GREG GUTFELD: Wokeness is taking over hockey and baseball, but pride can't be mandated

'Gutfeld!' panelists react to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman suggesting the league will reevaluate its Pride-themed jersey nights.

So this week, the commissioner of the National Hockey League, or NHL, said they will evaluate whether to continue Pride Nights, where players are expected to wear rainbow-colored jerseys to show support for the LGBTQ community. 

He says, "Players may not feel comfortable wearing the uniform as a form of endorsement," and he calls it a "distraction." So once again, like a virus, wokeness invades an arena and creates unnecessary conflict — and not the fun kind of conflict.

To think politics is destroying the sweet wholesomeness of hockey. But it's true, this obligatory virtue signal is now forcing some players to defend their beliefs. 

Earlier this year, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov made headlines when he refused to wear a Pride Night jersey, citing his faith. He didn't condemn anybody or try to tell anybody how to live their lives. He just refused to participate. I bet he respects everybody's choices.

SHARKS' JAMES REIMER TALKS REFUSAL TO WEAR PRIDE-THEMED WARMUP, BELIEVES 'EVERYONE HAS VALUE AND WORTH'

IVAN PROVOROV: And I respect everybody's choices. My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion. That's all I'm going to say.

Still from 2019 "Hockey is for Everyone" NHL pride month ad. (NHLPA/YouTube)

And that's all anybody should need to say in the United States of America. But he was condemned as a homophobe anyway. It was quickly followed by a lifetime ban of Broadway musicals and shopping at Pottery Barn. 

Then there's Eric and Marc Staal from the Florida Panthers, who sat out warm-ups during last week's Pride Night game. They too cited religion, but also said,