Misogyny and the Hockey Hall of Fame

There are a number of highly qualified, highly respected and thoughtful hockey people on the selection committee of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Who'd have thought they could screw up so badly?

Last week, they announced the next Hall of Fame class, and it's a good one - Glenn Anderson, Igor Larionov, linesman Ray Scapinello and the late Ed Chynoweth.

Sadly, however, the 18-member selection committee again booted the ball so badly on honouring women in the game that it has seriously discredited itself and soiled the reputation of this hockey institution.

A year ago, you could argue that the HHOF was caught flatfooted when the IIHF Hall of Fame beat it to the punch and inducted several outstanding females - Angela James, Geraldine Heaney and Cammi Granato - for their contributions to the game. Tens of thousands of women and young girls now play in the game around the world, it's been an Olympic sport for a decade and Canadian and U.S. universities are filled with outstanding student athletes focusing on the sport.

This year, however, it's clear the HHOF selection committee, by ignoring women again, is either ignorant or blatantly misogynistic. It is now deliberately going out of its way to arrogantly deny a long list of female pioneers their rightful place in the Hall just because the old boy's club wants to pretend women's hockey doesn't matter in the same way it used to pretend outstanding European players weren't suitably qualified for induction.

The worst part is that it's all a big secret. The selection committee never reveals who was nominated, how the vote went or who voted for whom.

That's what allows these people to keep women out. They never have to reveal the workings of their secret organization, never have to be accountable to anyone other than themselves. That's how the Ballards and Steins once wormed their way in.

The HHOF is, however, a public trust. People need to be able to believe that decisions on inductees are being made on a fair and equitable basis, not because somebody likes somebody or doesn't like somebody else.

That's part of what kept Anderson out for so long. It wasn't about his talent or his accomplishments. There were some on the selection committee who held a personal grudge against Anderson and simply refused to vote for him.

When it comes to women, there are some on the selection committee who have zero knowledge of the women's game, have never seen women play on a competitive level and simply don't understand the enormous contribution that many women have made to the sport.

And they're not interested in finding out.

Instead, they'll go out of their way to honour officials, bureaucrats, owners and, of course, their friends, but will make sure outstanding individuals who actually built the women's game continue to be kept out of their rightful place in the HHOF. They try to hide behind a sense of confusion over whether women should be honoured as players or builders or in some special category, but that's just a tactic that allows them to pretend they're actually considering the matter.

Excluding women from the Hall is no longer an understandable oversight. It's now simple chauvinism exhibited by people who are supposed to be caretakers of the sport, not political bagmen doling out patronage.

Keeping women out of the HHOF is insulting to women and a great game. Those responsible should do the right thing and resign their positions.

Comments

[chris]

Excellent rant, Damien. I liked how you made those feelings known on The Reporters leaving the others speechless (not an easy thing with Steve Simmons on).

As for the HHOF, when are you guys ever going to get into the 21st Century?

[Me]

Perhaps they would get the message if attendance at the HHOF were to decline seriously? If all women boycotted the Hall - and got their families and friends to do the same - and perhaps even staged a demonstration in front of the Hall, then what you are talking about would no longer be something observed by only a few astute reporters.

[sheesh]

Resign? You're always hysterical man.

[Robert Roach]

How many AAA midget hockey players are there in the Hockey Hall of Fame?
And that is the level woman's hockey is at.
Way too many former N.H.L. and A.H.L. players are far more deserving to be in the hall then any woman.
So give it a rest.

[Leafs]

I am not here to comment on this article, it was well done, however. The article I am commenting on is the one titled "Leafs not wing-ing it". First of all, the leafs defense was one of the worse defenses in the league. With a draft full of excellent defenseman, the leafs capitalized on the opportunity and selected an astute one in Schenn. Secondly, why are you criticizing the leafs for trying to get rid of the two most expensive and overrated players on the team who have dissapointed everyone this year with their lackluster play? You should be applauding them for this! And thirdly, everyone seems outraged at the fact that Mats Sundin might be a Canadien after this offseason. For those of you who are irritated at this need to see the benefits of Sundin being moved in exchange for players that will help the leafs in the future. Sundin and his 78 points won't help the team any if there is no supporting cast around him like he had before the lockout in guys like Roberts, Niewendyk, Nolan and Mogilny. So all of you who are raging on at Fletcher please quit it. He's trying to do the best he can with what he has. I think (with the exception of acquiring Mayers for a third-rounder), Mr. Fletcher is doing a decent job.

[kenny d]

Woman getting no respect and $5 for a gallon of gas. See- the world is going to hell in a hand basket. Anyway I would like to comment on the Sundin thing. Dear Mats: You apparently are miffed at the Leaf managment and want to play somewhere else. That's fine. I hope you get to play for a cup and thanks for all you have done for us Leaf fans. You have been a great great player. As far as being miffed, well we Leaf fans have been miffed at Leaf managment for forty years so welcome to the club. So if you do decide to return as our captain that would be great but for me, go and try to get a cup and thanks for the memories. I don't think Montreal will be winning a cup in the next couple of years but we repect the Habs so if you want to go there great. Detroit would be your best bet. Anywhere but Ottawa but I don't think you would go there. Why would anyone want to. Like I said. If you want to come back you will welcome with open arms but if not good luck where ever you go and thanks. Being Captain of the Leafs is the highest position a player in sports can have and you have been a great one. Au revoir.

[Sandy T.]

Damian:

Yowzah! Can't argue with a thing.

Me:

Imagine - here in the 21st century - a situation that has to come to thoughts of boycotts and demonstrations to force a group of privileged males to include females in their boys-only club.

Somewhere, Nellie McClung and Emily Howard Stowe are spinning in their graves.

[Marijan Kalman]

It is not BIG SECRET. HHOF is run by old farts, male chauvinists who live in 18th centuries who are running this institution like Himler run Gestapo.

It is same with referring committee.

Unfortunately NOBODY IN HOCKEY WORLD has guts to change this.
All of these members of HHOF and Referring committe should be forcefully removed from their positons and young people, 30 years old should be there.
Until they are in these bodies NOT ONE WOMEN WILL BE INDUCTED.
JUST ARREST THEM AND MOVE THEM TO REMOTE ISLAND.

[Nunya Business]

Right, but no one cares about women's hockey. I'm really sick of people trying to legitimize it, it'll never happen, nor should it. I'm going to lodge a complaint with the syncronized swimming HOF as well, we really need some bumbling men in there who have no idea how to perform. Also we should get some corporate sponsorship dollars for a mens syncro swimming league in which only one team half knows how to play (that no one will watch to boot).

Give it up ladies and politically correct doormats like you Cox, its getting embarassing.

[David Bacque]

Fantastic comentary. Right on the money but it does imply the IIHF has been good at recognizing the women's game. So they've added a few (outstanding and deserving) female players about 20 years after their first sanctioned world championships. There are many more players plus coaches and builders of the women's game who should be in both halls already. The HHOF should be ashamed and the IIHF should be pushed hard to do justice to a great game.

[trish]

I used to play girls hockey in the early-mid 70s when it WAS girls, there was no women's hockey program to speak of. Our heroes had to be the men because that's all we knew (though my folks did talk to me about someone named Abby Hoffman who wasn't part of the Chicago 7!) The HHOF owes it to women and the pioneers of women's hockey for making us fans of the GAME, not of the gender or league of the game. And to my dad who against all the stereotypes of the day, did not flinch when I had an early saturday morning game, who would give me and my brother equal amounts of his time/energy.

Does my game not count for anything? Sadly, hockey is truly the biggest boys club in all professional sports. And in Canada, it is atrocious, because we believe we are hockey leaders. Wake up. So it's not the NHL. it's hockey. it's "our" game, though we don't deserve it.

[Kevin Brown]

Not too bad. Only two (at the time I post this) dissenting opinions. And one of the dissenters actually had the balls to put his name to his post. While I might disagree with Robert R's opinion, I feel it necessary to place him in a class separate from the knuckle-dragger known as "Nunya Business".

In response to Robert: Your comparison of women's hockey to Midget AAA might be a little off the mark (I tend to think that the women's national team might be a little stronger than you do). Having said that, I certainly agree that it falls well short of the skill level of the NHL. I digress, though, because this isn't my point.

The HHOF is not the *NHL* Hall of Fame. Nor is it the Hockey Hall of Skill or Ability. It's about Fame, and recognising those who were instrumental in making the GLOBAL GAME all that it is (well, the good parts of it, anyway). As such, Angela James, Cammi Granato, Cassie Campbell, Hayley Wickenheiser, Manon Rheaume (and many others) deserve to be there. These women are trailblazers, though not necessarily the pioneers. Women have been playing hockey for many decades, but it has become more popular lately.

Anyway, for people to deny the strides that women have made in the great game of hockey is shameful. I look forward to the time when a few other countries develop their women's hockey programs to the point that Canada and the US have (I'm disappointed that Finland and Sweden seem content to satisfy themselves with contending for Bronze). Only then will women's hockey have a chance at developing much of a following, and gaining the overall level of respect which I (and obviously a few others) feel they already deserve.

[mark]

Why don't they simply re-name the HHOF the MHHOF (M....Men's)? Women can have their own to honour their own. Damien, instead of ranting, why don't you first tell us what you think the criteria should be for getting into the HHOF? I think you would agree, the criteria for men is different than that for women (the NHL yardstick doesn't apply and last I looked no woman played for Red Army or any other elite European squad either). And I'd have to agree with the other commentor. Where's the induction of men into the Rythmic Gymnastics Hall of Fame? You're rant is comical.

[Trent Kik]

Cammy Granato is the only chick that should be allowed in the HHOF and thats it .. who the hell else comes to mind? they dont have a league and watchin them play makes me want to laugh and vomit ..

[Maxie]

Damien, ah, no. Usually you're on the mark, but not this time. And not for reasons of gender. Nope. The HHoF selection committee should be called to rask for the selection of Larionov. Without going thru the objective stats, which stand for themselves (a good career, not great), one need only ask: "If this guy wasn't Russian, would he even get a look?" And the unequivocal answer is "NYET". Good guy? Classy? Of course! But Hall of Fame material? Nyet. me thinks the bar has been lowered.

[Rosco]

I can't think of a single woman hockey player who I would consider to be "famous". If women's hockey was being played at the same level and was as popular as the men's game then, by all means, induct away. Otherwise, this is just a silly debate. Why stop at women's hockey? What about sledge hockey? Amateur athletes do not belong in the HHOF as far as I'm concerned.

[ChuckyCheese]

Mysogyny not only live in the Hockey Hall of Fame, Damien. It apparantly lives on these boards thanks to the uneducated ignorance of a few. Learn to breathe through your noses, troglodytes!

[mark]

Chucky, just because we ask some questions about the criteria for getting into the hall doesn't make us troglodytes. Clearly, you're one of those people who look at something, judge it to be politically correct and hop on board. Woman cannot compete with men in terms of skill, speed, size or hockey 'fame' as the case may be. So by what criteria would you elect them to the HHOF? Let the HHOF first establish the fact that henceforth they have a new catagory, or let them establish a separate hall all together for the woman but please don't tell me that Tammy Granato or Haily Wickenheisen belongs in the same breath as Gretzgy or Howe. Skill, speed, size, fame... not gender equality... is the current criteria for hall recognition as far as I'm concerned.

[ChuckyCheese]

The basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield Mass. has been inducting women into their hall for years now. They recognize the importance of women who have made a contribution to their sport for years.

