Wayne Simmonds Hit With Banana During Shootout

[number21 3]

There is quiet racism all over. I stopped going to a private ice time in Chicago because of the racist crap these guys (city employees) and their teenage kids were spewing.

[goaliemanshark 6]

This thread is just filled with

Racism is everywhere, it's a horrible terrible thing. There are racist people in every town and city in the entire world.

Racism isn't ignorance either, thinking racism is ignorance is part of the problem.

[Leafsrule16 5]

It's very ignorant of you to assume Southerners are the only racists in the country. Especially when the story doesn't involve the U.S. anyway.

Its also ignorant to, without any knowledge of anything at all go in and direct a shot at someone who has a confederate bumper sticker. Its ironic that after a bunch of posts about ignorance, you ignorantly post something on here you clearly know nothing about. It's the same as racisim if you ask me, being racist towards white southerners, almost a reverse effect of this race stuff. I guess its okay to make assumptions about white people but if you were to make them about black people (equally wrong) then its suddenly racist.

[IniNew 53]

Its also ignorant to, without any knowledge of anything at all go in and direct a shot at someone who has a confederate bumper sticker. Its ironic that after a bunch of posts about ignorance, you ignorantly post something on here you clearly know nothing about. It's the same as racisim if you ask me, being racist towards white southerners, almost a reverse effect of this race stuff. I guess its okay to make assumptions about white people but if you were to make them about black people (equally wrong) then its suddenly racist.

This is exactly what I was trying to get at with my post in reference to pbhockey's comment of:

Reason #2543 this country is screwed up. People from the South are mad still that they lost the war.

Not sure what you're so angry about.

[Jason Harris 31]

Racism isn't ignorance either, thinking racism is ignorance is part of the problem.

If we break down what "ignorance" means -- lack of knowledge, information or education (per World English Dictionary) -- racism sure appears to be a form of ignorance. Even people who are outwardly racist, such as my grandfather was, will often know people of other colors that they like, because their friend/acquaintance "isn't like the rest." Until they had the opportunity to know that other person, which semantically would mean they've shed their lack of knowledge (or ignorance), I think there's little doubt that they would have considered their friend/acquaintance to be "just as bad as all the rest."

Once you become a parent it become obvious that racism is Nurture and not Nature. Three-year-olds at the playground just don't notice skin color; they'll play with any kid who will play back with them. I've seen it dozens of times, so the only conclusion is racists get socialized by family or community to learn to tell themselves that they don't like people who look different than them.

[goaliemanshark 6]

Im not going to argue this. But i don't think someone threw a banana at Mr. Simmonds because they were ignorant about people of darker skin.

[chippa13 1844]

It goes outside of sports. I've seen message boards, placards and photos that all suggest similar things regarding the President. I can completely understand someone not agreeing with his policies, but anyone who's heard him speak should be thinking prior to making a derogatory post, "Whoa, that guy is WAY smarter than me....."

Not to get too political, but when Obama goes off script he doesn't sound quite so "way smarter than me". That said, the racist stuff is just plain dumb.

Edit: To anyone who thinks racism is just a southern thing, check out how smoothly the school busing in Boston went. It might just open your eyes to how bad it was, and still can be, everywhere.

[psh 25]

Its also ignorant to, without any knowledge of anything at all go in and direct a shot at someone who has a confederate bumper sticker.

Oh, lord. The confederate flag was hoisted as a symbol of the confederate states as they fought the Civil War. The Civil War, despite revisionist historians' ceaseless attempts to muddy the waters, was an armed attempt to defend the institution of slavery. Jefferson Davis's (and other confederate leaders) statements before and during the war make that beyond a doubt.

So, one can talk about supporting red neck culture, states rights, or the southern agrarian culture all he wants, but at the end of the day, displaying the confederate flag is celebrating slavery, pure and simple. But, let's play devil's advocate and be charitable. Maybe someone displaying the confederate flag "even has black friends." OK, what else does the confederate flag connote, besides taking up arms to kill fellow citizens in defense of slavery? It connotes the confederacy itself. What, at its core, is the confederacy when you strip away slavery? It is a group of states that attempted to secede from the Union by force. Unilateral secession is, by definition, treason.

So, take your pick. Displaying the confederate flag celebrates slavery and bigotry. Or, if you want to be charitable, it celebrates treason. Wave that flag. Wave it proudly. Put that bumper sticker on your car. It is the modern day dunce cap.

To bring this all back on point, though. If Avery's allegations about Simmonds are true, it is sad, but understandable, that he seems to have lashed out in kind. I tend to distrust anything Avery says, but ESPN apparently has tape of the incident Avery refers to.

[Joshison 1]

What are the allegations? Because last night I watched Philly vs NYR and those two were at eachother all night. I bet I can guess what the allegations are. Avery turtled and Simmonds kept calling him anti gay slurs you could read his lips when he was leaning on the bench.

[psh 25]

That's what Avery is saying--that Simmonds was using gay slurs against him. Bizarre that he's stoop to that so soon after being the target of similarly boorish behavior.

[chippa13 1844]

Simply being subjected to bigotry doesn't make one tolerant.

[MattyBoy 1]

Oh, lord. The confederate flag was hoisted as a symbol of the confederate states as they fought the Civil War. The Civil War, despite revisionist historians' ceaseless attempts to muddy the waters, was an armed attempt to defend the institution of slavery. Jefferson Davis's (and other confederate leaders) statements before and during the war make that beyond a doubt.

