Even though he wasn’t drinking, Ron MacLean used rum to explain a misunderstanding that had some calling for his job.

Joe Warmington
Sportscaster Ron MacLean speaks during the Calgary Flames 40th season luncheon at Scotiabank Saddledome on March 9, 2020.Photo by Azin Ghaffari/Postmedia /Toronto Sun
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Even though he wasnt drinking, Ron MacLean used rum to explain a misunderstanding that had some calling for his job.
While he apologized for comments on Hockey Night in Canada, the legendary host says they were not homophobic.
Saying he can see why people misconstrued his words, MacLean said he was referring to a photograph of a party and not referencing sexuality.
During the second intermission in Game 4 of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens series, MacLean said to panellist and former NHL player Kevin Bieksa, you have a photo of a guy with his tarp off, youre definitely positive for something.
The immediate reaction on social media called for MacLean to apologize or even be dismissed. Former ESPN and CNN broadcaster Keith Olbermann told his 1 million Twitter followers a homophobic joke is indefensible.
MacLean tweeted earlier in the show, we had a fun moment featuring a photograph featuring our colleague Anthony Stewart enjoying a rum party. The photo was behind Bieksa who participated in the broadcast from his home.
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This was not the first time a picture of a player without clothes was seen in this segment. Another former player in the raw was also noticed on this same shelf in February.
But in this instance, MacLean wrote in the second intermission, Kevin quipped that he was the most positive person on the panel to which he directed viewers to that photo using tarp off (shirtless) to specify the picture with the rum bottle and quipped youll be testing positive for something. I meant the rum.
David Palumbo, of the You Can Play Project a group that works to ensure the safety and  inclusion of all who participate in sports, including LGBTQ athletes told the Toronto Sun he accepted the apology, noting that MacLean has been staunch ally of theLGBTQ community.
On May 17, MacLean tweeted a picture with a rainbow hockey stick to celebrate the International Day against Homophobia, Tremophobia and Biphobia and commented today, like every day, I stand with the LGBTQ2S+ community, and pledge to keep learning and advocating. I see you.
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He wrote Wednesday that he reached out to guiding lights in the equity-seeking arena to tend to the hearts of us all.
In this time of cancel culture, many careers have been ended after perceived insensitive remarks, including former Coachs Corner icon Don Cherry and former NBC analyst Jeremy Roenick.
But Palumbo said this is not on the same level and falls into the move-on category.
Perhaps cutting people a break for a dumb remark or tweet is the new normal that could come out of this. Either that or bring back Grapes, too!
The tarps off terminology came up in a 2020 in an NHL.com video in which players T.J Oshie and Anthony Duclair talk about slang used to describe going shirtless.
MacLean had a celebrated shirtless appearance playing air guitar a decade ago in a Vancouver bar. He said on the Steve Dangle Podcast two years ago that was my party trick and good fun and something he did not regret one bit.
He did apologize after Cherry, as a host of Coachs Corner, embarked on a  you people poppy rant that got him fired in 2019.
Don Cherry made remarks that were hurtful and discriminatory which were flat out wrong and I owe you an apology, too, (since) I sat there, did not catch it and did not respond, MacLean said at the time.
Its unclear if MacLean will apologize on the next broadcast.MacLean tweeted if you only heard the last line in isolation I completely understand how that misunderstanding occurred. I am deeply sorry.
However, it all started with the rum, he said.
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