What I like most about the 30-second video done for the You Can Play project by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik is that it’s just him speaking into the camera. The result is a simple but powerful message about inclusion in the sport. Says Orpik in the video:

What matters to me and my teammates? A player with a hard slap shot. A player with awesome puck-handling skills. A player who can shoot. A guy who can help our team win … You know what doesn’t matter to me? If a player is straight or gay. Sports should be open to anyone who loves the game and will play hard … My teammates are my friends and we’re all playing to win. I’m Brooks Orpik. If you can play, you can play.”

What I like most about the 30-second video done for the You Can Play project by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik is that it’s just him speaking into the camera. The result is a simple but powerful message about inclusion in the sport. Says Orpik in the video:

What matters to me and my teammates? A player with a hard slap shot. A player with awesome puck-handling skills. A player who can shoot. A guy who can help our team win … You know what doesn’t matter to me? If a player is straight or gay. Sports should be open to anyone who loves the game and will play hard … My teammates are my friends and we’re all playing to win. I’m Brooks Orpik. If you can play, you can play.”

Orpik spoke to Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the video and said he has heard nothing but positives since it was released this weekend. “If I do hear anything negative, it’ll probably be from people who have a problem with themselves and don’t like who they are,” he said.

Orpik said he has never played with a teammate he knew was gay. “But I think we as players are being completely naïve and kidding ourselves if we don’t think we’ve had a gay teammate. Look at the percentages of adult males who are gay. We’ve probably had a lot more than one gay teammate.”

Orpik said he thinks most — but not all — players would accept a gay player in the room. “I would assume a player the guys knew and had a friendship with, that wouldn’t change it. But a new guy coming in? I don’t know. I’m not saying that’s right or the way it should be. But in the current environment, I think it might be hard for that player. That’s just my opinion.”

Photo by Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

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