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BEIJING — Now that's water polo. Goals were scored, heads were dunked and Dragan Jovanovic, the coach of the Canadian men's national team, was tossed from the pool deck and suspended for his side's next game.
If this is Thursday, it must be water polo night in Beijing at the Yingdong Natatorium, which, according to water polo insiders, is the nicest natatorium on the circuit. No doubt, the mood inside Yingdong was festive.
The Australian fans chanted, "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie; oye, oye, oye." The Canadian contingent waved flags. And for sheer lunacy, three of the Olympic mascots (people stuffed inside inflated suits) bounced onto the pool deck and danced to the song Cotton-eyed Joe.
And that wasn't even the best tune of the evening. At the start of every sprint (the all-out race for the ball floating at mid-pool that opens each period), organizers serenaded the thrashing and splashing by playing the theme from Jaws.
Pietro Faglioli of Australia, rgiht, goes up against Thomas Marks of Canada in the men's preliminary water polo event. (Getty Images)
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It was a lovely touch.
As for the game, Canada opened a 2-0 lead and was tied 4-4 at the half against an Australian team that six months ago had drubbed its Commonwealth brothers by a count of 14-1. Everything looked to be going Canada's way. Goalie Robin Randall, from Drinkwater, Sask., was standing on his head, and that's tough to do when the pool is three metres deep.
Randall's teammates were equally feisty as underwater television cameras caught a lot of kicking and swimsuit grabbing going on down below. But then it unravelled - the game, not the swimsuits.
Canada missed a scoring chance; the Aussies scored twice and Jovanovic, tired of the questionable officiating, challenged a referee to the point where he drew a yellow card then a red card and an automatic one-game suspension.
All in all, it was an entertaining show and even Jovanovic, who watched the final moments of his team's 8-5 loss on a TV in the mixed zone, seemed reasonably content with the performance.
"I'm not happy with the loss," he said. "But I am pleased with how the players did. We got back some positive momentum. We got back our fighting spirit. That is important."
Being here at the Olympics is important for the growth of Canadian water polo. Officially, this is the first time Canada has qualified for the Olympics since its previous appearances were either by invitation or being the host nation in 1976.
To actually march in through the front door was a special achievement for the players, all of whom have given much time and effort to see Canada rise from the depths. The thing was: while no one anticipated Canada would challenge for a medal; no one anticipated the team would lose its first two games by a combined score of 28-6.
Nathaniel Miller of Montreal was so disgusted after the 12-0 mauling by Montenegro that he called the game "a humiliation." Then he tossed one of the Olympic mascots into the pool. (Just kidding.)
Stung, humbled and tired of swallowing pool water, the Canadians decided to show some backbone.
"We'd worked so hard to get here and to come out flat in those two games was disappointing," said Randall, who was yanked against Montenegro only to shine against Australia with several key saves. "Everyone made a decision to come out with more intensity. You've got to put yourself in the game."
As games go, the Australians were impressed with what they saw from their foes. Pietro Figlioli, the Brazilian-born Australian driver who is reputedly the fastest man in water polo, spoke highly of the Canadian team saying it had improved greatly.
So what was the difference?
"Experience," said Figlioli. "We never expected it to be easy but we took advantage when we had our chances."
Canada's water polo team came to China to gain experience and that's exactly what it's getting, groin kicks and eye pokes aside. Some day, Canada might even win a match or two but that's not Jovanovic's immediate concern. He simply wants his team to battle on and not be chum for the sharks.
He insisted he was counting on another good fight when his players challenge Greece this Saturday. Unfortunately for Jovanovic, he won't be able to sit on the pool deck with his team and watch the action.
"Yes, I will be suspended," he said, giving it his best Mike Keenan imitation. "But I don't want to talk about it."
He shook his head dismissively. Now that's water polo.
