Sports

What the NFL Could Learn From The National Hockey League

If you are a sports fan in America, you know how the NFL is shooting itself in the foot. A while back, I wrote a piece about why the Little League World Series is truly one of this country’s great sporting events.  One of the things which make it so is the fact that Little League understands better than just about any other sports its place in the culture and its role within that culture.

Little League catches a lot of non-sense because of it’s adherence to “traditional values,”  meaning it wholly rejects the “participation trophy” bullshit we as a culture embraced a generation ago. Thanks to that bit of mushy-headed thinking, we created a generation of kids in this country who didn’t ever understand the value of competition.  That means they never learned the lessons playing team sports teaches, and worse yet, they never learned how to lose.

Watch the Little League games today and notice what you don’t see.  Nothing in Little League is about “me.” You won’t see a kid throwing his batting helmet after he strikes out.  You won’t see a manager screaming at an umpire.  You won’t see anything even remotely resembling taunting.  Little League is more than just teaching kids to play baseball; it’s really about instilling values that help turn kids into adults who are productive members of society.

Contrast that with the NFL.  There’s no better place to see exceptionally poor sportmanship.  Thanks to these jerk-offs, we’ve got eight-year olds taking a knee.  My thoughts on that topic are already well known.  In other words, instead of heaping more derision on a league that clearly doesn’t “get it,” I’d rather focus on one that does.

The National Hockey League just announced to the world that they in fact “get it.”  The NHL released an eight-point set of core principles which sets it in complete contrast with the general douch-baggery of Kommissar Goodell and his National Felon League.

Just read it for yourself, and think about how long it would take to get the NFL to do something similar…and even if Kommissar Goodell managed to get his dysfunctional league to produce such a document, it would likely have a bullshit quotient so high it could fertilize the Sahara. From NHL.com

We believe every leader of the sport has the responsibility to inspire stakeholders in an effort to deliver a positive family hockey experience. Hockey participation offers families value beyond making an individual a better player or even a better athlete. The game of hockey is a powerful platform for participants to build character, foster positive values and develop important life skills. These benefits are available to all players, desirable to every family and transcend the game.

Today, guided by our common values, we jointly pledge to the following Principles.

We Believe:

1. Hockey should be an enjoyable family experience; all stakeholders – organizations, players, parents, siblings, coaches, referees, volunteers and rink operators – play a role in this effort.

2. Hockey’s greatest value is the role it plays in the development of character and life skills.

3. All hockey organizations – regardless of size or level of competition – bring value to players and families in their ability to deliver a positive family experience.

4. Physical activity is important for a healthy body, mind and spirit.

5. There are significant benefits of youth participation in multiple sports.

6. Hockey programs should be age-appropriate for all players, accounting for each individual’s physical, emotional and cognitive development.

7. There is great value in all forms of hockey, both on and off the ice.

8. All hockey programs should provide a safe, positive and inclusive environment for players and families regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. Simply put, hockey is for everyone.

We believe in our ability to improve lives and strengthen communities globally through hockey. We believe that living by these Principles will provide a healthy, balanced and enjoyable experience for all and inspire impactful service beyond the rink.

There’s really no room to argue with any of that…if you’re being intellectually honest.  That is eight pure points of positivity which will actually have an impact on sport and cultuire, unlike the “look at me” non-sense the #TakeAKnee movement.

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12 Comment(s)
  • Sterling Turtle Rider
    October 16, 2017 at 12:31 am

    One of the reasons that there is much less BS in hockey than the other sports is the salary cap – hockey players still make good money, but not the insane contracts that you hear about out of the other 3 major sports. When you keep the numbers lower, it keeps the players focused on the game, instead of on ‘activism’.
    One lesson I learned in high school was to not care too much about what the jocks think, mostly because they do so little of it. I don’t want deep philosophical thought from someone with a room temperature IQ that makes millions to throw a ball around, thanks.

    • Independent Thinker
      October 16, 2017 at 7:04 am

      The fans have full control of the players’ salaries. If fewer people watch the game on TV, advertising prices will drop, along with salaries. If fewer people attend the games, ticket prices will drop and so will salaries.

      If those in charge think it’s acceptable to not stand for the national anthem, then why do they ask us to “please stand for the national anthem?”

    • Chris
      October 16, 2017 at 10:30 am

      The NBA has a salary cap up with only 12 men on a roster it’s pretty much meaningless.

  • chrissy
    October 15, 2017 at 10:14 pm

    hockey > all

  • Barack Obama
    October 15, 2017 at 7:11 pm

    Ya Hockey is one of the sports I could not impact in my 8 years in office. They have this silly thing about respect and playing the sport the right way. Plus there was not enough black players to teach to the race card even when not applicable. I think that I should have tried to at least make Canadians feel like they were being oppressed. Without victims nobody listens to me.

    • Marty Walsh
      October 15, 2017 at 8:04 pm

      That’s the best part of hockey, Dindoo Nuffin and his gang are few and far between. They don’t want to skate – the ice is white and dats racist bullshit, motherfucker!

  • Wwy
    October 15, 2017 at 5:17 pm

    Jew flags Lol.

  • President of Virgin Islands
    October 15, 2017 at 4:08 pm

    I’m guessing you don’t know how to throw/catch a football

  • pro trump
    October 15, 2017 at 2:19 pm

    STAND FOR THE ANTHEM OR BE SHOT IN THE SKULL

    • SocialistsRStoopid
      October 15, 2017 at 8:56 pm

      Red Dan and his little commie followers strike again. LOL! I find it hilarious that they find the need to troll. Nothing else better to do I guess.

    • proud klansman
      October 15, 2017 at 9:46 pm

      completely agree kill all blacks

  • Yup
    October 15, 2017 at 2:07 pm

    Yeah because in LL you NEVER HAVE fat hardo dads. It’s definitely not THE SPORT with hardo dads. Nope not at all

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