Joel Ward Goal Elicits Racist Tweets In Aftermath of Capitals' Game 7 Win Over Bruins [UPDATED]

While Joel Ward's series-winning overtime goal in Game 7 had Capitals fans celebrating in D.C., it sparked a backlash of racist reactions on Twitter.

WARNING: UNCENSORED TWEETS BELOW

A Canadian born to parents who emigrated from Barbados, Ward's compelling personal story and hard-earned rise to the NHL should make him easy to root for. However, the color of his skin was all that some people could see after he put the puck past Boston netminder Tim Thomas in the extra session. After that series-winning goal during overtime in Game 7, a small but vulgar group vented its anger on Twitter, using the N-word to refer to the Caps' hero. Below is a small sample of the hateful things being said on Twitter.

WARNING: Uncensored tweets contain strong and offensive language

@tomtroy12
tom troy

The fact that a nigger scored the winner goal makes this loss hurt a lot more

April 26, 2012 2:30 am via Twitter for iPhone Reply Retweet Favorite

@Begos_8
Adam Begos

Joel Ward your a nigger. Holtby, get a life. I never wanna see Tim Thomas in a bruins jersey ever again #washedup #bum

April 26, 2012 2:38 am via txt Reply Retweet Favorite

If you feel the need to see further evidence that racism remains a virulent presence in our society then visit Chirpstory, Black Sports Online or Capitals Outsider to see even more of this terrible blather.

Before the 2011-2012 season even began, racism reared its ugly head around the NHL, when a someone in the stands taunted Philadelphia's Wayne Simmonds by throwing a banana peel that landed directly in his path during a shootout attempt.

"When you're a black man playing in a predominantly white man's sport, you've got to come to expect things like that," Simmonds said after that preseason game.

While this seemed to be a case of a small group of Bruins fans lashing out an opposing fan player, it is hardly the first the time that sports fans have crossed the line. After the San Francisco 49ers were eliminated from the NFL playoffs, Kyle Williams was the subject of death threats on Twitter from fans of his own team.

UPDATE: Joel Ward commented on the racial slurs directed at him by Bruins after scoring the series-winning goal that sent the Washington Capitals to the second round of the playoffs.

"It doesn't faze me at all," Ward told USA Today. "We won, and we are moving on. People are going to say what they want to say."

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Comments

[My Name Is Mike]

05:07 PM on 05/06/2012

This is a great example of the idiotic double standard that has been bashed into our heads. Go on twitter during an NBA playoff game when a "white" person does something --anything really-- and you will see a barrage of tweets directed at how "white" he is. This article is perpetuating ignorance.

[Mamadea]

07:46 PM on 04/30/2012

Demonic evil sick twisted people.

[Maderous]

11:30 PM on 04/29/2012

Well, if the black guy scoring the winning goal made these racist more pissed, im glad the black guy scored. And I hope more and more black people start playing hockey till the point these guys are left with no all white sport left to watch other than curling.

[samhaydenjr]

12:52 AM on 04/30/2012

Actually, the Chinese women's curling team is quite strong (bronze at the last Olympics), so no refuge for these losers there!

[Jubalh]

09:06 PM on 04/29/2012

No surprise since the Bruins are home to Tim Thomas, the Mel Gibson of pro sports.

[CANTHATBE]

12:12 PM on 04/28/2012

A sport that honors fighting and getting teeth knocked out. A klansman's dream.

[Dr Gachet]

02:17 PM on 04/28/2012

....really?

[CANTHATBE]

12:10 PM on 04/28/2012

They are just saying what the Bruins Goalie thinks day in and day out.

[catboycolo]

12:48 AM on 04/28/2012

That is sad and shameful. I was heartbroken at the Bruins' loss, but I feel much worse that some of my fellow fans dishonor the sport and themselves. I wish good luck to the Capitals and hope you know this does not represent the overwhelming majority of Bruins' fans.

[G FORCE]

05:55 PM on 04/27/2012

Hockey is full of Racist Fans and Players
They really show there true colors.

[canuckdjs]

02:37 PM on 04/30/2012

What an idiotic post. Racism is in all sports, genius. Yahoos like those Bruins fans don't represent an entire fan base any more than the rednecks at a Tennessee Titans or Memphis Grizzlies game represent theirs. Exaggeration is lazy.

[disgusted2012]

05:38 PM on 04/27/2012

No surprise to me. Just visit the comment section.

[Barry MCokiner]

03:41 PM on 04/27/2012

riddle even

[tonyg6996]

03:30 PM on 04/27/2012

These people don't understand the point of being a sports fan. The point isn't to gain ammunition to hate on other fans/players. It is for enjoyment and friendship with fellow fans.

[Squiriferous]

07:24 PM on 04/27/2012

What sport are you talking about? It surely isn't hockey.

[CanuckistanCommie]

02:37 PM on 04/27/2012

I am glad that the majority stand for the unacceptability of this conduct by the fans.
Sadly, racism will never go.
Don't be surprised that we will hear the Glenn Beck's of this world blame Obama for the "conspiracy" of getting back at the white man for the Tim Thomas snub.

[phal4875]

02:06 PM on 04/27/2012

It is bad enough that someone would think this way; it is even worse that someone would feel free to write it.

[MsEli34]

11:56 AM on 04/27/2012

Is this surprising? I've been called far worse and I don't play hockey. There will never be peace in this country. Never. It was borne of racism and its children have no intention of letting go of its supremacist hold on it.

[mlr19406]

11:44 AM on 04/27/2012

of course this is just idiocy, but what are you going to do? censor? More effective to single out the tweeters and let it be known they are people who are like that. Kind of like Jon Lovitz did to the teenaged girls who vandalized his friends' house with nazi symbols. Best way to combat that. People like this are terrified that they will be discovered in the real world assuming that the internet can't actually affect their real lives. Single them out, give them some publicity for it, and they will be stuck with it in their day to day lives for some time.