The NHL, along with multiple teams and players, received mixed responses for their decision to refrain from wearing LGBTQ-themed jerseys during the warm-up sessions on their respective Pride Nights.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman clarified that the decision to eliminate themed jerseys from being worn on the ice was taken to keep distractions at bay.
"I suggested that it would be appropriate for clubs not to change their jerseys in warm-ups because it's become a distraction and taking away from the fact that all of our clubs in some form or another host nights in honor of various groups or causes, and we'd rather them continue to get the appropriate attention that they deserve and not be a distraction," Bettman told SportsNet at the NHL Board of Governors meeting on Thursday.
The declaration was made during Pride Month, a time when the league was facing criticism for failing to create an inclusive atmosphere for the LGBTQ community at its games. Bettman acknowledged these criticisms as valid concerns.
This is bigger news than it might appear and not just because I'm Canadian and it's hockey: https://t.co/ncgM8yDCPT
— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) June 23, 2023
"But in the final analysis, all of the efforts and emphasis on the importance of these various courses have been undermined by the distraction in terms of which teams, which players, this way we're keeping the focus on the game and on these specialty nights, we're going to be focused on the cause," he said.
Bettman assured that Pride Nights, along with other cultural heritage celebrations, will continue to be held.
"All of those nights will continue. … The only difference will be is we're not going to change jerseys for warm-ups because that's just become more of a distraction from, really, the essence of what the purpose of these nights are," he said.
Philadelphia Flyers' defenseman Ivan Provorov highlighted the issue when he declined to wear the team's Pride-themed jersey during warm-ups, citing his Russian Orthodox faith as the reason. His jersey quickly turned into one of the league's top sellers following his public position.
Trending Political News
Taylor Swift Brags About What She Loves 'To Explain to Men'
Taylor Swift addressed an audience of about 70,000 in Arizona, stating that she enjoys teaching men how to apologize.
Swift discussed her 2020 album "Folklore," in which she departed from her typical approach of writing autobiographical songs in her previous seven albums and instead crafted songs centered around fictional characters she envisioned.
Kim Kardashian Gets Shamed After Posting Extremely Revealing Bikini Photos on Instagram
Kim Kardashian's recent Instagram post featuring a sultry series of three selfies in a revealing black bikini top, along with her trademark duck face, has attracted a barrage of negative comments. The founder of SKIMS has been roasted by her followers in the comments section.
She accompanied her photo with the short and sweet caption, "Hey."
Homeowner Smells Cigarette Smoke on Property After Items Come Up Missing, Police Make Shocking Discovery in Attic
The discovery of a 24-year-old man living in the attic of a Washington state home left the homeowner in shock, as the homeowner became aware of the situation due to the scent of cigarette smoke and missing items from the property.
On Monday, the homeowner, who has not been identified, contacted the police when he traced the source of the cigarette smoke and found evidence of someone residing in the loft space of a structure on his premises.
Kayleigh McEnany Announces Her Next Move at Fox News
Kayleigh McEnany, a Fox News anchor, will be taking over the 8 p.m. time slot from May 8 to May 12, following the departure of Tucker Carlson from the network.
Since the departure of Tucker Carlson and cancellation of his show "Tucker Carlson Tonight," the 8 p.m. time slot has been filled by a rotating cast of hosts for the replacement program "Fox News Tonight." Brian Kilmeade and Lawrence Jones have both hosted the time slot so far.
Delta Passenger Makes Insane Move as Airplane Prepares to Take Off, Gets Arrested
According to CNN's report, a passenger of Delta Air Lines was apprehended for opening an airplane door and subsequently using one of the plane's emergency exit slides prior to takeoff.
At approximately 10:30 AM, prior to departing from Los Angeles, California, to Seattle, Washington, an individual opened one of the airplane's doors and rode down the emergency slide to the ground.
NASCAR Driver's Wife Celebrates Husband's Win With Epic Beer Chug
On Sunday night, during the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, no one was enjoying Kyle Larson's dominance more than his wife, Katelyn, as there was no shortage of excitement in her presence.
Steering his No. 5 Chevrolet to Victory Lane, Larson left Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick trailing behind by a remarkable 4.5-second margin. Nonetheless, it was Katelyn who captured the spotlight once her husband crossed the finish line. While Larson celebrated his triumph with tire burnouts, she seized the moment by downing a refreshing Coors Light, adding an extra touch of excitement to the celebration.
