If you've been following Toronto Mike's blog you can't help but know about the controversy going on about P K Subban. He's a Montreal Canadien's minor leaguer who was up for a cup of coffee with the Habs. Subban is one of a growing number of black players in the NHL.
Last week a couple of fans showed up for a game in Montreal figuring they'd show their support for Subban. Make a sign? Nope, Wear his jersey? Nope. They showed up with huge afro wigs and in black face. You can't pretty this up. It was more than bad taste it was racist.
Now forget the 2 guys for a second here. What I don't get is how they were allowed into the building looking like that and I don't get why the tv broadcast spent so much time giving them face time during the game. What the hell were they thinking?
Mike put a broadcast of the Team 990 on his blog. Give it a listen. This is not a Leafs vs Habs thing. It's not Toronto vs Montreal. This is stupidity vs common sense. One of the hosts pointed out that these 2 don't know the history of black face. And if they don't know that then they don't understand the history of slavery or the history of blacks in the western hemisphere. It's ignorance, a lack of knowledge.
Something that's bothered me for years is the Washington Redskins. The name, quite simply, is racist. You wouldn't walk down Yonge Street, run into a Native Canadian and yell "hey redskin". It's demeaning. I never used the term on the air.
A side bar to the all of this is huge reaction Mike got on his blog. The disturbing part is the number of people who went to bat for the 2. People who came up with excuses that they seem to actually believe and the vitriol they directed at anyone who disagreed.
Maybe these 2 were ignorant. Maybe they didn't know their history but as I've been told more than once by my parents, my teachers and my bosses ignorance is not an excuse. That also goes for the people who let them into the arena and the tv people who turned this into a national embarassment.
There's an acid test for people like this. Walk a mile in my shoes. If you were him would you look at black face and afro wigs as support or would you look at it as a demeaning,
One of the great quotes in history is "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Sounds pretty simple. It is that simple.
They obviously were there to support Subban. I'm sure with everything being said, that they now get it... what they did was stupid. Plain and simple. They can right the wrong by issuing a statement. An apology, and admitting that they made a mistake would go a long way. If they remain silent, then my guess is that they don't care that they may have offended some people. They had no issue with being in a public place, and getting air time then, so why not now? It would be the right thing to do.
Thanks for having my back, Rick. I couldn't believe how many commenters brushed it off because they were ignorant and fans of Subban.
And I agree with you re: the Redskins nickname. Even the local high school with the nickname "Redmen" had the good sense to change it to "Ravens". I'm not sure why the NFL can't see it's 2010 and Redskins is no longer appropriate.
Thanks for mentioning this, Rick!
With numbers comes strength. I'm glad people are voicing their opinions and/or outrage.
- Julie
Mike: While we're at it isn't it time the Cleveland Indians rethought their team log?
Mike: Isn't it time the Cleveland Indians re-thought their team logo?
Sorry about the typo on the first one.
I guess you not mentioning Washington's nickname really had an impact with the NFL. The one thing that I can say is that you are consistent. I remember that on one of your Sports Snorts in the late 80's, you ranted on how you will never mention their name and you've stuck with it after all these years. I don't agree with it but I respect it.
What you and Mike fail to realize is that most racists are ignorant. The only way stop the spread of racism is through education. Our world will always have racism and believing otherwise is naive.
Now enough talk about this. T.O. conduct another interview with Hodgie and ask him what he really thought of Marilyn's Plastic Surgery.
Yeah it's past due time Cleveland changed it's logo and Washignton (NFL) changed their name.
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Much appreciated. This is a problem that has troubled me for years.
Hey, I think your mostly on target with this, I won't say I am completely on the same page, but its not really that big of a issue.