Thank you for trying to keep this story in the headlines, guys. The idea of devoting an entire episode to one specific subject/important story should be used again.
I know they won't, but I'd like for Friedge to take accountability at some point for explicitly leaving Westhead off of people to credit with the story (because he's at TSN) and refusing to talk about it at all until someone at Sportsnet or the Athletic had an article he could cite. That type of gang-journalism is damaging. Obviously someone at Sportsnet sent out a memo not allowing them to discuss it (this podcast is an Athletic feature, which is why they could). For a topic as serious as sexual assault, toeing the company line should have been your LAST priority. Shoutout to Rick Westhead. I don't know what Friedge has against the guy (he STILL won't say his name), but this is a sensitive topic that is far more important than hockey reporting. Friedge should be ashamed.
I agree 100% and feel like Westhead’s reporting still has not gotten the respect it deserves (on this topic or in general tbh). That said, it’s my understanding that you’re totally right about it being some dumb TSN vs Sportsnet thing. Perhaps someone who understands it better can explain, but apparently both networks actually police this stuff (though it’s done inconsistently and to varying degrees). I still have trouble understanding how or why they’d have any say over retweets or citations, but people like Kyprios and others who are now independent have alluded to this. Doesn’t change how I feel about it, but I’m inclined to believe it has something to do with this, rather than some personal vendetta.
Say it louder for the ppl in the back. I respect Friedge for his craft and acumen. But there is a severe disparity and foolishness that exists all over hockey. From old-school boys' club in management and ownership, to locker rooms, to broadcasting and media.
For sure. That being said, having been a Rogers TV employee at a local level myself, and all the things we had on a "do not say" list ( mostly just for marketing purposes, ie. don't say a non-sponsor brand name), I'd venture a guess that direction came from the top down to Elliotte. Should be addressed though, this is an important issue, not someone mentioning Gatorade in passing.
Its moments like that where ethics in journalism should be followed dogmatically regardless of company ties or perception of how sports journalism is somehow a less important profession.
Thank you for giving the victims a voice. This is no where on RUclips, and hardly covered anywhere where it should be plastered to the front page everywhere. Male victims of sexual assault hardly ever get justice, and we need to push for that as hard as we can.
It's amazing to see the level of difference in how the league is handling the claims against Evander Kane compared to how they are handling sexual assault in one of the bigger hockey clubs in the league.
It’s simple, and disgusting. If the NHL doesn’t go hard on Evander Kane and ensure gambling organizations there are no shenanigans going on in NHL games these organizations will stop, or at least threaten to stop, featuring NHL bets which hurts popularity and the leagues bottom line. The NHL ignoring the blackhawks doesn’t hurt their bottom line, it just pisses off people on social media which they can live with.
My guess is that the mindset is that one is private and the other involves the sanctity of game results. It also probably doesn’t help that the Kane drama is being played out on social media.
@@nicelgie462 It's the same when you look at the Coyotes scandal, too. Scouts watching the prospects work out? Full investigation, and enough punishment to ruin the Coyotes for several seasons.
When you hurt the pockets of the league, they need to protect it. Kane is hurting the league, the victim suing one of the most popular franchises in the sport hurts the league. It’s vile and inhuman to the highest degree.
I'm really not in a place where I feel I can listen to this, but I just wanted to comment that I'm thankful to you guys for talking about this, continuing to talk about it, and for bringing Rick Westhead on to talk about it. This should be the number one story in the NHL right now, and yet, they are trying to sweep it all under the rug.
I can’t think of another interview, podcast, conversation of any kind that included a person more well spoken and gathered than this Rick Westhead fellow. He has a detailed specific sourced answer for every single question. Pretty incredible
This was a fantastic episode. Great questions by Adam, Steve, and Jesse on a sensitive, yet important topic. My hats off to Rick Westhead's A+ quality reporting.
I appreciate this so much guys. I have wanted to learn more about this. I think it's great you are using this platform to share this information and to get Westhead to explain everything makes perfect sense. Keep up the good work guys
Thank you guys for continuing to cover this story. It's difficult stuff to talk about and listen to but it is so important that this story doesn't just go away. And thank you very much to Rick for coming on the show to break everything down.
Thanks for bringing him on. Haven't gotten much out of the media here in Chicago. I worked at WBEZ and know the quality of their reporting. This is the type of work they do best! Tony and the station deserve a lot of kudos.
Hockey has a culture issue. Anyone that has been around the sport knows how toxic it is from the grassroots to the top - even if they won't admit it - or worse enjoy participating in it. They have made little progress on it because they will not confront it and will not change their culture at the top and it permeates to the bottom. The last two drafts feature players that bullied a African American student with special needs, and a player that send sexual pictures without consent. But we can go back decades and we have multiple stories ranging from rape to unwanted touching and verbally denigrating women, racism, ethnocentrism and antisemitism, homophobia, child player sexual and physical abuse, head trauma, drug and alcohol use, violence glorification, abandonment of former players with mental and physical health issues, parental verbal and physical abuse and intimidation of kids and officials, and rampant youth in-group out-group mentality... my kids not wanting to play hockey was a blessing - I wish I had never played and was glad they were not interested. Great podcast - keep up the important work!
