A point of Pride
October 27, 2023 11:24 AM Subscribe
First there was Pride Night. Then there was Pride Night controversy. Then there was cowardly surrender. Then there was a show of allyship. Now there is a partial Pride Night reversal.
Dermott for the All-Star Team!
posted by entropone at 11:50 AM on October 27, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by entropone at 11:50 AM on October 27, 2023 [4 favorites]
Gotta love how mealy mouthed and weak an organization looks when they try and sit the fence like this. (see any of a hundred responses to these sorts of things - hell, look at how small beer the Budweiser response earlier this year was)
Good on Dermott for sticking (heh) it to them.
Now the question is - what sort of guidelines exist, it's all well and good when it's supporting Pride or End Racism or "The Military" or "fight Breast Cancer", but what if one of these yahoos goes on the ice supporting something we would find repugnant?
posted by drewbage1847 at 11:51 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
Good on Dermott for sticking (heh) it to them.
Now the question is - what sort of guidelines exist, it's all well and good when it's supporting Pride or End Racism or "The Military" or "fight Breast Cancer", but what if one of these yahoos goes on the ice supporting something we would find repugnant?
posted by drewbage1847 at 11:51 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
One thing I found very notable about this is that Travis Dermott is, in NHL terms, nobody.
From an NPR article on the topic: "Like my parents said growing up, 'How awesome would it be to be the guy that people look up to?' That's what really hit home when I was a kid, especially from my mom. You want to grow up and be that guy."'
It doesn't always go this way, and it doesn't always go their way, but sometimes all it takes is one person willing to step up and do the right thing.
posted by mhoye at 11:53 AM on October 27, 2023 [19 favorites]
From an NPR article on the topic: "Like my parents said growing up, 'How awesome would it be to be the guy that people look up to?' That's what really hit home when I was a kid, especially from my mom. You want to grow up and be that guy."'
It doesn't always go this way, and it doesn't always go their way, but sometimes all it takes is one person willing to step up and do the right thing.
posted by mhoye at 11:53 AM on October 27, 2023 [19 favorites]
The move against rainbow-coloured tape came after the league received widespread criticism last season when a handful of players opted out of wearing Pride-themed warmup jerseys.
Some were afraid of God; others were afraid of Putin. Travis Dermott isn't afraid of anybody.
posted by pracowity at 11:55 AM on October 27, 2023 [10 favorites]
Some were afraid of God; others were afraid of Putin. Travis Dermott isn't afraid of anybody.
posted by pracowity at 11:55 AM on October 27, 2023 [10 favorites]
So many hockey players are great people, and the leadership of the NHL just sucks.
Now I kind of want some pride tape to put on, uh, my laptop, I guess, since I'm not a pro player.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:56 AM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
Now I kind of want some pride tape to put on, uh, my laptop, I guess, since I'm not a pro player.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:56 AM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
BTW: if you want some pride tape of your own, here ya go: https://pridetape.com/shop
posted by wenestvedt at 11:56 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 11:56 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Bettman is a spineless toady and the prevailing wind happens to pull him in the right direction for this moment. Is there tape I can wear to support a league office that isn't gutless?
posted by cmfletcher at 12:57 PM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 12:57 PM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
It's the best sport run by the worst league.
posted by Superilla at 1:00 PM on October 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by Superilla at 1:00 PM on October 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
but what if one of these yahoos goes on the ice supporting something we would find repugnant?
Then let them risk the social consequences, same as Dermott did.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:34 PM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Then let them risk the social consequences, same as Dermott did.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:34 PM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Okay, I'm unreasonably excited about this. Let me explain.
Until a couple of years ago, I knew nothing about hockey. Then I started reading gay romance books. Gay romance books, in case you didn't know, have a major thing for hockey players, specifically gay hockey players who come out and completely upset the homophobic dynamics of the league, force a reckoning with the league's administration, and, of course, live happily ever after.
There are over 1100 active players in the NHL between Canada and the US. What do you think the odds are that none of them are gay?
