The Olympics, at least the modern version, were founded on high ideals. Things like nations coming together, athletes participating in spirited but friendly competition, blah, blah, blah. The modern incarnation of the Olympic Rings were designed to represent the five major continents of the world, the rings being intentionally interlaced in a not-so-subtle representation of the "Universality of Olympism."

What that means, exactly, I'm not certain, and I'm probably not the only one. The women's ice hockey teams representing Italy and Russia can't be too sure either, after being bludgeoned by Canada 16-0 and 12-0 respectively. After one period of play in the Canada-Italy match, the score was already 5-0 in favor of Canada, and it may as well have been 50-0. It's been reported the play was so lopsided that the Canadian players voiced their concern about the lack of competition to coach Melody Davidson between periods. She reportedly told her players, "Never mind that, this is the Olympics. Go as hard as you can." Not exactly "Win one for the Gipper," and not likely to replace "Faster, higher, stronger" as the official motto of the whole enterprise, either.

No one is suggesting Canada's players should have laid down to let Italy or Russia back into the game, not that that would even have been possible, but as the coach goes, so goes the team. Ms. Davidson could very reasonably have required her team to work on their passing; trying to make six or eight or even ten passes before attempting a shot on goal. Continuing to work hard, but emphasizing other aspects of the game than simply scoring.

It didn't get much prettier against Russia in their second game, either. With a final score of 12-0 it was obviously another rout, but at least the Russians put up token resistance, managing 17 shots on goal. Compare that with the meager five shots on goal the host Italian team managed in the entire game, and it's clear the Canadian team was a rather rude houseguest. They not only dragged mud across the living room carpet, they broke the good china and filched the silverware on their way out the door.

Even Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic games, would understand that the point of athletic competition is ultimately to win, and he was French. They haven't won anything of significance in centuries. But the games against Italy and Russia were never in doubt, and by having her team pile on like she did, Coach Davidson must be making it awfully hard for poor Baron de Coubertin to get his eternal rest, spinning in his grave as he surely is.

At the beginning of the games, one athlete takes the Olympic Oath, symbolically representing all of the competitors. In part the oath reads, "I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games...in the true spirit of sportsmanship." That oath is likely very different than the ones the Italian and Russian players were muttering last weekend while they were on the receiving end of Canada's whipping stick, and it doesn't appear Ms Davidson was paying much attention to that little sportsmanship thing.