The Bruins’ signing of Mitchell Miller represents the consequence of a cynical decision-making process endorsed by ownership and management that values hockey potential over personal character, and allow us to do not forget that when the organization crows over the character within the room.
But if you happen to think the final word decision was made by general manager Don Sweeney or by Boston folk hero and team president Cam Neely, you’re hopelessly naive. Surely the final word risk/reward verdict was rendered by whichever “Mr. Jacobs” — Jeremy or Charlie — is currently answerable for these ownership things.
But I’m unsure such odious judgement reflects a selected rot in hockey culture any greater than the Yankees trotting out Domingo German and Aroldis Chapman — a pair of pitchers who served suspensions for violating MLB’s domestic violence policies — reflects a selected rot in baseball culture.
Nobody desires to root for a reprobate. However it all becomes somewhat less distasteful if a miscreant wearing the proper-color laundry can contribute to a championship, doesn’t it? That’s the calculus of professional sports. Further, that can also be the calculus of massive business, the entertainment industry and our political system — where generating windfall profits and amassing power are the equivalent of winning titles, are they not?
One would almost think we as a society have accepted the trade-off or else we may need constructed a special form of reward system.
And though pro leagues and pro sports teams do have an obligation to ascertain some sort of ordinary of employment and behavior, it’s absurd to ask or expect these entities to be an alternative choice to the criminal justice system. It also seems absurd to expect those organizations to act with honor. That’s probably not why they exist.
Mitchell Miller conducted a series of vile acts as an adolescent in a racially motivated campaign against a classmate named Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, who had developmental disabilities. Miller, at age 14, pleaded guilty to 1 count of assault and one count of violating the Ohio Secure Schools Act. He has never appeared particularly remorseful.
The Coyotes drafted Miller within the fourth round of the 2020 draft, but soon after renounced his rights within the wake of reporting by the Arizona Republic that exposed the pattern of bullying, abuse and misconduct the then-teenager conducted against Meyer-Crothers. In line with Meyer-Crothers’ mother, Tina, the abuse began within the second grade while her son was growing up in a suburb of Toledo. The day after the Coyotes renounced Miller’s rights, he was dropped by the University of North Dakota hockey program.
He sat out the 2020-21 season, but last 12 months rejoined the USHL Tri Cities Storm in Kearney, Neb., for which he established league records for goals and points in a season by a defenseman (39-44-83) and was designated USHL player of the 12 months.
That apparently went a great distance toward influencing the Bruins’ considering that an anticipated short-term PR hit can be value weathering. It’s noteworthy that nobody from the Bruins’ hierarchy contacted anyone from the Meyer-Crothers family, including the victim, over what Sweeney claimed was a vetting strategy of almost a 12 months.
You recognize what? If you don’t seriously want answers, it’s more convenient to not ask questions.
Sweeney, who was tasked with being the face of the organization after the signing was announced, attempted to persuade folks that Miller — who has been assigned to AHL Windfall — had committed a one-time mistake despite the fact that the evidence is contrary to that assertion.
The signing is a humiliation, all right, for the NHL and for the Bruins. You’d hope that your team wouldn’t stoop so low, but likelihood is they probably would. Pro sports aren’t about morality.
Commissioner Gary Bettman, chatting with reporters in Finland on Saturday, said Miller is “not eligible at this point,” calling his behavior “reprehensible, unacceptable.”
Nevertheless, the signing is a humiliation, for the NHL and for the Bruins. You’d hope that your team wouldn’t stoop so low, but likelihood is they probably would. Pro sports aren’t about morality.
Pro sports aren’t alone.
The digital ads appearing on the boards do exactly what they are supposed to do, which is to at the least momentarily distract you and direct your attention from the sport to a sponsor. They’re annoying.
But not as offensive because the incessant promotion of gambling from the moment a pregame show starts to the moment a postgame show ends.
And never as self-defeating for the league as its paying customer-unfriendly blackout rules. It’s 2022, not 1962.
The 2018-19 Sabres were 17-6-2 as of Nov. 27 before plummeting thereafter, so we’ll reserve judgement on this 2022-23 Buffalo squad that entered the weekend at 7-4-0.
However the Sabres are an entertaining group that appears full of kids and tweeners who’ve embraced playing for the franchise moderately than guys marking time to get out and one other group driven out by dysfunctional management and ownership.
And though it’s at all times a surprise to see one other player with Alexander Mogilny’s No. 89 (and in those classic, vintage uniforms, no less), Alex Tuch sure does wear it well.
Then, too, it sure seems as if Jack Eichel’s surgery was secure, yah?
The Flyers of John Tortorella remind me of the circa 2009-11 Rangers of John Tortorella, a team of not enough high-end talent or depth with which to contend, but a generally structured club difficult to play.
And yes, that’s Carter Hart — proving he is not any Blaine Lacher — playing the role of Henrik Lundqvist.
The Red Wings are celebrating their 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cup championship teams this weekend, yet a quarter-century later still haven’t retired Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91. Just saying.
Finally, Alex Ovechkin’s official Instagram page, last updated Sept. 10, continues to hold a profile photo of the Russian winger happily posing with a genocidal war criminal, so there’s that if you must discuss morality, the NHL and pro sports.
