Tuesday 19 July 2016

Saskatchewan, Not Republican

There's no denying that Gordie Howe will always be associated with the Detroit Red Wings when it comes to his NHL career. Sure, there was a brief stint prior to his days in Detroit with the New York Rangers along with his Hartford Whalers days at the end of his career, but he spent a lot of time in the red-and-white in the NHL. Had the Red Wings not forced him into retirement after a wrist injury in 1971, there's a good chance he would have played another decade in Detroit rather than jumping to the WHA and the Houston Aeros. But why fuddle the narrative with details, right?

Well, it seems that the Republican Delegates at the National Republican Convention in Cleveland, Ohio tonight did a little name-dropping in an attempt to keep pace with the boasts made by the other states in attendance. I apologize for bringing politics into this, but hang on until the 45-second mark when Ronna Romney McDaniel starts dropping names.
Look, I get that you need to keep up with the Joneses around you, Miss McDaniel, but why bring Gordie Howe - a Canadian - into your assembly? Can the man not rest in peace rather than being associated with this farcical congregation? And what about all the other amazing people who have called Michigan home and are born-and-raised Americans who weren't singled out by Miss McDaniel?

I don't know what Mr. Howe's politics were and I can't ever recall him endorsing one party over another in either country. I'm quite sure, though, that he wouldn't have endorsed Donald Trump's policies of building a wall between Canada and the US. Mr. Howe was a tough son of a gun, but he certainly wasn't crazy.

Politics and sports shouldn't be thrust into the same conversation. Ever. Don't name-drop a guy that the Red Wings forced out of hockey.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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