Coach Tortorella has the brass to take a stand concerning the anthem!

[Por_sha911]

Team USA hockey coach says he'll bench any player who sits for national anthem | Fox News

The always-colorful John Tortorella will be behind the bench as head coach of Team USA during the World Cup of Hockey later this month. He's already making it known that he's not going to tolerate any national anthem protests from his players during the tournament.

"If any of my players sit on the bench for the national anthem, they will sit there the rest of the game," Tortorella told ESPN's Linda Cohn on Tuesday.

Colorful. Yeah that's one way to describe Tortorella. Love him or hate him, he is a show unto himself when he is an NHL coach (go watch some of his antics on YouTube). It didn't surprise me one bit that he would speak up and take a stand. He's one of those guys that right or wrong, he'll tell you what he thinks.

[Jim Richards]

That's his right as the coach. The players have their rights as American citizens, too. I guess everyone is determined to express their rights nowadays.

[island911]

I'm surprised that people here aren't having their heads explode over this political topic existing regular OT. --gasp.

[steve185]

As he should, but not likely to happen with hockey players anyway

[widgeon13]

Most hockey players would just as soon knock a few of his teeth out, maybe even the girls could do it!

[Por_sha911]

^^^
Cool. I would love to see you meet up with Torts and show us how it is done.
How many ice hockey fights have you been in? Just wondering...

[AFC-911]

Considering that the players will be representing Team USA, I totally agree with Torts.

PS - Go Lightning!!

[creaturecat]

quote: It's unclear if any American hockey players were planning on exercising their constitutional right to protest.

constitutional rights? as in the first amendment rights?

[Cdnone1]

Leafs in 6

[Iciclehead]

Originally Posted by Cdnone1

Leafs in 6

Six what? Decades? Centuries? Millenia?

I have been waiting for most of my life for a hockey team in Toronto (old Mahovolich fan)

There are a bunch of pussies skating around the arena there, but to their credit, they do stand for the anthems.

And for our American colleagues, I suspect the fact that a hockey team is only at its fringe a "public place", but rather that it is a private setting (the team owners) would limit their "right" to protest.

Personally if someone sat through the anthem, I would make them sit a la Tortella, however, their seat would be in the bleachers, not the team bench.

Dennis

[unclebilly]

Everyone supports freedom of speech... Until somebody expresses their freedom of speech and in doing so says something that hurts your feelings.

Grow up!

There is more to life than The Kardashians, The Voice, Hillbillery, etc. The real stuff gets glosses over and this guy is bringing a very real issue to the forefront.

[island911]

so what very real issue did this guy bring to the forefront?

[sc_rufctr]

Well done Mr Tortella.

I'll always back a protester rights but he made the consequences very clear. I don't see a problem with it.

(The woman who was speaking during the video is an idiot!)

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by island911

so what very real issue did this guy bring to the forefront?

A sporting event isn't an appropriate place to make a political statement. The problem as I see it is that it "politicizes" the sporting event.

Go ahead and make your protests but don't use a sporting platform to do it.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

this guy is bringing a very real issue to the forefront.

Correct.

[impactbumper]

I don't like hockey, do not care about hockey players nor do I know this tortilla guy, but seems like he is priming over this thing.

My stand, i am against politicizing the sports also. It is easy to make statements when you are cashing out millions, gimme a break...


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