Ryan Miller unveils 2010 Olympics Mask!

 Greetings sugar-junkies! Going out of the norm, I've decided to NOT write a movie review hub, but instead bring you this.

Team USA starting goalie, Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres has unveiled the mask he will wear for the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver. Calling it badass is doing little justice to just how awesome this piece is. Now, we haven't been privy to the other side of the mask just yet, and there are rumored to be some quotes going on it (fingers crossed for, "Walk softly and carry a big stick," and "Don't tread on me") but Uncle Sam, doesn't want YOU...he wants EVERYONE. This isn't your grandfather's Uncle Sam, this guy is here to take some names and kick some ass!

Breaking down what we can see, we have Uncle Sam holding the Olympic torch in his right hand. On his left arm, which is also rolling up his right shirt sleeve (an eternal symbol that a butt-whipping is about to be laid down), Sam has a tatoo that says, "USA" with a star underneath it. There are red and blue stars adorning the mask and you can see a portion of the Olympic rings on the chin.

 Ryan Miller is the number one goalie for Team USA's Ice Hockey squad in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Born July 17, 1980, Miller grew up in East Lansing, Michigan and went to Michigan State University. There, he set an NCAA record for shutous with 26, and won many accolades including the Hobey Baker Award which is an award given annually to the nations top college ice hockey player. He was the second goaltender EVER to win the award.

After Michigan State, Miller was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL and began playing for (what was at the time) their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. After his first season in 2002-2003, he had played 15 games with the Sabres and by his by the end of the 2005-2006 season, beat out Martin Biron to become the Sabres starting goaltender. In the 2006-2007 season Miller began to gain national recognition as he was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the first time.

This current season, Miller has been lighting it up in the NHL, he currently leads the league in save percentage, is second in goals-against average, is tied for 3rd in shutouts and is in 4th place for total wins, trailing in those various categories to some of the NHL's greatest players such as Martin Brodeur and Tomas Vokoun. This outstanding play led to him being named Team USA's starting goalie (he will be backed up by Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins and Jonathan Quick of the LA Kings).

Miller has never really been known to be one to get outrageous with his masks (unlike Jason LaBarbera, whose Metallica designs seem to get more and more outrageous - Take a look at a couple HERE and HERE) and since arriving in the NHL has only worn 3 designs. However, two of the designs themselves are very similar, because the Sabres changed their color schemes recently, evoking a change in the color pattern of his mask.

Miller's day-to-day mask for the sabres has almost always consisted of a Buffalo (or Bison, if you prefer) face making up the front of the mask with a couple designs on the back. These designs were done by Miller himself for personal reasons.

The upper right, where a lizard can be seen is, according to Miller, a reminder of how he wants to play on the ice. He wants to be quick and limit his thinking, instead relying on instincts and reaction time.

The words, "Matt Man" are in remembrance of his cousin Matthew, who died of leukemia. The Bulldog is another tribute to Matt who always wanted to be known as a bulldog and a fighter. It is dressed in green and white to give a nod to Miller's alma mater, Michigan State.

Miller has always put some of his own input into his masks and the new one is no different. I'm guessing he came up with the quotes and some sketches on the layout.

Uncle Sam, the main image on the mask is a United States patriotic symbol. He is the personification of the entire nation in one body. His usage dates back to 1812 and believe it or not, was actually based on a real man! A man named Samuel Wilson was in charge of providing the army with provisions during the war of 1812, and each barrell was labeled "US." Obviously, this stood for "United States" but soldiers began jokingly saying that their Uncle Sam sent them some provisions again and the name stuck. In that light, Uncle Sam works in its representation of the real man, AND the whole, U.S. initials thing. Who says people in the 19th century weren't as educated?

Uncle Sam was once given a female counterpart named Columbia, but her usage and prominence have dropped off since the 1920s. Uncle Sam is and will always be seen as a symbol of the United States and Miller has taken that inspiration to a new level with his mask.

 That's all I really have for today. Miller's mask is awesome and if he can continue his excellent play from the NHL then his play will be equally awesome.

Let's hope Miller and Team USA can bring home the Olympic gold in Ice Hockey, something that the United States has not done since the 1980 Miracle on Ice!

For more reading on Miller, his masks, Team USA, and the newly unveiled mask, check out the links section below.