Sports World's 'Woke' Hot Takes on 'Pride Night' Jersey Controversy Get Even Worse

I’ve often said that there are few things more annoying in this world than the hot takes that flow from wokesters in the sports media universe. Sure enough, their hysterical eruptions over Philadephia Flyers player Ivan Provorov’s refusal to participate in a “Pride Night” pregame warmup which included players wearing Pride-themed jerseys and using hockey sticks decked out in rainbow tape colors bears that out.

Before we go further, here’s what Provorov said Tuesday after their game against the Anaheim Ducks when asked about his decision:

#Flyers Ivan Provorov on his Pride Night pregame boycott :
“My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.” pic.twitter.com/YSFKvkyEJC

— Dan Gelston (@APgelston) January 18, 2023

When last we left you, the hockey defenseman was being accused of everything from “not being willing to be a team player” to “hiding behind his religion” (he says he’s Russian Orthodox) to being a “homophobe.” There were also calls to have the Flyers fined a million bucks over Provorov’s decision to quietly sit out the pregame festivities.

But in the latest installment of “woke sports reporters gone wild,” a senior reporter from the NHL Network – E.J. Hradek – went even further, suggesting that Provorov go back to Russia because he dared to engage in WrongSpeak. After that, Hradek hinted that perhaps Provorov also enlist to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war:

“Ivan Provorov can get on a plane any day he wants and go back to a place where he feels more comfortable, take less money, and get on with his life that way, if it’s that problematic for him. And he’s been in North America for a long time. He played in the Western Hockey League, he’s now been in Philadelphia for many years. If this is that much of a problem for him to maybe assimilate into his group of teammates, and in the community, and here in this country, that’s okay, you can feel any way you want. But there’s always a chance to leave, go back where you feel more comfortable. I understand there’s a conflict of sorts going on over there, maybe get involved.”

Watch:

NHL analyst says on the NHL Network! that if Philly Flyers Provorov doesn’t want to wear a pro-LBGTQ uniform he should leave America, go back to Russia, and fight in the war against Ukraine. The tolerant left! Holy shit: pic.twitter.com/wWLFBy2stC

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 19, 2023

The analyst in this segment telling an NHL player to go back to Russia is @EJHradek_NHL, his bio says he’s the senior reporter at @NHLNetwork. Yikes.

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 19, 2023

Good grief. Imagine Hradek thinking that he’s coming off looking like the bigger guy here in supposedly defending American ideals while simultaneously telling a Russian player to go back home to live under the rule of an authoritarian ruler, and one who also is known to punish people (and severely so) for saying things with which he disagrees.

What an absolutely terrible look here for the NHL Network. If they had any shame, they’d apologize on his behalf. But we know they won’t because as we’ve seen all too often in the past, mindless subservience to the radical LGBTQ agenda is more important to sports leagues and their affiliated media networks than their players being able to politely disagree with the status quo.