Is Ron MacLean in trouble?

[GirlySports]

It's all about money and sponsors. Corporations do nothing unless sponsors speak up.

[EN FUEGO]

Look, I grew up in small town BC in the 80s and 90s. If you said, "I'm sure of it, I'm positive!" about something on the playground back then, some bully would say, "really, you're positive? hahaha!!!" and that would mean that you were gay and HIV positive. To me, there is no mistaking what he slipped up and joked about, and I don't think it's okay.

My personal journey led to San Francisco and performing a lot with drag queens, etc. in rock shows over the past 15 years. At first, it was a crazy thing to me and my inner homophobia was exposed in ways that made me look in the mirror a lot. The first time a producer wanted me to paint my nails and wear platform boots for a show (I'm a guitar player), all the voices of all the bullies, teammates, etc. from the past were in my head for sure. What would they think?

I got over some stuff and it felt really good, but it took seeing the ugliness in me to get past it. Hopefully, this will help Ron out in that way, as I don't think he meant to hurt anyone with his "joke".

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by klikitiklik

The script Ron and the announcers are following makes me sick and sad. It's so obvious they've been told to pump the tires of Mcjesus and the Coiler crew up north. Sickening.

THAT is why he and the whole Sportsnet crew should be gone. Winnipeg was barely mentioned throughout the entire series.

The commentary we receive is no longer unbiased.

We no longer receive unscripted, true thoughts of the commentators. They are talking heads that are strictly controlled. FOX, CNN, CBC, etc, etc. The change in the way the media operates is truly shocking. The NH hands the network a script, the actors have to read it. No deviation. It's the way new media works. There is no independent thought anymore.

That is why when something outside the normal narrative sounds so shocking. I think Ron was referring to an STD joke rather than a shot at homosexuals. Fire them all.


Sportsnet=no good

coilers=NG

So they should be fired for doing what their employer asks them to do?

[CroFlames]

I remember several years ago or more Darren Pang was doing analysis between periods. He showed a mistake PK Subban made, and a corresponding play where some random player made the right decision.

Pang said this is the white, sorry, RIGHT, way to do this play etc.

Upon return from commercial, he immediately made an on air apology saying it was a slip and had nothing to do with PK's skin color and I think this is how society should be.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I don't think it was intentional, and this is coming from someone who can't stand Ron MacLean (ever since I read his book).

Funny - my impression of Ron MacLean also did a 180 after reading his book.
Which is a very odd output of an autobiography.

[Cowboy89]

Getting cancelled for a dubious joke that no one really understands at the insistence of a bunch of online culture warriors is probably what Ron McLean deserves after the Don Cherry fiasco. That said, firing a guy for a joke that no one actually understands is plain madness. If people think crap like this is making the world better then you deserve the 1984 dystopia we're headed toward. An apology for a joke gone astray is all that's warranted here if that.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Funny - my impression of Rona MacLean also did a 180 after reading his book.
Which is a very odd output of an autobiography.

Just curious, because this type of reading isn't my thing despite being a fan of sports, but what specifically turned you guys off about him after reading the book?

[The Yen Man]

That AIDS thing is such a stretch. I'm guessing his original thought process on the fly was ribbing Bieksa for having a pic of a naked man in the background. I can see the argument that there was a gay joke undertone to it, but you'd really have to do some mental gymnastics to link it to mean he's positive for AIDS.

It was a comment in poor taste, but wow, talk about overreaction. If this gets McLean fired, that's pretty sad. And this is from a guy that thinks McLean is well past his expiry date.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Funny - my impression of Rona MacLean also did a 180 after reading his book.
Which is a very odd output of an autobiography.

Absolutely, as did I. Completely agree.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Funny - my impression of Rona MacLean also did a 180 after reading his book.
Which is a very odd output of an autobiography.

MISOGYNYST!!!! Feminizing a males name. Tsk tsk.

You should be banned!!


(yes i am aware you did not mean to do this but its a perfect example of how ridiculous this whole Maclean thing is)

[klikitiklik]

Originally Posted by transplant99

So they should be fired for doing what their employer asks them to do?

Wrong choice of word. Forgive me. It's more about how I lost respect for the announcers. I should have said the network and the announcers should be changed.

They didn't even mention that Mcjesus was the one that gave away the puck. They did their best to shield the golden one as part of the NHLs narrative. Have you ever seen an NHL game where the focus was SO embarrassingly on one Player and team? There have been some bad ones but this broadcast crew was cringe worthy.

