In an unprecedented occurrence on this blog, I am spending consecutive weeks discussing intercollegiate athletics, this time in my home and native land (I’m not sure what is accounting for my trips of nostalgia to the halls of higher education, but most of it undoubtedly stems from my longing of hanging out with drunk teenaged girls all the time).
Give me a moment to wipe a wistful tear from my eye.
Ok all done.
Hayley Wickenhesier, arguably the greatest female hockey player to ever put on a pair of skates, was named the top female university hockey player in the country last week for her stellar play this season with the University of Calgary Dinos. Wickenheiser, like a man among boys—er, a woman among girls—ran roughshod over the competition in the CIS by notching a remarkable 40 points in 15 games this season.
However, her first season in Canadian university hockey was defined largely by the negative reception Wickenheiser received during each and every game the Dinos played away from home. Crowds created signs, taunted her and one guy even poured a non-potent potable on top of her head. The adverse reaction stemmed from the fact that most people thought it was unfair for Wickenheiser to play at, let’s face it, a much lower level of hockey than she’s used to. There were concerns that she would completely dominate the action; concerns that were obviously fruitful.
What do you think, Tewks?
Well, I’m glad you asked. I think it’s patently ridiculous that Wickenhesier decided to play CIS hockey. What’s the point? What is she trying to prove? However, I don’t put the entire onus on her. The rules committee at the CIS really has to start doing some work and ensure that athletes of Wickenheiser’s calibre are forbidden to play varsity sports.
How can you have an Olympic athlete, and also a woman who played professional men’s hockey in Finland, playing against regular student athletes? The CIS has no stipulations in place to avoid such chicanery. I faced a similar situation when I played baseball at school. There was a pitcher from Concordia University who played Triple A in the Dodgers organization, got released, and somehow ended up playing on Concordia’s baseball team. He also threw 95 miles an hour. How is that fair?
So, the CIS should be admonished for even giving Wickenheiser the opportunity to play in the first place.
But don’t think you’re getting off scot free, Hayley.
Why on earth would you want to play at such a low level of hockey? Not to mention the fact you’re in your early thirties and playing against girls not yet legally allowed to drink gives you an egregious competitive advantage.
What do you have to gain by being a big fish in a comically small pond? You couldn’t just go to school and focus on your degree. Truthfully, to me, it looks like Wickenheiser is being a fame whore. She obviously had to know this would cause a media maelstrom considering her position in Canadian athletics.
Plus, as an athlete, I don’t see how it would be fun to dominate inferior competitors. It would get boring. I would want to be challenged night in and night out and be forced to step up my game. Wickenheiser seems to be chasing easy accolades.
And for those people saying she just wants to play hockey, there are a plethora or beer and/or intramural leagues she could play in away from the limelight of CIS hockey.
The award of the top player in the CIS just leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. It’s not even an impressive accomplishment. Of course the best player in the world should win it. I hate to say this, but this entire episode just shows a lack of heart and character on Wickenheiser’s part to me.
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2 comments:
Isn’t it common practise for schools to seek out the best players they can possibly get so they win for both pride and economic reasons? US college football and basketball are full of players playing at professional level skill yet are not playing in the professional leagues. Gee how unfair to the all the other players. Perhaps facing the guy from Concordia should have been seen as a challenge to raise your game to his level rather than as unfair.
By your logic the top player each year in any sport should be kicked out because they are just too good. Syd the kid you were great last season and clearly above the rest of the league so we are going to have to let you go. After all it is not really fair to the other players. Maybe there is some intramural league that you can find to play on.
So if you don’t get a spot one of the leagues you’re chasing does that mean you will not be playing ball this summer? You see yourself as good enough to play at a higher level which is why you are trying out for these leagues and last season you were top lefty in your league. Clearly way above the others so you shouldn’t be playing there anymore. Not a challenge for you or fair to them.
Argh, I just spent 15 minutes looking for Wickensheiser's interview with Ron Maclean after winning the 2002 gold medal.
They had beaten the States for the first time in like 50 games or something and she absolutely trashed the American team and barely stopped short of admitting that she hoped that they all be dismembered on public display.
It was such an embarrassment to hear her show absolutely zero class or respect and I've hated her ever since. Wanting to put a CIS trophy on her coffee table, doesn't surprise me in the least.
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