The NHL All-Star Game 2nd intermission musical performance just doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as Super Bowl halftime show, but nevertheless you know there will probably be a recognizable name there to warm you up for the 3rd. In a controversial decision made by the league, the 2018 edition of the All-Star Game musical performance was chosen to be Kid Rock.
Kid Rock has been around for a long time, and over those years he has been a fairly polarizing individual. He routinely waves Confederate flags, has publically shamed Colin Kaepernick for civil rights position, and has been noted to make sexist and homophobic remarks. No matter what side of the fence you fall onto in regards to political or social issues, taking a firm stance on certain subjects can often lead to public backlash.
Regardless of the situation, NHL executive vice president Steve Mayer hopped to the defence of the NHL’s decision, explaining that Kid Rock was chosen for other reasons entirely.
The following is an excerpt taken from a conversation Mayer had with ESPN:
"Our sole objective is to choose musical acts to perform at our events and entertain our fans," Mayer told ESPN in an interview Thursday.
Mayer said one reason Kid Rock was hired is because he's a longtime Red Wings fan -- one who partied with players after their 2008 Stanley Cup victory.
"Most of the time, our acts are passionate hockey fans," Mayer said. "It's all about the entertainment at the end of the day for us, and this selection was purely based on that, and the fact that Kid Rock is a hockey lover. That's simply the background here."
Regardless of personal political stance, Kid Rock is certainly a hockey lover. Between partying with the Detroit Red Wings and P.K. Subban giving an official #PKapproved stamp, we’re sure things will be alright in Tampa.
(H/T ESPN)
