Minnesota Mascot Beating Offends Chicagoans
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Contrasting sharply is the event that took place at half-time during the NHL Minnesota Wild vs. Montreal Canadiens game. Prior to the intermission, Chicago Blackhawks Tommy Hawk smashed birthday cake in Minnesota Wild Nordy's face backstage, inciting the subsequent beating on the ice.
Nordy the savage just absolutely dummies Tommy Hawk. #NoMercy https://t.co/jiXdhKPtck— Simon Fedak (@simonfedak) January 13, 2017
For many, the joke was taken beyond playfulness and was an act of unmitigated violence. Following an unfavourable news column in the Chicago Tribune and an unhappy response on social media, the NHL contacted the professional hockey team and asked for an explanation. The Wild issued the following statement: "We apologize to anyone offended by the mascot skit Thursday night. It was certainly not our intention."
The skit started out simply enough with multiple mascots gathering to celebrate Minnesota Wild mascot Nordy's birthday. Presumably, Nordy was blindfolded before being handed a baseball bat. Tommy Hawk, mascot of the Chicago Blackhawks, held a pinata aloft, dangling it from a line attached to the end of a hockey stick. Nordy takes a swing and ... wallops Tommy Hawk with a direct hit to the stomach. Yowza. The bat drops to the ice as Tommy Hawk doubles over in supposed pain. Nordy takes advantage of the situation, quickly stooping for the bat before launching a direct hit on Tommy Hawk's exposed back. And down the bird goes.
In the foetal position on the cold, hard ice, Tommy Hawk can only cringe in turn as Nordy wails on him again and again with the bat. He's hit eight more times, suffering blows to his elbow, torso, knees, buttock and shin. All the while, the announcer is encouraging the beating: "Nordy, you hit the pinata! Keep swinging, keep swinging. You almost broke it open!"
At the end of the unsettling scene, Nordy drops the bat and is pulled away by the New Jersey Devils mascot, the NJ Devil. Tommy Hawk lies prone on the ice, playing dead.
Twitter weren't too happy about it.
@mnwild @NordyWild I wonder how many parents had to explain to their children in the audience that it's not okay to hit anyone with a bat.— Erica (@ericalee87) January 13, 2017
@mnwild @NordyWild Good thing to teach kids. Violence to people you dislike is the right thing to do.— Adam Minnick (@Adam_PHN) January 13, 2017
@mnwild @NordyWild Not outraged or offended or anything, just kinda feel like this was in poor taste.— AK (@reaper63k) January 13, 2017
Actually, quite a few supported the skit.
Dear @mnwild: Please do not apologize for the Nordy/Tommy Hawk thing. I know you will cuz otherwise it's bad PR, but you shouldn't have to.— Puck Rocker (@puckrocker) January 13, 2017
@chicagoCanman @mnwild @NordyWild Okay, this is funny. As much as I hate the Hawks, I must applaud this.— Frecon (@AlexFrecon) January 13, 2017
— Tom ○|||||||○ (@tstreck) January 13, 2017
All in all, the entire affair did prompt some relevant and highly amusing jokes.
What about how Tommy Hawk shoved gluten-filled cake into Nordy's face? Nordy is a known Celiac disease sufferer. What will I tell my kids?? https://t.co/756VfUbGxd— Jonas (@umadbrodin) January 13, 2017
The @NHLBlackhawks just gave up a goal, but they're beating @mnwild the way Nordy beat Tommy Hawk.— Antwon (@AntwonGelato) January 16, 2017
Kane beats cab driver: "that's not the whole story."— Nate (@n8_p_s) January 13, 2017
Nordy beats Tommy Hawk in fun: "omg that's classless the Wild should be fined!"
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Minnesota Mascot Beating Offends Chicagoans
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Tuesday, January 17, 2017
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Reviewed by Unknown
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Tuesday, January 17, 2017
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