It is really sad to still see racial issues popping into the world of sports this day in age. While it may have been more rampant a few decades ago, athletes of colour still deal with a comments and actions that they really shouldn’t have to. While the NBA is dealing with their own “shut up and dribble” scandal brought on by Fox News personality Laura Ingraham, the NHL is now dealing with a racially-driven issue as well.
During Saturday night’s game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals, Caps’ forward Devante Smith-Pelly was serving a penalty when fans rink-side started heckling him with racist remarks. What Smith-Pelly described as “racially-charged chanting” involved the fans repeatedly taunting him with the word “basketball.” The fans were removed from the game, and since then there has been multiple responses from players and coaches condemning the small group’s actions.
J.T. Brown also chimed in to deliver a succinct yet powerful message of his own.
The Chicago Blackhawks have since released a statement apologizing to both Smith-Pelly and the Capitals organization.
Hopefully this incident will help to bring to light what is not acceptable to bring to a hockey game. For now, we sit in the shadow created by ignorant remarks.
(H/T J.T. Brown twitter)
