Today: Today - Monday, February 1st, 2016.
John Scott and the NHL All-Star weekend. What a great story!
What a disappointment many in the sports media are today, though. It’s surprising following the success of the weekend, and John Scott standing out so positively, how so many who spoke out against him going to the All-Star game are today championing him and pointing a finger at everything, but, themselves. Admittedly, many have stated in hindsight they were wrong to think he shouldn’t have been involved with the All-Star Weekend. OK, fair enough, and appreciated.
However, I’m still reading, hearing, watching, them quickly jump to reasons why others made the weekend, and John Scott’s story, a success. Not once, yet, have I observed an examination of their reasons why he shouldn’t have been involved. Have anyone yet looked at why they essentially sided with the NHL, and touted their personal hockey 'knowledge' being more important then the passion of fans, or, the mutual respect fellow players were sending to John Scott leading up to the event, telling him he should go to All-Star weekend.
And, why did the other players rally around him, have fun with him, enjoy all the moments with him? Cause he’s an NHL hockey player; just like them. It would be nice if the sports media could recognize John Scott is one of many, many, players in dressing rooms all across the NHL, all across hockey, who are just as important, to their team, their fans, the sport. The other players embraced him because he represents all those players on their team, who, well not deemed ‘All-Stars’, are just as important to their season success. It’s a team sport, and –outside a few huge egos- you support your teammates, no matter where they sit on the roster.
Perhaps in a few days, after a bit of time, the sports media can digest what they experienced this weekend, compare it to their preconceived notions, and realize perhaps why they sided with, and defended the NHLs side of the story. A little self reflection would help many of them. By the way, if I hear any more media personalities, who were slagging John Scott before All Star weekend, now comment about he ‘of course having such a high skill level, he’s an NHL player’ and similar comments, I’m gonna puke.
The real story though -one I'm not hearing about, hence this post-, the real reason the weekend was a success is because NHL players, NHL fans, the casual viewer hearing about the story, are all human. John Scott having a fantastic All-Star weekend was just the icing on the cake. The core of the story, the human element was already there, and it was right for him to be embraced. John Scott’s story is one we’ve all faced. This is a human story about a guy getting jerked around by his bosses, and his peers, the players, backing him up. They recognized the position he was in, and it doesn’t matter what you do, (think about your job/career, what you do as a profession) you’re going to back up your peers, especially when it’s the top brass trying to push you around. Strength in numbers.
As for the fans. Yes, many started initially voting for John Scott as a joke, however, the human element, the human story took them over. And I bet, given a bit of time, fans will be much more apt than the sports media to realize their fault, and appreciate what they witnessed this weekend.
This weekend was a huge human moment in the NHL, and more positively impactful than anything the NHL could ever dream up. True, the NHL will change the fan vote rules next year. You know that's happening. Let’s hope though, looking beyond the fan vote to what the All-Star weekend became, and the human story the fans, the players, and John Scott experienced, the NHL will pay attention. The fans were really cheering, players were having a blast, ratings are up, John Scott was trending on twitter in US for god sakes.
Switch out John Scott with Sidney Crosby, would anyone, aside from the sports media, really be talking about All-Star weekend today?
-Gilmore
