I know I said once a week until the end of the year… But I have to do this one.
(Writer inhales deeply…)
It’s been proclaimed that everyone loves a comeback story.
But we are now canceling those.
We still rooted for Tiger Woods.
But, not for this kid.
We have been programmed a lot since Woods fell from grace.
And now cancel culture will cancel Mitchell Miller’s comeback story.
I just went to a concert this weekend that really is connecting to what is going on in our industry and our world. Let’s do a few case studies.
#1: Chris Webby
Cancel this, cancel that, fucking welcome to America
The home of specializing in assassinating character-Chris Webby, Triggered
Webby played a show Friday night in Lawrence Kansas. So, we made the hour drive west to go see him.
And guess what? Before he started touring and buying houses for his parents, and spreading messages we all need to hear…
He once fell from grace. Had a bad moment.
After going to private school in Connecticut, he went to Hofstra University on Long Island.
And got arrested for attempted robbery, thrown in jail and kicked out of school.
Writing raps from his parents house since he was 11, Webby decided there was no better time to go all-in on what he loved… Music.
Fast forward 15 years from when he was kicked out of Hofstra and he has built a multi-million dollar net worth without selling his soul to a music label. Did it all on his own.
But cancel his comeback story and take away his millions because he did something stupid 15 years ago.
#2: Ekoh
Before Webby came on stage, a young kid set the place on fire.
Still in his “come-up” phase, Ekoh is beginning to become more popular and make more money in the music game.
Chris Webby noticed his talent a few years ago, pulled him up by working together on a few music collaborations and they are now great friends. Without Chris playing a positive-sum game and featuring him in some of his music, who knows if Ekoh would be on his come up.
When Ekoh handed the stage off to Chris, he had a few heartfelt words for a man that helped him:
“You only need one hand and one finger to count all the people in this industry who are truly genuine human beings that will help and care about others. Webby is that one guy.”
Here’s a thread about how we can learn from the music industry:
Sounds like a great story, right? But let’s cancel Ekoh too. He started his rap career in rehab. Addicted to drugs.
Must be a horrible fucking person, right?
He began writing poetry in rehab as a way to express himself and heal, poems became rhyming poems, which became rap songs.
Now the kid has millions of Spotify streams and has gone from working 3 jobs to support his music, to the music being his sole way of making an income.
There’s comeback story number 2 for you.
We Can’t Cancel The Comeback Story
The Boston Bruins took a lyric from Webby and recently “got to showing some balls.”
They offered Miller a contract.
Then they signed him.
And then everyone cried out online.
Then the Bruins were like, “nevermind about showing balls, we are going to cut him now.”
He won’t get his chance to come-up and comeback like Webby and Ekoh because he did mean things when he was 14.
Maybe we need to all pause for a second and look in the mirror. Because…
So did I.
So did most of the league. And so did players that spoke out against it like Bergeron and Foligno.
I know they are stand up dudes now, but you can’t tell me Foligno and Bergeron at 14 weren’t little douchebags too… We’ve all been around way too many hockey players. You don’t think Bruins executives like Cam Neely weren’t hazing rookies when they played 30-40 years ago?
Get real… They probably did way worse shit.
Hockey players have a swagger and entitlement about them. Most of my high school teammates walked around like they owned the place.
I watched college teammates pull girls by saying, “I’m on the hockey team” at any bar in town.
It’s part of being a kid. Kid’s don’t have as much programming as adults to be “good little boys and sit down and shut up.”
So kids run their mouths. They say dumb shit.
They steal like Webby.
They get hooked with the wrong crowd and become drug addicts like Ekoh.
But here’s a hot take… They can also turn their shit around.
If we allow them too.
But just cancel them all now. Forget a comeback story.
Write them off.
The coaches that agree with what Boston did, unsubscribe… Because you’re hypocrites.
“I’m here to improve the lives of human beings and teach life lessons…”
Or at least that’s what you say.
So if you’re not willing to do what Tri City’s HC Anthony Noreen did and work with the kid, and give him a second chance.
After Arizona in the NHL gave up on him the first time. After the college team he committed to gave up on him, Anthony “got to showing some balls” and brought him back to the USHL to “coach” him. To help him. To start him on a comeback.
Noreen said something to the effect of:
“If you don’t believe that a person can change, what are you doing coaching?”
You either want to help people. Period.
Or, you want to help people when it’s convenient and there won’t be a huge outcry.
Noreen chose to help. Period. That’s a leader.
That’s real courage, not courage when it’s easy. Courage when it’s hard.
Respect that guy.
If you don’t…
Get off this newsletter please.
You’re not as New Wave as you think you are.
Are you a Noreen who takes action… Who stands for something?
Or are you virtue signaling like the people sippin Mountain Dew on their couches?
Here are some Webby lyrics I’ll leave you with to think about. Maybe they trigger you, but if they do, it’s because part of you thinks they’re true… You just won’t lean into the discomfort long enough:
Yeah, it helps 'em all sleep at night
Knowing they signed a petition for equal rights
For transgenders, talking like it's their fight
When in reality they never met one in their life
They don't donate, or actually do nothin' about it
They just sit there, sippin' Mountain Dew on they couches
While they clappin' for each other and circle-jerking themselves
Applaud the loss of freedom and cancel those who rebel
P.S. I was bullied all through elementary, middle and high school. If someone who bullied me had the chance to go the NHL, I’d have to be quite the miserable, victim-mindsetted person to try and prevent that from happening through a keyboard and computer. But well done, his family did it…
Everyone loved a comeback story, until 2022 I guess.
Now share this article with your comments and try to cancel me too. Send hate my way, you’ll be just like the guy you want cancelled. Ironic.
Unfortunately, I cant “unsubscribe” , because, like you, I can disagree AND yet also can forgive...🙃
I dont believe the problem is that the player in question hasn’t improved in SOME aspects of his life. The majority of us do. However, having read and heard the details of what the player did WAS shameful. What to me personally, I cant wrap my head around is that the parents of the mentally handicapped boy have not stated that they are “satisfied” with the player’s apology. If correct, the player apologized via a website or text? If that is indeed the proper and humble way to do things then it’s resolved, right?
Apparently not!
The player, under court order (?) was supposed to apologize. Old school or new school one would think that would be IN PERSON and secondary -probably publicly. This hasn’t happened. The player apologized to the NHL , etc in an open “letter”
So nobody in his “camp”(parents, friends, agent, COACH) hasn’t told the player to go make an effort in person/publicly apologizing to said victim. Heck, it could of been resolved right in court?
To me, it states that there are some serious egos involved- hockey needs to work on this and keep doing so
Might I bring up the Blackhawks fiasco & team Canada (juniors?)
WTF
The young man could of had a good career in the Nhl but now?
Maybe the player should go out of his way
Drive an hour
Pay the price of admission
Listen to and sing along
“Why the caged bird sings”
All for being in the show
✌🏻