@@dillon6320 I'm not sure you listened to this podcast if you think this isn't systemic. Pretty much all higher ups have been said to have known about this, the organization then supposedly gave the person a job reccomendation, and supposedly players knew about it and insulted the person over it. Players knew about Bill Peters too. Logan Mailloux (that may be the wrong spelling sorry) literally asked to not be drafted, then got taken in the first round by a team that just made the finals, thought that instead of not picking him they disregarded his actions and picked him. Reportedly too, other teams were planning on drafting him later if Montreal hadn't. Arizona released the rights to a pick because the player had targeted and bullied another kid over the color of his skin. Tony Deangelo has gotten chance over chance and after a year where he was apparently so toxic that a goalie punched him after a game and still he was the one to be released from the team and yet he still got signed by Carolina. So yes, the bad apples may still only make up a small percentage of the sport's culture, but as the saying goes "one bad apple spoils the bunch" and not "one bad apple doesn't mean anything about the quality of the bunch" These people may not be sexually assaulting anyone, verbally harassing people, throwing around slurs, or threatening anyone, but they keep giving those people chances, jobs, covering up for them, and only when bad press goes so far as to risk losing a dollar do they care if Bill Peters calls his players slurs, or a Blackhawks coach forces a player to sit and watch as they masturbate and then force the player to let them ejaculate on them. So yeah, it kinda is about the sport at large, the culture at large, because that is what lets things like this be at all acceptable.
@@JSargeK The nhl is a business. They are in the business of putting the best product on the ice as possible. The sooner you realize this the better off you are.
So much respect to you guys and Rick for keeping everyone updated. The fact that the Blackhawks are trying to get out of this based on technicalities is infuriating. I’m still confused about why they can claim it isn’t their fault? I thought all employers were responsible for their employees?
Only for what happens in the work place unfortunately. Since this happened off the premises in an apartment during non business hours, they have a claim that the actions should’ve been reported to the police by the victim, and it is the victim’s responsibility to do so. It’s disgusting they allowed this to happen, but if there is no concrete work place infractions, they may get off
Great job. I just had to listen to this all the way through since Rick Westhead is keeping close to any new developments on this story. Don't let this story die. Note: As a Chicagoland local, I've seen a handful of stories published by the Chicago Sun-Times regarding this subject on Facebook. So there is indeed SOME local coverage, but the problem is that everyday Chicago/Chicagoland folks are either not caring, are too busy to know what's going on or are just stuck in the past of how great 2010 was for the city of Chicago and can't fathom that key players from the championship season could have been involved in something so sinister. Or the mindset for the media is that they're just waiting for the independent review findings to come out. I've always said that I wasn't a fan of our own fanbase, and this is now one of the reasons why. Not all, but many people are only around for the good times and nowhere to be seen for the bad or questionable times.
Thank you everyone for a great show. This particular topic needs to be addressed and highlighted everywhere. Kudos to you for keeping it updated. Without your shows I would not know as much as I do. Thank you guys!!
Gary Bettman would likely have been in Law School during the whole Watergate saga. And the overarching lesson from that event was "it's not the crime, it's the cover up." And even if the crime here is much more than a misdemeanor, the lesson still stands. That's why it boggles my mind Bettman seems to have forgotten that. Delay, deny, it only compounds the original crime. And, even if delay and deny makes things seem to 'go away' it leaves a serious taint on the brand-- and that has a way of biting one on the ass down the road when no one gives benefit of the doubt on the next crisis. As mentioned in the podcast, the NHL won't change until sponsors and advertisers tell them they have to. And that's where fans can have an impact.
Im desperately hoping major change can come from the continuing coverage of events such as the ones going on in Chicago and the rest of the sports world, I greatly appreciated the comments on the Akim Aliu case. I feel like it’s so easy to hold onto a report for a couple months and it simply fades from the public consciousness. Coverage like this is a huge help in preventing that from happening. We need more people in positions of authority in sports media to stand up and push for change. I think fans need to be better about that too.
Thank you guys for continuing to report on this. Steve's comment that you don't break the news, you comment on it is a pertinent one. But your megaphone is often more powerful than that of the people who do break the news. I often wonder, not just about the victims, but about the work that people like Rick and Katie Strang do, how important it is, and how much they must sometimes feel like they're shouting into an absolute void trying to get people to just pay f'ing attention for 5 minutes. You guys are helping to make sure they're not. All the respect to you for amplifying work that can make a difference to those victims.
Well done boys, I'm sure this was a difficult podcast to set up for but all of you did such a good job. Rick is a beauty, need to get that man on more often!
This episode earned my sub. Good on all of you for sharing this! Minor edit: Did you really need to include an ad placement of a mattress guys?! Read the room.
