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Have you ever heard the phrase "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me"? In some ways, it's true. Words can't physically hurt you. That doesn't mean you can say whatever you want, however.
Words still have an effect on people, and it's not just insults. Sometimes, vulgar language can be just as uncomfortable or upsetting as teasing.
That's how hockey player Jamie Benn, captain of the Dallas Stars, feels.
Sports fans know that referees tend to use bad language most, if not all of, the time when they are having words with players. That's why it was unsurprising when Ref Wes McCauley did it during an NHL playoff game between the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators.
What was surprising was McCauley being told off for doing it.
When Jamie Benn heard the exchange between McCauley and Predators forward Filip Forsberg, he scolded the ref for using the words he did.
Hear it for yourself:
"Your mother would be mad at you for those swear words!" @jamiebenn14 keeping Wes McCauley in line is priceless.… https://t.co/SwvJ8m7M8i— NHL (@NHL)1555958117.0
Benn was not about to pass up the opportunity to make a joke at the referee's expense, so he told the ref:
"Your mother would be mad at you for those swear words."
McCauley, to his credit, agreed, saying:
"Yeah, you're right."
It seemed like Twitter was a fan of both men.
Benn is loved:
@NHL @jamiebenn14 I ❤ our Captain...— Chris B (@Chris B)1555958276.0
@NHL @jamiebenn14 Good boy Jamie— jmah36 (@jmah36)1555971341.0
@NHL @jamiebenn14 Jamie keeping it nice!— Vicki Jones (@Vicki Jones)1555958630.0
And McCauley was praised for being an amazing ref:
@NHL @jamiebenn14 Wes is the most respected Ref out there! Great guy and calls a fair game, great communication wit… https://t.co/AYbRdisS5U— Shawn (@Shawn)1555959913.0
@NHL @jamiebenn14 Wes is the best official in any sport, ever. Period.— Bohnaroo (@Bohnaroo)1555958214.0
@NHL @jamiebenn14 We need Wes mic'd up for every game— Kevin Movius (@Kevin Movius)1555966258.0
@NHL @jamiebenn14 Wes McCauley: Best ref ever.— Dani Caps Fan (@Dani Caps Fan)1555964977.0
@NHL @jamiebenn14 I’d pay to see a movie on just Wes McCauley— Drayden Kurbatoff (@Drayden Kurbatoff)1556044403.0
And of course people were fans of the exchange in general:
@NHL @jamiebenn14 Whoa the captain would not approve of my language just watching the game! #GoStars— Hobbit From Mt Doom (@Hobbit From Mt Doom)1555970937.0
@NHL @jamiebenn14 https://t.co/F1cdZwk34u— Alexander Haenke (@Alexander Haenke)1555958682.0
@NHL @DallasStars @jamiebenn14 wholesome af— Angela - MADAM VP KAMALA HARRIS STAN ACCOUNT (@Angela - MADAM VP KAMALA HARRIS STAN ACCOUNT)1555964862.0
@NHL @jamiebenn14 Can't name another sport where the refs are part of the comraderie of the game!— Bill Stan (@Bill Stan)1555958989.0
@NHL @jamiebenn14 This is greatness— Stephenie (@Stephenie)1555964638.0
The moment was the perfect embodiment of the image of two of the NHL's more colorful characters.
McCauley is known for enjoying the spotlight, especially when he, quite dramatically, announces the results of the video reviews:
The Best of Wes www.youtube.com
Meanwhile, Benn has been described as "known joker" by Yahoo Sports:
Jamie Benn being Jamie Benn for 5 minutes straight www.youtube.com
Both these things were proven true during this game.