World Cup of Hockey: An Open Letter to John Tortorella

Dear Sir,

Since the idea of writing this letter came to fruition, I’ve struggled with how to address you. Coach, John, Mister. It’s a troubling thing since you should be someone who, by nature of your position, deserves respect. Maybe that was something to consider, despite your history of antics, but your threat to bench any member of Team USA who sits during the anthem at the World Cup changed that. 

And before I go further, I acknowledge your own child’s service in the military. I understand the correlation between the anthem and the military. This is not a military issue. It’s an American politics issue. It is a social and economic issue spiraling out of control.

In one fell-swoop, you’ve become part of the problem in the United States. You’ve become just another in a long line of privileged white men attempting to quiet those who don’t hold the same beliefs as you do. This isn’t about hockey and guiding young men and helping them win a game. It’s now part of the social landscape that’s eating this country from the inside out. It’s part of the hate rhetoric being spewed, and part of the fight to maintain status quo attitude and apathy that are pushing this powder keg. 

I understand the indignation caused by Colin Kaepernick and his choice to sit during our national anthem. Blind patriotism is a part of American history and its very culture. But Sir, so is protest and freedom of expression and peaceful grand gestures that still have shock value. That are still newsworthy. The American Constitution isn’t convenient and people should be uncomfortable with what Kaepernick did, but more than that they should be listening to the discussion and be appalled at why he felt he had to.

After the murders in Baton Rouge and Dallas, Carmelo Anthony spoke up. He spoke up with desperation, but also an unbelievable level of dignity calling for athletes to speak up, to help front change. And do you know why? Because he knows they hold a stage. Because they have influence and voices that can reach people. They have the money, respect, and ability to do something good. 

And before you tell me that athletes are doing good things every day with their humanitarian efforts, you can just sit back down. We know they do. We all know the time and money they put into their communities and we understand how needed these gestures are. We are grateful for them. 

This is deeper than any of that. This is social change and if you have any grasp of history, you know what a slow-moving animal that is. You know the voices needed. They are needed now. So many Americans are apathetic and just go about their lives in some kind of denial and they can, because these issues don’t touch them. That has to change and there is a desperation in finding a way to change it. 

There are athletes on social media speaking up. Nick Leddy lent his voice of support this summer and he was lambasted to the point where he deleted it. It’s inexcusable if only because if he can reach one person to educate themselves, he’s done something.

Carmelo Anthony spoke up with desperation and dignity and it was forgotten the next day. Kaepernick is still news. It’s holding attention to the issue and if nothing else, that’s a very small victory.

Who knows if any members of your team had any plans of sitting or showing any sort of protest at this tournament. Most of the men in the NHL don’t take up the gauntlet for any sort of social change – whether it’s racial, sexual orientation, or violence against women. While I don’t necessarily blame them, I hold more respect for the ones that do.

Sincerely,

A vexed and concerned American