I'm so glad you guys aren't dropping this, the fact that everyone in the NHL's sphere is tying to cover this up is really a disappointment to me. This entire thing has left everyone I know who loves hockey really disappointed in the NHL, the Blackhawks organization, and even the players themselves. I partially understand not wanting to ruin your career because you know that's what would've happened, but the fact that Blackhawk players verbally abused a player with that kind of homophobic crap is what really threw me. I think a lot of arenas are going to become pretty tough for the Hawks to play in for the next year (the chants from Preds and Flyers fans are going to be the stuff of nightmares).
I can’t put into words how much I appreciate you guys and how grateful I am that you take on these difficult subject matters, and for being the first people on my timeline to help make this story go big. This is why you are my favourite podcast ❤️
Great work guys, much appreciated talking about this more, it's a step to changing the culture of the sport in the right direction, no matter how small it may seem now
Great show guys this is something that needed to be done and I’m so happy you guys did this and have kept talking about this and bringing it to light you guys are awesome and keep up the good work
I've been a Blackhawks fan for over fifty years. This issue pains and disgusts me. I hope the all the guys involved, including the young man from Michigan, find good resolution. Gary Bettman, Rocky Wirtz, Scott Bowman, Joel Quenville and the rest of you-you're being watched and can't hide.
as much as i despise your takes 90% of the time , i respect you all doing this . as a male abuse survivor myself..both sexual and physical.. we need to speak out about this and continue to speak out about this until justice is served.
As a fan of the Blackhawks, this story hurts and I hope those in management who knew are held responsible and removed from the sport. It’s wild to think that someone could come to you in a very vulnerable state and be turned away.
THANK YOU for talking about this! I was trying to put myself in both John Does shoes… its just awful, cant even imagine. I really hope even if they settle that something changes and that these types of horrible things make headlines. You being a male athlete DOESNT mean you cant be sexually assaulted. The power coaches have over players is something that not everyone realises. I’d be paralyzed too. Justice for everyone, athlete or not, female or male, or whatever you identify as. Just horrible.
I can’t say enough good things, fellas. I’m glad to see you guys making a constant effort to keep a light on this story. Quality discussion, with the toxic culture in hockey, survivors who love hockey deserve a safe space. We are passionate (Leafs) hockey fans, but before that we also are compassionate humans. Cheers!
These attitudes need to change...there should be no tolerance for allowing predictors or the people which ignore or try to obfuscate their deeds in sports or any other form of society! Good on the SDP and Rick Westhead.
Thank you guys for bringing Rick Westhead on, and illuminating us on this issue. It is surprising that this isn't front and center, and I can only surmise that everyone is awaiting the independent investigation before piling on. This could be incredible (in the bad way), and the fact that there seems to be a decided effort to not only bully and silence the victims, but to cover up the issue speaks to the hockey culture in Chicago. I would hope that something comes of this, that there will be accountability, and there will be a way to support and raise up victims in a meaningful way so as to not have this in the future.
It’s incredibly sad if players on their own team we calling them “gay” and that’s fine. I was playing hockey in high school 10+ years ago and this was a huge problem then. Sad
This is a league problem. The Blackhawks are not an isolated incident. The NHL has shown with this entire travesty, the concussion issue, etc. that it has no regard for the health, safety, nor well-being of the players. If it were a "regular" company/corporation, the NHL would have been sued into the ground by now, but because the community around the league is so insular, and the game so beloved, they can escape scrutiny, because people just want to support and "protect" the game they love. It needed to be torn down and revamped years ago, this latest story is another sad indictment of that fact.
Never have I ever had to stop and rewind the podcast so many times as this episode. When Rick was explaining what happened and the time line, I was constantly going … Wait! What did he just say?! Thanks for bringing this out to us. Regardless of the story or the sport, we need to keep highlighting these types of misconducts and power imbalances. We need to protect our youth. We need to make it so these people cannot get away with this type of behaviour. It’s never on! It’s not ok!
I know it's not fun, but we all appreciate the full episode dedicated to this story. It's not fair that this podcast is meant to be fun for us AND you guys and we're talking about this instead. You guys are great.
34:15 honestly jaw dropping. if the lawyer is able to get this, hats off to her because that could be equally interesting and horrifying if she's able to reveal more misconduct by the bhawks
As this Blackhawks case continues to develop, it's get more sickening when more information is released. Especially the report with guys like Patrick Sharp, Brian Campbell, and Patrick Kane being involved with the harassment of the former player which makes me as a fan upset. Especially with Kane and Campbell based on their ties with the City of Buffalo. There really needs to be a "Death Penalty" issued to the Blackhawks by the NHL, but I'll honestly be shocked if the NHL does punish the organization worse than they did with the Coyotes over the combine.
in July, 2009, Bergevin was appointed as Chicago's director of player personnel. On June 15, 2011, Bergevin was promoted to assistant general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks. He knew
@@nadia0701 There’s no proof so he won’t go down with Bowman. The meeting is key. The people in that meeting definitively knew. The rest is speculation.
