The Montreal Canadiens’ new vice-president of hockey operations, Jeff Gorton, sat in front of the delegation of sports journalists for the first time with the CH pin on his jacket. He spoke, by making, from the outset, his effort as Governor General of Canada, by going to the sound: “Hello everyone. It is with great pride that I accepted the role of vice-president of hockey operations with the Montreal Canadiens. The biggest franchise in hockey history, with the goal of bringing the Stanley Cup back to Montreal. Thank you Geoff Molson for this trust. ”
Then he took his eyes off his text, looked at the audience and implored: ” I hope it was OK ? »Scattered laughter. In his head we could hear: ” It’s done, my god ! ”
Yes, it was OK. Even more than OK, if we compare him to Saku Koivu in 10 years of captaincy.
Gorton added, in English, that he was going to try to learn our language and that we had to be patient with him. A journalist asked him what he meant by learning our language: was he going to be satisfied with a few customary words or was he really going to speak it? He replied that he would like to be as good as possible, that his wife bought him a French lesson program, but that he cannot promise anything, because 30 years ago he tried to become good. in golf and he’s still rotten. Generalized laughter.
So, should we expect Jeff Gorton to improve his knowledge of French during his reign, or will the 32 consecutive seconds delivered on Friday remain, in the annals, his longest speech in life in the language of Serge Savard?
Many will answer this question: Who cares ? The important thing is not that the guy who makes the Canadiens hockey decisions knows how to speak French; the important thing is that he knows how to make the Canadian win!
Said thus, it is defended, but the reality is quite different. A sports team doesn’t just win. Especially not all the time. But what a sports team does, all the time, is live with the city it represents. The good days and the bad days.
It’s been 54 years since the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup, yet they have never tried to put a francophone at their head, let alone a unilingual francophone! They always had a leader who was able to communicate in the language of the majority of the media and supporters in their city. To experience hockey with them.
Anglophones linked to the Bleu-blanc-rouge who have managed to establish a dialogue with the French, there have been in the great history of the Habs: Scotty Bowman, Larry Robinson, Bob Gainey … Even Sam Pollock, who was from the at the time of the saleswoman at Eaton’s, answered questions from Lionel Duval in French, Hockey night. It is surely no coincidence that it goes back to the heyday.
Since the hard times, very rare are the Anglos tricolors who agree to give interviews in the language of JiC, with the exception of the owner, Geoff Molson, an example to follow for all the high places of Quebec.
You will tell me that not everyone is good at languages, that it is still not their fault, if it turns out that poor Jeff Gorton is as pocket-friendly in French as in golf. It has nothing to do with it: 100% of all unilingual French-speaking Quebecers who join the NHL manage to learn English, well enough to understand the directives of the coach and discuss with boys.
There are even unilingual French-speaking Quebecers who manage to master English well enough, during their hockey years, to become coaches and in turn direct the NHL players in the language of Don Cherry. Why ? Because they want to. Why do they want it? Because they have no choice.
The problem with Jeff Gorton is that he has a choice. Because he will have a perfectly French-speaking general manager by his side. It is well thought out. Except that we would like the big one boss of hockey be able to express themselves in the language of the franchise name: Canadian with an e. I know, I know, it will be two big boss. Equal. Of course, so equal that there is one who chooses the other. We are no longer in Tea Bachelor that in Double occupation !
I would dare to ask Jeff Gorton to learn French with as much determination as he put into learning golf. He can even devote half of the hours he spent on golf courses to his French lessons. He will see that the results will be so much more satisfactory!
What will it change? Will the Canadian be better? In a way, yes. Because its decision-maker will be aware of one of the identities, once essential, of this team: to allow a diversity to realize its dream. The desire of those who do not have it easy often achieves great great things. As at 24 Stanley Cups.
In return, we promise to shout: “Go Habs go! “
You can see that we can get along.
Good luck for the fat job waiting for you!
You can see that French is easy to understand!