Sports

Is This Hockey Jersey Racist? Take Our Blaze Poll

Last week we asked for your thoughts about a political cartoon that showed President Obama allegedly cooking a dog as the First Lady objected. Some screamed (literally) that the cartoon was “racist.” Our Blaze poll showed otherwise. Ninety-nine percent of the responses to our poll said the cartoon was not racist in any way.

This week, another story has popped up that has us asking a similar question.

A hockey fan in Philadelphia was spotted wearing this jersey at a recent playoff game. The #17 is worn by Wayne Simmonds, a forward for the Flyers. So, we’re wondering, is this jersey racist?

Is this Wayne Simmonds hockey jersey racist?

Yahoo’s Greg Wyshynski offers his thoughts, including some background:

Now, the first question is whether this jersey makes you laugh. At face, it did not make me laugh. Had it read “Ya Know, The Black Guy?”, then it would have made me chuckle. Harrison Mooney, Puck Daddy associate editor and self-identified “person of color,“ said ”The Black Guy“ made him laugh but that ”Token” would have made him laugh harder. (He watches a lot of South Park.)

Look, we all just went through something with Joel Ward this week that makes a jersey like this wicked awkward. Not to mention Simmonds’ own problems with racial “humor” earlier this season. Maybe you find it funny. Maybe you find it offensive. Maybe you’re saying “typical Philadelphia”, or maybe you’re saying, “Oh crap, this is going to make people say ‘typical Philadelphia.’” Maybe you’re saying “but what if they had re-signed Ray Emery? Would the jersey have to be amended to “A Black Guy”?

The “racial humor” he’s talking about happened in September, when a fan threw a banana peel on the ice during a game.

“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 at the time. “Over the past 23 years of my life, I’ve come to expect some things like that. But I’m older and more mature now, I kind of just left things roll off [my back]. I try not to think about stuff like that.”

Despite the fact that professional hockey has been racially integrated since 1958, it still seems unusual when we see a non-white hockey player on the ice. Why is that? Perhaps it is statistically based?

The NHL has 30 teams and each is allowed a roster of 23 players. That puts the total number of active, professional hockey players in the NHL at 690. Based on varying reports (the NHL doesn’t list players by race), there are fewer than 30 black players in the pro hockey league, or less than 5%.

Just because the NHL is not integrating as quickly as other pro sports seem to have done, is it okay to point out the lack racial diversity in hockey?

What’s your opinion?


HOCKEY JERSEY

Comments (112)

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  • Tigress1
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:56am

    The poll question is implying that the shirt IS racist, therefore, you are going to get skewed results. There should be two questions in the poll: The first question should be “Do you think this shirt is racist”. THEN ask “If you think so, would the shirt be less racist if a black person was wearing it?”

    Frankly, I don’t think it is racist. It is simply a funny observation. I’d think it was just as funny if it said “The white guy”. When we can’t laugh at ourselves we are getting too darned serious about every little thing!

    Report Post » Tigress1  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 10:46am

      In the seventies the Hamden, CT high school team had a black hockey player. As a rival, I NEVER heard anything said about his color. We busted the stones of EVERY opposing player equally.

      13th Imam  
    • TheRickster
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 11:13am

      This is pretty funny. Anyone that is offended needs to grow a set or borrow one of Hillary’s. Besides, Major League hockey is irrelevent anyway according to Bryant Gumbel, a true racist, because there is not enough black players in the league to suit him.

      Report Post » TheRickster  
    • ritonmom
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 11:26am

      Nobody cares about race…except for the race hustlers Sharpton and Jackson and Holder. How about just rooting for the most bad-ass player? Sheesh!

      Report Post »  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 11:29am

      If I was a lefty it‘s absolutely racist but since i’m not I don’t care.

