It feels like this got politicized, because everyone decided it got politicized. A total self-referential loop.
The president was always going to invite a Gold Medal winning team to the White House. The majority of players were always going to accept.
Choosing to NOT go is decidedly political, so if deciding to go is ALSO political, then I figure you may as well just go.
Graciously accept the President's invitation, if for no other reason than as a show of appreciation for *your* America - the parts you're proud of, the parts you want to represent, the parts that you fight for and believe in and vote for. You represented America. The President is the highest office in America. Whoever's in office, go.
I agree 100%, Sean. This falls squarely at the feet of Bill Guerin. He never should have brought Patel into the locker room, and he should have been far more prepared for how to navigate the politics that were absolutely—100%—inevitable.
I didn’t like his roster construction to begin with, and I still don’t. This mess only reinforces that view and makes me trust his judgment even less.
That said, the players bear some responsibility too. They should have been better prepared for the political realities that were obviously coming with this situation.
And shame on the President and his team for being so openly dismissive of the women’s program. If you actually look at the results, the women are carrying a huge share of the load for Team USA.
Out of 12 gold medals won by Team USA at these Olympics, six were won by women, four by men, and two by mixed-gender team events. That reality makes the dismissiveness toward the women’s team not just insulting, but indefensible.
I think this is politicized because people writing and talking about made it political. This is a time to step back as a writer and ask whether you are going to feed the politicization (which you chose to do here) or keep hockey about hockey. It doesn't have to be this way if we choose to take the high road, instead of falling for traps of making it something it doesn't have to be.
Patels antics are well known to independent news outlets, but the MSM, for which most players are probably getting their info, don’t report as extensively what’s corrupt, incompetent prick he is.
To the more general question of player political maturation, what you say about their insularity is legit. But I can say for SE Michigan, where my son played gravel hockey, the economics of hockey sort of dictate that most of these players go home to pretty right leaning homes anyway. I’ve learned not to question people’s patriotism because we all have a right to it, but we also know how that flag is wielded in todays political environment, and I just came to expect that all my son’s teammates were of a singular disposition acquired from their parents. So, i. shirt, they have lots of reasons not to know what’s going on, but it probably looks fine to them anyway.
And Guerin lives in MINNESOTA, where 2 murders took place in Minneapolis/St. Paul and citizens were terrorized for over a month by Trump’s goons! What the hell was he thinking !?
I disagree- Sports are political, because they have always been used by governments to curry favor. The entire Miracle on Ice is unmistakably political, because of the Cold War. (Many of us would love for it to not be political, but when you can't even have a community pride night without controversy, I think we're a long way from that)
But make no mistake, Guerin and his open affiliation with Trump's administration had already lost my interest in the US Men's team. As it had with many women, queer people and people of color. Because it's hard to ignore what's happening in Minneapolis, and what Guerin himself has never commented on.
I also don't think we should use how insular hockey careers are as an excuse. Phones push constant stories about Trump. The cruelty, the anger, it's front page news everywhere. I know in your career you get access to talk to them, but they don't get a pass because life has shielded them from having to care.
Laughing about including the women's team is a choice, no matter what the circumstance. Nobody forced them to celebrate and pose with him, or to get excited about him calling the president and giggling at every word. Watching them try to use hockey media speak to talk their way out of this has been unintentionally hilarious, because that media training doesn't allow for actual introspection. They only see accolades, they are so sheltered by design they will not understand the cost until now, this has caused actual harm to their images.
Very well put Sean, I applaude your article. It is indeed a shame that this win is no longer just about the team. Shame on the GM, he stole this moment from the team. I already lost respect because of Robo, regardless how it played out, but this puts it over the top.
thank you for discussing this, sean. it has been disappointing to see that, again, the majority of NHL journalists will ignore a problem until it goes away rather than approach it directly. part of the reason NHL players exist within a bubble is because outside voices do not burst it with real questions
It feels like this got politicized, because everyone decided it got politicized. A total self-referential loop.
