Needless Nylander Injury Comment Shows Blindness Goes Beyond “Love”

While the exact nature of Nylander’s injury remains undisclosed, it’s evident that the team will feel his absence. Nylander’s offensive contributions and skill set are valuable assets, particularly in a playoff series where every player’s role is crucial.

Maple Leafs fans hope Nylander can swiftly return to the ice and contribute to the Maple Leafs’ playoffs. In the meantime, the team must adjust and pull together in his absence, showcasing the depth and resilience necessary to succeed in postseason hockey.

So-Called Fan Shows a Deep Lack of Respect for Nylander and All Hockey Players

Sadly, when a team’s star player is injured and cannot play, the quality of the games we watch is lessened. As fans, we all suffer.

However, one so-called fan went over the top with a thoughtless, ignorant, and downright mean-spirited tweet that mocked Nylander’s injury. However, in his attempt at humor or spirit or whatever (who can tell with such people?), he makes a mockery of the game of hockey, the amazing abilities of these NHL players, and the physical and mental pain and troubles hockey players regularly undergo to play this exciting and dangerous sport we watch with joy as fans.

Here’s his Tweet in response to a Tweet by David Alter.

Consider the text of the Tweet: “Nylander must have had a tummy ache and needed to catch up on Love is blind. Hopefully, he’s feeling okay!” [By the way, “Love is Blind” is a television show, and the letter “B” in the word Blind should be capitalized.]

The Psychology of Making Fun of Another’s Injury

Why would anyone – especially one who knows nothing about Nylander’s injury – go out of his way to say something nasty about him? What kind of psychological need drives such behavior?

What might motivate someone to engage in this behavior? It’s not funny, so why take the time to do it? What needs to spill over into this kind of cheap behavior that only belittles and embarrasses the person who makes the comments? 

First, sadly, comments like this are becoming more common and are usually seen more in online interactions than in person-to-person exchanges. The person who made this comment knows that no one is likely to confront him for the comment because he’s hidden in his safe space. People like this are usually less willing to say things to a person’s face. They are too scared. 

The anonymity offered by social media offers a sense of disinhibition. Too bad, it’s cheap and a bit of a scaredy-cat ploy. Social media platforms like Twitter allow weak people to express themselves without immediate consequences. Such anonymity can lead individuals to engage in behaviors they wouldn’t dare exhibit in face-to-face interactions. This includes making insensitive or hurtful remarks.

The truth is that It’s disheartening to see people making fun of someone who is injured, whether physically or mentally, especially using public platforms like social media. 

What Could be Some of the Tweeter’s Motivations? 

First, the most obvious thing to know is that this person is needy and seeks attention. He likely feels fulfilled when he gets a reaction. Some people can only find attention or validation through provocative or controversial statements on social media. Making sarcastic or mean-spirited comments attracts responses from others – like I am doing now. That might lead to increased engagement and interaction with their posts. Suddenly, they become important because someone notices them.

Sometimes, people use sarcasm or humor to cope with their personal inadequacies or in a misguided attempt to entertain themselves and others. They may view making light of a serious situation like an injury as a way to be cute, especially if it comes at someone else’s expense. Cheap and hurtful!

Tribalism in Sports

As ignorant as it might seem, there’s also a sense of tribalism in sports. Rooting for one NHL team somehow makes it okay to make fun of the injuries players on the other team suffer. But if one thinks about it, that’s simply ignorant behavior. Humans are human, whether they wear the Blue and White of the Maple Leafs or the Brown and Yellow of the Bruins.

https://x.com/TSNHockey/status/1782469193612362105A real hockey fan might not like a player on another team but wouldn’t hope the person gets physically hurt during a game. Let me focus on Brad Marchand of the Bruins. I don’t like Marchand as a player, but I don’t want him to hurt himself physically. That kind of ridiculous thinking abuses the sport of hockey. 

There’s no excuse for derogatory remarks toward perceived rivals or opponents, such as players from opposing sports teams. That’s low. It shows a lack of empathy and a willingness to dehumanize others. Either the person who mocked Nylander is mean-spirited, or he forgot that his comments are about a real person who is truly injured. Why not kick him when he’s down?

Wrong! And it’s not befitting of a true sports fan.

I’m guessing the person making the comments is a wanna-be professional athlete who harbors a deep underlying resentment for those skilled in ways he is not. Thus, his targeting a star athlete like Nylander by mocking his injuries is a way to release pent-up feelings of self-disappointment. That makes the Tweet more about the author than the victim – in this case, Nylander.

Why Do NHL Players Shake Hands at the End of a Playoff Series?

When sarcasm or mockery is an accepted behavior, it shames us all. That’s why there’s a lineup and handshake at the end of a playoff series. It’s representative of the kind of respect these athletes have for each other and the sacrifices each has made to perform in such tough and meaningful competition. 

All these players want to win the Stanley Cup, and their opponents share respect that same feeling. That’s one reason winning the Stanley Cup is so great. It’s tough to do.

We Need to Call Out Ignorant Behavior in Others

While my post might thrill this ignorant fellow, it’s time for the rest of us to call out this behavior. It’s never okay to encourage disrespect and mockery of others.

This person’s Tweet showed his willingness to mock someone’s injury. It was deeply insensitive and reflects a disregard for basic human decency. It isn’t acceptable behavior in the sport we love.