WEDNESDAY COMMENTARY – THE GOOD, THE GREAT & THE UGLY

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 FM & Rock 98.5 FM)

IT’S TIME FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF THE “GOOD, THE GREAT & THE UGLY”.

WE HAVEN’T HAD ONE FOR AWHILE.

THE GOOD WAS LAST NIGHT’S SJHL BROADCAST IN WILCOX WHERE WE CALLED THE HOUNDS’ 2-1 VICTORY OVER MELFORT. NOTRE DAME’S WON 8 OF THEIR LAST 10 GAMES AND THE HOUNDS ARE PLAYING AN ENTERTAINING STYLE UNDER NEW COACH BRETT PILKINGTON.

GET OUT AND WATCH THEM!

THE GREAT IS THE FACT THAT ALL LEAGUES ARE PLAYING, DESPITE THE CURRENT COVID ENVIRONMENT. THE PESKY VIRUS IS STILL A THREAT TO PULL EVERYTHING DOWN BUT THE TEAMS AND LEAGUES ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO KEEP IT GOING AND THEY ARE.

AS THEY SAY, “THE SHOW MUST GO ON”.

AND THE UGLY – IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY – IS THE CONCLUSION TO THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS SCANDAL INVOLVING THE SEXUAL MISCONDUCT OF FORMER TEAM VIDEO COACH BRAD ALDRICH.

I BRING UP THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CASE BECAUSE THE LAWYER FOR “JOHN DOE” – THE PSEUDONYM FOR ALDRICH’S VICTIM – SAID HER CLIENT IS FEELING BOTH RELIEVED AND GRATEFUL THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

THAT’S THE GOOD NEWS BECAUSE FRANKLY, THE VICTIM IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

BUT THE WHOLE SITUATION IS UGLY AND IT’S NOT OVER. JOEL QUENNEVILLE AND KEVIN CHEVELDAYOFF HAVE BEEN CALLED ON THE CARPET BY GARY BETTMAN AS THE COMMISSIONER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THEY KNEW, AND WHY THEY SAID OTHERWISE.

THAT’S UGLY TOO BECAUSE BOTH ARE GOOD MEN WHO WERE PUT IN AN AWKWARD POSITION BY A CREEP LIKE ALDRICH. THESE DAYS SPORTS IS ALL ABOUT COVERING BUTTS AND SAVING JOBS AND THOSE GUYS GOT CAUGHT UP IN IT.

SO TOO DID BLACKHAWKS GM STAN BOWMAN, WHO ULTIMATELY LOST HIS JOB. HIS POINTING THE FINGER AT HIS SUPERIORS WASN’T ENOUGH TO GET HIM OFF THE HOOK.

FOR ME I KEEP HEARKENING BACK TO THE SEXUAL ABUSE CASES IN HOCKEY IN OUR AREA AND WHILE THE PERPETRATORS WERE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE – IN MOST CASES – A LOT OF THE BYSTANDERS GOT OFF SCOTT-FREE.

THE GOOD NEWS OUT OF THAT IS, IN LIGHT OF THE CHICAGO SITUATION, MAYBE WE ARE MAKING SOME PROGRESS.

BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY