Letters to the Editor, Jan. 22, 2023

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SPORTS NOT POLITICS

Scott Stinson’s column in the Jan. 19 Sports section is contradictory and disappointing (“It’s a flawed focus”). I’m a big fan of the Sun’s Sports section, Simmons, et al, but Stinson’s piece wants to have it both ways. Kaepernick and LeBron are rightfully criticized for bringing their politics into my living room — for those precious few hours a sports fan can forget about real-life problems. Now, Ovechkin and Ivan Provorov are being lambasted by Stinson because they want to leave politics out of their game. That’s contradictory. And the comparison to FIFA booting Russia from its tournaments is a red herring. Russia, the country, was disciplined. Not individual Russians, representing their North American clubs. Let’s leave social and political issues where they belong.

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Michael Ali
Brampton

(It would be good if it were just that simple. But athletes are human beings with their own beliefs and values, and that sometimes spills over into the sport they are playing)

CALM DOWN

The outrage over Ivan Provorov needs to be tempered. Let’s remind ourselves that his rights and beliefs are equal to those who chose to participate in wearing the uniforms for warm up. It works both ways. If you can’t see that, then you belong with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the College of Psychologists of Ontario, censoring and shaming doctors who exercise their rights. You share the same authoritarian headspace.

Keith Inglis
Uxbridge

(We agree the outrage has been over the top)

GROUP THINK

Regarding the NHL and Ivan Provorov’s Pride stance I say this: Is diversity really our strength or a major weakness. The woke brag about it but don’t tolerate differing views when those views don’t align with their thinking. Bringing people together from all over the world and expecting every one of them to have the same views and sensibilities as you is delusional. Casting those that have differing views as bad people will only lead to conflict. Demanding everyone think and act the same is not diversity. We as a society need to decide what we want. It seems in North America, at least, conformity and diversity do not make good bed fellows.

Jim Miller
Toronto

(Diversity of opinion is not accepted, that’s where the left always fails)