Round the horn

Winnipeg Free Press

3 days ago

A quick trip through my cerebral cortex as we cover a lot of ground:
• Not surprisingly, there's been a rush to judgment from the court of public opinion following the not-guilty verdicts handed down today in the Canadian World Junior sexual assault trial. Reactions have ranged from, 'The justice system is completely broken,' to, 'These men were the true victims' — and everything in between.
As many of you know, I spent more than two decades sitting inside courtrooms, covering trials like this, albeit most not nearly as high-profile. I feel I can speak from first-hand experience on many of the complex issues at play, but I hesitate to do so for one big reason: I wasn't in the courtroom for a single second of testimony or cross-examination, nor the lengthy and extremely detailed reasons for the decision handed down by Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia.
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We live in an era where everyone with a keypad seems to be an expert on everything. But firing off a hot take just to grab some eyeballs is a dangerous game — one I refuse to play.
That said, there are a few things I feel comfortable stating in general terms:
1. Not guilty doesn't always mean innocent. The burden of proof in a criminal trial is incredibly high, and for good reason. Better that a guilty person walks free than an innocent person goes to jail, right? But don't confuse a legal standard with a civil, or even moral, one. There's a big difference, and I've read enough about this case to know these five players are not coming out of this with entirely clean hands. Nor should they. At the very least, their behaviour was vile.
2. Sexual assault cases are especially difficult to prove, particularly in the absence of eyewitnesses or damning evidence like DNA. The proverbial he-said/she-said can be a nightmare for prosecutors, especially if the complainant's story has even minor inconsistencies; the defence will inevitably try to exploit them. It really does feel like an uphill battle. I'm not sure how we change that, short of moving the goalposts on 'beyond a reasonable doubt.' And that, in my view, would be a very slippery slope.
3. Judges are bound by the law and precedent. They aren't trying to make the popular decision, nor are they chasing public favour. That's one of the best aspects of not electing judges in this country, where pandering would be a very real concern. I'm glad our system is set up that way.
4. I wouldn't be surprised if some or all of these five players get a second chance in the NHL, but I wouldn't count on that happening immediately. The league could very well impose additional suspensions, as they've done before with players and owners for 'conduct deemed detrimental.' They're not bound by the criminal justice system, nor should they be. That said, I'd be surprised if any NHL team wants to go near these players right now, even if they are ultimately cleared to return. Their actions were disgusting.
5. Believe victims. Watching a case like this unfold so publicly, it's easy to see why many survivors may feel discouraged from ever coming forward. That's deeply distressing.
• Hulk Hogan, who passed away earlier today, will go down as the most famous professional wrestler of all time. He's a huge reason I started watching what was then the WWF back in the early 1980s, with larger-than-life characters settling scores inside the squared circle every Saturday morning on my TV.
Hulk Hogan rips his shirt before Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York in October 2024.. (Alex Brandon / The Associated Press files)
Say your prayers, take your vitamins, 24-inch pythons and, 'Whatcha gonna do, brother, when Hulkamania runs wild on you' became part of the everyday vernacular.
Terry Bollea, however, will also be remembered as a deeply flawed human being. In recent years, his legacy has taken a major hit after some of his racist behaviour came to light. His life story is, to put it mildly, complicated.
His last televised appearance earlier this year with WWE ended with him being loudly booed. The fans weren't buying what he was selling — a clear sign of how far his stock had fallen.
This is one of those instances where some will separate the 'art' from the 'artist,' just as we've seen with plenty of actors, athletes, and other public figures.
• The Toronto Blue Jays continue to bring me great joy. It's not just the winning, it's the way they're playing the game. Scrappy. Relentless. Fun. They remind me of everything I love about baseball. I have no idea how this 2025 story will end, but I'm going to enjoy every chapter as it unfolds.
• Contrast that with the mighty New York Yankees, who looked more like the Bad News Bears this week as they dropped two of three to the Jays. Given how often they boot the ball around, Yakety Sax might be an appropriate team song.
• I'm halfway through Mobland and loving every minute. The 10-part series on Prime — about two Irish crime families at war — is tremendous. Great cast (Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren are sensational), a terrific director (Guy Ritchie), and enough plot twists to keep you fully hooked.
• I suspect Dylan Samberg and the Winnipeg Jets will reach a long-term contract extension any day now. The restricted free agent has an arbitration hearing set for next Wednesday, but I don't think it will be needed.
My prediction? A five-year deal worth around US$6 million annually. The Jets might push for eight years, but Samberg may prefer to leave the door open for a bigger payday down the road, especially with the salary cap expected to rise. The 25-year-old certainly showed his value to the team this past season.
Dylan Samberg (Tony Gutierrez / The Associated Press files)
• Hug your furry family members extra tightly. Their time with us is far too short, something I was reminded of this week as three friends lost beloved dogs who'd been in their homes for years.
I've had six in my lifetime — Lady, Rex, Autumn, Cassie, Bodie and Piper — and not a day goes by that I don't think about memories with the four who've crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Bodie and Piper will get some extra love today, as they so often do, for the joy they bring to my life.
• I'll have some extra time with the pups next week, as I'm off on holidays. This newsletter will take a brief timeout and return on August 7.