An hour and a half into its primetime telecast last
night, CBS's Jim Nantz reported, "The U.S. men's hockey team
continues to make news for all the wrong reasons. After
their frustrating 1-3 performance ... it now appears some
members of the U.S. men's team may have taken out their
frustration at the Olympic Village after the loss." CBS's
Armen Keteyian reported that USA Hockey "confirmed that
property here in the athlete's village was damaged by USA
Hockey team members shortly after their rather lifeless"
loss to the Czech Republic on Wednesday. Keteyian said that
USA Hockey is still investigating the matter, but said "that
only a handful of people, a handful of members of the team,
were involved." Nantz, following Keteyian's report: "You
know, you juxtapose this story with the one we saw earlier
of a gracious Wayne Gretzky just thrilled to be here,
staying in the Olympic Village -- it's quite a stark
contrast, isn't it?" (CBS, 2/19). TNT's Craig Sager said
the team put "a bad mark on the entire country" (TNT, 2/19).
DETAILS: USA Hockey President Walter Bush estimated the
players caused $1,500 to $2,000 worth of damage to their
rooms at the Olympic village (N.Y. TIMES, 2/19). NHL
Commissioner Gary Bettman: "Obviously, such conduct is
unacceptable and will not be tolerated." USOC President
Bill Hybl said the incident "disturbed other U.S. athletes
who were sleeping and preparing for their events on
Thursday." USOC Dir of PR Mike Moran said that cost of the
damage "isn't the issue; it's the behavior. It's the
disruption to the delegation and the expectations the
delegation has of professional athletes." USA Hockey's
Bush: "When we find out who it is, they won't be invited
back" (Rachel Alexander, WASHINGTON POST, 2/20). Bettman
added the actions are "not acceptable, but let's not
overstate the case" (CBS, 2/20). Team USA member Doug
Weight was quoted by Knight Ridder: "We got back to the
Village real late and we probably were too loud. Some guys
were wrestling and stuff, but that's it. I know nothing
about broken windows ... We weren't throwing furniture. ...
[J]ust because a few guys had some beers and were a little
loud, doesn't mean we destroyed the village" (Mult., 2/20).
REAX: In Boston, Kevin Paul Dupont writes the incident
gives a "black eye" to the league's Olympic foray (BOSTON
GLOBE, 2/20). In Chicago, Jay Mariotti writes that the NHL
and USA Hockey have a PR "crisis on their hands" with an
"incident that will spark debate about the future Olympic
participation of NHL millionaires" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES,
2/20). In DC, Thom Loverro writes Team USA has turned the
NHL's experiment into a "disaster" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 2/20).
In Philadelphia, Les Bowen writes the incident could have
"broader implications" as the league "attempts to sell
itself as part of the Winter Games" (DAILY NEWS, 2/20). But
in N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes that Team USA's performance
and behavior has been criticized despite the fact that
"somebody's gotta lose these games, and this time it was us.
But we [the U.S.] can't accept that. ... What's a little
morning vandalism and early-morning carousing, as long as
they won?" (Phil Mushnick, N.Y. POST, 2/20).
HEADLINES: A sampling of newspaper headlines regarding
the incident: Baltimore SUN: "NHL Takes Hit, Waves Off Major
Damage;" BOSTON GLOBE: "Party Over For These Ugly
Americans;" BOSTON GLOBE: "Trash Talk About U.S. Hockey;"
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: "U.S. Embarrassed By Hockey Players' Room
Damage;" DENVER POST: "Wrecking Crew Damages Reputation;"
HOUSTON CHRONICLE: "U.S. Hockey Team Gets Another Black
Eye;" K.C. STAR: "U.S. Hockey Is An Embarrassment;" L.A.
TIMES: "At Least Dream Team Could Beat Furniture;" L.A.
TIMES: "And You Thought They Did Enough Damage;" N.Y. DAILY
NEWS: "U.S.A. Hockey Pucks?" N.Y. DAILY NEWS: "USA Puts On
Trashy Display;" N.Y. POST: "They Humiliate Themselves And
Their Nation;" NEWSDAY: "Losers And Then Some;" Newark STAR-
LEDGER: "Team USA Breaks Camp;" PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: "U.S.
Hockey Stars Leave Mess;" PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS: "USA Out
With The Trash;" S.F. CHRONICLE: "U.S. Hockey's Final
Disgrace;" USA TODAY: "U.S. Men's Hockey Players Trash
Rooms;" WASHINGTON POST: "Hockey Players Do Damage."
