Bill Peters' open apology to Treliving. UPD: Aliu responds

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Huh, the Flames and their representatives have probably spoken to as many people they can that were around the Chicago Wolves at the time of the incident. This is not about what is presented in the media anymore.

I highly doubt anybody involved with the Chicago Wolves knows anything about Peters transgressions unless he was dropping N-bombs at players on other teams.

[81MC]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Apologies can be tricky. In his letter he says he went back into the room and apologized to them team. That can be significantly different and less meaningful and powerful than apologizing to a specific individual that was wronged. Saying "hey guys, I screwed up and apologize for my actions" is a lot different than saying "Sorry xxxx, I shouldn't have used the n word and it was an over reaction due to the immediately stressful situation. I didn't intend to hurt you and it won't happen again."

If he didn’t say call someone it, and referred to the music as it, then singling out the black guy during the apology would be even worse.

If Peters did immediately apologize, and the team moved on, that changes my feelings. If a word 9 years after the fact is cause, I don’t know man...I don’t like it.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

That 'a decade ago' line really bugs the hell out of me. He really should have left that out, not helping his cause at all.

My thought exactly. He's not registering how this is going.

[GioforPM]

Even if he doesn’t admit liability, he could have said he reached out to Akim (if it actually happened). So I doubt he did.

His story reeks. “Immediately apologized”? I kinda think his “immediate” is open to interpretation. We know the captain reportedly spoke to him. That’s at least one intervening event which isn’t immediate (I guess that’s what he is talking about as far as “being called on it”). But AA never said he apologized and I suspect it was “sorry guys I lost my temper”.

And “not directed at anyone”? Even if that’s true, it’s clueless. Akim was playing the music. Akim is a black guy. And you say that? But I doubt it’s true.

[Meers]

Originally Posted by Elkyiv

If you are in the "Peters ought to be fired" camp, I am curious to know what you would consider to be an appropriate apology that he could have submitted where he could keep his job? Does such an apology exist in today's cancel culture?

Only if you're a woke, Liberal Prime Minister.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by nik-

My thought exactly. He's not registering how this is going.

He's not worried about PR. He's in self preservation mode from a financial POV.

[Ashasx]

Serious: What does a person do to atone from this? Can they ever regain respect from the general populace?

If I was Bill Peters, I would be in a pretty dark place right now. Your livelihood is likely (rightfully) gone. What do you do? Live out the rest of your life in solitude?

[Roof-Daddy]

Lol this isn't an apology.

This is Bill and his lawyers scrambling to keep Bill from losing out on ~$3 million

[CalgaryFan1988]

Judging by BT's words, he's as anxious as we are to get this over with. Sounds like it's in the lawyers hands.

[Savvy27]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Exaggerating what people are saying adds nothing and serves nobody.

Is that the standard in this thread? I've seen several people misstate that Peters called Aliu a racist slur which contradicts Aliu's description. Topfiverecords post was absurdly misinterpreted and mocked for being on a conspiracy theory level.

I truly do not believe that any apology would remotely satisfy many people calling for his head (which is their prerogative).

To be clear, I don't see any way the Flames could not fire Peters and this (now admitted) act combined with the other physical abuse establishes a pattern of him wielding his coaching authority in an awful way. Beyond that, the Flames keeping him may be interpreted as approving or not taking the racist behaviour seriously.

As for the apology itself, it's underwhelming but I'm not sure what else he could realistically put in there. It did happen a decade ago, it did happen in a professional setting, it's already been corroborated so that takes away from the admission a bit.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

That doesn’t seem strange at all.

Actually it kind of does...i think.

By apologizing to Brad, that is an admission of wrongdoing which would go a long way towards firing "with cause" I would guess. If so, that means he isn't all in just to get as much money as possible or he ignored legal advice...i dunno, just find it curious as well.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

And ask the Dixie Chicks if “cancel culture” is something new.

Didn't they get blackballed for coming out against the Iraq war? I think so, and they were right about the whole thing.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I can only imagine how angry BT is about that letter.
He's being cool in front of the media, but I suspect he's BOILING underneath.

All sorts of things wrong with the letter, but the cherry on top is sending it WHILE THE GUYS YOU JUST WERE COACHING ARE TRYING TO GET A WIN

Brutal Bill. Eff off.

He knows he's done, so he's returning the medicine since he was dealt this blow in the middle of the game himself.

[djsFlames]

I would've liked to have seen no mention of "a decade ago" right at the beginning, which subtly feels like it is downplaying the severity of it.

Also an apology to the victim of that circumstance was warranted and at the very minimum should've been included. If not in this letter, then in a second public apology to go with it.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Serious: What does a person do to atone from this? Can they ever regain respect from the general populace?

If I was Bill Peters, I would be in a pretty dark place right now. Your livelihood is likely (rightfully) gone. What do you do? Live out the rest of your life in solitude?

I think you have to (a) have a real apology; (b) spend some time in the wilderness doing things that actually address the issue; (c) work your way back up. Then it could happen.

But Peters is a 54 year old guy. So it’s tough.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

That doesn’t seem strange at all.

How isn't it strange?

Peters is saying in an official letter to the world that he apologized to the team 10 years ago when the incident happened.

Doesn't make him less of a ###### for saying it to begin with, but if he apologized well than part of the allegations were completely misleading.

[Elkyiv]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Not so much about cancel culture.

He has apologized (sort of) for the language incident.
He hasn't apologized for the career sabotage accusation.
He hasn't apologized for accusation of physical abuse and intimidation.

He's hoping the last two just go away.

Do you think this accusation gains any traction if he doesn't use that language?

[DJones]

Pretty big departure from the original story. He says he immediately apologized to the team, original story was he doubled down.

Seems like there should be witnesses to confirm either way.

[JurassicTunga12]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Serious: What does a person do to atone from this? Can they ever regain respect from the general populace?

If I was Bill Peters, I would be in a pretty dark place right now. Your livelihood is likely (rightfully) gone. What do you do? Live out the rest of your life in solitude?

Yeah, I wonder. It is a pretty wild situation. It is unacceptable and inappropriate what Peters did, but it's also kinda sad to see how fast his career burst into flames. Peters goes from having fun, coaching an NHL game in Pittsburgh, while the match was lit for his demise in the background that same evening during the game, ending his career pretty much it seems.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think you have to (a) have a real apology; (b) spend some time in the wilderness doing things that actually address the issue; (c) work your way back up. Then it could happen.

But Peters is a 54 year old guy. So it’s tough.

Is it morally wrong then to take the advice of your lawyers and try to protect what is likely the last real paycheque of your career?