I was sexually abused at 7 years old. I ddn't come out about it til I was 30. The the NHL needs to be transparent about the Blackhawks sex scandal. This doesn't belong in any sport & the NHLPA & USAhockey needs to be more involved with it. Thank you for talking about this. I hope you talk with Rick Westhead more about this as it develops. This cannot be swept under the rug this time!
@@cleementine it isn't easy, most days I don't want to think about it or talk about because it changes who you are for your whole life. Especially if you keep it to your self for so long. But it's a serious problem in the world. I think if people became more comfortable talking about it, it would actually benefit the victims & they would come & say things more often.
Like everyone else, I’m so glad you’re keeping this in the headlines. But I’m also really glad you’re not trying to out the players. I’m obviously curious and I have my guesses but I would never voice them because it’s none of our business and we need to remember to respect their privacy.
A pre-sentencing report is just basically the defence reasoning as to why their client shouldn’t be handed the maximum sentence. It can affect the outcome of sentencing but usually in severe cases like this it really doesn’t do much. All the PSR does is give social background and economic history. In this guys case I assume it didn’t do much because the position he was in you have to typically come from a well-to-do background and the courts probably looked at that and basically scarfed and threw it away he probably hasn’t been fully sentenced yet but I assume he’s probably going to get some type of jail time. And in the states he’s going to be spending a lot of time in protective custody which is enough to drive even the most stable and optimistic person in sane
Thanks for your insight. The guys also mentioned depoaition and discovery. Since the suits are civil and were filed in Illinois, I wonder if there is discovery allowed during a deposition. Also, if someone is to undergo a deposition in a civil case, I wonder if they need to be subpoenaed.
Thanks for bringing all of this to light.
Thanks for sending me here.
Is this the only way that TSN can get this story out? What would Bettman and the NHL do to them?
Thank you, THG. We’ll have you on soon enough, if you’re willing.
@@SteveDangle AND THG!
match made in heaven
The hockey guy has to be on this podcast. We need his perspective
Thank you for trying to keep this story in the headlines, guys. The idea of devoting an entire episode to one specific subject/important story should be used again.
Love how this podcast will target subjects that many won't. Much respect
I really respect and love them for that to.
I agree
Wow. Great episode boys.
I know they won't, but I'd like for Friedge to take accountability at some point for explicitly leaving Westhead off of people to credit with the story (because he's at TSN) and refusing to talk about it at all until someone at Sportsnet or the Athletic had an article he could cite.
That type of gang-journalism is damaging. Obviously someone at Sportsnet sent out a memo not allowing them to discuss it (this podcast is an Athletic feature, which is why they could). For a topic as serious as sexual assault, toeing the company line should have been your LAST priority.
Shoutout to Rick Westhead. I don't know what Friedge has against the guy (he STILL won't say his name), but this is a sensitive topic that is far more important than hockey reporting. Friedge should be ashamed.
I agree 100% and feel like Westhead’s reporting still has not gotten the respect it deserves (on this topic or in general tbh).
That said, it’s my understanding that you’re totally right about it being some dumb TSN vs Sportsnet thing. Perhaps someone who understands it better can explain, but apparently both networks actually police this stuff (though it’s done inconsistently and to varying degrees). I still have trouble understanding how or why they’d have any say over retweets or citations, but people like Kyprios and others who are now independent have alluded to this.
Doesn’t change how I feel about it, but I’m inclined to believe it has something to do with this, rather than some personal vendetta.
Say it louder for the ppl in the back. I respect Friedge for his craft and acumen. But there is a severe disparity and foolishness that exists all over hockey. From old-school boys' club in management and ownership, to locker rooms, to broadcasting and media.
For sure. That being said, having been a Rogers TV employee at a local level myself, and all the things we had on a "do not say" list ( mostly just for marketing purposes, ie. don't say a non-sponsor brand name), I'd venture a guess that direction came from the top down to Elliotte.
Should be addressed though, this is an important issue, not someone mentioning Gatorade in passing.
Its moments like that where ethics in journalism should be followed dogmatically regardless of company ties or perception of how sports journalism is somehow a less important profession.
Simple. Friedman works for Sportsnet and Sportsnet has a billion dollar exclusive deal with the NHL.
*All I know is if this guy comes out, we ALL gotta show support*
Thank you for giving the victims a voice. This is no where on RUclips, and hardly covered anywhere where it should be plastered to the front page everywhere. Male victims of sexual assault hardly ever get justice, and we need to push for that as hard as we can.
From hockey podcasts it's really only them & Staff N Graph that are talking about this as far as I've seen
You don't need the gendered qualifier. Victims of sexual assault hardly ever get justice, ad we need to push for that as hard as we can.
It's amazing to see the level of difference in how the league is handling the claims against Evander Kane compared to how they are handling sexual assault in one of the bigger hockey clubs in the league.
