In the past month, the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Ottawa Senators have made headlines for a slew of undesirable reasons. One of the sources of controversy involving the club was forward Shane Pinto’s 41-game suspension for sports wagering activities, announced on Oct. 26. This came as a surprise[Read More…]
Tag: Behind the Bench
FIFA dropped the ball with the 2023 Ballon d’Or
Each year, professional soccer players’ achievements culminate in the Ballon d’Or ceremony. At the event, invitees witness the presentation of the Ballon d’Or––the most prestigious award in soccer. Considering both national team and club accomplishments, the best player from the past year receives the Ballon d’Or. This year’s celebration took[Read More…]
The NHL needs to stop embarrassing itself
On Oct. 24, the National Hockey League (NHL) reversed its draconian decision to ban Pride tape after months of public outcry from fans and players alike, concluding one of the most embarrassing months of public relations for a professional sports league to date. The entire endeavour was a lost cause[Read More…]
Behind the Bench: Polarity and empathy with the Cleveland Indians
A baseball fan’s search for common ground with the Cleveland Indians logo.
Playing out of pride: The story of the McGill Fight Band
On a late night in 2006, Ted Smith and a few of his friends went out for drinks. The night led them to Bar des Pins, where they entered as buddies and emerged as a band—more specifically, the Fight Band—McGill Athletics’ leading pep squad. The Fight Band is a staple[Read More…]
Behind the Bench: How fans shape ticket prices
The essence of fandom is hard to capture in words; fans tend to have a more familial connection to their favourite team than to other organizations or businesses. The emotions they invest into sports transcend those of any other service that is provided to the common person. Yet, the reality is[Read More…]