The president was always going to invite a Gold Medal winning team to the White House. The majority of players were always going to accept.
Choosing to NOT go is decidedly political, so if deciding to go is ALSO political, then I figure you may as well just go.
Graciously accept the President's invitation, if for no other reason than as a show of appreciation for *your* America - the parts you're proud of, the parts you want to represent, the parts that you fight for and believe in and vote for. You represented America. The President is the highest office in America. Whoever's in office, go.
I agree 100%, Sean. This falls squarely at the feet of Bill Guerin. He never should have brought Patel into the locker room, and he should have been far more prepared for how to navigate the politics that were absolutely—100%—inevitable.
I didn’t like his roster construction to begin with, and I still don’t. This mess only reinforces that view and makes me trust his judgment even less.
That said, the players bear some responsibility too. They should have been better prepared for the political realities that were obviously coming with this situation.
And shame on the President and his team for being so openly dismissive of the women’s program. If you actually look at the results, the women are carrying a huge share of the load for Team USA.
Out of 12 gold medals won by Team USA at these Olympics, six were won by women, four by men, and two by mixed-gender team events. That reality makes the dismissiveness toward the women’s team not just insulting, but indefensible.
I think this is politicized because people writing and talking about made it political. This is a time to step back as a writer and ask whether you are going to feed the politicization (which you chose to do here) or keep hockey about hockey. It doesn't have to be this way if we choose to take the high road, instead of falling for traps of making it something it doesn't have to be.
Patels antics are well known to independent news outlets, but the MSM, for which most players are probably getting their info, don’t report as extensively what’s corrupt, incompetent prick he is.
To the more general question of player political maturation, what you say about their insularity is legit. But I can say for SE Michigan, where my son played gravel hockey, the economics of hockey sort of dictate that most of these players go home to pretty right leaning homes anyway. I’ve learned not to question people’s patriotism because we all have a right to it, but we also know how that flag is wielded in todays political environment, and I just came to expect that all my son’s teammates were of a singular disposition acquired from their parents. So, i. shirt, they have lots of reasons not to know what’s going on, but it probably looks fine to them anyway.
And Guerin lives in MINNESOTA, where 2 murders took place in Minneapolis/St. Paul and citizens were terrorized for over a month by Trump’s goons! What the hell was he thinking !?
I disagree- Sports are political, because they have always been used by governments to curry favor. The entire Miracle on Ice is unmistakably political, because of the Cold War. (Many of us would love for it to not be political, but when you can't even have a community pride night without controversy, I think we're a long way from that)
But make no mistake, Guerin and his open affiliation with Trump's administration had already lost my interest in the US Men's team. As it had with many women, queer people and people of color. Because it's hard to ignore what's happening in Minneapolis, and what Guerin himself has never commented on.
I also don't think we should use how insular hockey careers are as an excuse. Phones push constant stories about Trump. The cruelty, the anger, it's front page news everywhere. I know in your career you get access to talk to them, but they don't get a pass because life has shielded them from having to care.
Laughing about including the women's team is a choice, no matter what the circumstance. Nobody forced them to celebrate and pose with him, or to get excited about him calling the president and giggling at every word. Watching them try to use hockey media speak to talk their way out of this has been unintentionally hilarious, because that media training doesn't allow for actual introspection. They only see accolades, they are so sheltered by design they will not understand the cost until now, this has caused actual harm to their images.
Very well put Sean, I applaude your article. It is indeed a shame that this win is no longer just about the team. Shame on the GM, he stole this moment from the team. I already lost respect because of Robo, regardless how it played out, but this puts it over the top.
Just sick! Should not have happened but this so called president and band of rats tried to ruin it.
thank you for discussing this, sean. it has been disappointing to see that, again, the majority of NHL journalists will ignore a problem until it goes away rather than approach it directly. part of the reason NHL players exist within a bubble is because outside voices do not burst it with real questions