It’s simple, and disgusting. If the NHL doesn’t go hard on Evander Kane and ensure gambling organizations there are no shenanigans going on in NHL games these organizations will stop, or at least threaten to stop, featuring NHL bets which hurts popularity and the leagues bottom line. The NHL ignoring the blackhawks doesn’t hurt their bottom line, it just pisses off people on social media which they can live with.
My guess is that the mindset is that one is private and the other involves the sanctity of game results. It also probably doesn’t help that the Kane drama is being played out on social media.
@@woodsie22 And the Hawks drama isn't? Sure it started behind closed doors but it's also all over social media now too
@@nicelgie462 It's the same when you look at the Coyotes scandal, too. Scouts watching the prospects work out? Full investigation, and enough punishment to ruin the Coyotes for several seasons.
When you hurt the pockets of the league, they need to protect it. Kane is hurting the league, the victim suing one of the most popular franchises in the sport hurts the league.
It’s vile and inhuman to the highest degree.
I'm really not in a place where I feel I can listen to this, but I just wanted to comment that I'm thankful to you guys for talking about this, continuing to talk about it, and for bringing Rick Westhead on to talk about it. This should be the number one story in the NHL right now, and yet, they are trying to sweep it all under the rug.
I can’t think of another interview, podcast, conversation of any kind that included a person more well spoken and gathered than this Rick Westhead fellow. He has a detailed specific sourced answer for every single question. Pretty incredible
Can’t say enough how much I respect you guys for dedicating an entire episode to this story, you guys are awesome!
Thank you Rick Westhead for sticking with this story, and for SDP for giving him the platform, and letting him speak
This was a fantastic episode. Great questions by Adam, Steve, and Jesse on a sensitive, yet important topic. My hats off to Rick Westhead's A+ quality reporting.
I appreciate this so much guys. I have wanted to learn more about this. I think it's great you are using this platform to share this information and to get Westhead to explain everything makes perfect sense. Keep up the good work guys
For real, Westhead deserves more of a platform I think.
"That was in a LEGAL DOCUMENT?" My exact reaction Steve.
Adam: Your favorite team broke your heart lately?
Me: Yes, it's what this entire podcast is about. Thanks for reminding me
It's not about you. It's about the guys who were assaulted.
I think it must be a strategy. If they always leave things unfinished, we'll always have appetite for more????
Thank you guys for continuing to cover this story. It's difficult stuff to talk about and listen to but it is so important that this story doesn't just go away. And thank you very much to Rick for coming on the show to break everything down.
I love that you are actually talking about this. I don't think there has been enough media coverage on this topic.
It's basically just them & Staff N Graph for podcasts
Rick Westhead is a perfect reminder that people are capable of great feats of compassion and corporations are not.
Appreciate you guys for being class acts as always, and appreciate how you approach this with respect and dignity.
Thanks for bringing him on. Haven't gotten much out of the media here in Chicago. I worked at WBEZ and know the quality of their reporting. This is the type of work they do best! Tony and the station deserve a lot of kudos.
The way the NHL is handling this is laughable it doesn’t even sound real I really commend you guys for doing the right thing and talking about this
Hockey has a culture issue. Anyone that has been around the sport knows how toxic it is from the grassroots to the top - even if they won't admit it - or worse enjoy participating in it. They have made little progress on it because they will not confront it and will not change their culture at the top and it permeates to the bottom. The last two drafts feature players that bullied a African American student with special needs, and a player that send sexual pictures without consent. But we can go back decades and we have multiple stories ranging from rape to unwanted touching and verbally denigrating women, racism, ethnocentrism and antisemitism, homophobia, child player sexual and physical abuse, head trauma, drug and alcohol use, violence glorification, abandonment of former players with mental and physical health issues, parental verbal and physical abuse and intimidation of kids and officials, and rampant youth in-group out-group mentality... my kids not wanting to play hockey was a blessing - I wish I had never played and was glad they were not interested. Great podcast - keep up the important work!
Don’t put down an entire sport because of a few bad apples.
@Lucas Turner But it is a few bad apples when you consider how large the community is.
@@dillon6320 I'm not sure you listened to this podcast if you think this isn't systemic. Pretty much all higher ups have been said to have known about this, the organization then supposedly gave the person a job reccomendation, and supposedly players knew about it and insulted the person over it. Players knew about Bill Peters too. Logan Mailloux (that may be the wrong spelling sorry) literally asked to not be drafted, then got taken in the first round by a team that just made the finals, thought that instead of not picking him they disregarded his actions and picked him. Reportedly too, other teams were planning on drafting him later if Montreal hadn't. Arizona released the rights to a pick because the player had targeted and bullied another kid over the color of his skin. Tony Deangelo has gotten chance over chance and after a year where he was apparently so toxic that a goalie punched him after a game and still he was the one to be released from the team and yet he still got signed by Carolina. So yes, the bad apples may still only make up a small percentage of the sport's culture, but as the saying goes "one bad apple spoils the bunch" and not "one bad apple doesn't mean anything about the quality of the bunch" These people may not be sexually assaulting anyone, verbally harassing people, throwing around slurs, or threatening anyone, but they keep giving those people chances, jobs, covering up for them, and only when bad press goes so far as to risk losing a dollar do they care if Bill Peters calls his players slurs, or a Blackhawks coach forces a player to sit and watch as they masturbate and then force the player to let them ejaculate on them. So yeah, it kinda is about the sport at large, the culture at large, because that is what lets things like this be at all acceptable.
