Join the ranks of people telling me off and follow me on Twitter
HERE
So by now most folks are expecting me to back track on what I wrote Sunday which was followed up by Gary Lawless today- not going to happen. Buff’s weight is what it is and I have no reason to believe after my conversations that it was anything but what I was told. The part I struggle with right now is why are so many people judgmental about his weight?
The obvious response to that question is “You brought it up Tessier!!!! You made it an issue you dumb a$$!” That’s a fair point and in my defense I thought the reveal was a clever way of not naming the player and providing a bit of inside information that had just come to me recently. So I revealed the weight, but once again why do we make such a big deal about it?
My belief is that the weight issue for Byfuglien is more compounded about our societal perception of the larger people around us. Take whatever position you want about ‘weight’ but it’s long been held that the heavier amongst us are perceived as dumber, slower, slovenly, undisciplined, and careless. It doesn’t matter if you are a kid in a playground or a businessman at the board table- size and weight evoke prejudice.
That prejudice was alive and well today when more scrutiny was put on Buff as the number became known by far more than my regular readership. Byfuglien is poor defenseman, he should be traded, make him a compliance buyout, were just some of the comments on Twitter today. All because he is fat and weighed more than almost any other NHL player? At least that’s what some want to believe.
The stats don’t back that idea up, not even the fancy ones.
12-13 5th in points, 5th in goals 19th in TOI for defensemen
11-12 2nd in points, 6th in goals, 23rd in TOI for defensemen
10-11 4th in points, 1st in goals, 36th in TOI for defensemen
If Buff walked onto an outdoor rink and stood with all the other guys along the boards we’d probably pick him near the end. That’s the prejudice existing in our daily world when it comes to weight.
Buff is a unique hockey player; he has size, speed, hands, physical prowess, moves and hockey sense. He plays a high, risk high reward game while logging lots of minutes and none of those qualities are inhibited by his weight. Even if he played at 240 lbs there is not a shred of evidence that suggests there would be more production from him.
So while we worry about Buff’s weight, a story that is repeated every off season since the Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, we should all at least look at it in context, a fair one at that: Dustin Byfuglien is not a liability because of his weight. He may be an anomaly because of it but that does not mean he deserves to receive any level of prejudice towards him, just like any other member of society.
Talk about his weight all you want but the only thing holding Dustin Byfuglien back from being a dominant player night in and out is sitting right between his ears. Adjust that ‘gentle giant’ playing attitude and the only numbers the fans and media will be talking about are the ones on the stats sheet.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • 
Join the Discussion:
»