FL Gov. Ron DeSantis ensures that his 2024 election rocket will never get off the ground by "canceling" Black History studies in Florida schools. This racist action is an affront to all the nation's African-Americans, who will act as a phalanx to destroy his presidential hopes.
How do we memorialize a golden talent who was also a top-notch douchebag, Jon? It’s a trick shot even on the roughest ice. For my money, let the statue stand so it can be a lifetime, weather-resistant reminder to all of us what a high-flying low life Hull was.
Many, many years ago my wife bought me a Bobby Hull Teddy bear. He sat alongside my desk for many years. I talked to him often. I promised him that if the Hawks ever made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs, he would get to go to the game. June 1, 2010 was his lucky night.
It turned out that Big Bobby was signing autographs that night. He was delighted to sign Little Bobby's sweater. Today's Tribune tribute included a photo (that I had never seen) of Big Bobby signing Little Bobby.
When the Hawks scored a goal that night, I celebrated by "dancing" Little Bobby over my head. After they showed Little Bobby and me on the Jumbotron, one of my partners texted me that he would quit if I ever did that again.
A few years later Little Bobby was happy to sit for a photo in The Stanley Cup.
Big Bobby was a wonderfully thrilling player. He enjoyed interacting with fans. His life outside hockey was sadly complicated. RIP Golden Jet.
I can hardly believe Bobby Hull was 84 years old and now dead. His was an outsized presence on the ice. I am sad he was such a bigot and jerk, too.
But, the latter does not diminish his performance on the ice. It should serve as a reminder, however, that none of us has any business engaging in "hero-worship" for star athletes. They are great athletes. Period. In fact, "hero-worship" may be a bad idea, generally, if it means surrendering one's principles and common sense to the worship.
Maybe Pete Rose deserves to be in the baseball Hall of Fame, but MLB is a private organization, and they can do just about anything they want. Maybe Pete should have been a hockey player
Winners write history books and erect statues. Like all societies past and present, American society is often flawed or contradictory. Isn't it likely that Sitting Bull or Red Cloud would be offended by many of the images in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol and in the parks and village greens across America? Culture cannot be canceled - instead it must be negotiated.
It gets difficult when we try to draw lines between those who produce art (e.g., Caravaggio), those who star in their art (e.g., Woody Allen), those who existed in a time when something we consider wrong or taboo was accepted (e.g., Plato) and those whose “art” was their game (e.g., Bobby Hull). We waste too much time drawing the lines, in my opinion. I’ll never have a set of formal or informal rules that determines whether I will personally “cancel” someone. I take it case by case. Certainly, someone who I do decide to “cancel” personally might be a source of inspiration for my neighbor, and it’s not my place to tell them who they, in turn, should cancel. Personally, I must confess that, when something is cancelled or banned, I’m immediately determined to check it out. That said, there is a difference between enjoying Bobby Hull’s art as a player and lionizing him as a person. I think that what we need to avoid is, on the one hand, ignoring the dark side of people through blind hero worship and, on the other, automatically consigning people – or their creations - to the rubbish heap because of their flaws.
Robert was a big hockey fan when our kids were growing up, specifically, a Rangers fan, and our kids followed his lead. They have all switched to soccer, but I have indelible memories of life as a hockey wife and mom: feeling like a complete outsider at dinners during a vacation in Canada as the kids, then 10 and 5, and Robert played Guess Where various hockey players were born; attending a couple of the annual Rangers fan club dinners at a hotel in Westchester (even the goons on the team were extremely polite); watching Miranda carry a team flag on the ice at MSG (alas the one for the Quebec Nordiques, not the Rangers) during the NHL's 75th anniversary celebration; and the excitement chez Kimball when the Rangers finally won the Stanley Cup in 1994. Thanks, Jon, for inspiring this trip down memory lane -- and your thoughts on cancel culture.
Good for you, Jonathan. We can only hope that a rational conversation on this topic can ensue. The Left is not that much better at nuance than is the Right.
wve know each other since the early 80’s and while i knew you were a cubs fan i did not know you were a blackhaeks fan as a kid. for me it was the rangers in the mid 60’s. i once saw hull fight jim (the chief) nielsen. the golden jet ended up bloodied that afternoon
FL Gov. Ron DeSantis ensures that his 2024 election rocket will never get off the ground by "canceling" Black History studies in Florida schools. This racist action is an affront to all the nation's African-Americans, who will act as a phalanx to destroy his presidential hopes.
