I’m bringing it back. Brandt’s Rant will appear occasionally on this page again. It’s something I used to do on the radio. Once again, I feel compelled to revive it.
Last week, five young hockey players were acquitted of sexual assault in a case that shook the hockey world. Each young man might not be a “criminal” but they are – or were – terrible humans.
When they encountered the complainant, EM, naked and extremely drunk, not one of them said, “this is wrong.” (One who testified did, but he didn’t help the woman, nor was he charged. He simply left.) Do they not have sisters? Female cousins? They thought only of themselves and not the vulnerable situation EM was in. A naked, drunk woman in a hotel room with about ten big hockey players.
After following the case closely, I agree that they couldn’t be found guilty under current laws. The laws need changing. And I believe they and another group of people bear some of the responsibility for what happened. And so, I rant.
EM was grilled on the stand for nine days. The ruling angered women’s groups and many others. I believe women. But this was about measuring testimony against laws and sadly, it didn’t hold up.
The five defendant’s NHL contracts ran out during the year or so until this case was resolved. The NHL says it’s reviewing everything before deciding whether to reinstate them. Even if the NHL refuses to allow them in the league they can have big careers overseas. They will still play pro hockey if they want to.
We know hockey players are treated like rock stars. They have groupies called Puck Bunnies. But they also have a choice: to not act like pieces of shit, regardless of the circumstances. These five failed. And I can’t help but think that some young women need to do some soul-searching, too.
I agree, and also wish to add my reasons for doing so.
My former husband played Jr A hockey and went on to play professionally . The conduct that formed this case is not new, it’s been confined and concealed for decades. Imagine the advantage of having a lawyer be the owner of not one, but two JrA teams when these situations arise, but that’s another story.
A very accomplished,nationally acclaimed sports journalist friend of mine,happened to find himself in the dining room of the hotel where this crime took place. It was last February, while he accompanied his wife who was here on assignment. A few tables away from where he sat at the bar, were a coven of the female lawyers , and their male colleagues discussing the pending trial of the 5 accused. They didn’t recognize my friend, despite his high profile in sports broadcasts and photo bylines, as none of them clearly followed sports. They saw no reason to keep their voices low, as the room was almost empty, except for them. My friend understood at that moment, every gesture, every movement, every accidental compromising of a juror was being choreographed .It shows that as you say, the law no longer fits our society, as her credibility was to be attacked with the righteous vengeance of stoning a fallen woman to death in biblical times.
I was very disappointed in the Free Press coverage and insulted by the comment in the summation article that “anyone who sat in the court room would have had no choice but to side with the verdict”. If that be the case, then publication ban or not, the public ,specifically women,gained no information in the coverage to support such a proclamation. We read how so much of the evidence which implicated and involved the collusion of the players to “get their story straight”was inadmissible. They created a common story to cover their asses. Not allowed.
You think you can rant?Ihave stories of my own told to me by my husband that compare and out shame this my miles. It’s the culture and it’s hidden and protected and even supported by an organization that has a fund to squelch these stories before they get oxygen.
Important to keep in mind, the police reopened this case, as due to the new police chiefs own admission at his press conference, they dropped the ball. The investigating detective did a poor job, and the police chief apologized to the victim and her family.
Sadly, none of this makes any difference now. These young men are surrounded by a team of parents, lawyers, agents and financial advisors on how to leverage their career and wealth, yet no one had told them how to not be a garbage human being. One player offered the comment that he knew enough to make the consent video because a veteran player had warned him. Would one need any further proof this despicable culture exists?
I knew how upsetting it would be to watch the coverage of the verdict and made a point of not viewing the news last Thursday. I knew it was triggering, but so is the realization that so many in our society have no moral compass. I just have to ride it out until the next story eclipses this one, but the disappointment remains.
In my opinion, it’s obvious that the people in a position of influence for the young woman and the players all fell short in giving them tools to navigate a world in which one poor decision can have life altering impact.
Innocence has nothing to do with it.
Was I disappointed in the decision, Yes but not surprised. The objective of the defendants lawyers was to create confusion, contradictory testimony which then undermine the accuracy of EM’s recollection of the facts which they successfully achieved.
LIke Allan, I was not surprised by the verdict. I was astonished when, if I heard correctly, one player admitted he was excited to be invited to the hotel room. All the parents of these males must be so very proud of their sons. I wonder how all these males will feel if a situation exactly like this happens to a daughter of theirs? Outraged? Protective of their baby girl? Probably. What if a son of theirs gets arrested for doing the same thing they did? Will they be proud of that type of conduct? Deep down inside I bet they will be. It makes me sick. I wonder if EM will be able to sue for emotional distress? I am so disgusted by this verdict.
Lisa,
I agree with every word in your rant and written in your blog. You expressed the feelings and thoughts of so many.
It was 5 vs. 1…and not one person stepped in to say: “This Ends Now!” ?! This isn’t Boys’ll be Boys. This is: Holy Shit! Let’s call Hotel Security, get her some clothes and find a spot where she can sleep it off, alone – with someone outside the door so that no one gets in.
Now, I love hockey. It is my favourite Team Sport. Thankfully there are more Sidney Crosbys out there, than there are OJ’s in the NFL. But ya gotta know this happens alot more than we realize. Male or Female: We all have siblings, BFF’s, colleagues/cousins & favourite Aunties. E.M. was failed by all involved, and age is no excuse. I hope these 5 never lace up their skates again! And to the coaches, whom I have no doubt will feign ignorance: This is Graham James-bad. Full Stop.