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Anti-European Sentiment in the Canadian Hockey Media Is Getting Out of Hand
by Mandingo on 05/05/09 at 01:46 PM ET | View all posts by Mandingo
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Every major sport in North America has stubborn traditionalists in its media ranks. ESPN’s Joe Morgan seems to honestly believe that the Golden Age of Baseball ended the day he retired, and much of what has come since is an insult to the game or “not the way the game is supposed to be played.” In both his MLB and NFL coverage, Joe Buck often engages in embarrassing, maudlin displays of orthodoxy, most famously his ridiculous overreaction to the Randy Moss touchdown celebration against the Green Bay Packers in the 2005 playoffs.
While these traditionalists can be infuriating, you never get the sense that they are indicting a specific group of people, but rather the natural (or, in their eyes, unnatural) progression of the sport. In other words, Joe Morgan doesn’t think baseball has become tarnished due to, say, the influx of Latin and Asian players; he’s just an egotistical jerk who thinks his generation was the greatest and will not accept otherwise. Joe Buck’s issue with the Randy Moss touchdown dance wasn’t that Moss represents the black, urban “gansterization” of football; he’s just an easily offended prude who probably gets uncomfortable around nude sculptures in art museums.
But much of the traditionalism, if you can call it that, emanating from the Canadian hockey media lately carries with it a not-so-subtle implication—that Europeans are not only what’s wrong with the sport, but they are, by nature of their place of birth, inferior to Canadians.
What’s truly shocking is not so much that this undercurrent of xenophobia exists in the Canadian media—because it has for a long time now—but that so many people seem to think it’s a legitimate, defensible position or, at the very least, chalk it up to simply being a lovable quirk of Canadian culture or a byproduct of their passion for the game.
I suppose it would be even more troubling if it wasn’t so pathetically transparent. One need only look at the top five scoring leaders or the three Hart finalists this year to understand the root of this growing anti-European sentiment. Since gaining a foothold in the league, there’s a reason the treatment of European players in Canada has gone from leery non-acceptance to near outright hostility. And it doesn’t have anything to do with “heart” or “toughness” or whatever easily leveled, stereotypical charge you can throw at them. Anyone who understands the psychology of fear can see those charges for the red herrings they are.
The real reason behind this growing hostility, of course, is that Canadians can see their death grip on worldwide hockey dominance slipping away. In truth, it might be already gone. If you look at the probable rosters for Vancouver in 2010…well…let’s just say Canada likely won’t be the favorite on paper.
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Seeing a 75-year-old man in a clown suit disparaging Europeans every chance he gets on his weekly “get-off-my-lawn” forum is one thing. I don’t like Don Cherry, but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because of his age. He never played with Europeans and never coached them. His bigotry is ignorance-based. He’s just a product of a different time. I’m sure all of us have relatives we can say the same about.
But watching, for instance, the rest of the Hockey Night in Canada crew’s reaction to the Mike Brown hit on Jiri Hudler—and their barely contained joy that he was left bloodied and dazed on the ice by a guy four inches taller and 30 pounds heavier—you almost get the sense that for them the hit was the realization of some deep-seated revenge fantasy. That Mike Brown is an American doesn’t really matter. He’s not European, and that’s good enough. Whatever your opinion of the Mike Brown hit—I personally think a good argument can be made that it wasn’t suspension-worthy—it’s hard not to be a little disturbed by the way some in the Canadian media seemed to take a perverse joy in it.
One thing you’ll notice is that the loaded terms they use are nearly identical. The idea that he was “admiring his pass”…that well-worn implication that Europeans are somehow self-absorbed hot-doggers. How often do you hear this charge leveled at North American players when they take a hit after a pass? The dog-tired template for this sort of thing is provided in base form by Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, who essentially makes the argument that European hockey is somehow less compelling because so little blood is shed on the ice.
I personally don’t agree with him, but his argument would be perfectly legitimate and acceptable if the issue was simply with the European style of play, the system under which they learn the game. But it’s always been more than that with many in the Canadian media. The understatement here is that it’s not the European system, but European character that is being called into question. Look no further than the following statement from Spector: “Of course guys like Henrik Zetterberg and the Sedin brothers want those hits out of the game.” Of course. After all, they’re Europeans.
