James Tanner: Culture of Silence Contributes to Hockey's Biggest Problem

Regarding going to the White House, going doesn’t mean you support the president, it’s just an honor to go. It’s what you do when you win the cup. When the nba player skipped the White House, what exactly did that do for social justice? Did it get better because they skipped it? Doubtful.

Regarding going to the White House, going doesn’t mean you support the president, it’s just an honor to go. It’s what you do when you win the cup. When the nba player skipped the White House, what exactly did that do for social justice? Did it get better because they skipped it? Doubtful.
- ClaudeFather

Not every action is going to change the world, but taking no actions because of that is a cop-out. Symbolic gestures matter.

The world doesn't change because of one bit thing, it changes because of a million small ones.

What happened as descried by Aliu was and is horrific. It absolutely should not be tolerated at any level. One thing you noted that I'm not totally sure of/on board with is the following:

NHL Players make millions of dollars and are worshiped as celebrities by a large amount of people. They therefore have some kind of social obligation.

I've never understood why it is claimed people who make a lot of money and become celebrities have a social obligation to anyone other than their own families (or whomever they hold dear). Now, if they had stepped on, or wronged others to get to that status, then I can see the argument for retribution, but outside of that, why are they beholden to anyone?

Additionally, I personally think that endorsements or statements by such people (for instance Crosby) would do much, if anything, to change the culture. I would think that more transparency of what is actually going on would lead to more change. I think the vast majority of people would say that Aliu's situation is horrible regardless of any background or political leaning. If that can to light, I think you would see more change than any PSA or statement from a star.

Downie would still be in the league if his play didnt drop. The league and fans didnt really care he almost killed Mccammond , and they probably wouldnt care about this. Hed Give some half assed (if even)apology, and then the people would call for a turning of the page.

A big part of the problem of racism in the game is the continued lack of regard for player safety at all levels of play.

While I agree with everything Aliu says (everyone knew Downie was deranged for years, but hey, he was good at hockeying, so Hockey Canada and the Flyers turned a blind eye), good lord, the Players' Tribune is unreadable.

Hint: if it's supposed to be essays from the players themselves, hire more than one ghost writer.

Downie would still be in the league if his play didnt drop. The league and fans didnt really care he almost killed Mccammond , and they probably wouldnt care about this. Hed Give some half assed (if even)apology, and then the people would call for a turning of the page.

A big part of the problem of racism in the game is the continued lack of regard for player safety at all levels of play.
- david22

The Windsor incident was surely racism, but it wasn't just racism.

It was also the sick, twisted culture of bullying that was allowed to continue for years and years and years.

Hazing actually has a purpose. I'm not opposed to hazing in all forms.

What happened to Aliu was not hazing. What happened to those kids at St. Mike's (the school, not the hockey team) was not hazing. It was psychotic behaviour that was allowed to happen, again and again.

Not every action is going to change the world, but taking no actions because of that is a cop-out. Symbolic gestures matter.

The world doesn't change because of one bit thing, it changes because of a million small ones.
- James_Tanner

Or maybe they one day dreamed of winning the cup and being able to go to the White House, don’t fault them for going. It would be nice for players to speak on these situations but in no way are they obligated to and it doesn’t make them less of a person for choosing to be silent. Tons of these players do work in their communities they play in or grew up in and that speaks much louder than skipping a once in a life time visit to the White House.

I really like your blog, Tanner. I think you hit the nail on the head more often than not. I think it would matter if stars push back on this stuff. But my guess is that their publicists probably nix that idea for exactly what you said, alienating their fans. Even though it's likely a very small percentage, the loudest always seem to win.

It's so rare to get someone to say what's on their mind rather than releasing a well put together statement. But in the age of outrage, that's the safe bet.

All the stuff that happened to Aliu is awful and shouldn't happen. However, The players can only say and do so much. If you read what happened, his treatment was allowed by the coach and management, and even done by them (Bill Peters).