@@JSargeK The nhl is a business. They are in the business of putting the best product on the ice as possible. The sooner you realize this the better off you are.
@@dillon6320 so I should just be ok if that product is a racist, sexist, abusing, harassing pos?
So much respect to you guys and Rick for keeping everyone updated. The fact that the Blackhawks are trying to get out of this based on technicalities is infuriating. I’m still confused about why they can claim it isn’t their fault? I thought all employers were responsible for their employees?
Only for what happens in the work place unfortunately. Since this happened off the premises in an apartment during non business hours, they have a claim that the actions should’ve been reported to the police by the victim, and it is the victim’s responsibility to do so. It’s disgusting they allowed this to happen, but if there is no concrete work place infractions, they may get off
No, not for their behavior outside of the scope of their employment or stuff they do after they've been fired.
already listened to this twice, thankful you're keeping this in the media
Great job. I just had to listen to this all the way through since Rick Westhead is keeping close to any new developments on this story. Don't let this story die.
Note: As a Chicagoland local, I've seen a handful of stories published by the Chicago Sun-Times regarding this subject on Facebook. So there is indeed SOME local coverage, but the problem is that everyday Chicago/Chicagoland folks are either not caring, are too busy to know what's going on or are just stuck in the past of how great 2010 was for the city of Chicago and can't fathom that key players from the championship season could have been involved in something so sinister. Or the mindset for the media is that they're just waiting for the independent review findings to come out. I've always said that I wasn't a fan of our own fanbase, and this is now one of the reasons why. Not all, but many people are only around for the good times and nowhere to be seen for the bad or questionable times.
34:47 NOT THE TIME FOR A AD
Great that THG recommended watching this.
Thank you everyone for a great show. This particular topic needs to be addressed and highlighted everywhere. Kudos to you for keeping it updated. Without your shows I would not know as much as I do. Thank you guys!!
Gary Bettman would likely have been in Law School during the whole Watergate saga. And the overarching lesson from that event was "it's not the crime, it's the cover up." And even if the crime here is much more than a misdemeanor, the lesson still stands. That's why it boggles my mind Bettman seems to have forgotten that. Delay, deny, it only compounds the original crime. And, even if delay and deny makes things seem to 'go away' it leaves a serious taint on the brand-- and that has a way of biting one on the ass down the road when no one gives benefit of the doubt on the next crisis. As mentioned in the podcast, the NHL won't change until sponsors and advertisers tell them they have to. And that's where fans can have an impact.
Im desperately hoping major change can come from the continuing coverage of events such as the ones going on in Chicago and the rest of the sports world, I greatly appreciated the comments on the Akim Aliu case. I feel like it’s so easy to hold onto a report for a couple months and it simply fades from the public consciousness. Coverage like this is a huge help in preventing that from happening. We need more people in positions of authority in sports media to stand up and push for change. I think fans need to be better about that too.
"Incredible in the worst way" describes this whole area. Thank you for shining a light on it.
Thank you guys for continuing to report on this. Steve's comment that you don't break the news, you comment on it is a pertinent one. But your megaphone is often more powerful than that of the people who do break the news. I often wonder, not just about the victims, but about the work that people like Rick and Katie Strang do, how important it is, and how much they must sometimes feel like they're shouting into an absolute void trying to get people to just pay f'ing attention for 5 minutes. You guys are helping to make sure they're not. All the respect to you for amplifying work that can make a difference to those victims.
thank you for doing this. it’s a rough topic, but I appreciate you talking about it.
Thanks Steve, Adam, Jesse for doing this. Keep up the great work the 3 of you. Thanks to Rick for giving us more info on this stuff that happened
Well done boys, I'm sure this was a difficult podcast to set up for but all of you did such a good job. Rick is a beauty, need to get that man on more often!
This episode earned my sub. Good on all of you for sharing this!
Minor edit: Did you really need to include an ad placement of a mattress guys?! Read the room.
The mattress bothered you, but the pube trimmer didn't?
I'm so glad you guys aren't dropping this, the fact that everyone in the NHL's sphere is tying to cover this up is really a disappointment to me. This entire thing has left everyone I know who loves hockey really disappointed in the NHL, the Blackhawks organization, and even the players themselves. I partially understand not wanting to ruin your career because you know that's what would've happened, but the fact that Blackhawk players verbally abused a player with that kind of homophobic crap is what really threw me. I think a lot of arenas are going to become pretty tough for the Hawks to play in for the next year (the chants from Preds and Flyers fans are going to be the stuff of nightmares).