It’s exactly this kind of broad-brush charge that makes it difficult to take so much of the Canadian hockey media seriously anymore. And the sheer hypocrisy they employ in making these accusations and assertions is mind-boggling.
Just as an exercise, ask yourself this question, and be honest: Do you seriously believe the Canadian media’s reaction to the Brown-Hudler hit would’ve been the same if it was Jonathan Ericsson hitting Andrew Ebbett?
Pat Caputo is a Michigan-based sports writer, and certainly not the most impartial source of opinion on the matter, but he’s spot on here:
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All this being said, I want to make a few things clear…
First, I don’t mean this as an indictment of the entire Canadian hockey media. Obviously, the majority of them don’t think this way. Damian Cox in particular is always quick to call out the HNIC crew and others whenever they descend into outright knuckle-dragging. There are many Canadian hockey writers and pundits who are great at what they do and understand that the NHL functions best as an international game.
Second, the charge of bigotry is often too easily thrown about. I realize that. And I’m not implying that the Canadian media is somehow “oppressing” Europeans. But this kind of “soft” bigotry is, in my opinion, harming the game I love. It doesn’t need to be institutional to be detrimental and wrong.
Third, there is a lot to be said for traditionalism. Hockey has, in my opinion, the most fascinating tradition of any major North American sport, and it should be upheld. But to use it as a cudgel with which to attack other nationalities is doing a disservice to the game.
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The NHL has always billed itself as being more respectful and more temperate in its conduct on and off the ice compared with the other major sports, and I’ve always agreed with that. But I can’t help but get the sense that the brand is devolving when I read or hear people—fans and media—outwardly and proudly proclaiming their own bias against other nationalities. That some couch this sentiment in hushed tones or hazy implications doesn’t make it any more justified.
I suppose you could make the argument that it’s simply a reflection of larger Canadian attitudes. It’s a legitimate argument, but it does nothing to absolve the media; it just changes their role from complicit to spineless. Whatever their role, one thing is for certain: There needs to be more who are willing to call out those among their own ranks who are instilling or supporting this hostility. It might not be a popular thing to do, but it’s the right thing.
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Comments
Wow...that escalated quickley, I mean that really got out of hand, fast. It jumped up a notch. And by “it” I mean your hate for the biased Canadian media. I mean you always would make a clever remark or point out some form of irony or contradiction over on A2Y...I just never knew how deep the river ran until now. Well done, my friend. Very thoughtful and well written/presented.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 05/05/09 at 02:27 PM ET
Extremely well put, Mandigo. A++!
I have a European wife who has a bit of a hockey chip on her shoulder. After all, her country has been winning gold medals for a decent portion of her adult life (94, 2006) and doing it with an identifiable brand/style of hockey that is really beautiful to watch for fans with unbiased eyes.
Don Cherry is sickening for us both to watch. Any more, though, he’s not the worst- not by a longshot. Everyone knows he’s a clown and just blows him off. The worst are the many, many imitators who take things a step short of Cherry’s rhetoric but are still seen as somewhat credible.
I have three bilingual children who will, as much as we’re able to provide, split time between there home here in America (Texas! Amongst the Americans of Americans according to one amusing cliche...) and back in their mother’s home country. They’re very young right now, the oldest being five, but if the media is still reporting things as they are now when my oldest is 8, 10… I won’t be able to watch hockey with my children without having to include lessons on tolerance and acceptance- as well as to disabuse the toronto-led-media implanted notion that there heritage would make them lesser than Canadians were they to take up hockey as a sport. How crazy is that? :(
Posted by shanetx on 05/05/09 at 02:37 PM ET
Being a Canadian, I will say this: not everybody in the media or in Canada has an Anti-European bias. It just seems that way because Don Cherry and his CBC crew have taken it upon themselves to represent Canada and their views on Hockey.
Ovechkin is very popular in Canada - however, it has more to do with the fact that he’s adopted and climatized himself to the “North American culture” than anything else.
Living in Vancouver, I can tell you for a fact that the sports talk radio shows all bashed Cherry the second he made those anti-Ovechkin and anti-European comments on HNIC a month back.
I agree that there is an anti-European sentiment here in Canada - a lot of that is a direct result of some European players wilting under the pressure in their respective Canadian cities - but it’s not as bad as everybody thinks it is. Hockey fans in the States just see the worst of it because it draws attention to itself.