Sure the players can say something, but if ownership, GM's and coaches don't do anything than the impact will be minimal as they control who plays.

I really like your blog, Tanner. I think you hit the nail on the head more often than not. I think it would matter if stars push back on this stuff. But my guess is that their publicists probably nix that idea for exactly what you said, alienating their fans. Even though it's likely a very small percentage, the loudest always seem to win.

It's so rare to get someone to say what's on their mind rather than releasing a well put together statement. But in the age of outrage, that's the safe bet.
- FoxMulder

Thanks very much, it is appreciated.

Or maybe they one day dreamed of winning the cup and being able to go to the White House, don’t fault them for going. It would be nice for players to speak on these situations but in no way are they obligated to and it doesn’t make them less of a person for choosing to be silent. Tons of these players do work in their communities they play in or grew up in and that speaks much louder than skipping a once in a life time visit to the White House.
- ClaudeFather

I feel like you are missing my point, which is that the silence does as much to allow this stuff to happen as anything else.

It even said in the PT article "NHL players are taught to be robotic machines" and not do anything to rock the ship.

All the stuff that happened to Aliu is awful and shouldn't happen. However, The players can only say and do so much. If you read what happened, his treatment was allowed by the coach and management, and even done by them (Bill Peters).

Sure the players can say something, but if ownership, GM's and coaches don't do anything than the impact will be minimal as they control who plays.
- abcpens10

Agreed. If a player wants to speak out then it's his right to do so. But I'm not going to condemn Sid Crosby for not saying anything. LeBron James has been very good about speaking up about various issues. He's made a difference. He's brought more awareness. I respect that.

Michael Jordan focused on basketball and selling his brand. Namely his shoes. He didn't get involved in politics or anything outside of winning NBA titles. Do I think less of him? No. It's a person's right to choose to speak out or not.

Agreed. If a player wants to speak out then it's his right to do so. But I'm not going to condemn Sid Crosby for not saying anything. LeBron James has been very good about speaking up about various issues. He's made a difference. He's brought more awareness. I respect that.

Michael Jordan focused on basketball and selling his brand. Namely his shoes. He didn't get involved in politics or anything outside of winning NBA titles. Do I think less of him? No. It's a person's right to choose to speak out or not.
- gergeswillems

Staying silent is cowardly no matter how you frame it. Lebron basically said "don't be my fan if you like Voldemort" and that's awesome. But the people who don't have a 100 million in the bank should still say it.

Can’t get the hits talking hockey, so we keep heading for for controversial and political stuff eh.

Just think of how much more of a voice Aliu would have had if he stuck with it and didn't quit. I don't like what happened to him, but many of us were subject to the same type of hazing...and yet still persevered.

Look at that, more proof that Steve Downie is a P.O.S....so pop him in the mouth and shut him up then...don't quit and then write a book report about it. As ridiculous as it sounds now at 50yrs old, as a teenage rookie "who wasn't locked in a bus bathroom, or a shower, or an outhouse, or tied to a chair naked in a hotel lobby, or lost a pickle race, or failed the impossible sit-up, had their head shaved, their eyebrows, their ....... shaved, etc. etc. etc. Some get through it, some care, some don't, some quit. I really don't think this is a story unique to Akim Aliu.

I really...REALLY hate to bring it up in case it was not the case, but the thought does cross my mind that maybe he was hazed and treated like a lot of rookies, only to blame it on a race thing. A lot of the old nicknames were not exactly endearing and they WERE in fact racist...but I don't think that was the intention back then. I would actually argue (from a player's perspective) that even negative attention meant that you were "in the club". Players that were/are truly racist, don't go near the player. They don't even talk to him. The truly weirdo racist guys would steer completely near of the person they judged/feared/whatever. They certainly would not "touch" them if they were racist. I've met guys like that, and in fact, the captains and boys' club guys that did a lot of the hazing would actually discipline the weirdo racist guys back them. To drag a rookie naked into the shower, or bathroom, or parking lot, or whatever...was our weird and twisted way of saying "hey man, welcome to the club". Nowadays it sounds really messed up, but that's what it was, and I personally I don't feel like it was racism. I wonder if Aliu was just a "young dumb f---n' rook that deserved to get initiated" in their eyes.