I know life isn't a romance novel, obviously. I know that anyone coming out in the NHL would be in for a world of hurt.
But it's going to happen eventually. And by now, some of those guys have to be seriously sick of how the league treats them.
I'm allowed to dream, all right? And right now, I'm dreaming of a full-on passionate kiss between two players on the ice, right before halftime. If there was ever a time for a dramatic show of courage in the face of oppression, this is it.
I'm shipping the whole damn NHL.
posted by MrVisible at 1:44 PM on October 27, 2023 [15 favorites]
Until a couple of years ago, I knew nothing about hockey. Then I started reading gay romance books. Gay romance books, in case you didn't know, have a major thing for hockey players, specifically gay hockey players who come out and completely upset the homophobic dynamics of the league, force a reckoning with the league's administration, and, of course, live happily ever after.
There are over 1100 active players in the NHL between Canada and the US. What do you think the odds are that none of them are gay?
I know life isn't a romance novel, obviously. I know that anyone coming out in the NHL would be in for a world of hurt.
But it's going to happen eventually. And by now, some of those guys have to be seriously sick of how the league treats them.
I'm allowed to dream, all right? And right now, I'm dreaming of a full-on passionate kiss between two players on the ice, right before halftime. If there was ever a time for a dramatic show of courage in the face of oppression, this is it.
I'm shipping the whole damn NHL.
posted by MrVisible at 1:44 PM on October 27, 2023 [15 favorites]
To paraphrase a Megan Amram joke: the league makes hockey players wear mouth guards so they don't all start kissing each other.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 1:58 PM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 1:58 PM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
I know life isn't a romance novel, obviously. I know that anyone coming out in the NHL would be in for a world of hurt.
Havvvvvve you met Luke?
posted by ersatzkat at 2:16 PM on October 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
Havvvvvve you met Luke?
posted by ersatzkat at 2:16 PM on October 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
just gonna drop a link to especially adorable gay hockey romance webcomic Check Please
posted by taquito sunrise at 8:47 AM on October 28, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by taquito sunrise at 8:47 AM on October 28, 2023 [6 favorites]
Echoing several of the above comments - there's really nothing more embarassing than the small cadre of old men who run the NHL, who are unwilling to make any kind of stand on any issue, who are so risk averse as to be rigidly frozen in time, and who do their best to amplify hockey culture's head-down, don't stick out, don't have a personality, don't rock the boat mentality.
Dermott and the players like Jon Merril (who said "What is the league going to do? Take me off the ice? Give me a penalty? Then you look bad as a league. I don’t know. It’s upsetting. Just disappointing" ) are a rare example of rebellion that will hopefully snowball as players continue to chafe at being told to walk the blandest company line possible.
Everything about this situation is disgusting, especially considering that this is the same league where a major franchise, the Chicago Blackhawks, is just a few years away from covering up the actions of a sexual predator and getting a slap on the wrist for their efforts.
Hockey has a long, established culture of covering up abuse, sexual and otherwise. Somehow, that's more morally acceptable than making everyone feel welcome at the rink.
The best sport, run by the worst people/league, indeed.
posted by jordantwodelta at 2:52 PM on October 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Dermott and the players like Jon Merril (who said "What is the league going to do? Take me off the ice? Give me a penalty? Then you look bad as a league. I don’t know. It’s upsetting. Just disappointing" ) are a rare example of rebellion that will hopefully snowball as players continue to chafe at being told to walk the blandest company line possible.
Everything about this situation is disgusting, especially considering that this is the same league where a major franchise, the Chicago Blackhawks, is just a few years away from covering up the actions of a sexual predator and getting a slap on the wrist for their efforts.
Hockey has a long, established culture of covering up abuse, sexual and otherwise. Somehow, that's more morally acceptable than making everyone feel welcome at the rink.
The best sport, run by the worst people/league, indeed.
posted by jordantwodelta at 2:52 PM on October 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by jacquilynne at 11:27 AM on October 27, 2023 [38 favorites]