Don Cherry is not a true representative of the Canadian hockey fan or media type. He’s just an embarassment to the Maple Leaf. Plain and simple. Everytime he opens his mouth, I feel like I’m being humiliated in front of all my fellow Wings fans.
Even the Fan590 in Toronto takes exception to his comments and even had him on the show only to be surprised that he condemned a politician for being “Left Wing” just by looking at a picture.
Posted by DetCapC19 from Vancouver, BC on 05/05/09 at 03:11 PM ET
As a note: I’ll be sure to, also, tell my kids that Canadians are by and large not douche bags and that the beer is good.
Hey, if we can tolerate the Danish for their beer (mmmmm, carlsberg) then I guess a few Don Cherry’s can survive.
... I think this lesson will have to wait until they’re a bit older than 8 or 10, though.
Posted by shanetx on 05/05/09 at 03:34 PM ET
All good points, DetCapC19. I know the anti-European thing is a minority opinion in Canada. Like all media, the tendency is to pander to the lowest common denominator, whatever their political persuasion or belief system happens to be. The same exact thing goes on in the US, to an even greater degree.
I guess one of the biggest issues I have is that more people in the Canadian media — at least those with voices powerful enough to extend beyond Canada — don’t condemn this sort of thing more often.
Instead, we are led not only to believe that the opinions of Don Cherry and his followers reflect the Canadian population at large, but that they are somehow justified. (I still can’t get my head around why there seems to be this sense that this kind of bigotry is justified...is it because Europeans are white?)
The point I’m making in my last paragraph isn’t that I think ”it’s simply a reflection of larger Canadian attitudes”. My point is that, if you’re going to make that argument, it still doesn’t absolve the media.
And just to be clear: Canada is one of my favorite places in the world. I love the people and the geography. I have many Canadian relatives (Sault Ste. Marie, ONT counts, right? Or is that too close to the border?). I hope I’m not giving the impression that this sort of thing is endemic to Canada.
Posted by Mandingo from The Garage on 05/05/09 at 03:44 PM ET
guess one of the biggest issues I have is that more people in the Canadian media — at least those with voices powerful enough to extend beyond Canada — don’t condemn this sort of thing more often.
Instead, we are led not only to believe that the opinions of Don Cherry and his followers reflect the Canadian population at large, but that they are somehow justified.
That is an excellent point.
And you know what - a lot of it has to do with fear. Fear of pissing off a large network, fear of alienating fans (believe it or not, Cherry still has a MASSIVE following here), and fear of being perceived as anti-Canadian (Cherry has wrapped himself in the flag so much that it seems like treason to disagree with him).
MacLean (his co-host on HNIC and Coach’s Corner) used to reel him in, but now he just endulges his fantasies.
Did you know that last year, Cherry actually gave credit to Gary Roberts for the tying goal in Game 5 of the Finals last year? His man-crush on Roberts last year got so bad in Canada that people started to actually hate Roberts for no other reason than to disagree with Cherry.
Great post by the way - forgot to mention that in my earlier response.
Posted by DetCapC19 from Vancouver, BC on 05/05/09 at 04:42 PM ET
Mandingo: I’m saddened to see you’re just on here to drum up TV shows, especially HNIC and YES Oprah. Despicable.
In any case, I think you’re spot on. It’s gotten to the point that just completely ignore everything that Cherry says, and the words do not even begin to register in my brain. My girlfriend might say this is similar to what happens to her comments when I’m watching a good game. The curmudgeonly overreaction to Euro’s from SOME (certainly not all) in the Canadian media makes it look like now they’re just bitter that the nerdy kid from high school is their boss.
To throw in some US mojo, Old Abe Lincoln was VERY careful to not announce the Emancipation proclamation until after a victory, lest he appear desperate, bitter towards the south, and weak in the same way.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 05/05/09 at 04:46 PM ET
Seeing a 75-year-old man in a clown suit disparaging Europeans every chance he gets on his weekly “get-off-my-lawn” forum is one thing.
Great sentence.
Don Cherry is not a true representative of the Canadian hockey fan or media type. He’s just an embarassment to the Maple Leaf. Plain and simple. Everytime he opens his mouth, I feel like I’m being humiliated in front of all my fellow Wings fans.
