WEDNESDAY COMMENTARY – DON’T BLAME HOCKEY

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

AS EACH PASSING DAY GOES BY, I GAIN EVEN MORE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR THEOREN FLEURY AND SHELDON KENNEDY AND OTHERS LIKE THEM.

OBVIOUSLY WE’VE KNOWN THEIR STORY FOR YEARS AS SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS OF THEIR COACH GRAHAM JAMES, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER PLAYERS WHO DIDN’T QUITE ACHIEVE AS MUCH NOTORIETY BUT DISPLAYED JUST AS MUCH COURAGE BY STEPPING FORWARD AND DETAILING THEIR ABUSE.

NOW WITH THE LATEST REVELATIONS REGARDING BERNIE LYNCH, WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE MIDST OF ANOTHER SCANDAL.

THE COMMUNITIES OF FORT FRANCES, ON AND EDSON, AB ARE DEEPLY HURTING AS WE SPEAK. AND THEY ARE LASHING OUT.

I’VE SPOKEN WITH BILLETS, PARENTS AND ALLEGED VICTIMS OF BERNIE LYNCH SINCE FRIDAY AND FRANKLY, THEIR STORIES TURN YOUR STOMACH.

I’VE ALSO SPOKEN WITH REGINA HOCKEY PLAYERS WHO FRANKLY SUPPRESSED THE ABUSE THEY ALLEGEDLY FACED FROM BERNIE BUT THE NEWS THIS WEEK HAS CAUSED TRAUMATIC FLASHBACKS.

YES, YES, YES THE NUMBER-ONE QUESTION HAS BEEN, “HOW COULD THIS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO GO ON FOR SO LONG?”

THERE ARE REASONS FOR THAT, AND NOT MANY OF THEM ARE GOOD. BUT IN A LOT OF CASES, THE VICTIMS HAD THE CHANCE TO PUT BERNIE IN HANDCUFFS BUT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, STOOD DOWN WHEN THEY GOT TO THE FINISH LINE.

AND WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE THEM? NOT MANY OF US HAVE BEEN IN THEIR SHOES.

BUT THOSE PLAYERS WHO WENT TO COURT AND TESTIFIED AGAINST GRAHAM JAMES ALL THOSE YEARS AGO SMASHED THE SHAME AND STIGMA WHICH THEY NEVER SHOULD’VE FACED IN THE FIRST PLACE. TODAY THEY ARE LIVING FREE WHILE GRAHAM WAS PUT IN A CELL.

I’VE HEARD TALES OF KIDS WHO’VE QUIT HOCKEY BECAUSE OF THEIR TREATMENT BY BERNIE LYNCH. THEY’RE BITTER AT THE GAME TO THIS DAY. THEY’RE BITTER AT THE TEAMS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

BUT LET’S MAKE SURE OUR ENERGIES ARE FOCUSED ON THE RIGHT THING. DON’T BLAME THE GAME OF HOCKEY. THERE ARE SOME BAD PEOPLE IN IT, JUST LIKE ANY WALK OF LIFE. THEY NEED TO PAY FOR THEIR CRIMES, NOT THE GAME.

THERE ARE ASPECTS OF HOCKEY WHICH NEED TO CHANGE IMMEDIATELY. NO ONE DISPUTES THAT. THIS IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION OF CHANGE.

BUT LAWSUITS AGAINST TEAMS AND LEAGUES AREN’T GOING TO DO A DAMN BIT OF GOOD WHEN IT COMES TO HEALING FROM ABUSE.

YOU DON’T BEGIN TO HEAL UNTIL YOU LOOK THE ROOT OF YOUR PROBLEMS RIGHT SQUARE IN THE EYE.

BOYS, IT’S TIME.

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