Two of my outstanding memories of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary are Eddie the Eagle and the Jamaican bobsleigh team. What a glorious event for Canada.

And some 38 years later, our world could really benefit from a break.

Following world, national and local news now, it is tough to find anything that could be called funny. Throw in cold weather and long dark nights, and we fight through our annual winter season.

Upcoming, the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will open on Feb. 6. There will be gold, silver and bronze medals awarded in many events, and likely our Canadian team members will bring home more than a fair share. Almost certainly a record haul.

But let’s look into the situation for a moment. Are we getting better when compared to other nations? Perhaps, but there are so many more events now. Many more opportunities to grab a medal. Not just a few skiing and skating events for individuals and teams.

Admit it, some of the sports are a bit quirky. Who came up with the “synchro” concept?

Synchro, of course, is the short and slang form of synchronized. Let me take this Ramblings to a crazy level. Sometime in the future, will we be able to sit in front of a television screen and watch highly trained women and men compete in synchronized biathlon?

Cross country ski until exhausted, stop, lie down, control your breathing, and then aim and pull the trigger of a high powered rifle. All the while, synchronizing movements with a partner?

This rambling mind boggles.

Skiing used to be essentially alpine and nordic. Now, the variety of different disciplines gets confusing. And hats off to the athletes from the Scandinavian nations. Especially lightly populated Norway, that always seems to dominate the various cross country races.

They really do set the standards for quadricep development and aerobic capacity. VO2 max, wot? With only a few million people.

Now let me ramble to “our sport.” Yes, Canada’s sport: hockey.

Ice hockey, as people in the antipodes call it, as opposed to field hockey. Or, as millions of people in India and many other countries call field hockey, hockey. I am not trying to confuse anyone, but let’s think globally. And yes, it is confusing.

It’s quite a stretch to call the recent ice hockey tournament the World Juniors. Painstakingly organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation, but so few countries involved. Hockey helmets off to Sweden for winning the gold medal by nipping the Czechia team in a fast and fabulous final game. So skilful, so rugged, and no fighting. Repeat, no fighting.

Our hard working young Canadian lads accepted bronze medals after defeating Finland in the consolation final. Hurrah, I think.

But never fear, Tim Hortons is skating to the rescue. The company founded by the rugged defenceman from Cochrane has entered into a fairly complicated sponsorship deal. Something about 20 free Timbits if (make that when) Canada wins a gold medal in Milano Cortina.

But I get confused and disillusioned here. Apparently you have to be a member of their rewards loyalty program, and spend at least $5 on other yummy treats. Why does there always have to  be a catch?

Many Canadians will be watching the Olympic hockey. Both sexes. No fighting. That’s right, fighting in hockey is mainly a Canadian thing.

Why do Canadians allow male hockey players to punch each other in the face, attempting to concuss?

Just asking.