scott clam
Registered User
- Sep 12, 2018
- 1,108
- 532
Well fine, if O'Ree didn't do it was only a matter of time before someone else did. Because unlike Jackie Robinson, he wasn't anything special as a player. But he's still the first.I'll play Devil's Advocate here and say that Willie was a pure PC vote, which really is fine. He DID NOT pave the way for non-whites to play in the NHL. There was virtually no change in the colour of the game for decades after O'Ree.
I have no problem recognizing him in the Hall for symbolic reasons, but he's basically an answer to a trivia question. It would be great if more African-Canadians got in BECAUSE of O'Ree, but that has never been the case.
As far as Foster Hewitt goes, I think it's a "no-brainer" for him. Pioneers that actually built the game get in.
Seeing as we live in a very PC era it's no surprise the hall of fame would vote in such a way. I have to admit I didn't even know who he was before he got inducted. But maybe more people should know about him.
And he has been active in his post-playing career in promoting junior hockey, so it's not like he's just some obscure one-off...