In 1958, winger Willie O'Ree became the first African American athlete to play in the NHL. Which team was responsible for breaking the color barrier? The Boston Bruins.
The second and third black players in the NHL were Mike Marson and Bill Riley, both signed by the Washington Capitals.
More than half a century since O'Ree's NHL debut, this week's April 25 game between the Caps and Bruins has thrust racial issues into the spotlight again. After Washington's Joel Ward clinched the winning goal against Boston, dozens of angry Tweets started appearing, using vile, derogatory, racist slurs -- some also threatening violence.
I'm an African-American. I'm also an owner of the Caps. I was born during the era of segregation. And I'm sickened and discouraged to be reminded such ignorance and hatred persists. It's been almost 50 Years since the March on Washington. It's 2012, people! Have we learned nothing? Even one racially offensive Tweet is too many. There is no place for this in hockey, or anywhere.
I couldn't be prouder of Joel Ward himself, who has shrugged off the online attacks; he said in an interview with USA Today, "There have been a lot of Boston fans who have supported me, which is very cool to see. No hard feelings from me. This is a game."
But if we want this game to be the best that it can be, then we need to make sure the game belongs to everyone; and that every child who loves to pick up a stick and get on the ice knows that he or she is welcome in the sport. On this issue, we should all be on the same team.
And beyond the rink, let's each do our part to fight racism and intolerance wherever it appears--to fight bad speech with good speech, to challenge prejudice with knowledge, and to stand up for what is right.
Of course, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of American's watch sports each week, why should the ramblings of just two idiots command any attention?
If you are going to make these claims, you ma'am have some accounting to do yourself. Why did you hire Dale Hunter as an executive/coach/front personality of your hockey team? Mr. Hunter is one of the three worst on-ice 'goons' in the history of the National Hockey League. He has openly assaulted, attempted to physically cripple, many players and ignored league officials with repeated offenses. However, Dale Hunter is now the public face of your team. Also, why don't you mention how a productive black player such as Wayne Simmons is of the most popular fan favorite on the Philadelphia Flyers, in a city that some black athletes have publicly ridiculed as racist (Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson)? Also, this column is lacking analysis of the clear racist and anti-Semitism by a Detroit star baseball player Delmon Young. The Delmon Young story is much more larger and much more serious story last week of a professional using his brawn mixed with ethnic and racial hatred. All of this makes your critique of a very minor incident frankly insincere. Ms. Johnson you should cease having rabbit ears for anything individual that can be construed as 'racist' and focus on the history of your of a team you likely don't want stewardship of , and how it can become more accessible to inner city fans and potential participants.
Neenmi,
"African-American" is not a reference North America otherwise it would be "African-North American." The problem with that term is people use it interchangeably with "black" which is incorrect. Pointing out an inaccuracy does not have to change the message and just because it does not change her message does not mean it should not be pointed out. What's an "African-American" anyway? Why should a Canadian be referred to as one when people recognize his country as Canada?
Her title should at least be narrowed to hockey and not all sports.
Do the right thing and treat each other with respect and dignity.
Racist policy, now thats a conservative thing. Voter ID. Arizona Immigration policy. Anti-antidiscrimination laws.
You get the point.
Most likely..as with the first Black president, there's thousands thinking the same thing.
Where's the White fans' denouncing of such comments?!
So, since Boston has been knocked out of the playoffs by this brothers goal, to that I'd say right on bro!
It takes a brother to knock out a team and a bigoted city with one blow. That's what I call a 2-fer!