A.G. Gancarski
The faceoff continues between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the National Hockey League ahead of next month’s All-Star Game in the Sunshine State.
At issue is not the play on the ice, but rather the chill from the Governor’s Office in the wake of what the NHL called an “informational session” seeking a more diverse workforce.
The so-called “Pathway to Hockey Summit,” to be held Feb. 2 in Fort Lauderdale during the NHL’s All-Star Weekend, was originally tailored to “diverse job seekers who are pursuing careers in hockey,” but the NHL backed off of that condition after pressure from the administration.
Despite that resolution, the Governor laced up his boots and fired some shots on goal on the friendly “Unfiltered with Dan Bongino” program on the Fox News Channel during a pre-taped segment Saturday night, framing efforts to bring a more diverse workforce to the NHL as a “woke conceit.”
“We’re against racial discrimination, but that’s all discrimination. We’re not going to indulge in this woke conceit that it’s OK to discriminate against some people if that’s politically correct to do so and so we made it very clear to the NHL that they were running afoul of our laws. They reversed course very quickly. And our society’s better when we’re all treated equally and all treated as individuals and not as members of groups.”
The Governor uses the word “woke” often. Under oath last year, the administration’s General Counsel defined the term as “the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them.” However, it’s clear DeSantis believes that in defending the prerogatives of majority groups here, he is addressing his own conception of “systemic injustices.”
As DeSantis continues to heat up the issue, the NHL clearly would like to get beyond it, per comments made by Commissioner Gary Bettman this week when he was asked about the Governor’s position
“The answer is we’re planning to be in Sunrise and celebrate our sport at the All-Star Game,” Bettman told The Athletic on Thursday when asked. “I don’t want to get way into all of this, but the fact is what the summit is, and was, has been mischaracterized. It’s not a job fair. It was an informational session so that people could learn more about us.”
Bettman said he didn’t want to “increase the debate on it.”
The Athletic framed the summit as “part of the NHL’s response to its first diversity and inclusion report, which the league released in October.” That report suggests there is little diversity in the NHL workforce.
Nearly 84% of league and team employees are White, with 4% being Asian, and under 4% as either Hispanic or Black. More than 63% of NHL league and team employees are male, and less than 4% of the workforce identifies as LGBTQ+.
12 comments
Horace
January 22, 2023 at 7:50 am
DeSantis simply does not seem to know when to STFU. Truly a nasty twit.
Gaspipe Casso
January 22, 2023 at 11:04 am
Solid commentary. I look forward to additional thoughts from you.
And i
January 22, 2023 at 1:31 pm
I look forward to when ron goes to meet his racist granddaddy who died in the confederate army lol
Jason
January 22, 2023 at 10:24 pm
Since he has been EXTREMELY successful and popular in Florida, I can understand why a leftist f*** would want to silence him. Good luck with that 🤣
Bill
January 24, 2023 at 8:04 am
The key word there is Florida. We’re already considered a laughing stock by most of the country so his yabbering only strengthens that opinion. It will be interesting to see how well he’s received if he does go into national politics. My bet is that folks are more concerned with actual policies that would help them rather than the stupid culture wars that we seem to be stuck in. When you have no policy, just go with the culture wars. Works every time.
Jeffrey Holmes
February 4, 2023 at 11:23 am
And black violence continues to destroy our quality of life
william r schneider
February 4, 2023 at 7:31 pm
sure oh horace..what is a nasty twit anyways? please educate one. thanks
rasta
January 22, 2023 at 8:39 am
Rona fashions himself a dandy for using “newspeak” to attempt to turn “woke” into a “four/letter word .” With origins in the Black community to stay aware of the dangers of racist pigs, “woke” is a fine word meaning to “stay aware” of racial injustice. Rona would have us turn the word on it’s head as if being aware is evil. Personally, I would like to see Rona and Alien Rick Scott get married and co-sponsor the “let’s get to woke act” all the while in blackface. Rona – I am proud to be woke and you are a racist pig.
Jay Arbee
January 22, 2023 at 9:15 am
Funny, I see you and Horace in that scenario.
If you live in Florida you’re welcome to leave. If you don’t live in Florida…….thank you. Whichever, keep simmering in your leftist hate. It “becomes” you…in both senses of the word.
Your welcome
January 22, 2023 at 1:33 pm
“If you don’t live in Florida thank you”
Yeah you live in trash. I thank myself too lol
Oatley
January 22, 2023 at 9:12 am
Amen, Governor.
Hairold Dickopolips
January 22, 2023 at 7:39 pm
Ronda Santis is big daddy.
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