Commentary: I Stand With Nick

(Listen daily for the RP Commentary on the All New Hits 98 CKHD & LTD Radio)
There’s lots of things I like about Canada and frankly, took for granted for years. One of those is the fact hockey is #1 and truly is a year-round sport. That can be good and bad.
The good is the announcement made this week by the Western Canadian Pro Hockey Scouting Foundation that the Rod Pedersen Show will be broadcasting live from their 2025 Wall of Fame induction ceremony on July 29.
My dad Jim – many of you knew him – is among 29 inductees, which also includes Larry & Brad Hornung and Al Tuer.
Catch us live that day from the Sheraton Calgary Airport hotel at 10 am MT on Game+ TV and YouTube!
When I’m around the hockey people and my Dad’s buddies, life is good.
Meanwhile it’s not surprising that former NHL’er and current Red Deer minor hockey coach Nick Tarnasky is under investigation for his role in a fight at an Alberta golf course this week. There have been millions of views of the video of Tarnasky destroying a clearly inebriated fellow golfer; a guy who was talking when he should’ve been listening.
We used to love those “Caught On Video” TV shows. Now we see this stuff everyday.
And the video clearly shows that Tarnasky tried his best to diffuse the situation but started throwing punches once he was attacked.
Very reminiscent of the “Malice At The Palace” documentary on Netflix.
I stand with Nick.
And then I found it very odd that on a Tuesday evening in Moose Jaw, Canada, the videos popping up on my Instagram feed were from Spittin’ Chiclets, and #1 overall pick Matthew Schaeffer chirping host Paul Bissonnette in a lighthearted interview.
Two things struck me: 1) The kid represents all of the youngsters now, who are quick with the tongue but devoid of respect, and … 2) Why are all these hockey videos coming up on my phone in the dead of summer when I should be seeing CFL content instead?
Something about a sign of the times ….
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary
(Sign up for the Rod Squad Newsletter for FREE today! Get Rod’s exclusive 10 Weekend Things column plus other writers, betting tips, Hot Takes, best interviews and more! Sign up here)

Nick did a service. I think what happened. Golf etiquette is dead. Its long gone done and buried. There used to be a saying. If you want to see what a person is truly like. Take the person golfing. That is not the case anymore. Nick in no way should have any repercussions. If anything he clearly showed restraint and what concerned me. When he through the guy and had he landed wrong. That would be a manslaughter charge. The other concern. He hit him 5 times. If that guy goes home with a brain bleed….. Here’s how I call… Read more »
Did you put yourself and Bobby Knight in the same sentence?
Golf etiquette is dead. I see it every time I play the game.
I remember when we played without a beverage cart or marshal on the golf course. Geez…imagine that? The beer cart is viewed today as a “profit centre” at every golf course by ownership groups or accountants who will never deal face-to-face with the drunks. Give a couple of dudes the key to $7,500 power cart, then sell them as much booze as they want for five hours. Also, back in the day, we got it done in 4 hours or less with 6-minute tee-time intervals! SIX minutes! It was commonplace to allow a faster group to play through; because we… Read more »
Also from a pure masculine sense We all have to credit the blue shirt beard guy that called Nick on and went at him. His doughy buddy did no favors playing up how tough he is. Then it escalates. He gets tossed in the pond. He takes 5 shots. Oh and by the way doesn’t hear a bell and keeps coming at Nick. Lol – the air born launch to land and continue to get back up. I will give that guy his flowers. Lesson learned kids. The person who likes to drink will cross paths with the guy who… Read more »
Great point about the youngsters these days…and for much of the past decade or so. A boat load of screwed up parents are pushing out their chests because little Johnny is pulling down $500K at 18 years of age. The “adults” seem to think the incessant chirp is “just so cute”. The entitlement is embarrassing. It’s disrespectful, and that’s not negotiable. Indeed, we are where we are. The kids don’t give a damn…because they don’t have to.
Couple of things in play. That’s just pure narcissism. As for the parents. There is no parenting going on. What there is would be an extension of the parent provided the child lives up to that parental vision. Case in point. Go watch the W5 segment on Mitch Marner and Mike McLeod as 10 year olds. You want to take a guess who is going to wind up in a bad life situation? It won’t be Mike McLeod. Mitch Marner is 28 years old. Has $100M and unless he “Pavel Bure” his old man the I will point him to… Read more »
I actually find most young people respectful, and if anything it’s the older middle aged people who are more entitled and have their back up like they still wanna prove something and are very insecure (case and point bitching about young people). Let’s not overreact about young people based off a couple examples.
As for the Nick Tarnasky situation… good on him and loved the “Bang” after every punch. Some people just need a wake up call to be honest.
Applauding a violent assault is certainly a choice. I guess the law doesn’t apply to hockey players.
The RCMP said no charges are warranted. It must suck to be losing all your crusades these days!