I can't believe we're still talking about this.
Patrick Kane won the Hart Trophy because people voted for him, yes. Because he played hockey and was good at it, yes. He was able to play hockey because his criminal activities did not interfere with his schedule. They very rarely do when a criminal is also a successful athlete. We've seen this from so many athletes, in so many sports, that some people have come to accept it as normal. That a subset of the population exists solely to seek out men who are good at sports and falsely accuse them of crimes. We believe them only when there is video evidence, and even then, continue to question them.
I refuse to believe it is at all possible that so many pro athletes were tragically falsely accused of crimes (everything from shoplifting to battery to sexual assault) and received a mitzvah when the charges were miraculously dropped or they were found not guilty. I refuse to believe that someone with a history of violence and alcohol abuse is always going to be innocent.
If you're wondering why I didn't watch or write about hockey much this season, there's your answer. The sports world has shown me its dark side. And I don't like it. And I will choose how much or how little I want to support it.