So, one can talk about supporting red neck culture, states rights, or the southern agrarian culture all he wants, but at the end of the day, displaying the confederate flag is celebrating slavery, pure and simple. But, let's play devil's advocate and be charitable. Maybe someone displaying the confederate flag "even has black friends." OK, what else does the confederate flag connote, besides taking up arms to kill fellow citizens in defense of slavery? It connotes the confederacy itself. What, at its core, is the confederacy when you strip away slavery? It is a group of states that attempted to secede from the Union by force. Unilateral secession is, by definition, treason.

So, take your pick. Displaying the confederate flag celebrates slavery and bigotry. Or, if you want to be charitable, it celebrates treason. Wave that flag. Wave it proudly. Put that bumper sticker on your car. It is the modern day dunce cap.

To bring this all back on point, though. If Avery's allegations about Simmonds are true, it is sad, but understandable, that he seems to have lashed out in kind. I tend to distrust anything Avery says, but ESPN apparently has tape of the incident Avery refers to.

That's not a serious statement, is it? What makes it understandable, the fact that Avery is white? Or the fact that he's been an advocate for gay rights?

[goaliemanshark 6]

There is video of Simmonds screaming Fa!@#!. It's true. doesn't matter if you're white, black, brown, green, red, magenta or had a banana thrown at your recently. You shouldn't say stuff like that. The two incidents are completely separate.

[chippa13 1844]

From TSN story.........

Simmonds didn't deny using the slur toward Avery.

"Honestly, we were going back and forth for a while there," he said, without providing details. "I don't recall everything that I did say to him, but he said to me some things I didn't like. And maybe I said some things that he didn't like.

"I can't recall every single word I said."

Look, Wayne, we all know what you said so take responsibility and keep my respect.

[goblue9280 33]

Look, Wayne, we all know what you said so take responsibility and keep my respect.

I don't know if him admitting to it will keep my respect... but it will certainly lessen the amount of respect I lose for him than if he continues to not own up to it.

[psh 25]

That's not a serious statement, is it? What makes it understandable, the fact that Avery is white? Or the fact that he's been an advocate for gay rights?

I'm saying it's understandable, not defensible, that a guy attacked for something inherent in himself would lash out in kind on the same grounds. I'm not defending it in any way.

[shoeshine boy 242]

Reason #2543 this country is screwed up. People from the South are mad still that they lost the war.

wow! this might win the award for the most ignorant post ever.

[goosedennis 0]

I thought they knew better than to allow people with white pointed hats and matching robes into the game

[chippa13 1844]

One would think so, but, looking at the latest TSN hockey poll it is apparently acceptable. I guess we can't be shocked and surprised when the events of the past two weeks occur when at least 43% of Canadian hockey fans believe "Anything goes to get under an opposing player's skin". Now the other choice was that there should be a limit to trash talk on the ice, "Racial/Homophobic remarks are unacceptable in any setting". That is what 43% disagree with. It is funny, I thought I couldn't stand most Canadian hockey fans before, now I'm sickened by 43%.

[TeamBlue96 3]

sweet!

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Suspect-charged-in-Wayne-Simmonds-banana-throwin?urn=nhl-wp13596

and props for Lukko for being firm.

[goosedennis 0]

The guy looks like a douchebag

[Jason Harris 31]

I have no respect if he was the one that threw the banana, but really? A clean-cut guy in a dress shirt and tie is what we're classifying as looking like a douche?

[goaliemanshark 6]

Looks more like a tool than a douche bag to me.

[goblue9280 33]

I have no respect if he was the one that threw the banana, but really? A clean-cut guy in a dress shirt and tie is what we're classifying as looking like a douche?

Here's the 2nd pic that AM980 posted... would you like to reassess?

[Chadd 916]

Oh, lord. The confederate flag was hoisted as a symbol of the confederate states as they fought the Civil War. The Civil War, despite revisionist historians' ceaseless attempts to muddy the waters, was an armed attempt to defend the institution of slavery. Jefferson Davis's (and other confederate leaders) statements before and during the war make that beyond a doubt.

So, one can talk about supporting red neck culture, states rights, or the southern agrarian culture all he wants, but at the end of the day, displaying the confederate flag is celebrating slavery, pure and simple. But, let's play devil's advocate and be charitable. Maybe someone displaying the confederate flag "even has black friends." OK, what else does the confederate flag connote, besides taking up arms to kill fellow citizens in defense of slavery? It connotes the confederacy itself. What, at its core, is the confederacy when you strip away slavery? It is a group of states that attempted to secede from the Union by force. Unilateral secession is, by definition, treason.

So, take your pick. Displaying the confederate flag celebrates slavery and bigotry. Or, if you want to be charitable, it celebrates treason. Wave that flag. Wave it proudly. Put that bumper sticker on your car. It is the modern day dunce cap.

To bring this all back on point, though. If Avery's allegations about Simmonds are true, it is sad, but understandable, that he seems to have lashed out in kind. I tend to distrust anything Avery says, but ESPN apparently has tape of the incident Avery refers to.

Hey, the swastika was considered a good luck symbol for thousands of years before the Nazis used it. Just because a symbol means something to one person doesn't mean everyone shares that same opinion. If someone is using the "battle flag of the confederacy" to honor the men that fought under it, or for the concept of throwing off what they believed to be an oppressive national government, then that is what they believe. You don't have to believe it, or like it, but you should understand it.

Personally, I'm in the George Carlin camp and believe in leaving the symbols to the symbol-minded.