WATCH: NHL Player Honors Nelson Mandela, Who He Thinks Was A ‘Hockey’ Star
On the one-year anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s death, Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier paid tribute to the “Hockey” great who was “one of the most known athletes in the world.” Wait, what?
[su_center_ad]The Daily News reports:
Having no idea who Mandela was didn’t stop Bernier from trying to bluff his way through an interview about the South African civil rights icon during a recent event hosted by the Toronto Raptors in honor of Madiba.
With cameras rolling on the red carpet, Bernier hailed Mandela as “one of the most known athletes in the world” and a hockey legend.
“Even playing hockey, everyone knows him, right? From being the type of person that he was off the ice and on the ice. It’s unfortunate that he passed a year ago, but, he changed a lot while he was with us, and he’s a tremendous guy,” he said fearlessly.
Bernier couldn’t stop there. Nope. He continued to admire Mandela as a great athlete, which he totally was not.
“I just think the way he met that is, you know, to me growing up playing sports with my parents was something really special cause I could share, try to be a leader, try to share things, and things like that where, you know when you’re a group sport you need to do that right?” he rambled incoherently.
“Be as one, and I think that’s what he met, and I think sports is really powerful. A lot of people obviously love to play the game, it can be hockey, basketball football, a lot of people watch that, and I think that’s kind of the message I personally got from the…”
Watch:
After Bernier’s interview was posted on the Raptors website, it was taken down.
Bernier said, “I didn’t mean to offend him, his legacy.”
“I got flustered with the red carpet and I was nervous. I think everyone makes mistakes and that was me that night.”
Don’t worry about it. I’m sure Nelson Mandela would have gotten a kick out of it.
H/T: R.J. Carter of the Critical Blast. [su_csky_ad]
Khary A December 11th, 2014 at 5:52 pm
*groan*
arc99 December 11th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
There is an old saying that goes, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
I think in this age of the internet where mistakes live forever, we need to update that saying.
If you can’t say something nice, and the only way you can say something nice is to make up stuff that proves you have no idea what you are talking about, don’t say anything at all.
His heart was in the right place, so partial credit on that.
Tommy6860 December 11th, 2014 at 6:14 pm
I L’dMAO, but I kinda feel sorry for the guy. I absolutely cannot stand to speak in front of even a small crowd, let alone a camera putting my face and what I say out into the world of media, so I can see why the nervousness.
Anomaly 100 December 11th, 2014 at 6:49 pm
I’m the same way. I hate speaking in front of a crowd. I’m told that I look comfortable but in my head, a blubbering mess.
tiredoftea December 11th, 2014 at 8:17 pm
That’s why he wears a mask!
Jack E Raynbeau December 11th, 2014 at 8:39 pm
Give him a break. Being the goalie for the Tarrana Maple Leaves is no easy task.
Obewon December 11th, 2014 at 10:41 pm
How much Ice hockey did Sarah Palin tell the Maple Leaf’s Bernier she played in “South Africa the southern part” in the “country of Africa.”
Budda December 11th, 2014 at 10:41 pm
Faking it ain’t making it…