I will also say that in my opinion coaches are not at all part of this. Coaches should be protective of the rookies and critical of the vets doing this stuff. A coach participating, or worse name calling etc. (i.e. Peters) should be disciplined/fined/fired (depending on the offense). I know a guy who was in the room with Aliu and Peters and Peters was WAY offside. I think I've argued the other side before, but I have since heard that Peters' language was totally personally directed and 100% racist rhetoric....this is far from hazing it's a violation of human rights, which is very different.

Staying silent is cowardly no matter how you frame it. Lebron basically said "don't be my fan if you like Voldemort" and that's awesome. But the people who don't have a 100 million in the bank should still say it.
- James_Tanner

You don't get to make up the rules. Thinking you do is cowardly.

You don't get to make up the rules. Thinking you do is cowardly.
- gergeswillems

Pretty sure that the unwritten rule is to speak out when you see something's not right. Whether it be bullying, racism, domestic abuse, etc. That's what parents teach their kids, it's what companies tell their employees and what the government promotes via laws.

Holding people to be responsible and have high standards in regards to injustice isn't cowardly. Not doing so is.

President Donald J. Trump, fixed it for you!

Pretty sure that the unwritten rule is to speak out when you see something's not right. Whether it be bullying, racism, domestic abuse, etc. That's what parents teach their kids, it's what companies tell their employees and what the government promotes via laws.

Holding people to be responsible and have high standards in regards to injustice isn't cowardly. Not doing so is.
- FoxMulder

Sure. It's the right thing to do. You'd hope everyone would speak up. But we know it doesn't happen. When Theo Fleury and Sheldon Kennedy were being abused in Swift Current by Graham James, did we hear anything from their teammate, Joe Sakic? No we didn't. He wasn't painted to be a coward. All he said was "it wasn't me." He's a Canadian hockey hero. A Hall of Famer. I've never heard anyone call him a coward.

Yet turns around and is fine taking money from a government that jails and tortures (and murders for organs) the Uygers.
Does the same to the Falun Gong.
Brutalizes their own citizens for speaking out against the government.
Went with a regimen of forced abortion and sterilization for years.
Uses child labour.
Has literal concentration camps.

Lebron can eff off.

Yet turns around and is fine taking money from a government that jails and tortures (and murders for organs) the Uygers.
Does the same to the Falun Gong.
Brutalizes their own citizens for speaking out against the government.
Went with a regimen of forced abortion and sterilization for years.
Uses child labour.
Has literal concentration camps.

Lebron can eff off.
- OzBolts

If you're going to pull the China card, then every American is guilty too. From electronics to everyday products made in China (sweatshops of child labor). Not to mention China owns about a trillion of our debt, or the companies that do business in China that make money too.

Slippery slope.

Sure. It's the right thing to do. You'd hope everyone would speak up. But we know it doesn't happen. When Theo Fleury and Sheldon Kennedy were being abused in Swift Current by Graham James, did we hear anything from their teammate, Joe Sakic? No we didn't. He wasn't painted to be a coward. All he said was "it wasn't me." He's a Canadian hockey hero. A Hall of Famer. I've never heard anyone call him a coward.
- gergeswillems

Witnessing abuse and staying quiet is cowardly. Be it a school bully or a silent Joe Sakic. Pretty simple really.

Not sure I want to read the comments. I think saying nhl players have a social obligation is too strong. Players who do go above and beyond on social and ethical issues are great. But it’s above and beyond... not an obligation.

Great, another blog that circles back to Trump