Damien Cox
Hockey culture not inclined to social activism,
The surprise, quite honestly, would have been if Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins had done anything else.
But we can still be disappointed. We can still hope for more.
We can be disappointed that at a time when neutrality just doesn’t cut it, the NHL champion Penguins and Crosby, a Canadian citizen and the best player in the world, chose neutrality because it was easier, more comfortable and less controversial.
The champions of a league that is 90 per cent white (and 75 per cent non-American) chose not to align themselves with Black American athletes who were called “sons of bitches” by President Donald Trump on the weekend, chose to behave as though it’s business as usual, and that of course they’ll be attending the White House to be feted by Trump next month because, well, why shouldn’t they? Something wrong out there?
The Pens, widely criticized for their tone-deaf announcement on Sunday,actually released the same statement that was originally given out in June.
But they appeared to be telling the world that the racial turmoil created by Trump’s comments over the weekend simply wasn’t their problem.
“I support (going to the White House). It’s a great honour for us to be invited there,” said Crosby on Monday.
Oh, Sid. Seriously? Not even, “My teammates and I sympathize with NFL players and have decided to review our visit to the White House.” Or, “We disagree with the comments of the president and will meet as a team to discuss our future plans.” That would have made it appear the hockey club and No. 87 were at least somewhat aware of the coast-to-coast protests in NFL stadiums on Sunday, at least somewhat sympathetic to the genuine concerns of Black NFL players.
The Penguins simply blew the chance to be identified with the right side of an issue, supporting their fellow pro athletes against the ravings of a politician who chose to throw red meat to his base by shouting that athletes should be “fired” if they choose to protest during the national anthem.
Pens head coach Mike Sullivan lamely tried to argue the decision to go to the White House was “politics aside.” But whether the Penguins like it or not, the White House is already using their decision as evidence that NHLers see the political world Trump’s way.
“Please to inform (sic) that the Champion Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL will be joining me at the White House for Ceremony. Great team!” tweeted Trump on Sunday.
The NHL, it’s fair to say, got sideswiped by this issue on the weekend, as did the Maple Leafs on Monday. Naturally, Arizona-born Auston Matthews was asked about Pittsburgh’s decision and the NFL protests, and mostly fumbled it around.
“Isn’t that one of the amendments? You have the right to say whatever you want?” said Matthews when first asked about the weekend events.
He then said he has family members who have fought for the U.S. military, and that kneeling during the anthem “dishonours” the flag.
That’s fine. Matthews can have his opinion, and like all athletes he has both the right to protest and not to protest. At the same time, he’s 20 years old without the benefits of having had a university experience and, by his own admission, is not “really a huge politics guy.” Probably best, then, to avoid the issue entirely, or say it’s something he hasn’t studied carefully, or in some way avoid looking quite as blissfully unaware as he ended up looking.
Historically, hockey has rarely handled complex political issues adroitly. In 30 years of covering the league, I could probably count on one hand the number of politically aware and articulate NHL players I’ve encountered.
The culture simply isn’t inclined that way, or towards social activism. Hockey, and the NHL, has effectively promoted community involve- ment well, and hockey players are particularly good at visiting hospitals and raising funds for community projects. When playoff MVP Tim Thomas chose not to visit the White House in 2012 along with the rest of his Boston Bruins teammates because he didn’t like the policies of president Barack Obama, however, the hockey world didn’t know quite what to do with it. Most of the discussion had to do with whether Thomas was being a “team player,” not whether he had a right to protest. Most were shocked an NHL player had such strong political views.
No wonder the reaction of the Penguins on Sunday, then, was to just reiterate what they said before as though nothing had changed, because in hockey nothing really had changed. It probably didn’t cross their minds as an organization or as players that they had common ground on this issue with the NFL or NFL players.
There are now more people of colour in hockey, but the NHL remains a very white league, mostly employing Canadians and Europeans as players, executives and coaches. Sure, those players work and live for the most part in American cities, but the demographics of the league allow players for the most part to avoid politics entirely, unless it’s to decry tax policies that might cut into their salaries.
Even if the president chooses to dishonour other North American professional athletes, hockey players and teams would apparently prefer to continue honouring the office. It’s a lot simpler than taking a stand. We know what Dante wrote of those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis. But to steal a line from Apocalypse Now and apply it to hockey, “Dante don’t skate.” Damien Cox is the co-host of Prime Time Sports on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. He spent nearly 30 years covering a variety of sports for The Star. Follow him @DamoSpin. His column appears Tuesday and Saturday.