That’s disgusting, Debbie. You hit the nail on the head in exposing this hypocrisy. I imagine that milquetoast conformist apologists will argue that tattoos have become so “mainstream” that they somehow fit in with the “family-centric” bullsh#t that pro sports is purporting to be worried about and represent. Of course, when drunken fans and minors start coming home with regretful tattoos, then the true impact of this endeavor will truly be felt, at least on an individual level. I regret every tattoo I ever got in my life and spend a considerable amount of stress and time thinking of ways to dissuade my children from getting tattoos when they are of age. Crap like this is annoying and bespeaks of the moral decay of our culture.

DS_ROCKS! on September 8, 2011 at 3:21 pm

Well, we know they won’t get the religious or Orthodox Jewish fans (and to those Christians who are unaware, religious Jews do not get tattoos. Tradition and Jewish law dictates that a Jew with a tattoo cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery, as they have desecrated their bodies).

JEG: That’s a myth that has become urban legend–about burial not being allowed in a Jewish cemetery for tattoos. While you are correct that it’s against Jewish law to get tattoos (it’s considered mutilation and desecration of the body and branding–only G-d can brand his flock), it is not against Jewish law to bury a Jew with a tattoo or tattoos in a Jewish cemetery. I’m not sure how that myth got started, but it’s widely believed, even though it isn’t true. Jewish law does not allow murderers or those who committed suicide to be buried in a Jewish cemetery. However, even in many of those cases, the rabbis say the person was “insane” or “mentally ill” and thus, find a loophole to bury that person in the cemetery. DS

Jonathan E. Grant on September 8, 2011 at 3:24 pm

I would hate to see where the “hat trick” tattoo would be placed on a woman.

Jonathan E. Grant on September 8, 2011 at 3:25 pm

Debbie, I just commented on you’re facebook page on this particular topic. Since my NHL team is the New York Rangers, I won’t a NY Rangers tattoo on any of my body parts.

And since my other teams in sports (in general) are the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Mets & Kansas State Wildcats (in football and mens & womens basketball), I won’t put tattoos on my body from those other teams I cheer/support!

“A nation is defined by its borders, language & culture!”

Sean R. on September 8, 2011 at 3:41 pm

Tattoos are a choice that people should be allowed, of course. Still, when I see folks with tats…I think “no class” (Holocaust survivors aside, of course, as they had no choice), even if they are otherwise nice people.

And am I the only one sick of these (almost always white) middle-class college pukes with the corks and discs in their ears? What are they saying, how “artistic” they are? How “multicultural” they feel despite their lilly white spoiled backgrounds? They look like freaking goofballs with big looped ear lobes.

The inked and pierced crowd site “freedom of expression” as the reason they mutilate themselves…but why do freedom of expression jumping on some tacky bandwagon and making yourself look like a weirdo?

I can’t think on anything I want permenantly on my body. Except maybe Alessandra Ambrosio,…ha.

Ink Stinks on September 8, 2011 at 5:07 pm

Sean R: I think the point is that by installing an official tattoo parlor at a NHL facility, then the NHL is promoting tattoos and piercings which is antithetical to the “wholesome” image that they and other pro sprots are so quick to push, defend and victimize players for violating, or supposedly violating like the heinous punishment of Ben Roethlisberger last year for not being charged and for being accused by an admitted psycho and liar.

The point isn’t that you shouldn’t get a Rangers tattoo – you can tattoo whatever you want, this is America – but that its hypocritical for the NHL to promote them for its own profit.

DS_ROCKS! on September 8, 2011 at 5:10 pm

Tramp Stamps, Like the old email going around saying in 40 years we are gonna have a bunch of old shriveled up grannies with tamp stamps above their booty.

georgie on September 8, 2011 at 5:59 pm

I’m not a fan of tattoos, but I really wouldn’t mind what these people do if only I did not need to pay for their resulting health problems (emotional and physical) by means of higher taxes and insurance premiums, and if their actions didn’t infect our culture as a whole (I realize these are big ‘buts’.)