My opinion. You don't have to agree. I mean HFoil was livid about how one-sided the broadcast was so who knows who is correct?

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Then he should say that, not “you have pictures of guys with their tarps off”.

Those aren't words of a poet.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by klikitiklik

Wrong choice of word. Forgive me. It's more about how I lost respect for the announcers. I should have said the network and the announcers should be changed.

They didn't even mention that Mcjesus was the one that gave away the puck. They did their best to shield the golden one as part of the NHLs narrative. Have you ever seen an NHL game where the focus was SO embarrassingly on one Player and team? There have been some bad ones but this broadcast crew was cringe worthy.

My opinion. You don't have to agree. I mean HFoil was livid about how one-sided the broadcast was so who knows who is correct?

Oh I do agree Im just saying firing that crew would change nothing as any replacements would have the same marching orders and be under threat of unemployment if not followed. Nothing would change.

I perfectly understand why McDavid is a big focus for them. He has been called the best player in the world for years now ( I disagree) but he is the face of hockey in this country regardless. A lot of shade is thrown at the player by fans...well its not his fault, he doesnt control what networks do.

however the over-the-top fellating of him and the Oilers that has taken place this playoff has lowered the broadcast to WWE levels. It's embarrassing for all involved.

[EN FUEGO]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

That AIDS thing is such a stretch. .

I think any other interpretation is a stretch, and the only other logical one I can see is "positive for drugs", which doesn't make it too much better. And as others have said, that goes down this whole road of "drugs make you go gay", which doesn't play well either.

He slipped up and made a joke in bad taste, any way you slice it, in my opinion.

I'm not a "cancel culture" guy, but this "hahaha, you're positive!?!" stuff with a gay/HIV context was extremely common back in the late 80s and early 90s, it is no stretch at all for me or many of his audience members to make that connection.

I don't think the guy should be crucified, but it is plain as day to me what was going on between a few guys roughly my age (and older) who grew up in the same part of the world.

At any rate, it's kicking up a pretty good conversation here, and I think this conversation would have been a lot different on a hockey forum even 15 years ago.

I played beer league in SF for many years, and would often have my nails painted from a gig the night before in the locker room. It was mostly all good natured ribbing from my teammates, but "homophobic" would be a kind way to describe a lot of the banter it would stir up.

Progress is good, it's just tough for guys like Ron (and all of us) sometimes.

[Lanny_McDonald]

There sure are a lot of drama queens in the younger generation. A joke goes sideways and a guy should be fired. Keep feeding that cancel culture! Sheesh.

[Krovikan]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

https://mobile.twitter.com/mikebouge...081047042?s=21

I decided to get into streaming for fun recently, and one of the things Twitch says is to avoid inside joked for your stream. New viewers will not get it, and generally, they find new viewers won't get it and feel like they aren't part of the community, the worst-case scenario, people interpret it wrong and you offend them. I feel like this is good advice for TV personalities as well, keep inside jokes to the locker room or explaining the inside joke videos.

[calumniate]

Thing is, athletes struggle with painkillers / addiction fairly often. Even if it was 'positive' for drugs it's not the best look making fun of a few guys for looking buff, because if they've done it the right way it's tough to be in that good of shape.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by fleury

Just curious, because this type of reading isn't my thing despite being a fan of sports, but what specifically turned you guys off about him after reading the book?

He comes off as extremely arrogant and unlikeable. His public persona is one of loving hockey and doing what he does for that love of the game, but the book makes it clear that numerous times Ron looked out for Ron.

Which we all do I suppose.

But it he just came off very smug and self entitled.

[klikitiklik]

Originally Posted by transplant99

however the over-the-top fellating of him and the Oilers that has taken place this playoff has lowered the broadcast to WWE levels. It's embarrassing for all involved.

Holy crap. You captured exactly the feeling the broadcast gave me! It was like watching a high school play!

I guess maybe the crew should be fired for their bad acting? Everyone can at least agree on that

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

He comes off as extremely arrogant and unlikeable. His public persona is one of loving hockey and doing what he does for that love of the game, but the book makes it clear that numerous times Ron looked out for Ron.

Which we all do I suppose.

But it he just came off very smug and self entitled.

His attitude towards Bettman, almost patting himself on the back for gotcha moments he created during all star breaks and playoff summits.

And his level of self importance to the game and Canadians just got to be a little much. I've never felt he was the show, any more than I think Ryan Seacrest is the only reason my wife and I watch American Idol. He's good at directing traffic, and that's a skill ... but it isn't the show.