Bruins, Flames Cancel Practice When Chinese Customs Doesn't Clear Gear
The usual -- and tiresome -- bitch is for sports to stay outta politics.
An argument that's even more frustrating is when it's the other way around.
This was so commonplace as to be expected in the Olympics:
- Did the USA and Soviet Union really need to boycott each other's games?
- Did a national doping program really serve to prove a nation's superiority?
Well, now the backwash has polluted a new shore.
After snubbing the South Korea Winter Olympics this year, the NHL is ramping up its participation at Beijing 2020 by staging pre-season games in China.
Next up are the Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames this weekend:
Clearly, the teams' ability to put on a show for the locals would benefit by a bitta practice.
That would entail having all their equipment available.
Given the sledgehammer the Trump administration has taken to justified trade inequities with China, both the Bruins' and Flames' gear was delayed in arriving due to a retaliatory customs slowdown by the Chinese authorities.
As if it's not crazy enough at borders these days.
Ultimately, this is down to the NHL brass doing a better job of realizing the current situation and being ready for it.
Then again, why should anyone think that Crazytown wouldn't have suburbs?