To My Friends at the BC Lions: Do the Right Thing

6 days ago

4 min read

This one isn't easy for me to write.

I have friends connected to the BC Lions. I care about sports in this city, and I want our teams to represent Vancouver and British Columbia with pride.

But sometimes being a supporter means saying something when something isn't right.

And what happened involving Josh Hagerty and Montreal Alouettes player Liam Talbot isn't something I can simply shrug off as "football."

The CFL has suspended Hagerty for two games for striking Talbot. Talbot suffered a groin injury, required surgery and is not expected to return this season.

I don't claim to know what was going through Hagerty's mind. Only he knows that.

But the consequences are serious.

Seriously consider releasing Josh Hagerty.

I don't say that lightly.

I don't wish unemployment on Josh Hagerty.

Professional athletes are people. They have families, careers and lives away from the field. I take no pleasure in calling for somebody to potentially lose an opportunity they've worked years to earn.

But Liam Talbot is a person too.

Football is incredibly physical. Players understand that injuries happen.

But there are still boundaries.

Professional sports are also workplaces. When you put on a BC Lions jersey and step onto that field, you're representing the organization on its time.

The CFL has made its disciplinary decision.

Now the Lions have to ask:

Does this conduct meet the standard we expect from someone wearing our jersey?

Given the seriousness of what happened and the consequences for Talbot, I believe releasing Hagerty deserves serious consideration.

Actions have consequences.

Apologize to Liam Talbot — and make a meaningful gesture.

Behind all the discussion about suspensions and roster decisions is a 23-year-old human being who required surgery and whose season is effectively over.

Liam has a family and people who care about him.

Montreal GM Danny Maciocia has said Liam returned home following surgery so he could receive help from his family.

We shouldn't pretend to know exactly what Liam or his family is feeling.

But we can show some humanity.

I believe a sincere apology from the Lions and a message supporting Liam's recovery would be appropriate.

I'd also encourage the organization to make a meaningful gesture toward his recovery, a cause selected in consultation with him, or an appropriate player-safety initiative.

Not to buy forgiveness.

Not as a PR stunt.

And not necessarily as an admission of responsibility.

Just because sometimes the human thing is the right thing.

And to the CFL: learn from this.

I've lived in Vancouver my entire life. I've followed sports in this city for years.

I've seen moments like this before.

I've seen something happen during a game and suddenly become much bigger than the game itself.

I'm not comparing this directly to any one incident. The circumstances aren't identical.

But there are some uncomfortable parallels.

A line gets crossed. Somebody gets seriously hurt. Suddenly we're no longer talking about the scoreboard.

We're talking about player safety.

Accountability.

And where the boundaries of professional sports are supposed to be.

That's why I hope the CFL doesn't simply issue its suspension and move on.

This isn't about changing Hagerty's punishment after the fact.

It's about asking whether the disciplinary rules should be tougher the next time something like this happens.

Review the framework.

Learn from what happened.

And make sure the league has strong enough tools available when conduct outside the normal course of football results in serious consequences for another player.

Player safety isn't only about equipment and tackling rules.

It's also about making certain boundaries unmistakable.

One other thought: Be More Than a Bystander.

I think Be More Than a Bystander is a great initiative.

Unfortunately, I've already seen people connecting its messaging directly to the Hagerty-Talbot situation.

The two issues aren't the same.

But the association is already happening, and that's not fair to an initiative doing important work.

So I wonder whether temporarily freezing the public-facing PSAs would make sense.

Not the initiative.

Not the educational work.

Not the partnership.

Just the advertising.

Give this situation some breathing room. Address it. Then bring the PSAs back when their message can stand on its own without being swallowed by an unrelated football controversy.

Don't pause the cause. Pause the advertising.

This isn't an anti-Lions post.

Quite the opposite.

I'm writing this because I respect people within the organization and because this is my hometown football team.

Being a supporter doesn't mean defending everything your team does.

Sometimes it means expecting more from it.

And that's why I want to say something directly to Lions GM Ryan Rigmaiden.

Ryan, I don't envy the position you're in.

You're responsible for building this football team and helping establish the standard expected from the people who wear that jersey.

Sometimes leadership means making decisions that are difficult and uncomfortable.

I'm not asking for vengeance.

I'm not asking you to make a decision because people are angry on social media.

Look at what happened. Look at the consequences for Liam Talbot. Talk to the people you need to talk to internally.

Then ask yourself what standard comes with wearing a BC Lions jersey.

Whatever decision you make should reflect that standard.

Do the right thing, man.

Not for the headlines.

Not because Montreal is angry.

Not because Vancouver is watching.

Do it because of what you want that Lions jersey to represent.

To Montreal.

To the Montreal Alouettes organization and its fans:

I feel your pain and your utter disgust.

I was born and raised in Vancouver. This is my home.

But my father's side of my family comes from Montreal, so I have roots there too.

From someone who has called Vancouver home since birth: this isn't fair.

It isn't fair to Liam, his family, his teammates, the Alouettes organization or the fans who care about him.

If the situation were reversed, Vancouver would be hurting too.

Team colours shouldn't determine our humanity.

And finally, directly to Liam:

I sincerely wish you a full and successful recovery. I hope you're able to heal, get back to doing what you love, and receive all the support you need along the way.

I'm rooting for your recovery, Liam.