After generating a flood of attention for making what many felt was an ‘insensitive’ and ‘insulting’ comment about women, NHL analyst Mike Milbury will be off of the remainder of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The former head coach and player who first joined NBC in 2007 caused a social media uproar on Thursday night during the Islanders-Capitals game. Commentator Brian Bouche mentioned the NHL’s quarantine bubble being a great environment for those interested in being around their teammates and focusing on competition, and Milbury followed up Bouche’s point with a wisecrack, adding ‘There’s not even any woman here to disrupt your concentration’.
The NHL issued a statement on Friday denouncing Milbury’s remark: ‘The National Hockey League condemns the insensitive and insulting comment that Mike Milbury made during last night’s broadcast and we have communicated our feelings to NBC. The comment did not reflect the NHL’s values and commitment to making our game more inclusive and welcoming to all’.
Milbury issued an apology thru NBC, saying ‘It was not my intention to disrespect anyone. I was trying to be irreverent and took it a step too far. It was a regrettable mistake that I take seriously’.
That wasn’t enough though to silence the criticism and rather than be a distraction, Milbury decided to step aside for the rest of the playoffs.
‘In light of the attention caused by my recent remark, I have decided to step away from my role at NBC Sports for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Playoffs,’ said Milbury. ‘I do not want my presence to interfere with the athletes as they try to win the greatest trophy in sports.’
How this impacts Milbury’s future with NBC Sports remains to be seen, but he’ll be missing in action from the rest of the network’s live broadcasts.
