I read an SI article that made an interesting point. Jerome Iginla has the potential to be a great ambassador for the NHL. Not only is he a superb hockey player, he’s also good looking, well spoken, and charming – the sort of guy you’d like your daughter to take home. In addition, he’s black and can therefore help counter the NHL’s image as a bastion of white male supremacy.
The problem is that he plays in Calgary. If he led his team to the Stanley Cup in New York, Chicago, Philly, or anyplace of that ilk, he’d be on Letterman, Leno, BET, etc. Unfortunately, because of where he plays, the league cannot take full advantage of him in this capacity.
It’s great that Calgary has him, but it is also a shame that he’s stuck in a market where he can’t raise the profile of the game as he has the potential to do. With Gretzky out of the picture, the NHL desperately needs someone like this.
The problem is that he plays in Calgary. If he led his team to the Stanley Cup in New York, Chicago, Philly, or anyplace of that ilk, he’d be on Letterman, Leno, BET, etc. Unfortunately, because of where he plays, the league cannot take full advantage of him in this capacity.
It’s great that Calgary has him, but it is also a shame that he’s stuck in a market where he can’t raise the profile of the game as he has the potential to do. With Gretzky out of the picture, the NHL desperately needs someone like this.