President Obama Loses Beer Bet to PM Harper: Olympic Hockey Gold!

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Canada US Border | Photo 04

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uploaded by Barry ORegan

U.S. President Obama and Canada's Prime Minister Harper made a side bet for a case of beer depending on who would triumph for Olympic hockey gold.  

Olympic men's hockey gold is a big stakes game for national pride on both sides of the border.  Canada's win last night cements its status and confirms hockey as its national pastime, just as the United States considers baseball and basketball as their national pastimes; both sports define each nation. 

Yet basketball is a Canadian invention, dating to 1891 Almonte, Ontario and developed by James Naismith. 

Americans and Canadians may not remember decades ago there were only six original NHL teams, with hockey players who played on both sides of the border. Canadians and Americans alike had their favourite players regardless of the player's nationality.

Kids traded those Big 6 hockey cards and treated them like gold, money rarely changed hands. Let the US/Canada alcohol content beer brawl begin!