Basketball has taken a much more progressive stance than hockey ever has in the catagory of women because of the knuckle dragging attitudes of troglodytes that live in hockey. They believe that only men are capable of playing hockey because they think it needs to be played at such brute strength, something they believe women are incapable of producing.

The women emphasize more on skill than physical play. The women's game is different from the men's game. That does not make it bad.

This is not the National Hockey League Hall of Fame, it is the Hockey Hall of Fame. Therefore, the contributions to the game by women like James, Wickenheiser, Campbell, Granato, et al are just as deserving as any male NHLer.

And BTW mark, there is a fine line between being politically correct and just being stupid. And I put you in the latter category.

[Kevin Brown]

ChuckyCheese:

A mouse with a stuffed head shouldn't be firing off insults the way you are. Granted, I referred to "Nunya Bsuiness" as a knuckle-dragger, but when you use a cheesy pseudonym you're fair game fer personal attacks. So back off, or get out.

While the women being discussed can skate with SOME men (Rheaume and Wickenheiser have at reasonably high levels), they are certainly not in the same class as the HHOFers in terms of skill. Of that there is no argument.

Mark is looking for a set criteria to induct them, and is stating that he doesn't feel that they reach the bar in terms of skill or fame. Fine. How about as Builders? There is no question that these women (while not necessarily the pioneers behind women's hockey) are certainly among the role models that are helping to drive the massive growth in girls minor hockey. Surely that has to count for something.

While I believe they qualify as "Builders", I think it would be a slap in the face to induct them as such, and not as "Players".

[Crymson Dynamo]

Misogyny in mainstream professional sports??? In other news, water is wet.

[ChuckyCheese]

Kevin Brown:

You don't ever tell me to back off or get off. Otherwise, YOU'RE fair game.

The IIHF has recognized women as players into their hall of fame, the same as the men. Are they faulty for their criteria? Are they to be sneered at for their decision?

And, switching to another sport, the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame recognizes women equally as men as players into their hall. Is that considered a slap in the face? Or is that just curling, not a "real" sport like hockey?

The HHOF recognizes all forms of hockey at its highest level. Or that's what they SHOULD be doing. Women like James, Wickenheiser, Granato succeeded playing hockey at the highest level afforded them. To deny them a place as players is to belittle the sacrifices they made playing the game they love. And isn't that what we as hockey loving Canadians want and love to honour in the game?

Or is it just all men are created equal and superior to all women, as some have miserably pointed out?

As someone mentioned earlier, time for everyone to get into the 21st century, ASAP.

[MJB]

Damien,
I agree with you premise that the secrecy and decision-making process is curious. However, this only encourages argument as to why some players/builders are not in, and why other are. Can someone explain why Harold Ballard is there? Unfortunately, the hockey gurus apparently are allowed to cherry pick. And not only for the Hall. Look at the Calder - Gretzky was inelligible, but Makharov? Downright embarrassing.

Let's turn the tables. The IIHF Centennial all-star team had one Canadian - Gretzky. Four Russians are on the team. All of them, although great players, represent an era where they were able to compete internationally because they were so-called 'amatuers'. And for years, the IIHF turned a blind eye at these professionals playing in amateur tournaments, particularly the Olympics. Talk about flawed.

[Stephen]

Eh. Hockey without hitting isn't hockey, it's hockey (but...). You might as well have iced tea without lemon: yeah, it's kind of the same thing, but it's not nearly as good as the full recipe. If a person plays at the highest level of competition and demonstrates a degree of skill impressive enough to merit inclusion in the hall, let us by all means do so regardless of their sex, race, or any other irrelevant criteria: we're not inducting men or women, we're inducting hockey players. So she happened to be successful playing against other women... so what? That's not a world-class level of competition. The hall of fame is for the best of the best, not the best of some-group-other-than-the-best.

Understand, it's not misogyny -- I'd be delighted to see a hockey player with world class skill also be a woman. It would be spectacular for the game, but let's make sure we're not inducting people simply because they've inspired watered-down hockey or simply because we want to be "progressive".