One never likes to see any parent have to discuss their child's death, but Brian Burkle does so here with class and dignity. At the 6:00 minute mark he talks about his son being gay, and how Brian will keep trying to make the NHL "open".
"The NHL should be open, and everyone should be welcome to play this game."
I grew up with hockey, it's in my blood (and my blood is in it). For all it's stereotypes of neanderthals playing it, it's really a very down to Earth sport filled with everyday guys. In all my life of playing myself I can't remember any time where sexual orientation entered into the equation, but to see such a high profile person as Mr. Burke (GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the most popular team in the game, coach of the Canadian Olympic team, and one of the roughest players to ever lace them up) talk about this is big, even if he does so just briefly. There's no doubt there are many gay players in the NHL. I can only hope some of them will draw on Brendan Burke's memory, and his family's strength, and that the sport I love the most can tackle this issue of equality. It's already the most international of sports....time to make it the most open in terms of sexual preference as well.
For some reason, with Haiti and all the rest of the things going on in this fucked up world, Brendan's death has hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought I had a handle on things, but I can't stop crying over this. I really want something good to come of this, for your community, for the sport I love, and most of all, for the Burke family.
http://mapleleafs.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=802&id=60296