NFL
By: Zachary Draves
The future of the Ottawa Senators remains up for grabs in terms of who will take over the reins in the owner’s box after the passing of owner Eugene Melynk in March 2022. Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds had put out a bid, but then ultimately decided not to move ahead. Aside from musicial artist The Weeknd joining the bidding war, it is hip hop icon Snoop Dogg that garnered the most attention and is going all out to secure the franchise with the same transcendence that has come to define his career.
In a May 4 interview with The Athletic, Snoop made it clear that his quest to buy the team by saying “this ain’t no joke or no gimmick” adding that “Snoop will put his foot in the town.” He is joining forces with businessman Neko Sparks as the Senators could potentially be up in the billion dollar range.
During an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, Snoop foresaw his involvement as helping to grow the sport of hockey particularly for people of color. He also spoke of his desire to start a youth hockey league in a similar fashion to his popular youth football league that provides kids in urban communities a physical, social, and emotional outlet.
(Courtesy: Youtube)
Some may be curious if not puzzled at the idea of Snoop Dogg owning a hockey team, but when one looks at the history of his career, it shouldn’t come as any surprise.
Snoop’s fandom can be traced back to the release of his 1993 landmark debut album Doggystyle. In the video for the now classic “Gin and Juice” he is seen wearing a black and yellow Pittsburgh Penguins jersey donning the number #94, to acknowledge the year of the song’s release, and the song’s title on the nameplate.
In scenes at a drive-in, he is wearing a blue, white, and green Springfield Indians jersey of the AHL.
(Courtesy: Youtube)
The Penguins under Mario Lemieux were coming off winning two consecutive Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992.
During a 1994 appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show, Snoop came out wearing a blue and gray Toronto Maple Leafs jersey and wore a chain with a leaf on it to symbolize Dr. Dre’s pioneering 1992 album The Chronic, which Snoop was regularly featured in songs such as “Nuthin But a G Thang”, “Dre Day”, and “Let Me Ride”.
It was during that show that Snoop did a legendary freestyle before the commercial break.
In the world of hip hop, artists would be seen in videos wearing hockey jerseys. Even if they weren’t really attuned with the sport itself, their colorful baggy style matched the aesthetic that permeated the broader popular culture for much of the 1990s.
The difference was that Snoop loved hockey and that appreciation has clearly never waivered.
“Snoop is a real hockey fan” says hip hop journalist Adam Aziz, “While it was surprising to see him be part of this bid, it is not surprising because he is a hockey fan.”
In later years, Snoop would be a frequent presence at many Los Angeles Kings games, adding them to his growing list of favorite teams which include the Lakers, Sparks, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Before a game on February 22, 2020, he was a special guest in the Kings locker room and introduced the starting lineup. He would also be provided opportunities to offer commentary during many Kings games.
(Courtesy: Youtube)
(Courtesy: Youtube)
What’s even significant is that Snoop’s ubiquitousness as both an artist and as a fan has endeared him to a huge audience beyond the confines of hip hop. He can mingle with the likes of Martha Stewart as well as Dr. Dre and maintain credibility in both registers.
His crossover popularity plus his knowledge of many different sports, makes him the best representative of helping to grow the sport of hockey at a time when it is looking to broaden its horizons.
The ongoing racial reckoning stemming from the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery in 2020 forced many social and cultural institutions to reexamine their positions on matters of race and to increase more diverse representation. That summer, the Hockey Diversity Alliance was founded by players Akim Aliu and Evander Kane to combat racism in hockey.
However, the HDA criticized the NHL for not moving farther enough on race and ultimately cut ties with them.
In October 2022, the league issued its first ever diversity and inclusion report which showed that the league’s workforce is 84% and acknowledged that it needed to greatly improve in the areas of education, marketing, and partnerships in order to help diversify the game both on and off the ice.
According to an article written by Aziz for ESPN’s Andscape, the league had a chance to embrace the culture in the 1990s in which artists such as Snoop were coming into their own while donning hockey gear, but failed to capitalize.
(Courtesy: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
As evidence, the alternative rock band Fall Out Boy performed at halftime of the NHL All Star Game back in February. While they were big in the mid to late 2000s, they are an act that is largely stuck in time, whereas Snoop has been relevant throughout the entirety of his career.
Even if he hadn’t put any new music out, he was still seen on television, movies, social media, and commercials.
Nevertheless, Aziz says given the NHL’s own data and Snoop’s bid to purchase the Senators, things will move in the right direction.
(Courtesy: Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
“Snoop having a meaningful role in one of the teams will help a lot and is going to make hockey a more welcoming environment” he said.
He also says that Snoop’s involvement will help to not only increase the visibility of the Senators, who are generally a regional team, but will help to raise interest in hockey due to his maintained relevance in the cultural landscape thirty years after he first came onto the scene.
“Snoop is still ingrained in popular and hip hop culture so it would make sense,” he said.
In all, the idea of Snoop Dogg owning a professional hockey team will be good for everyone. It helps make up for lost time and move into a new era.
It’s like that as a matter of fact that he never hesitates to put a team on his back.
PS: If you are in need of some top-notch sports gear to celebrate your favorite teams, please go to Fanatics. Shop for your favorite league and get everything from t-shirts to accessories at reasonable prices.
