Just when you thought cancel culture couldn’t get worse, it did. “Sexist,” “misogynistic,” “insensitive,” and “insulting” are just a few of the epithets hurled at NHL analyst Mike Milbury for — hold on to your hat — admitting that women are distracting to men. Not only is Milbury correct in his observation, his off-the-cuff remark is a compliment to women, not an insult. The presence of a woman is a powerful thing, as those of us who don’t have an ax to grind understand and appreciate.
In case you missed it, a recent conversation transpired between Milbury and fellow analyst Brian Boucher about the NHL’s playoff bubble — no fans in seats, no one but your teammates and team staff in the arena or the hotel. “If you think about it, it’s a terrific environment with regard to — if you enjoy playing and enjoy being with your teammates for long periods of time, it’s a perfect place,” said Boucher.
To which Milbury responded, “Not even any woman here to disrupt your concentration.”
For this transgression, Milbury has since stepped down — and, sadly, apologized. It is a wholly unacceptable response to cater to the mob for saying something factual. Those who do are part of the problem.
The rest of us will call it out because we know that truth is static. No matter how much society may change, truth doesn’t. Societal trends will never obliterate (in this case) biological reality. And why should we want to?
Men and women are not interchangeable beings; they’re made to respond to one another as a result of their sexual differences. What too many people seem to want is for men and women to coexist as though they’re mirror images of one another, and they are not.
There are sound reasons why women distract men. For one thing, they’re often beautiful or at the very least feminine, and men are highly visual creatures. They cannot help but be distracted by women, and I mean this literally: The visual and spatial region of the right cerebral cortex is thicker in males than it is in females. Men cannot not look at women.
And thank God for that! Without this instinctual drive, without this power women hold over men simply by nature of their existence, we humans would be extinct. Does cancel culture wish to cancel humanity, too?
It is also distracting to have the woman you love watching you play a game. Men like to impress women, which means having a wife or a girlfriend or a potential partner present puts added pressure on their game. That’s not to suggest she shouldn’t be there. It is only to say that Milbury is right: If she happens to not be there, obviously the player is going to be more focused on his game. That’s hardly rocket science.
All I can say is that America better be careful with its relentless badgering of men. As a rule, men have a long leash: They’ll put up with a lot before they break. But once they do, it can be next to impossible to bring them back.
Are we ready for that?
Suzanne Venker (@SuzanneVenker) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She’s the author of five books and a relationship coach, as well as host of The Suzanne Venker Show. Her website is www.suzannevenker.com.