How do we memorialize a golden talent who was also a top-notch douchebag, Jon? It’s a trick shot even on the roughest ice. For my money, let the statue stand so it can be a lifetime, weather-resistant reminder to all of us what a high-flying low life Hull was.
Well said. I’m sticking with my childhood hero Bobby Orr.
Jon,
Many, many years ago my wife bought me a Bobby Hull Teddy bear. He sat alongside my desk for many years. I talked to him often. I promised him that if the Hawks ever made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs, he would get to go to the game. June 1, 2010 was his lucky night.
It turned out that Big Bobby was signing autographs that night. He was delighted to sign Little Bobby's sweater. Today's Tribune tribute included a photo (that I had never seen) of Big Bobby signing Little Bobby.
When the Hawks scored a goal that night, I celebrated by "dancing" Little Bobby over my head. After they showed Little Bobby and me on the Jumbotron, one of my partners texted me that he would quit if I ever did that again.
A few years later Little Bobby was happy to sit for a photo in The Stanley Cup.
Big Bobby was a wonderfully thrilling player. He enjoyed interacting with fans. His life outside hockey was sadly complicated. RIP Golden Jet.
Terry
I can hardly believe Bobby Hull was 84 years old and now dead. His was an outsized presence on the ice. I am sad he was such a bigot and jerk, too.
But, the latter does not diminish his performance on the ice. It should serve as a reminder, however, that none of us has any business engaging in "hero-worship" for star athletes. They are great athletes. Period. In fact, "hero-worship" may be a bad idea, generally, if it means surrendering one's principles and common sense to the worship.
Maybe Pete Rose deserves to be in the baseball Hall of Fame, but MLB is a private organization, and they can do just about anything they want. Maybe Pete should have been a hockey player
H. Watkins Ellerson
PO Box 90
Hadensville, VA 23067
Winners write history books and erect statues. Like all societies past and present, American society is often flawed or contradictory. Isn't it likely that Sitting Bull or Red Cloud would be offended by many of the images in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol and in the parks and village greens across America? Culture cannot be canceled - instead it must be negotiated.
It gets difficult when we try to draw lines between those who produce art (e.g., Caravaggio), those who star in their art (e.g., Woody Allen), those who existed in a time when something we consider wrong or taboo was accepted (e.g., Plato) and those whose “art” was their game (e.g., Bobby Hull). We waste too much time drawing the lines, in my opinion. I’ll never have a set of formal or informal rules that determines whether I will personally “cancel” someone. I take it case by case. Certainly, someone who I do decide to “cancel” personally might be a source of inspiration for my neighbor, and it’s not my place to tell them who they, in turn, should cancel. Personally, I must confess that, when something is cancelled or banned, I’m immediately determined to check it out. That said, there is a difference between enjoying Bobby Hull’s art as a player and lionizing him as a person. I think that what we need to avoid is, on the one hand, ignoring the dark side of people through blind hero worship and, on the other, automatically consigning people – or their creations - to the rubbish heap because of their flaws.
I’m glad you’re writing about this.
Robert was a big hockey fan when our kids were growing up, specifically, a Rangers fan, and our kids followed his lead. They have all switched to soccer, but I have indelible memories of life as a hockey wife and mom: feeling like a complete outsider at dinners during a vacation in Canada as the kids, then 10 and 5, and Robert played Guess Where various hockey players were born; attending a couple of the annual Rangers fan club dinners at a hotel in Westchester (even the goons on the team were extremely polite); watching Miranda carry a team flag on the ice at MSG (alas the one for the Quebec Nordiques, not the Rangers) during the NHL's 75th anniversary celebration; and the excitement chez Kimball when the Rangers finally won the Stanley Cup in 1994. Thanks, Jon, for inspiring this trip down memory lane -- and your thoughts on cancel culture.
wow love your heart + brain = voice
Good for you, Jonathan. We can only hope that a rational conversation on this topic can ensue. The Left is not that much better at nuance than is the Right.
This is terrific. Best explanation of cancel culture I’ve read.
wve know each other since the early 80’s and while i knew you were a cubs fan i did not know you were a blackhaeks fan as a kid. for me it was the rangers in the mid 60’s. i once saw hull fight jim (the chief) nielsen. the golden jet ended up bloodied that afternoon