that Canadians are getting edgy.

Don’t forget. There are about a dozen countries in the world who are serious about hockey. Two – Canada and the U.S. – are gold medal threats in women’s hockey.

There are 200 countries that take track and field, boxing and swimming seriously.

“I think [we’re] disappointed because we had some dreams, or expectation, and it seemed that it was going to be easy. But you can see, nothing’s ever easy,” said Pierre Lafontaine, the team leader for Canada’s swimming team.

His team has posted all kinds of personal bests, but zero results. “There’s much more than just medals, but medals is what shows on the books,” he admits.(Source: National Post)


Letters to the Editor:

I was totally offended by the tasteless cartoon in Thursday’s Spectator regarding our great Canadian athletes.

My wife and I have watched a lot of the television coverage and have been proud to see our athletes try their best and give it their all, against other athletes who are supported by their governments with large sums of money.

Maybe the cartoonist and some of our politicians should get out and support our athletes, or maybe even volunteer to coach or assist some of these fine examples of Canadian youth, instead of poking fun at them.

Good luck to all our athletes.

— P. Knapp, Hamilton

* * * * *

The editorial cartoon depicts a Canadian swimmer running along the edge of the pool — and still finishing well behind the pack. I find this cartoon totally offensive.

As the son of a man who competed in the first British Empire Games in Hamilton and later in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932, I am aware of the dedication, hard work and many sacrifices made by athletes. There is also heartbreak endured by many along the journey.

I would have expected a major urban newspaper to show understanding and compassion in its coverage — be it print or “humour.” I challenge The Spectator to take a more constructive role in promoting future Olympic podium successes.

— J. Ravensdale, Puslinch

* * * * *

I would like to congratulate your witty and talented cartoonist Graeme MacKay. I read the criticism of his cartoon about the failure of the Canadian athletes the first week of the Olympic Games. Cartoon is satire and the one who doesn’t accept it lacks a sense of humour.

— Panos Andronidis, Hamilton

Posted in: Canada, International Tagged: athletics, Canada, Games, medals, Michael Phelps, Olympic, ranking, results, Sports, Summer, swimming

Wednesday September 1, 2004

September 1, 2004 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Wednesday September 1, 2004 Post Olympic Blues Canada's athletes trailed back from Athens on Monday into the teeth of a national inquest over their performance at the Olympics which garnered just 12 medals. The modest haul, two fewer than the Canadian team managed in Sydney in 2000, and good for only 21st on the medal table, set off a media inquest that blared from radio and television. "Unless we make major changes in how we support and train our athletes, we will likely be suffering through the same national angst after the 2008 Games," the Toronto Star warned in an editorial. The Canadian Olympic Committee made an immediate request for more money to support athletes, calling for a US$5300 increase in government money for senior athletes to a minimum of US$20,000 a year. It also said it would review the country's approach to the Games, in an analysis which coincided with press reports that Dave Johnson, national swimming coach, would be sacked after his teams dire performance in Athens. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) Canada, provinces, funding, amateur, athletics, sports, wrestling, medals, Olympics

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday September 1, 2004

Post Olympic Blues

Canada’s athletes trailed back from Athens on Monday into the teeth of a national inquest over their performance at the Olympics which garnered just 12 medals.

The modest haul, two fewer than the Canadian team managed in Sydney in 2000, and good for only 21st on the medal table, set off a media inquest that blared from radio and television.

“Unless we make major changes in how we support and train our athletes, we will likely be suffering through the same national angst after the 2008 Games,” the Toronto Star warned in an editorial.

The Canadian Olympic Committee made an immediate request for more money to support athletes, calling for a US$5300 increase in government money for senior athletes to a minimum of US$20,000 a year.

It also said it would review the country’s approach to the Games, in an analysis which coincided with press reports that Dave Johnson, national swimming coach, would be sacked after his teams dire performance in Athens. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Posted in: Canada, International Tagged: amateur, athletics, Canada, funding, medals, olympics, provinces, Sports, wrestling

Sunday August 16, 2004

August 16, 2004 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, MacLean's Magazine Ð Sunday August 16, 2004 Olympic Grief ATHENS Ñ When Nicolas Gill carries the Canadian flag into Olympic Stadium for today's opening ceremony, he will be leading Canada's smallest Summer Games team in 32 years. It is a team reduced in numbers Ñ down to 267 from 311 four years ago Ñ and some might say in expectations. Canada captured 14 medals, including three gold, in Sydney four years ago, a showing that caused much hand-wringing and set off a national debate on the kind of support we provide our amateur athletes. Nothing substantive has changed since 2000, raising the question of what the next two weeks will bring. How much sporting mettle will be turned into medals? Estimates from athletes and others in Athens run the gamut from unbridled optimism to grim pessimism. Most reckon an improvement on Sydney is possible, with the most starry-eyed figuring Canada can win more than 20 medals. For world champion kayaker David Ford, however, it's possible to have too much of a good thing. Ford has been to four Olympics and has a gut feeling Canada is in for something special this time, but it's not a feeling with which he's entirely comfortable. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) Canada, Olympic, grief, 5 stages, Canadian, expectations, medals, gold, arm chair, critics, sports

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, MacLean’s Magazine – Sunday August 16, 2004

Olympic Grief

ATHENS — When Nicolas Gill carries the Canadian flag into Olympic Stadium for today’s opening ceremony, he will be leading Canada’s smallest Summer Games team in 32 years. It is a team reduced in numbers — down to 267 from 311 four years ago — and some might say in expectations.

Canada captured 14 medals, including three gold, in Sydney four years ago, a showing that caused much hand-wringing and set off a national debate on the kind of support we provide our amateur athletes.

Nothing substantive has changed since 2000, raising the question of what the next two weeks will bring. How much sporting mettle will be turned into medals?

Estimates from athletes and others in Athens run the gamut from unbridled optimism to grim pessimism. Most reckon an improvement on Sydney is possible, with the most starry-eyed figuring Canada can win more than 20 medals.

For world champion kayaker David Ford, however, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. Ford has been to four Olympics and has a gut feeling Canada is in for something special this time, but it’s not a feeling with which he’s entirely comfortable. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Posted in: Canada Tagged: 5 stages, arm chair, Canada, Canadian, critics, expectations, gold, grief, medals, Olympic, Sports

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This website contains satirical commentaries of current events going back several decades. Some readers may not share this sense of humour nor the opinions expressed by the artist. To understand editorial cartoons it is important to understand their effectiveness as a counterweight to power. It is presumed readers approach satire with a broad minded foundation and healthy knowledge of objective facts of the subjects depicted.

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