This was a very insightful interview. Great job, the four of you!
I can’t put into words how much I appreciate you guys and how grateful I am that you take on these difficult subject matters, and for being the first people on my timeline to help make this story go big. This is why you are my favourite podcast ❤️
Thank you so much for covering this in such detail and consistency. Thank you for using your platform. So much respect.
Wow, thank you. What a phenomenal podcast.
Thank you guys so much for continuing to cover this and other uncomfortable but so important stories like this.
Thank you guys for keeping this story in the forefront. It sucks to have to do this, but it's so important. Thank you.
Great work guys, much appreciated talking about this more, it's a step to changing the culture of the sport in the right direction, no matter how small it may seem now
Great show guys this is something that needed to be done and I’m so happy you guys did this and have kept talking about this and bringing it to light you guys are awesome and keep up the good work
Thank you for staying on this!
I've been a Blackhawks fan for over fifty years. This issue pains and disgusts me. I hope the all the guys involved, including the young man from Michigan, find good resolution. Gary Bettman, Rocky Wirtz, Scott Bowman, Joel Quenville and the rest of you-you're being watched and can't hide.
Absolutely fantastic cast. Rick is truly doing a service with all his work on this and I am glad you guys were able to be amplify his voice on this.
as much as i despise your takes 90% of the time , i respect you all doing this . as a male abuse survivor myself..both sexual and physical.. we need to speak out about this and continue to speak out about this until justice is served.
Appreciate spending some quality time on this. Hard to hear but important to address this.
"You don't have a youtube..but you got a band saw!" 🤣🤣🤣
As a fan of the Blackhawks, this story hurts and I hope those in management who knew are held responsible and removed from the sport. It’s wild to think that someone could come to you in a very vulnerable state and be turned away.
Thank you for covering this topic. This story needs to be told to the community. We need to be better in a lot of aspects. We can always be better.
THANK YOU for talking about this! I was trying to put myself in both John Does shoes… its just awful, cant even imagine. I really hope even if they settle that something changes and that these types of horrible things make headlines.
You being a male athlete DOESNT mean you cant be sexually assaulted. The power coaches have over players is something that not everyone realises. I’d be paralyzed too. Justice for everyone, athlete or not, female or male, or whatever you identify as. Just horrible.
I can’t say enough good things, fellas.
I’m glad to see you guys making a constant effort to keep a light on this story. Quality discussion, with the toxic culture in hockey, survivors who love hockey deserve a safe space. We are passionate (Leafs) hockey fans, but before that we also are compassionate humans.
Cheers!
Thank you so much for using your platform for this story
These attitudes need to change...there should be no tolerance for allowing predictors or the people which ignore or try to obfuscate their deeds in sports or any other form of society! Good on the SDP and Rick Westhead.
The best episode outside of hockey contest. Keep digging guys!
Good job for talking about the non click bait topics... love the podcast have listened for almost a year religously...
Really great podcast boys, thanks to Rick Westhead as well for reporting this story. Cheers!
Great video guys! Please keep on this story and giving us updated videos.
Thank you for all youve done and continue to do both rick and you guys have done some tremendous reporting on this🙏🏻
I know people like to hate on the ads, but I am genuinely curious why ads on this one?
There's prob an agreement w the company that an ad is present in each video, so they are obligated.
They really should have left out the pube trimmer ad on a video about sexual assault.
Thank you for covering arguably the most relevant topic in hockey.
Wow guys! Just turned this on, but hell yeh. Turning point for SDP. Hard-hitting journalism I'm sure.
Way to bring this to the forefront. Great job.
Was happy to see them talk about it so in depth.
Also, do you know what the n stands for in sdpn? Just wondering lol
@@ifuwantsomecomegetit Navy I think
Thank you guys for bringing Rick Westhead on, and illuminating us on this issue. It is surprising that this isn't front and center, and I can only surmise that everyone is awaiting the independent investigation before piling on. This could be incredible (in the bad way), and the fact that there seems to be a decided effort to not only bully and silence the victims, but to cover up the issue speaks to the hockey culture in Chicago. I would hope that something comes of this, that there will be accountability, and there will be a way to support and raise up victims in a meaningful way so as to not have this in the future.
Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Excellent hockey program. Division 1.
This had to be said. Rick Westhead gave a concise, well thought out account of this serious matter. Also, his neighbour his cute.
Nice to see a serious episode. Wish they did more of those.
It’s incredibly sad if players on their own team we calling them “gay” and that’s fine. I was playing hockey in high school 10+ years ago and this was a huge problem then. Sad
Keith Toews Seabrook Kane need to be questioned as leaders of the team
So much respect lost for this team
Adams "This matters" couldn't have been said more perfectly. Also, HI Doug!
i appreciate the ad break between the assault talk...
