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THN.com Blog: Put some English on it

Alexander Semin has struggled with the English language while Alex Ovechkin picked it up quite quickly. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

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Alexander Semin has struggled with the English language while Alex Ovechkin picked it up quite quickly. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

Adam Proteau

Adam Proteau
2008-08-27 12:29:28

Interesting news tidbit from the LPGA, which announced this week it will require its players to have at least a cursory grasp of the English language by 2009 if they wish to play for that organization.

I wouldn’t demand a similar regulation be imposed on NHLers that forces them to change. But it would behoove the league and NHLPA to stress to its European players the importance of getting a firm handle on the primary language in which the game’s business is conducted.

Indeed, if the likes of Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexander Semin and other rising European stars became more fluent in English, there’s little doubt their on-ice talents would garner more mainstream attention than they do at present.

Everyone in the NHL is well aware the league is above all else a business. And if a significant part of your business conductors are trapped inside a language foreign to most of your customers, well, there’s more than a little that is bound to get lost in translation.

Related Links

• Just what the hockey world was waiting for: another Mats Sundin story.

At this stage, I think the creation of the Geneva Convention garnered less attention than Sundin has received this summer. Sure, the man deserves the right to take as much time as he wants when deciding whether to play again, but there’s an unintended consequence of his dithering that could burden him in a big way if he doesn’t retire – namely, the near-mythic status his services seem to gain with every passing off-season day.

Should Sundin wind up playing, the expectations placed on him could be equal to or greater than any pressure he’s felt in Toronto. He’s only got himself and his agonizing decision process to fault for that.

COMMENTS (33)

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Jessie Posted
(2009-04-30 06:53:50)



The LPGA runs two pro-ams per week. One on Mondays and one on Wednesdays. As 'un'-diplomatic (is that a word?) as the LPGA was in creating this mandate, it is likely necessary. The LPGA has 121 foreign players from 26 different countries, 45 of those players are Koreans. The real issue is that there are only 2 American players in the top 10 on the LPGA money list and only 2 more in the top 20 (and one of them is a 'Park'). The problem that the LPGA has is that they are required to count on foreign players to sell their game and if the top players do not speak english to their pro-am partners and othewise, it is difficult for the American sponsors to be warmed up by the players. Although there are many foreign (only) speaking players in the NHL, there are several others who do learn english. Of the top stars in the NHL, only Malkin doesn't speak english very well. The NHL is sold a lot differently than the LPGA and I have a hard time believing that people won't be thrilled by the Pens and Malkin because he doesn't speak english.
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Flyerfan52 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:53:17)



Frankly carl, I don't care if he takes 10. Except that we'll have a Sundin watch until he decides. He was/is a good player. The longer he takes deciding, the more the clock goes to was.
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rufus Posted
(2009-04-30 06:53:16)



doing something because the LPGA does it seems pretty dumb.
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Flyer guy 16 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:53:04)



I respect Sakic as much as anyone but there seems to be a double standard. Maybe it's because nobody seriously believed Sakic would play anywhere else.
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carl Posted
(2009-04-30 06:52:54)



It's ridiculous to suggest that Sundin be concerned that he is "holding up" the business of the league. It's the problem of the GMs if they want to wait. I'm tired of all the stories too but that's what you get in July & August and a slew of hocky writers with not much else to talk about. But that's not his fault. Take all the time you want, Mats. Take a year. You're a free agent and it's your life.
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Flyer guy 16 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:52:37)



I agree, trying to force someone to learn English is silly. It only makes sense that a player would want to learn the language but if not who cares? I remember when Pavel Bure first joined the Canucks, it seemed like he didn't want to learn because it was easier to deal with the media. I'm pretty sure his english got better in the negotiating room though.
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Mark Pargas Posted
(2009-04-30 06:52:33)



An English requirement is a silly concept. Whose English? Should a player learn to drop articles (going to hospital) and use city names as singular and plural collective nouns (Toronto are having problems) and then be traded to a team in the U.S., where you go to the hospital, where you can turn on the television and clearly see that Toronto is having problems? And does he then need to learn French? Heck, even Canadians seem to disagree about that prospect. Perhaps anglophone sportswriters should learn other languages to have direct conversations with these athletes. Think of what some Spanish-languange skills would have meant for the news media coverage of the Expos of Vladimir Guerrero and Pedro Martinez. This is plain offensive (or do you spell it offencive in Canada? I don't remember. ¿No recuerdo?)
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Ken Spencer Posted
(2009-04-30 06:52:32)



"Make them learn English" is ridiculous. Most Europeans, Africans, Asians etc. speak 3, 4, or 5 languages. Why do Americans think the rest of the world has to learn English? Why can't Americans learn another language? At least learn some French so you can appreciate the Canadian hockey heritage. Ken Spencer
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Jerry Posted
(2009-04-30 06:52:31)



The LPGA runs several ProAm tournaments at which the professional players are matched with amateurs. They play 18 or holes in a foursome consisting of two pros and two amateurs. This promotes the game, and the amateurs pay a hefty entrance fee for the privilege of playing, learning, and interacting with the pros. Obviously, this cannot happen if the pros don't speak english. Unless the NHL decides to have amateurs out there on the ice playing alongside the professionals, there's no reason for this silliness.
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The answer Posted
(2009-04-30 06:52:30)



Here's the facts: In Sweden, they start studying english when they're 7 years old. I have swedish cousins. Swedish is also quite similar to english, so I figure it's easy to understand english for them. In russia, they don't even use the same letters as us. Imagine going to china and learn it...
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