I also think tattoos are a substitute for those personal qualities that used to command respect in our society, intelligence, caring, personalities based on varied interests, etc. This dumb generation has none of these things, so they come up with trashy substitutes to ‘distinguish’ themselves from others.

Little Al on September 8, 2011 at 6:39 pm

Do you know that the GOVERNMENT is paying for the removal of some tattoos? Seems that people don’t want to hire people who have tattoos, and now we are paying for the removal thereof.

Jonathan E. Grant on September 8, 2011 at 9:13 pm

I am old enough to remember when only carnies & sailors had tattoos. Yes, they are low class. When I see someone with tattoos or smoking cigarettes, I feel sorry for then, and disgusted at the same time.

Dr Dale on September 8, 2011 at 9:24 pm

I love the art of tattoos, but I have to admit that I have NOT been liking them as much as I used to, because almost everyone gets them these days. I like the look on certain people (rockers, punk rockers, hipsters) but on everyone else, I really hate the look.

When they became mainstream, they took the specialness away.

I am glad DS posted about the myth. I believed the myth but now I stand corrected. And even though I love tattoo art (on a certain look…I think it looks trashy/horrible on others) I have come to really believe in the Jewish law (even thou’ I am not Jewish) for about 7 years now. I love the art, but some things are more important.

And everyday when I see just about everyone with a tattoo, I do get sick to my stomach. I like the Jewish law. Discipline builds character…certainly more than tattoos do!

Skunky on September 8, 2011 at 9:39 pm

Whenever I tell anyone under 30 that I am old enough to remember when getting a tattoo was an act of rebellion instead of an act of conformity, they often tell me that I look pretty good for 90.

It’s difficult for the younger generation to envision a time when tattoos were actually a rarity even among rock stars. The first one to sport a serious amount of visible body ink was Greg Allman, who subsequently got Cher hooked on the habit in the mid 70s. The trend quickly mushroomed from there.

If you ask me, even if it’s a tattoo of a butterfly, flower, or fairy, it still only looks appropriate at a Hell’s Angels convention. To me, when displayed by a woman in an evening gown at a red carpet event, the sheer incongruity of the situation is somewhat comical.

If there’s a bright side to any of this, at least for the last 30 years, concentration camp survivors can claim an ironic victory in that they lived long enough to see those numbers on their arms actually become fashionable.

Irving on September 8, 2011 at 10:58 pm

Hockey is too violent. I prefer NASCAR. :+)

All kidding aside, I prefer NCAA hockey to the NHL game.

Not sure what any of this has to do with tattoos.

Hey Deb! Thanks for the note about the Jewish prohibition on tattoos. I don’t consider myself overly knowledgeable on Jewish religious law, but I always thought that tattoos were considered a form of “willful self-mutilation” that is typically prohibited. I think your explanation confirmed that.

There is NO Santa Claus on September 9, 2011 at 12:16 am

I would appreciate it if the women would tighten up their mid-drift somewhat if they want to show off their tramp-stamps. to see that muffin spilling over the belt buckle is horrendous.

Koeteus on September 9, 2011 at 12:52 am

When I see a tattoo on a female, I know where at least one burly balding bikers hairy hands have been.

PDMac60 on September 9, 2011 at 11:23 am

the “Red Wings” Tattoo might have a lot of meaning.

Randal P on September 9, 2011 at 1:52 pm

I hate tattoos. Whatever happened to nice girls? Hard-to-get is so much nicer. Most guys do not like the high heels and bikini girls that are constantly marketed to us, we just want to date a nice librarian. And the slutty, dumpy tattooed pig look…who the hell came up with that? Yuck!

David Lanham on September 10, 2011 at 3:06 am

Totally want a MTL tattoo!!!

Jannie Stanzel on October 23, 2015 at 9:55 am