Montreal / Boston.
– Oh, you’re from Europe? Everything is crazy about now, but the war is about to end. Trump to stop it. And Ukraine will not join NATO.
The Boston Taxi driver outlines me the world politics. In the back seat it feels like I have jumped into Fox News’s news broadcast. The jockey reproduces virtually everything the Donald Trump has said in recent days.
The same hymn has spun on all TV channels for a couple of days. The message has arrived. The driver is sure that Ukraine will have to hand over areas to Russia.
– And Ukraine should never have gone to war.
I try to explain that Russia started the war. He refuses to believe. The scent of patriotism floats in the air. I hear that Trump is a leader who will determine things so that the US will no longer have to get tangled in any distant crises.
– Is Finland a member of NATO anyway?
When I answer, the jockey will be silent for a moment.
– How did Russia agree to that?
I answer that we didn’t ask it from Russia.
A short but confusing taxi trip to the center of Boston well illustrates how Trump’s threat sinks into people here. It is almost impossible to understand from a European perspective. Checking facts doesn’t seem to be in fashion.
By the way, NATO was first mentioned when we came from Canada to the US by car.
We drove all the flights through the snowstorm that has canceled. At the US border, police asked the same as a taxi driver in Boston. I don’t know if it was NATO membership in Finland or whatever, but the border formalities were strangely handled. Passports and fingerprints. That’s it, welcome!
Even the first suitcase was not studied, no question about the purpose of our trip was asked.
Anger rumbled
I came to North America after hockey. The four -country tournament organized by the NHL began in Montreal and culminated in Boston. From the first few days, it became clear that sports, politics and patriotism are going closely here. In both countries.
On the Canadian side, the nationality was not arrested, but were whistled and boomed sub -style and fiercely over the US national anthem as the United States and Canada met in Montreal. Greetings to Trump did not go unnoticed by anyone.
In the trough, the anger rumbled right at the start of the game. The fighting show masked by US players sank into the audience. I haven’t heard such infernal and primitive mildew at any sporting event.
The tournament had a huge hockey value. So big that I didn’t believe it before the games started. I thought the NHL show tournament would not light players, at least not as seen.
Despite the world -class hockey offered by Canada and the USA, the encounters of these countries seemed to be something much larger than hockey.
It was underlined by Trump’s call to the US player locker room before the tournament finals.
– It is incredible that he took time for his day to call us and spent a few minutes talking to us. It’s something I will never forget. I believe everyone here is proud of our country and understand how important he is to us, the US team striker Brock Nelson told.
However, there was no dialogue.
– He wished us good luck. Said everyone would encourage us and watch the game tonight. Also told about golf and other things. Honestly, half of the call didn’t even join the hockey, the defender Zach Werenski quoth.
Guaranteed Trump. And sank again into the audience.
Canadian head coach From Jon Cooper Before the finals, the tournament’s politics has increased the motivation of the team?
– I don’t think. Except perhaps someone mentioned for Canada about the possibility of being “51. State ”and then someone said we had a pretty tough hockey team in that case. But to be honest, a match like today would never be achieved in that situation, Cooper said.
Your back, Trump, Lemieux
I asked Finland’s most well -known Trump supporter, perhaps Finland Teemu Selänte Comments for Trump’s latest ramps. Your back in the tournament in the tournament replied that we would return to it another time. I really hope we return.
Known in X (former Twitter), your back, known for his annoying comments, was constantly the center of attention in Montrealis and Boston.
The contradiction between the social back and the live back of the back turned out to be enormous. “Finnish lightning” was polite, friendly, smiling and generously shared with anyone who wants to. And there were really plenty of willingness.
The popularity of all Selänne in hockey circles said he received a great national hero of Canada, Mario Lemieux‘n interview. Maple magazine journalists were a mother -in -law when Selänne interviewed Lemieux for years, who has not given any interviews to anyone.
However, I personally look forward to the interview in which your back tells you what she thinks about Trump’s latest brains.
Hockey victory, but what about Russia?
The first encounter between Canada and the US was a crazy show. It reminded how the North American audience is about fighting: they love them here.
The second Rivalry became a major hockey event. Both teams focused on playing, not fighting. Canada was able to click the United States in the most beautiful way.
Politics also rolled on the ice in Boston. The Canadian national anthem performed by the words of the song. Of course, the receipt was for Trump.
The audience took the most out of the arrangement. Outside the Boston Arena, a man stood by a sign made by the United States to the Province of Canada 11.
Despite all the political threats, the tournament was also a hockey celebration. The NHL managed to market itself in the most visible way. At the same time, after a nine -year break, we were offered a view of the international top national team hockey.
It was worth seeing. And now it seems that this is going on. The intention is to play the Olympic Last and World Cup, where the best players in the world are there.
Overall fantastic, but with one side note.
In my ears, NHL bosses said they wanted Russia’s joy and back to the national team tournaments as quickly as possible. The Ukrainian war does not seem to be of interest to them. The media was talked about “world political situation” when questions were asked.
Both taxi drivers and NHL bosses speak the same language here.