THURSDAY COMMENTARY – GOOD LUCK WITH THAT
(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 FM & Rock 98.5 FM)
THE NHL AND THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS CONTINUE TO FACE THEIR DAY OF RECKONING. IN FACT IT’S TURNED INTO “DAYS” OF RECKONING.
AND IT CONTINUES TO HIT CLOSE TO HOME. ONE OF THE VICTIMS OF SEX ABUSE – AND ABUSE OF POWER – WITHIN THE CHICAGO ORGANIZATION IS KYLE BEACH. HE CAME FORWARD THURSDAY AS THE INFAMOUS “JOHN DOE 1” AND TOLD HIS STORY ON TSN.
BEACH IS FROM BC AND PLAYED IN THE WHL WITH EVERETT, LETHBRIDGE AND SPOKANE. YOU PROBABLY SAW HIM PLAY LIVE. I KNOW I CALLED HIS GAMES.
WATCHING HIS INTERVIEW WAS GUT-WRENCHING AND LIKE MOST OTHERS, I COMMEND KYLE FOR HIS COURAGE.
IT CONTINUES TO HIT HOME BECAUSE, AS WE NOTED ON WEDNESDAY’S COMMENTARY, WINNIPEG JETS GM KEVIN CHEVELDAYOFF AND FLORIDA PANTHERS COACH JOEL QUENNEVILLE ARE TO APPEAR BEFORE COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY DENIED KNOWING ABOUT THE SITUATION WAY WHEN THEY WERE WITH CHICAGO, AND PERHAPS WHY THEY DIDN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
CHEVELDAYOFF HAILS FROM BLAINE LAKE, SASKATCHEWAN AND I’VE KNOWN HIM SINCE WE WERE TEENAGERS.
IT’LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS UNFOLDS BUT I’M NOT ONE CAMPAIGNING FOR THESE TWO TO BE SUSPENDED TILL THE NHL INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE. THEY WERE JUST CAUGHT UP IN THE MACHINE AND TRYING TO DO THEIR JOBS. IT REALLY DOESN’T SEEM LIKE THEY KNEW TOO MUCH AT THE TIME. IF THE FINDINGS PROVE OTHERWISE, THEN I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THEIR DISMISSALS. BUT UNTIL THEN, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS.
IT IS THE BLACKHAWKS SUPERIORS WHO FAILED KYLE, AND THEY’VE ALREADY LOST THEIR JOBS.
ONE SEX ABUSE VICTIM WHO’S FOLLOWING THIS STORY ASKED ME LAST NIGHT WHY NO ONE WENT TO THE POLICE AT THE TIME? THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION TOO.
THAT’S NOT TO SAY I’M RIGHT. IT’S JUST HOW I FEEL. IF THESE TWO ARE DISCIPLINED, OR LOSE THEIR JOBS, IT’LL BE BECAUSE THE NHL WANTS A POUND OF FLESH AND TO SATISFY THE ANGRY MOB. (SEE: PEEL, TIM)
I SAW A BIG-NAME AMERICAN COMMENTATOR SAY THE 2010 BLACKHAWKS STANLEY CUP TEAM IS NOW TAINTED BUT I DISAGREE. THE 1989 MEMORIAL CUP FOR THE SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS ISN’T TAINTED BECAUSE OF GRAHAM JAMES, BECAUSE WE WON’T LET IT BE. THOSE PLAYERS DESERVE BETTER.
AGAIN, NOT SAYING I’M RIGHT. IT’S JUST HOW I FEEL.
AND THE FAR BIGGER ISSUE HERE IS THE COMMENTS BY KYLE BEACH’S LAWYER WHO SAID SPORTS NEEDS TO SHED ITS “ANIMALISTIC” NATURE WHERE IT VALUES WINNING AND GREED WHILE DEVALUING HUMAN BEINGS.
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ONE.
WHEN YOU STOP WATCHING GAMES, BUYING TICKETS AND JERSEYS, WE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE.
THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY
Love this piece Rod. Great points made!
Here is what is going to happen and here is a comparison. The right way is doing the right thing based on values and process. The Saskatchewan Roughriders were in the midst of a budding dynasty. Their GM was accused of something. The CEO who ran a massive school board instinctively stepped in, showed leadership and put the GM on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. End of story. There was no debate. The operating budget of the Roughriders at the time I want to say would have been $15M. The Chicago Blackhawks are a billion dollar entity within a… Read more »
Agree wholeheartedly. We’ll do what we have to to keep our jobs, even if it means checking our morals at the door. This mentally has to change.
Who is we? Do not include me in that. I met my first scumbag employer starting my career. I sat and took it, and took it, just to get enough street cred to make my bones. After that it was a call to all the customers, references in place – gone. And that company never hit the big time. Get educated. Get experience and not be a drone or no mind. Show achievement. Be humble. Be honest. Make damn sure people are on notice that interity will not be compromised. So you guys kiss the rings, be low status dweebs… Read more »
There’s no free passes accepted on this NHL scandal to anyone sitting there doing nothing about it, they’re all involved for condoning a criminal act. Everyone on that professional management team need to be out of the league immediately!
Rod,
This is an awful take. Q and Kevin knew and did absolutely nothing. That is despicable. Winning Trump’s all eh?
When Pro Hockey Great Mark Messier talks, people need to listen.