Players the world over are always looking for the equipment that protects them from injury on the ice. Facility managers and owners are always looking to lower insurance premiums while keeping players and fans safe from harm.
Many facilities have installed video security systems in arenas in order to document and record any potential incidents in order to reduce their potential liability in any incident.
Why then when a user expresses concerns over safety and security would an arena owner ban that person from the arena?
Tim O’Shea didn’t commit a crime, and he wasn’t a victim of a crime. He did not receive any physical or financial injury.
What O’Shea did was write an email concerning the three other amateur hockey players who were robbed at gunpoint by three men in the parking garage of Johnny’s Ice House, the Chicago Blackhawks training facility. One of those hockey players just happened to be pistol-whipped before the trio of gunmen made off with their wallets and keys.
O’Shea’s email inquired of Johnny’s Ice House General Manager Kevin Rosenquist what could be done to improve the safety for patrons in and around the facility.
Most reasonable thinking people would believe this to be a fair and appropriate question given the circumstances.
Rosenquist responded saying that the robbery was being taken very seriously but also added the following:
“If you or your friends are questioning your association with the league due to safety concerns, then I would suggest perhaps the city is not for you and you should look into playing in the suburbs.”
When the local NBC affiliate in Chicago picked up the story, the story’s headline went from “3 Robbed at Hawks’ Practice Facility” to “3 Robbed at Hawks’ Practice Facility, Player Says Safety Concerns Dismissed.”
From NBC Chicago’s follow up piece, Hockey Player Banned For Life after NBC Report (because O’Shea learned nothing in all this):
Following the NBC report, O’Shea saw his name highlighted in red on the facility’s website, noting he was suspended. He emailed Johnny’s Ice House owner Tom Moro and received a response telling him to never come back. Moro has not replied to multiple requests for comment from NBC 5.
“I informed both of your captains that you are no longer welcome in our buildings,” Moro wrote in the email. “You are a coward Mr. O’Shea, do not ever contact us again or we will inform the police that you are harassing our employees. I hope you enjoyed your 5 minutes of fame.
Is it really that unreasonable that a paying customer have a question about safety and security in a facility that customer pays to use? If you saw some rat poison sitting on a counter in a snack bar wouldn’t it be reasonable to ask someone about it? Or maybe you should just hope they don’t confuse the rat poison with popcorn salt.
Perhaps Tom Moro and Rosenquist need to read this little story and the 18 million awarded to the victim of and assault at Dodger Stadium http://www.latimes.com/local/crime/la-me-0710-bryan-stow-trial-20140710-story.html
You have to wonder what the NHL and Blackhawks think of this as well. Do they want to continue an association with an entity after these kinds of reports?
One can always wonder what would have happened if the three players assaulted were actually Chicago Blackhawks. Ponder on that for a while.
Joseph Kolodziej – Publisher
