Recently, NHL player James Reimer has become persona non grata for refusing to wear alternative jerseys that are meant to support people in the LGBTQIA+ communities. Reimer cited his religious beliefs and refused to wear the jersey, and now everyone hates him…or something.

I am under the stern belief that we should have never known his stance on this issue. In fact, none of us should ever know the precise position of an athlete’s social justice barometer, unless the athlete feels like sharing it with us.

A statement from Goaltender, James Reimer: pic.twitter.com/GwhWxhbmb4

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) March 18, 2023

What if the NHL were to use a different type of civil right to feature on custom jerseys? Is there an issue that a hockey player could say no to?

For better or worse, I feel like religion is the worst thing this planet has ever produced. It has poisoned our ability to be rational, and prevented humans from reaching their fullest potential.

If I was an athlete, let’s say a hockey player, and I was asked to wear a uniform that was supposed to be about freedom of religion, and the league wanted me to wear some sort of symbol that showed I was a supporter of all religions being respected, I would refuse to wear it.

I would put out a statement, crafted by my PR person as to avoid me using profanity in said statement, that would talk about my atheism preventing me from being able to support wearing a jersey that featured the symbols of everything I do not like about believing in omnipotent beings (including the rabid homophobia, by the way).

.@TaraSlone and @BrodieNBCS discuss James Reimer not wearing a Pride jersey during warm-ups pic.twitter.com/uqxz3wRn2A

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) March 19, 2023

It isn’t relevant that being inclusive is the right way to go. I can make a great argument for wearing the jersey that supports all sorts of communities. But I can also make a great argument that talks about people who speak to Jesus are clinically insane, and that Islam can be quite oppressive to women, and that aspects of Judaism are rooted in hubris.

Sure, the league was just trying to be inclusive by forcing me to wear a symbol of universal acceptance of religion, but I honestly feel religion is for the weak-willed, weak-minded simpletons.

I’m a straight up theistphobe.

San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer won't take part in pre-game warmups, saying the team's decision to wear Pride-themed jerseys in support of the LGBTQ community runs counter to his religious beliefshttps://t.co/aBAqGlNXrR

— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) March 18, 2023

It doesn’t matter if you think one is OK and the other one isn’t. What matters is that the league is setting up some athletes to fail as they administer their virtue-signaling via a completely needless litmus test. Both of these examples centre around human rights. Neither of them should be a prerequisite for playing in the league, or being vilified by the media.

Let’s stop asking our athletes to give a shit about things off the playing surface. We will all be happier if we do.