Trash Talk is a Part of Hockey

Another article in the Toronto Star has provided the impetus for today’s column. This story was on the front page of the sports section and, as soon as I read the title, I knew that it would draw my ire.

What was it? ‘School pulls plug on hockey team after on-ice slur.’

Once again, the politically correct police has reared its ugly head in an effort to make this world a bastion of sugar plums, sunshine, teddy bears and rainbows. No wonder our grandfathers are so concerned with the state of the world. This era of political correctness has contributed to the “wussification” of society.

You wouldn’t have to listen to bullshit like this seventy years ago. Do you know why? Because people had more important things to worry about—like World War II.

Apparently, a member of the Thomas A. Blakelock Tigers used a discriminatory slur against a player of Middle Eastern descent in mid December.

To which I reply: who gives a shit?

Trash talk is an integral component in all sports. What better way to gain an edge on the field of battle then by engaging your opponent in a war of words? You play to win the game. If your opponent is mentally weak and susceptible to verbal taunts, by all means unleash hell.

If a player can’t ignore on field taunts or derisive verbal blows, that’s his problem. He’s not mentally tough enough to play the game.

In this case, the decision was made suspend operations of the Tigers hockey team for the remainder of the season. Now, the article discusses a previous incident of inappropriate behaviour that resulted in three players being kicked off the team. Also, Blakelock was involved in a number of on-ice altercations earlier in the season.

If the racial slur was considered to be the straw that broke the camel’s back and the principal of the school was just looking for a reason to shut down the team, I can understand that point of view.

However, the principal, Kevin Caughlin, said that “he understand[s] it’s an emotional game. But race, sexual orientation or any other harassment is not part of the game.”

What if a player tells an opponent that he plays hockey like a girl? Is that considered to be gender harassment? What if a player tells an opponent that he is a pussy for not fighting? If that hurts the target’s feelings, is a suspension warranted?

Do you see how stupid and ridiculous this all is?

I can give you a personal example. In university, I was pitching in a close game in the playoffs. There was a runner on second with two outs. The baserunner started disparaging Mama Tewks, saying plenty of things that I don’t want to reprint here. Did I call time and cry to the umpire that his words made me sad? Of course not. Was their malicious intent behind the player’s words? No, he was just trying to get me to lose focus (I didn’t; I struck the batter out).

What’s more is that I transferred to my opponent’s school the next year and he was one of my closest friends on the team. Trash talk is a part of the game. Lighten up, people.

However, these kids do need to learn to make these comments away from the prying ears of the referees. When I played hockey, the refs would laugh at such comments. Now they have to ‘take a stand’.

The Star article gave two examples of slurs used last hockey season. In one case, a fourteen year old used the following to taunt an opponent: “Shouldn’t you be out blowing up buildings or something?”

That’s genius. That would definitely piss someone off and maybe entice them to take a stupid penalty.

The other comment involved a sixteen year old calling an opposing goalie “a dumb fucking Jew.” That one’s not as clever. I prefer a little more subtlety with more insults. Try to get a little creative.

I might have asked for financial advice, or maybe make a reference to a Ponzi scheme etc. Or just feign surprise and say “I didn’t know you guys could even play sports.”

Ba-dum-cha.