FRIDAY CAT COUNTRY COMMENTARY – IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary at 9:50 am and 5:20 pm on Cat Country 98 FM)

IN THE END, THE NHL SUCCUMBED TO PRESSURE AND POSTPONED ITS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY PLAYOFF GAMES TO ALIGN WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES IN THE NBA.

THEY’RE BEING APPLAUDED FOR SUPPORTING NBA PLAYERS’ BOYCOTTS FOR BLACK LIVES MATTER BUT TO ME, IF THAT WAS TRULY THE CASE, THEY’D HAVE DONE IT THE NIGHT BEFORE.

I’VE DRAWN HARSH CRITICISM FOR SUPPORTING THE NHL’S RIGHT TO PLAY ON WEDNESDAY, BUT I DON’T CARE. THAT JUST TELLS ME PEOPLE ARE LISTENING.

AND BY THE WAY, NOT ALL BLACK PEOPLE FEEL THE NBA SHOULD’VE WALKED OFF THE COURT.

I WON’T NAME NAMES BECAUSE THEY CAN SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES BUT THE PEOPLE OF COLOUR I’VE BEEN WITH THE PAST FEW DAYS DON’T REALLY SEE HOW BOYCOTTING GAMES WILL BENEFIT THE CAUSE.

GENERATING DISCUSSION PROBABLY HELPS, BUT THERE’S NO GUARANTEE IT’LL AFFECT CHANGE. AND ALSO,  IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO.

IN FACT, ONE NOTED BLACK FRIEND OF MINE SAID THE BIGGEST TWIST OF IRONY IN ALL OF THIS IS THAT IF GEORGE FLOYD AND JACOB BLAKE HADN’T BEEN SHOT, NONE OF THESE PROTESTS WOULD’VE HAPPENED.

IN THE END, THEY’RE BAD PEOPLE. CRIMINALS. HE USED A TERM TO DESCRIBE THEM THAT I CAN’T EVEN SAY ON THE AIR AND YET THEY’LL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS HEROES.

WHAT’S THE MESSAGE WE’RE SENDING THERE?

AND REGARDING ALL THE UNREST WE’RE SEEING WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS TO THE SOUTH, ANOTHER OF MY BLACK FRIENDS SAID, “I’M GLAD I’M IN CANADA.”

FINALLY! SOMETHING WE CAN ALL AGREE ON.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY ON CAT COUNTRY 98.