Can we finally put this whole ridiculous “controversy” to bed and actually celebrate our gold medalists?
By now you’ve no doubt heard about the nonsensical “controversy” surrounding the US men’s hockey team and their reaction to a call from President Donald Trump after winning the gold medal over Canada at the Winter Olympics.
Here’s the short version: While celebrating with the team in the locker room, FBI Director Kash Patel called up the president to speak to the team. During the call, he invited the boys to the White House and the State of the Union address tonight, while also making a joke about having to invite the women’s team too because he would be “impeached” if he didn’t:
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that. I do believe I probably would be impeached.”
(This was after he also made a joke about goalie Connor Hellebuyck playing “not bad.”)
Well naturally the loudest voices on the far left are outraged that the men’s team laughed at the joke instead of lecturing the president on identity politics while throwing back beers. And now, it seems the media is insisting on every single player on both teams give their opinion on it too.
US women’s hockey gold medalist Hilary Knight was asked about the situation today during an appearance on ESPN and brushed off the controversy, correctly pointing out that it’s taking attention away from what should be a celebration of both teams:
“I think there’s a genuine level of support there, and respect. I think that’s being overshadowed by sort of a quick lapse. I think the guys were in a tough spot. So it’s a shame that this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowing that connection, genuine interest in one another and cheering one another on.
We’ve had phenomenal relationships in the village and supporting one another on the world stage and also the professional stages, and I look forward to those friendships and acquaintances continuing in great fashion.”
Knight says the whole situation is a “learning point” on how to talk about women’s sports, and that their achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by the whole controversy.
Meanwhile, Kelly Pannek of the women’s team was also asked her reaction…and by that I mean some loser reporter asked her “how much it hurt.” Such an unbiased question.
But anyway, Pannek also spoke about what a great relationship they had with the men’s team:
“I think our experiences with the men’s team was different, I think, and that’s something we all know being there, what it felt like to have their support throughout the tournament, to support them, and how great of a moment it was for everyone that was a fan of both teams to come together and say how great it was that we both won a gold medal for the first time ever.
And it really was such a special feeling being there. Even being able to spend some time with them after their win and, you know, the respect that they were showing us.”
But she did throw some not-so-subtle shade at the president, implying that his joke about the women’s team wasn’t exactly surprising:
“I think the video is what it is. You’d have to ask them, I think, their feelings on it. But I think there’s also elements to it with the phone call specifically. It’s not surprising, to be frank. So I don’t know why we expect differently.
But I think for us it’s also just about getting back to the focus on our team and what our team accomplished. And that was, I think, dominant hockey.”
And Taylor Heise said – shockingly – pretty much the same thing:
“At the end of the day, I respect the men’s team. I think winning gold is really, really hard. And it’s really tough. And honestly, we showed what it was like first. And I remember we were sitting in the…training room, and they gave us props, and they obviously left us some beers in the fridge, and were super nice about it.
When they won too the first thing they did when we saw them in the cafe was I got a big hug from, I think, Auston Matthews and Charlie McAvoy. Like, they were just so excited to do that. We have major respect for them, and obviously things are taken out of turn and things like that. But at the end of the day, it’s hockey, and we try to keep politics out of it.
So whatever it’s going to be, they’ve got to go back to their respective markets now … so we respect them.”
It seems that the common thread among all of the answers is that the whole controversy is taking away from what should be the main storyline: That both the women’s and men’s hockey teams brought home gold medals for their country.
By asking these women for their reaction, all these reporters are doing is setting them up to defend the men’s team. Do you really think they’re going to come out and publicly bash the men, who by all accounts are their friends and for whom they have nothing but mutual respect? Come on now.
It’s getting ridiculous that everybody is being asked about it instead of their accomplishments. But hey, whatever it takes to get the soundbite you’re looking for I guess.