Very true.
One way to approach this problem is to look at its historical roots in the prejudice French-Canadian players faced. From the little I know, and I’ll be happy to be wrong, they were vilified with same kind of rhetoric now being applied to “European” players––it never ceases to amaze me that continents can be distilled into some singular essence (Africa, I think, is the most frequent victim). French-Canadians were hot-dogers who (merely) tired to look good, didn’t want to play the necessary team game, and were certainly dirty (both in terms of play and hygiene). I don’t have a link, but I remember reading an article that compared Ovie’s intensity and talent to that of Guy LaFleur; the comparison seems more apt in light of this conversation.
I’m sure that Canadian scholars/ historians have broached this subject with some depth. You have me curious to read more.
Posted by Osrt on 05/05/09 at 04:47 PM ET
Here’s an article from the National Post (Canadian Newspaper) about how Cherry’s act has grown stale:
http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=1345967
Posted by DetCapC19 from Vancouver, BC on 05/05/09 at 05:04 PM ET
As a Euro-loving Canadian, I’ve always been at odds with the likes of Don Cherry. Of course, my background and fandom are not typical of your average blue-collar Canadian.
The reason Ovechkin is so popular isn’t necessarily his ‘north Americanization’, but the fact that he’s as exciting to hell to watch and has some actual personalty. Sidney Crosby is a fine player, but he’s as dull as a door knob. Ovechkin is very outgoing, and very likable. Pavel Bure was also extremely popular (until the off-ice contract stuff) because of his flamboyant style of play.
For many years, and it is still true to a large extent, European players were quiet in the North American media and kept to themselves. While guys like Markus Naslund were very skilled and exciting on the ice, they were, and are, incredibly boring interviews. Many Euros are afraid to say the ‘wrong thing’ because of English language issues, culture issues, etc… this is going away more and more, but is still a problem. (Of course, a dull guy like Steve Yzerman was popular despite being one of the prickliest personalities ever...and Gretzky is rather dull)
Don Cherry refuses to admit that Europeans are no longer a liability in the playoffs. Lidstrom, Forsberg, Bure, Selanne, Bondra, Zetterberg, Gonchar, Kurri, Ovechkin ... have all proven that they can excel in the playoffs. Yes, there are soft Euros (Samsonov), but there are soft Canadians, Americans, and players from any country.
If you are a European that has been in the league for a few years, then you’ve obviously had to adapt to the different style of game. Some European players do take longer to translate regular season success to playoff success (Datsyuk), but the gap is closing.
Remember, the mainstream media is still made up of old coots, and don’t necessarily represent the fanbase at large. Today’s younger media folks aren’t necessarily found in the mainstream press, and the younger fans aren’t as Xenophobic.
Posted by JesGolbez from Burnaby, BC on 05/07/09 at 12:21 PM ET
I can’t believe I missed this post! I’m a hockey fan from France, and this old stereotype really irks me a lot. I even named my little habs blog “The soft European” just because of this… Great job, Mandingo!
Posted by Grrrreg on 05/08/09 at 09:12 AM ET
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I’ll ignore the Brown-Hudler part fo this (mainly because you know my take).
In other terms, I honestly think this whole deal is why the Canadian media is scared of a guy like Alex Ovechkin, and even an Ilya Kovalchuk. They’re skilled wingers with wicked shots, and they can also pound the ever-loving crap out of you (and enjoy doing so).
Ovechkin in particular I think is punished by the Canadian media because of his game. When Dion Phaneuf wanders to go make a big hit (but lets a puck go by and the other team score) he’s praised for his “hard-nosed” play because he’s a “good ol’ Canadian boy” (and by the way, now also a pylon). When Ovechkin drills someone into the corner though look out… he’s a headhunter and “out of control”, even though he’s not putting his team at risk of being scored upon and it’s actually a clean hit.
How much it must grate the Canadian media to see the way that ESPN is really starting to take to Alex Ovechkin and his game… and not Sidney Crosby. Oh Crosby is there too still… almost as a footnote anymore. But ESPN only just now is discovering Ovechkin and boy I think they’re wanting some of that on their network and regretting letting the NHL go… the “Ovechkin Watch 2009” coverage on ESPN seems to grow daily.
Posted by Primis on 05/05/09 at 02:26 PM ET