NHL Player Praises Nelson Mandela...For His Hockey Skills?

[Webster]

...wait, what?!?

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier created quite a stir when he mistakenly praised Nelson Mandela's accomplishments "on and off the ice" at Friday's Raptors event.

The Toronto Raptors paid tribute to Mandela on the anniversary of his death. Unfortunately, Bernier wasn't aware of the honouree's significance beyond his apparent ice hockey career prior to attending the event. The Toronto Star reported that the 26-year-old Laval native apologized for his mistake. “I’m embarrassed,” said Bernier. “I didn’t mean to offend him, his legacy. I got flustered with the red carpet and I was nervous. I think everyone makes mistakes and that was me that night.”

A video of his answer has resurfaced after being removed by the Raptors on Friday due to criticism from fans. Bernier deserves some credit for apologizing for his gaffe. But it was too late for some people on social media. A few people made the seemingly fair assumption that he must have been referring to Mandela's interest in boxing.

Some people are giving the Leafs' goalie a pass for not knowing about Mandela's legacy, while others are criticizing the Raptors organization for posting the video given his error. The take away from this snafu could simply be that when in doubt sometimes it's better to just say nothing at all. (CBC Sports)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG2yELLZgB8

 

[DrLeftover]

At least the played admitted his mistake, and his nervousness, instead of laughing it off or blaming somebody else.

Now as to why the team posted it, somebody in the front office needs to explain that.

 

[Webster]

At least the played admitted his mistake, and his nervousness, instead of laughing it off or blaming somebody else.

Now as to why the team posted it, somebody in the front office needs to explain that.

I give him credit for owning up to his verbal faux pas....as to having said it in the first place, not so much.

 

[DrLeftover]

You're right.

He's a professional Hockey Player. He should be held to a higher standard than, say, the Vice President of the United States.

Oct. 6, 2014
Vice President Nebulous Biden is in hot water again.

He apologized twice during the weekend for commenting that the United Arab Emirates and Turkey were among Middle Eastern countries that have facilitated the success of Islamic extremists in Syria.

Biden made his original comments in a foreign policy speech at Harvard University last week. After the remarks were denounced by officials in Turkey and the UAE, Biden phoned leaders of those countries to say he was sorry, a White House spokesman said. The spokesman added that Biden did not mean to suggest that the leaders of these countries intentionally supported extremists in Syria known as ISIL and ISIS.

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/ken-walshs-washington/2014/10/06/biden-puts-foot-in-mouth-again

 

[Webster]

You're right.

He's a professional Hockey Player. He should be held to a higher standard than, say, the Vice President of the United States.

Oct. 6, 2014
Vice President Nebulous Biden is in hot water again.

He apologized twice during the weekend for commenting that the United Arab Emirates and Turkey were among Middle Eastern countries that have facilitated the success of Islamic extremists in Syria.

Biden made his original comments in a foreign policy speech at Harvard University last week. After the remarks were denounced by officials in Turkey and the UAE, Biden phoned leaders of those countries to say he was sorry, a White House spokesman said. The spokesman added that Biden did not mean to suggest that the leaders of these countries intentionally supported extremists in Syria known as ISIL and ISIS.

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/ken-walshs-washington/2014/10/06/biden-puts-foot-in-mouth-again

 

[DrLeftover]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZUFa-U6gKY