Gay Hockey Fans Say NY's Madison Square Garden Is Toxic Environment

NY Times :

During the final 10 minutes of many Rangers home games, the spotlights focus on Section 407 as Larry Goodman, a longtime season-ticket holder, pumps up the crowd with a goofy dance.

As Goodman's routine is broadcast on the giant monitors above the ice, a familiar chant picks up momentum. "Ho-mo Lar-ry!" the crowd shouts. "Ho-mo Lar-ry!"

Read the whole story: NY Times

Comments

[Enid]

My grandfather played pro hockey. It was all about sportsman ship, integrity even enjoyment.

Today a killing field is what fan 's want and players delivered .

All for money? Hate, kick to the side or try to kill is not a good environment for anyone or any sport.

In my grandfathers senior life he was disappointed and sickened to what had happened to hockey in-order to sell hockey to television and its advertiser's.

[signifyingnothing]

In my view, gay people just need to lighten up a little. Hockey is a straight man's sport, and gay people have no place at the games. Consider: hockey is all about strong, sexy, muscular men holding big long sticks and getting all aggressive with each other, while other adoring men in the audience get all hot and bothered cheering them on. Yeeeeeaaaa­aaaaahhhhh­h, gooooooooooooooooo, work that stick! Work it! The cheering men in the audience choose a specific team of men for whom they become extremely loyaI, to the extent that they even go out and buy shirts with the names of their individual favorite hockey players brandished upon them. I mean honestly, don't gay men know that there are places where they don't belong?

[edweird]

Sounds like Pat Buchanan at his Republican Rally when he was running for Prez.

[WilliePilgrim]

That's why they should stop going...as well as everyone else. There are community level sports that are crying for attention and support but don't get enough. In the mean time congress is spending their time and our money investigating other professional sporting allegations...don't worry, Hockey's time is coming...and for what? Who cares? Does the fact that some silk underwear wearing congress creep think that america's youth looks up to those hyperviolent steroid sodden nitwits mean we should act to keep it at some preposterously irrelevant level? And as for our news outlets..d­isgraceful­. Turn 'em off and read a book, newspapers and magazines from as many different sources as possible and get connected with the world...that's where the real game is being played.

[grimm]

Ranger fan homophobes didn't seem to mind Mark Messier's game 6 victory guarantee against the Devils in the '94 Eastern Finals. Or when he scored the natural hat trick to win the game, the series, and eventually the Ranger's first Stanley Cup in 54 years.

[Warmglobe]

Like I stated above in so many words.....we live in world where we have to "worry" who is going to get a hair across their ass next and over what and I am tired of it. If one expects a hockey game to be a gathering of the most open minded enlightened folks then they are being ridiculous.

[pdxuser]

Uh, you don't have to be enlightened, just not a "homo!"-screaming crazy bigot.

[TheGreenKnight]

It's sad to see that a lot of people in the comments here have taken the attitude that whenever gay people get offended at something they should shut their mouths. Or they should just "accept it", because "it's hockey fans". Maybe those fans just need to accept that it's not okay to be offensive to gay people and that, believe or not, gay people like hockey, and are sitting right next to them at games. It's about basic human respect, and it's obvious that these commenters rarely feel disrespected.

[darker]

If only white trash frat-brats would not attend, we fans would enjoy the games more.

[BigBagel]

Right. More Starbucks yuppies. Cool.

[Mutineer]

When I lived in "Ess Eff" I was always surprised and happy at the number of gay people at Giants games. Probably couldn't happen in any other city.

[rwe]

Maybe barack has another speech handy

[NewRiver]

Here's the solution, just tell fans they are not allowed to stand, shout or make any verbal expressions whatsoever. The only expression of team support allowed will be like most golf events (save the 16th hole at the FBR Open) just a very polite "golf clap".

[BigBagel]

Great idea but i think the "golf clap" may startle people. It should be eliminated.

[bossjimgettys]

Ummm, America in general is a toxic environment for us gay folks, if you hadn't noticed.

[NewRiver]

Toxic environment?

[Michellelover]

BS and you know it

[signifyingnothing]

Wow, I've noticed a pattern with you. Every time a gay person writes his/her opinion, you're right there to attack. I'm not calling you a nasty bigot. Just sayin'...

[MajorKong]

Sounds like some of these hockey fans never really left the 5th grade.

[meanpeoplesuck]

Stick to your elitist tennis and leave us hockey fans to the greatest game.

[MajorKong]

I can't say I've ever watched tennis, and I missed the part where gay-bashing is part of hockey. You might try growing up sometime.

[SonofLiberty1]

MajorKong, you are probably right...bullies too:(

[booboouu]

Hard to believe that a bunch of hockey fans would make fun of homosexual­s....lol..­..

[Warmglobe]

Always looking for that opportunity to "be offended" are we?

[pdxuser]

I can't imagine why bigots screaming "homo" would offend anyone... maybe a Fred Phelps protest is in order?