STACKHOUSE’S 10 WEEKEND THOUGHTS
1 – JUNIOR HOCKEY SALARIES – It’s incredible to me that this issue pops up every few years amongst the minority group of spoiled ex-junior players who think they should be getting a full-time wage or a bunch of fans who agree with them for no reason other than the fact the owners of the teams are ‘making millions on the backs of kids so share the wealth’. I could fill this entire column on why that’s nonsense but the reality is this: players who move on to junior hockey know what they are getting into and if they don’t like it, step aside for someone else who would be more appreciative of what’s being offered. Even though the player isn’t making money, they are living a high-quality life that is the envy of other teenage boys everywhere who desire a life playing sports. Further to that, these owners are providing a possible springboard to a millionaire lifestyle in the event you pan out as a pro player. If you don’t pan out, there is still educational money available to you. You are welcome.
2 – PLAYERS ARE PAID – Here’s what people like Kobe Mohr don’t see or wish to see when they complain about the slavery they endured in major junior hockey: Who was your coach? Well for Kobe in Edmonton, it was Steve Hamilton. He played four years of NCAA, had great success in Junior ‘A’ as a coach, and won a WHL championship as an associate coach in 2014. Maybe Kobe would have rather had Mike Stackhouse as a coach. I never played NCAA or coached high athletes at any point in my life and have no credibility whatsoever with players to make them better and prepare them for the next level. But if we are paying players, what’s the point of paying a good coach to help make them better? Maybe the players’ families should pay the coach. The point is players don’t get actual beans in their jeans, but I assure you they are paid in many, many ways that just aren’t translated into direct cash and my over-simplified coaching example is just one aspect where that is true.
3 – PLAYERS DON’T NEED MONEY – The other thing that I don’t really like bringing up, but I feel it’s worth noting since some people suggest owners should pay the players because they can afford to is this: the overwhelming majority of the players come from upper middle class homes and don’t need the money. If you don’t believe me, just drive by an arena parking lot during practice and take a look at the vehicles these teenagers are driving. There’s nothing wrong with that and if you can afford it, then I hold no ill will. But don’t be disingenuous and unappreciative of what is given to you as most of us just see young kids and/or families who have never had to worry about money complaining about not being given more of it while they live a junior hockey lifestyle that is the ultimate wish of just about every other hockey player not fortunate enough to also do it.
4 – PAY FOR YOUR OWN TOOLS – Most, if not all mechanics, have to buy their own tools and tool box when they work for their employer. Almost everyone who works in the real world has to pay for their own lodging. Maybe the answer to this is to pay the players for their work but let’s remove all the other perks they seem to overlook. This would include – but is not limited to – the billet fees and other pertinent costs incurred with helping a player find a place to live, the scholarship money, as well as the endless free supply of sticks, skates, hockey jerseys, socks, pants, etc. Maybe each player is given a meal/travel allowance and he’s on his own to get to the game. Have a road trip from Regina to the west coast? Good luck kid. Book your own hotel, use your own wheels, eat whatever you want within the meal allowance. Just make sure you are there on time and ready to go like the rest of us who work for a living. If you get hurt, sorry we have no trainer on staff. Too expensive. Call an ambulance, go to the hospital and file a worker’s comp report.
5 – NHL PLAYOFFS – Are they still going on? I read a snippet on Twitter that one of the games between Tampa and the Islanders that was headed into double overtime had just 48 total shots (28-20). Four periods of hockey with shot totals we should see after two periods. Yuck.
6 – NFL RACIAL JUSTICE – As a rule, I’m still not watching any sports beyond actual game play but I did catch a bit of an NFL Sunday morning show on one of the networks and I was fairly impressed with how they handled the racial justice issue. There was a small feature piece on Houston receiver Kenny Stills, who has gone on ride-alongs with police officers so that he can better understand what they go through and also so he could share with them what he goes through as a person of color. To me, this is a real serious attempt at making a difference and I can absolutely get behind it.
7 – EARLY NFL SEASON TAKEAWAYS – Joe Burrow has the potential to be special, but he needs an offensive line. Cleveland’s duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt is the best 1-2 running back combo in the league. San Francisco stands a good chance of continuing the Super Bowl runner-up curse as stud TE George Kittle joins WR Deebo Samuel on the injured list and they are already off to an 0-and-1 start in a tough division that appears to have a powerhouse in Seattle and improved teams in Arizona and Los Angeles Rams in it. It’s possible New England has upgraded at quarterback by allowing an old Tom Brady to walk and waiting out to sign Cam Newton to a dirt cheap contract. The Los Angeles Chargers coaching staff are the only people who watch football and don’t know what to do with RB Austin Ekeler. Everyone else knows he’s, basically, Marshall Faulk if used properly.
8 – LEBRON HUMBLE? – LeBron James says he’s ‘pissed off’ over his lack of consideration for the NBA MVP Award. Could it be that the voters just don’t like a guy who is very easy to dislike? I believe history is going to look back on James unfavorably for his selective moral compass during a time in which he may be the most powerful figure in all of sports. While on the subject of James, during the most recent social unrest where teams voted on whether they should cancel the playoffs or not it was the Lakers and Clippers who voted to quit while everyone else wanted to play. When the Clippers got hammered in game seven by Denver, Portland’s CJ McCollum tweeted, “…they did vote they ain’t wanna play no more … but I didn’t think they was gonna go out like that.” It shows there may not be the universal harmony we are led to believe in the playing circle, but it does go to show the influence of James.
9 – KHL SEASON – The Kontinental Hockey League in Europe began playing as of September 2nd and fans are attending games. I feel like if we want to be engaged and keep pressure on our governments in Canada, we need to pay attention to what else is happening around the world. Canada will be slow to react to other countries and the only way we can get back to normal is for the citizens to point out what is occurring in other places. Some arenas are allowing more spectators than others, but people are being allowed into venues. Meanwhile, organizers have already pre-determined the World Juniors will take place in late December in Edmonton and nobody will be allowed to go. Think about that.
10 – NO HALLOWEEN – A city I used to live in for two years has announced there will be no Halloween this year. Woodstock, New Brunswick has deemed things to be unsafe and on the one day where everybody would have no problem wearing a mask….you can’t wear a mask. If I still lived there, I would be promoting the fact I will be firmly planted at the end of my driveway and welcoming any and all people to come protest and while there, candy will be handed out to all children who are in a mask of their choice. This is a big step for me as, usually, I post a note on my door on October 30th saying I’m out of treats. In all seriousness, New Brunswick has 1 active virus case and 2 people have died since March. Approximately 750,000 live there. But Woodstock has cancelled Halloween. At some point, will people just ignore these ridiculous orders en masse rendering some governing bodies useless? That’s, truly, my hope.
(Mike Stackhouse is a freelance writer/broadcaster. Follow him on Twitter at @Stack1975)
