Vigneault offers solemn defense of his character
Flyers coach Alain Vigneault happened to mention the other day that he doesn’t do Twitter. By Saturday he had realized you don’t have to be active on social media to have social media smack you around a bit.
Criticized by media members — including former Calgary general manager Craig Button — and excoriated on social media for comments he made in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting, Vigneault used nearly five minutes of “press conference” time Saturday to apologize for not staying on top of current issues, but also indicating anger at people taking what he seemed to deem unwarranted potshots at his character.
This all apparently stemmed from Vigneault’s perhaps naive but honest answers Wednesday night and Thursday to questions about the ongoing protests over the Blake shooting by a cop in Kenosha, Wis. last weekend, and their impact on games in the NHL and NBA. On Wednesday night, immediately after the Flyers’ 4-3 overtime win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Islanders, one of two games that hadn’t been canceled by the league while the NBA did cancel playoff games that night, Vigneault seemed surprised to be asked about the situation and essentially brushed off the question.
Then during a Zoom conference Thursday, Vigneault again tried to say he wasn’t following the protests because he was too caught up in his job inside the NHL’s “bubble” in Toronto.
Sometimes honesty is far from the best policy.
“We played yesterday ... I really have no idea what’s going on in the outside world,” Vigneault had said Thursday. “We’re in this bubble right now, and we’re invested 24/7 on our team. I’m working 20 hours a day going through video comparing our group. I don’t do Twitter. I haven’t read a sports article in I don’t know how long and
I haven’t read any kind of article in I don’t know how long. I guess I’m a hockey nerd and that’s what I’m doing right now.”
The criticism, which began Wednesday night when San Jose’s Evander Kane, a Black player, called it “incredibly insulting” of the NHL to have allowed the games to be played, heightened around the Flyers after Vigneault, 59, spoke later that night, and especially after he followed up on Thursday.
On TSN, Canada’s all-sports network, Button called Vigneault’s words Thursday, “abhorrent and indefensible.”
Just a little over the top, perhaps, but that and other criticisms seemed to hit their intended target.
By Friday, Vigneault refused to do a media Zoom chat.
By Saturday, he had it all worked out what he was going to say:
“Being French,” Vigneault began, “my English isn’t as good as everyone’s, so bear with me a little bit here.” He then read from handprinted text on a legal pad.
“In life, I answer to my parents, I answer to my family, I answer to my friends and I answer to God,” Vigneault said. “Everyone that I’ve just mentioned knows that what I’ve said since our postgame on Wednesday is the truth. My honesty, my integrity, and my social commitment for some reason has been pushed to the forefront.
“After our last game against the New York Islanders, I was asked about the situation in the NBA. We had played a 3 o’clock game. I didn’t know what was going on, so I didn’t comment. We got back that night at 6:15 at the hotel. I picked up some food, had a martini and went to my room to work. We were playing in less than 24 hours. I worked late into the night, got up very early the next morning and continued to work. I conducted my 10:30 to 11:45 coaches meeting. At 11:45, I went to get COVID-tested. At 12 o’clock, I was back here for a press conference. I never bothered to ask or checked with anyone what was going on in the world or the NBA. I am guilty of that. I was totally focused on our next game. Like I said at the 12 o’clock press conference, I am for equality and I am for social justice.”
Vigneault continued his playby-play of his Thursday activities, saying he went to a pre-game meal, then bumped into four players talking about games possibly being canceled that night. “That was my first indication that something was going on,” Vigneault said. “Shortly, very shortly after that, I received a text from one of my players, telling me that they were not playing that evening.”
Then, he looked toward the camera and forcefully added, “I am guilty of not checking up on what was going on in the world and in the NBA, but I am a good person. I believe in equality. I believe in social justice. I want to be part of the solution. I want to help society in any way I can.”
Vigneault went on to thank “all of the people that have texted me and called me in the last 48 hours to show their support,” and wished them to “stay safe.” He then addressed his critics who “have questioned my honesty, questioned my integrity and questioned my social commitment, I want to say you also stay safe.
“We all have our part to do moving forward to help society fix these issues,” Vigneault concluded after a pause. “Maybe we can all start by being good to one another. Society is like a big team. Everyone has a role to play. If we work together and do our roles, I am convinced that we can fix society’s issues.
“I want to thank everyone for being here. Everyone stay safe and that concludes today’s press conference. Thank you. Stay safe.”
He then walked off, perhaps again trying to shift his sole focus toward Saturday night’s Game 3.