Good morning, folks.
I’ve never been to a protest and I don’t recall ever marching for anything or attending any type of rally.
There are times during self-reflection when I'm not sure what to make of that. It's not that I'm indifferent; I think it's more not knowing when, how and whether or not it's my place, to take a stand on things. I probably have more to learn listening, anyways — two ears, one mouth.
When I was younger, I had aspirations to be more of an activist. I once volunteered my time for a particular political party and a particular candidate. On another occasion, I spent a fair bit of time and energy looking into the possibility of joining CUSO in some capacity.
Eventually, I settled in the suburbs and went about the relentless pursuit of self-interests.
In general, I’m not particularly pro-this or anti-that — and I'm not inclined to tell anyone what they should think or believe in. I mostly try to adhere to the principle of live and let live.
I have a hard enough time knowing what’s best for me, let alone telling others what's best for them.
Plus, some things just seem like common sense, so for me to come out and say I’m for equal rights for this group or that group — or that I’m against this or that — would just seem self-serving and perhaps pandering.
I’m not interested in stating the obvious so someone can say, "Good for you, Steve."
I see far too many examples of this person or that organization saying they’re against this or that in what to me looks like a PR gesture.
You hardly need me to tell you that racism is wrong. If you do, chances are what I have to say would do very little to change your mind.
Having said that, I work in an industry where I have a voice and a platform to use it — so I ponder how that might best be used. If at all.
I sometimes wonder how much journalists should be advocating for various causes or movements. In the sports arena, I've heard both sides of the debate. Some folks have no interest in their distraction being clouded by such things. Others think athletes and those covering the games should do more to raise awareness.
I don't think there's a hard and fast rule and there's probably a case to be made for both sides of that argument in various instances.
I do tend to think, however, that our role is most effective when allowing those affected, or those trying to effect change, to tell their stories.
In the 1990s, I won a national award for a series on gender equity in sports. Oh, I was pretty proud of myself, but in retrospect I was simply a conduit to reveal what former Olympic rower and U of W professor Sandra Kirby was doing locally and what CAAWS (Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sports) — now called Canadian Women & Sport — was doing nationally.
Prone to grandiosity, I think I feel more comfortable these days trying to influence change behind the scenes — more subtly and in relative anonymity.
A wise old mentor of mine once had me try to do two helpful things each day and not tell anyone about it. And while learning to try and beautify my own little corner of the world, my focus these days leans towards trying to help one person at a time.
On Tuesday morning, that meant editing Dan Lett's Not for Attribution newsletter where he calls out TSN and sports journalists covering football for mostly ignoring how Euro 2020 has been plagued by racism and homophobia, much of it driven by political conflict.
By the way, our resident soccer columnist Jerrad Peters took the football folks to task on this in a terrific yarn he penned for us that appeared in our Saturday edition.
I was happy to edit that as well.
There's nothing I could have said to make Jerrad's column better.
Black-shirted Hungarian fans — members of an ultra-nationalist, neo-Nazi movement — have been hurling racist and homophobic chants during Euro 2020 matches.
And then late yesterday afternoon, I edited Mike McIntyre's column on Carl Nassib, the 28-year-old defensive end with the Las Vegas Raiders who made a post on Instagram on Monday saying, "I'm gay" — the first-ever active player in the NFL to do so.
Mike opines that by uttering two words which he'd admittedly struggled with for years has thrust Nassib on to the front lines of a battle that truly matters.
Mike had strong feelings on the subject and I was happy to encourage him to voice his perspective.
I like to think I've learned to know my place.
Having said all that, I'm going to advocate for something: if you’re out riding a bike, put a darn helmet on!
As always, folks, you can reach me by replying to this mailing or by sending me an email here.
— Sports editor Steve Lyons
Our Coverage
• In the huddle, finally: Buck Pierce has been an offensive coordinator for nearly 18 months now, but he's still waiting for the chance to call his first play. Mike McIntyre took part in a Zoom call Tuesday morning with the former Winnipeg Blue Bombers pivot, who discussed his plans for the defending Grey Cup champions;
Buck Pierce (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)
• Return of Marco: One of Valour FC’s most noticeable players in its first season in 2019, Marco Bustos is returning home to play, but this time, for his second season with Pacific FC. Our Vince Leah intern Joseph Bernacki has details on how the 25-year-old forward feels about his trip back to Winnipeg to play in the CPL bubble;
• Going for the Games: And, Mike Sawatzky has a story on swimmer Kelsey Wog looking to qualify for her fourth event at the Toyko Olympics, racing in her go-to event, the 200 breaststroke, on Tuesday night.
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I think I've come to know my place - Winnipeg Free Press
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