Uhh, the VC situation was much worse than Beckham and Lowry, because he was taking flights back and forth to North Carolina on the same damn day as game 7!

I think you’re partially right, but even a washed up Gretz had 90 points in the NHL that season and led Team Canada in assists in the Olympics. All the reasons to support leaving him off the shootout would apply to even more to Ray Bourque, which was the consensus take at the time, following the loss. Other than…

They’re all borderline, but you have to allow a little bit of hyperbole from the writer. As I’m sure you know though, RM’s leadership literally chose Benzema over Higuain five or so years ago because they always preferred him and with the benefit of hindsight, they’d 100% do it again.