I just hope they they'll give the ad money to a charity for sexual assault survivors
Well done, guys. A difficult, but tremendous job, with this episode.
This is a league problem. The Blackhawks are not an isolated incident. The NHL has shown with this entire travesty, the concussion issue, etc. that it has no regard for the health, safety, nor well-being of the players. If it were a "regular" company/corporation, the NHL would have been sued into the ground by now, but because the community around the league is so insular, and the game so beloved, they can escape scrutiny, because people just want to support and "protect" the game they love. It needed to be torn down and revamped years ago, this latest story is another sad indictment of that fact.
Thank you for the video, I learned quite a lot about the situation. It was greatly appreciated.
Can the ad money in the middle at least go to a SA survivor charity of some sorts? Felt in poor taste, great interview otherwise…
After watching this video twice now, I have just one question. What is the NHLPA for?
30:19 Everyone has a right to an attorney, but really? What kind of legal argument is this??
Divorce?
Greatest comment ever.
Never have I ever had to stop and rewind the podcast so many times as this episode.
When Rick was explaining what happened and the time line, I was constantly going … Wait! What did he just say?!
Thanks for bringing this out to us. Regardless of the story or the sport, we need to keep highlighting these types of misconducts and power imbalances. We need to protect our youth. We need to make it so these people cannot get away with this type of behaviour. It’s never on! It’s not ok!
I know it's not fun, but we all appreciate the full episode dedicated to this story. It's not fair that this podcast is meant to be fun for us AND you guys and we're talking about this instead. You guys are great.
34:15 honestly jaw dropping. if the lawyer is able to get this, hats off to her because that could be equally interesting and horrifying if she's able to reveal more misconduct by the bhawks
Thanks for this, guys. Sincerely
Thanks for getting someone informed on the show to discuss this. Much better than listening to the 3 stooges speculate
Did you guys really put a mattress ad in the middle of this?
Very informative episode, hopefully everyone involved gets what they deserve for trying to cover this up.
I hope this get's alot of views. Keep talking about it guys!
As this Blackhawks case continues to develop, it's get more sickening when more information is released. Especially the report with guys like Patrick Sharp, Brian Campbell, and Patrick Kane being involved with the harassment of the former player which makes me as a fan upset. Especially with Kane and Campbell based on their ties with the City of Buffalo. There really needs to be a "Death Penalty" issued to the Blackhawks by the NHL, but I'll honestly be shocked if the NHL does punish the organization worse than they did with the Coyotes over the combine.
Sharp is a scumbag, so I’m not surprised
Fire Bowman
What do you mean by “death penalty”?
in July, 2009, Bergevin was appointed as Chicago's director of player personnel. On June 15, 2011, Bergevin was promoted to assistant general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks. He knew
@@nadia0701 There’s no proof so he won’t go down with Bowman. The meeting is key. The people in that meeting definitively knew. The rest is speculation.
Thank you for covering this story. It’s important!
Amazing interview, despite the horrific subject matter. My heart breaks for the young men that were abused.💔
Interesting listening to this again now; great job.
Thanks for this. An important and great listen.
Thank you for keeping on this.
I was sexually abused at 7 years old. I ddn't come out about it til I was 30. The the NHL needs to be transparent about the Blackhawks sex scandal. This doesn't belong in any sport & the NHLPA & USAhockey needs to be more involved with it. Thank you for talking about this. I hope you talk with Rick Westhead more about this as it develops. This cannot be swept under the rug this time!
I am sorry that happened to you. Thank you for sharing; it helps to show the naysayers that this is a problem that we have not fixed yet.
@@cleementine it isn't easy, most days I don't want to think about it or talk about because it changes who you are for your whole life. Especially if you keep it to your self for so long. But it's a serious problem in the world. I think if people became more comfortable talking about it, it would actually benefit the victims & they would come & say things more often.
The old dude at the end was the best.
Thank you for doing this!
Like everyone else, I’m so glad you’re keeping this in the headlines. But I’m also really glad you’re not trying to out the players. I’m obviously curious and I have my guesses but I would never voice them because it’s none of our business and we need to remember to respect their privacy.
Thank you for that. it’s so important to talk about it.
A pre-sentencing report is just basically the defence reasoning as to why their client shouldn’t be handed the maximum sentence. It can affect the outcome of sentencing but usually in severe cases like this it really doesn’t do much. All the PSR does is give social background and economic history. In this guys case I assume it didn’t do much because the position he was in you have to typically come from a well-to-do background and the courts probably looked at that and basically scarfed and threw it away he probably hasn’t been fully sentenced yet but I assume he’s probably going to get some type of jail time. And in the states he’s going to be spending a lot of time in protective custody which is enough to drive even the most stable and optimistic person in sane
Thanks for your insight. The guys also mentioned depoaition and discovery. Since the suits are civil and were filed in Illinois, I wonder if there is discovery allowed during a deposition. Also, if someone is to undergo a deposition in a civil case, I wonder if they need to be subpoenaed.