While trying to help his Philadelphia Flyers make it to the Stanley Cup final, Philly enforcer Riley Cote has been dogged with questions of the relationship with his cousin, a member of the Hells Angels. (CP Images)
Maybe it's time for Philadelphia Flyers' enforcer Riley Cote to tell a whole lot of people to mind their own business. Or, in other words, go to Hells.
As the Flyers catch the imagination of the City of Brotherly Love with their unexpected lengthy stay in these Stanley Cup playoffs, far too much is being made about Cote and his relationship with his cousin, a member of the Hells Angels.
Turns out the nattering nannies aren't impressed that Cote has a page promoting the Winnipeg chapter of the biker gang set up on his MySpace page.
"He's my cousin, he's family," Cote told reporters when asked of their relationship. "What do you want me to do? I can't change anything about it. I mean, I've got to support him like he's my brother. What would you do?"
Further proof that some people just don't have enough things to do in their lives. And by that I don't mean Cote.
You see, when something like this comes up - and it comes up often - talk always turns to the term "role model" within the faction of society that just likes to find something to bitch about.
Really, now, who cares?
Riley Cote happens to be a hockey player, and one that doesn't get paid to score goals. He is also actively involved in charitable causes in both Philadelphia and his hometown of Winnipeg, from hockey clinics to raising both money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis.
Where's the breaking story on that? How about that type of role model?
As a father myself, I'm not lying awake at night worrying about my kid wandering on Riley Cote's MySpace page to see a Hells Angels banner. Or happening to catch a photo of Jose Theodore or Pat Burns posing with the Hells Angels. On the scale of things to be concerned with as a parent, let's just say this doesn't rank.
The same people whining about this are probably those going out and picking up Grand Theft Auto as birthday gifts and giving their kids free reign of the computer without even poking their head in the bedroom to check up on them all night.
"I honestly can't believe this is brought up any time, let alone in playoffs. We've got one thing to worry about and that's beating the Penguins. I don't want to be bothered [by] this or the team bothered by this," Cote added.
Precisely. Because there's no story to tell.
Those bothered by it simply have too much time on their hands.