There’s something unseemly and just a little ridiculous about politicians worming their way into pop culture, and something equally unseemly and ridiculous when they attempt to exploit pop culture for political ends. Small wonder, then, that hockey commentators are readjusting their toupees over the decision by Jack Layton, Stéphane Dion, Gilles Duceppe, and their band of twitted MPs to criticize Hockey Canada for selecting Shane Doan as the captain of our World Championship squad. Doan, those of us who follow tempests in sporting teapots will know, was investigated for allegedly calling a Québécois linesman a “fucking Frenchman” during a Phoenix Coyotes game in Montreal against the Canadiens in 2005.

There are several ways in which this criticism is wrongheaded: For one, Doan, a devout Christian, is by all accounts one of the nicest and most respectful players in hockey. And he was cleared by an NHL investigation after testifying that he had said to a teammate only that they should expect biased calls from four French referees in Montreal.There are also several ways in which this criticism is silly: it plays to tired Canadian stereotypes (Albertan redneckery, Québécois oversensitivity) and above all, represents Lohan-thin political grandstanding. Plus — and maybe this makes me an effing Albertan — if Doan’s alleged sin is truly grounds for a parliamentary inquiry, we’ve lost all sense of proportion in this country.That sports commentators would wig out over the Commons set’s foray into their little world was predictable, but I’m left to wonder about the political rationale for the MPs’ complaints. Is it what it seems — a group of politicians with questionable political instincts indulging their worst sides? That would suggest Duceppe, Dion, and their MPs are pandering to an immature version of Québécois sensitivities, while Jack Layton is offering another principled stand on an issue he knows little about. But perhaps there’s some shred of rationale that Canadians on the street would find defensible? Help me out here — I don’t mind being part of a pile-on, but I’d also be interested in having someone tug on the stray limbs.It’s a sad statement that Les Trois Inefficaces are getting more attention for this frivolous gambit than for their opposition on legitimate and important issues — just so much soundbiting while carbon burns. Do us a favour, gentlemen, and stay out of the rinks of the nation. Stephen Harper, that goes for your lame in-game media ops on hockey telecasts, too.Jeremy KeehnManaging Editor, The Walrus

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Posted on Thursday, May 3rd, 2007 at 10:27 am. Follow comments through the RSS 2.0 feed. Comment or trackback.