Broadcaster Compares Hockey To 9/11: Out of Line or His Opinion?

by SodaHead Sports Posted 2012/05/10 16:00:00

Related Topics: Sports, CBC, Hockey, NHL, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Stanley Cup Playoffs, Eastern Conference, Ron Maclean, September 11, Media, Stanley Cup, Games, New York, Victim

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143 votes
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	Out of Line	93 votes	65%
	His Opinion	50 votes	35%

Comparing hockey to September 11? Wait...what?! If you find that comparison awkward and highly inappropriate, specifically during a sports broadcast, you're definitely not alone. But Canadian Broadcasting Company's sports personality Ron MacLean is. MacLean actually compared the Washington Capitals-New York Rangers NHL playoff game to 9/11 and first responders of that tragic day (i.e. firefighters, police officers, volunteers, who risked their lives in immediate aftermath).

MacLean started the Stanley Cup Game 6 playoff game coverage with the references and then proceeded to say you can't compare hockey to our worst day, which was 9/11. However, MacLean did exactly that, as his producers, cameramen, and millions of viewers most likely watched in shock and set the record for most simultaneous face palms in recent memory. He tried to backtrack his comments and said New York City and Washington, D.C. Were linked via tragedy due to both being victims of 9/11 attacks, but much like his original attempts at being clever, it was an epic fail.

“The pain these men [the Rangers and Capitals hockey players] have faced, the price they keep on paying, the hearts they keep on lifting [referring to their fans], it's been through and through, five games in,” MacLean said during Wednesday night's controversial broadcast. You can watch the whole insanity at this link here. We love sports, especially our playoff hockey, but comparing sports to real-life tragedy that still affects millions crosses the line. Hopefully, MacLean now realizes that. Too bad it's after the fact.

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Jen 2012/05/10 17:43:49

Out of Line

+4
It's in bad taste. One should only ever compare 9/11 to pearl harbor or OK city bombings. Something that is equivalent to the suffering caused by these terrorist acts.
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Matt Gray 2012/05/10 20:55:06

Out of Line

+1
Completely and utterly out of line. How ignorant of him.

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xXILoveVinnyBooXx 2012/05/10 20:54:46

Out of Line

Hockey is a game. 9/11 is a sad day in history. Really don't see why he compares them if they aren't anything alike. 9/11 is more important than hockey.

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Wil 2012/05/10 20:20:23

Out of Line

+1
Tell me how hockey is like this:

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♌βļąƈʞƦơșƐ3033♌ 2012/05/10 18:02:23

His Opinion

I'm not sure....

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Gunner 2012/05/10 17:54:22

Out of Line

+2
He is a blowhard. He's probably upset that the only teams remaining in the playoffs are American teams.

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kitkat42 to Gunner 2012/05/10 22:00:24

That was my very first thought Gunner since he's Canadian and the two teams are American. Sour grapes perhaps?

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Gunner to kitkat42 2012/05/10 23:42:11

+1
Yeah...sour canuck.

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Jen 2012/05/10 17:43:49

Out of Line

+4
It's in bad taste. One should only ever compare 9/11 to pearl harbor or OK city bombings. Something that is equivalent to the suffering caused by these terrorist acts.

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srini to Jen 2012/05/11 00:34:32

Closest two Canada can come up with:
(*) mass murder done by Inderjit Reyat et al 1985/06/22
(*) October Crisis

(and even those need some serious stretching to make that comparison)

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Julian 2012/05/10 17:37:50

His Opinion

+4
It was a stupid analogy.

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Couri 2012/05/10 17:36:01

Out of Line

+1
No, just no. This team what, lost a game I'm guessing? This guy wants to compare that to the thousands of lives lost in 9/11??? This team can go on and play next season, they can go home to their loved ones, they are still alive. People who were directly effected by 9/11 don't have those pleasures anymore.

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jimih67 to Couri 2012/05/10 17:57:08

+1
I think he was comparing the heroics of the players who put their heart and effort on the ice to the heroes who laid it on the line in the rescue effort. Still, that is not entrely appropriate, because the hockey players didn't actually give their lives for the game, but not as offensive as the comparison you suggested. Like the guy above you said, stupid analogy, but nothing more.

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Couri to jimih67 2012/05/11 02:42:13

+1
Either way, it was out of line. Not saying he should be fired or whatever but he should at least apologize.

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jimih67 2012/05/10 17:04:10

His Opinion

+1
It doesn't seem that bad to me. What offends me more is people who say that it was a government conspiracy and cover-up, and that the U.S was responsible for killing its own people. If he had tried to make light of the tragedy in a joking way, that would be over the line. I think some people are way too sensitive. In a way, he was paying tribute to the heroes of that day. Maybe not entirely appropriate, but not offensive.

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Julian to jimih67 2012/05/10 17:44:13

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jimih67 to Julian 2012/05/10 17:50:40

+1
Sorry, I can't see what you posted. If it is a YouTube video, I can't get it because it is blocked on the computer I'm using. I'm not on my computer at home.

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Julian to jimih67 2012/05/10 17:56:43

That's too bad, have a look when you get home.

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jimih67 to Julian 2012/05/11 13:16:11

I still don't buy it.

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Julian to jimih67 2012/05/12 00:24:33

You don't think they're real 911 responders, or you think they're lying?

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Ben to jimih67 2012/05/10 18:57:29

+1
mr, Hendrix, I know it offends you and I almost feel sorry to say this, but it was a government conspiracy. The less the media and government have to answer to 9/11, the better off they will be. I can't see Me's comment below, either. But, there is a Youtubve video you should watch about 9/11 called "Loose Change." It isn't conspiracy theories, either. it is all 100% fact and it lists ALL references you can look up for yourself. It wasn't made by some liberal wack job, either. If you believe what you do, then it wouldn't hurt to watch it.

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Torchy 2012/05/10 16:34:52

Out of Line

+1

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