Sports

TSN’s Bob McKenzie on white privilege, triggered fans, and the real heroes of hockey – The Globe and Mail

Published

4 years ago

December 18, 2020

If you want a snapshot of how hockey culture is changing, take a look at Everyday Hockey Heroes Volume II, the newly published sequel to the bestselling collection of tales about regular folk who populate Canada’s game, fronted by TSN’s Bob McKenzie.

The first volume, published in 2018 and subtitled Inspiring Stories On and Off the Ice, consisted of more than a dozen portraits of hockey-loving Canadians (and one American) who embody the sport’s grassroots values. Many of them had overcome significant adversity to be part of the game.

In his introduction to that book, McKenzie acknowledged he had never faced the same sort of barriers as those that confronted Métis player-turned-coach Kevin Monkman; or the Hockey Night in Punjabi broadcaster Harnarayan Singh; or the three-time Olympian Hilary Knight. But in the introduction to Volume II, McKenzie goes a step further and uncorks a specific term for what he had described, but not identified in the first book: “white privilege.”

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He knows it will upset some of his fans. Even if he doesn’t think it should.

Like the first volume, which spent two months on The Globe and Mail’s bestseller list, most of Vol. II is written by former Sportsnet broadcaster Jim Lang. His subjects include Jack Jablonski, who suffered a terrible injury during a high-school hockey game and has become an advocate for paralysis recovery; Émilie Castonguay, a former player who is now one of the few female NHL agents (not to mention Alexis Lafrenière’s rep); and Rob Facca, an NHL scout who became an advocate and fundraiser after his son was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Jessica Platt of the PWHPA wrote her own chapter, in which she shares the struggles she faced as a transgender player.

In addition to the introduction, McKenzie contributes a chapter, writing about Terry Mercury and Lindbergh Gonsalves, two Black players from the Toronto suburb of Scarborough who enjoyed promising junior careers but never made it to the pros. McKenzie talks to them about their early talent, as well as the racism they faced: the physical and emotional abuse from other players and the broader community that slowly leached the joy from their playing.

On the one hand, McKenzie writes that, as a hockey analyst focused on data and given to skepticism, he might be inclined to point out that a couple of players failing to make it to the big leagues couldn’t necessarily be attributable to systemic issues. After all, “the road is littered with guys who coulda, woulda, shoulda played pro hockey if not for this or that.” But he also acknowledges that “for me, as a white man, it’s utterly incomprehensible to feel what it’s like to have your passion and love of the game stripped bare from you for no other reason than the colour of your skin.”

Over the phone this week, McKenzie elaborated. “If someone says you have white privilege, somebody might recoil and say, ‘Oh, I’m not privileged.’” In fact, as he’d written in the first volume, he grew up in a home where his father worked two jobs; his mother was in a wheelchair for many years until her death at 54; money was tight. Even so, “once you understand what white privilege is, you [realize you have it.] It’s real simple.

“I’m white and I’m male, in a sport that is dominated by white males. So I’ve had no impediments to getting a job in hockey media. I’ve had no impediments in carving out the career that I’ve had. Women would not have the same frame of reference. A Black person would not have the same frame of reference – or an Indigenous person, or a person of colour, or an LGBTQ [person]. Or a handicapped person. All that is, is saying, ‘Hey, you’re white, you’re male and you may have had things easier than other people.’”

He realizes, nevertheless, that some people will be offended by his comments – perhaps even, to use a noxious word, triggered.

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“The hilarious thing about people who are triggered when they hear ‘white privilege’ is how sensitive they must be,” he says. “Because when you read the stories of how many women or LGBTQ, or Black or Indigenous [people], when you understand the difficulty of so many of the challenges they face in trying to move from the margins to the centre of the culture – somebody saying, ‘You’ve got white privilege,’ is, like, nothing.”

The original mission of the Everyday series was simply to tell good stories about trailblazers or those who’ve overcome adversity. But since the publication of the first volume, “there have been more stories and themes and conflicts, or whatever else you want to call it, in terms of hockey culture” – he mentions the ugly allegations made last year by Akim Aliu, which sparked the firing of his former coach, Bill Peters – “so I wanted to try and tackle that head-on.”

The writing itself, he admits, is a challenge. “That’s a time-consuming, painful process,” he said. “A lot of time when I’m writing a story, there’s breaking news, I’ve got to do social media, I’ve got to do this [TV] hit, then I’ve got to go do a radio hit, I’ve got a family commitment – you’re trying to squeeze it all in and you’re losing your mind.” The onset of the pandemic last spring, then, came as something of a mixed blessing because McKenzie had some rare down time in his schedule when he could write his contributions for Everyday.

In theory, he should have even more free time nowadays, because last August he announced he was stepping away from his full-time gig at TSN. Not that you’d know it: This week he recorded an NHL Draft Preview show and wrote a long accompanying piece for TSN.ca. And on Saturday, after an early family Christmas celebration, he’s headed to Edmonton to cover the world junior hockey championships, which run until Jan. 6.

“The world juniors and draft rankings are two of the biggest things that I will continue to do for the next five years for TSN,” he said. “When I semi-retired, I was sure to use the word ‘semi’ because I knew I was still going to be quite busy at certain times of the year.”

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

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AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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