      Report Post »  
    • Fitz of DE
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 12:57pm

      Goota go with Tigress1
      Your have a false premise, which only give a FALSE result. This is America One Nation Under God. I must say again, saddened by the blaze even reporting on another factor to divide America. We must as did the Sons of Issachar, find waht is true from the word, know what is going on in the world ((thank you Dr, Glenn & GBTV)) and be able to unite for the good of the USA not DIDVIDE…Are you being a race setter or race baiter ?

      Report Post »  
    • gtcogic
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 12:01am

      All of you people are funny to me, in a sarcastic way. Why is it ever acceptable to get a good laugh at someone else’s expense? Why does it always seem that the joke, or the humor, or the story is always at the expense of the black guy? Why is it always necessary for the black guy to have to deal it?

      I read from all of you how we are supposed to be one nation, one country, yet I read some of the most divisive comments coming from people on this site. I am not a lib, and I am by no means into political correctness, yet unless you come from a people that have been treated as less than second class citizens for our entire history in this country, then you cannot empathize with why this is a touchy subject.

      Answer me this one question if you can, …if race is so unimportant, why does the blaze devote almost half their stories every day to race based stories involving blacks? I see so much criticism of Obama trying to divide this country, but it seems like Glenn Beck is doing his fair share of divide and conquer also.

      Report Post »  
    • Tigress1
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 9:43am

      @GTCOGIC, lighten up! Ever listen to Jay Leno? The vast majority of his jokes are making fun of other people. Most comedians simply make fun of others or themselves. Ever hear of slapstick humor? This is where people LAUGH at violence! I’m not a big fan of Jay Leno or slapstick comedy, but many, many people are. It’s a weird part of human nature. Why do people laugh when someone slips on a banana peel? We are becoming overly-sensitive and are losing our sense of humor. If it’s not funny to you – fine. What’s next? Banning the word “black”?

      Report Post » Tigress1  
  • JHN
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:52am

    I am a HUGE Flyers fan and love the game Wayne Simmonds plays. Cool under fire, willing to “muck it up” in front of the net, takes a puck to the face and gets stiched up and goes back into the game. The is a tough, hard playing young man and for all I can see in interviews and news a good guy too.
    I laughed out loud at the jersey. Humor has that unexpected element when you “get it” and those of us who are flyers fans get it immediately. While I can not know what is in the heart of the wearer, I would not infer anything racist on the surface. The guy is at a Flyers game. It is humerously pointing to a fact and that is not derogatory. I see it like having a Dallas Mavericks 41 basketball jersey with “The German Guy”.
    While they might be accurate, it would be less noble having a Boston Bruins 33 Jersey with “Big Geeky Guy” on it or a Pittsburg Penguins 87 jersey with “Whiner” on it.

    Report Post »  
    • DogTags
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 3:54pm

      That would be “Fragile Whiner” on that 87 jersey. Go Flyers (including the Black Guy)!

      Report Post »  
    • Blogdwight
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 11:07pm

      I agree. The jersey was (probably) meant to be funny because everyone knows that there aren’t a lot of black players, though the numbers seem to be increasing. (I guess that means that the NBA is the last racist sport out there…) I don‘t think I would have put that on the jersey because you’re just provoking people. I’m a Flyers fan as well and saw Simmonds play the last couple of years in L.A. and thought then that he would make a great Flyer and he does! He’s one of my favorites and…I’m white!!

      By the way, what the hell happened tonight? Talk about going to sleep…Amazing…

      Report Post »  
  • KusoJiJi
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:51am

    a few years ago a black comedian comes on stage wearing dark sun glasses and says to the audience right out of the shoot, ” I‘m tired of the white man’s game”. After a long pause with some uncomfortable laughter, he lowers his sunglasses and say “ICE HOCKEY”. The whole crowd laughed their azzes off. That wasn’t racist and neither is this shirt. Its all in good fun.

    Report Post » KusoJiJi  
  • sawbuck
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:50am

    I’m surprised this hasn’t been dealt with sooner ..
    Hockey is a racist sport…Just look at the color of the hockey puck.
    Ah oh…Here comes ..Its always about color…Al Sharpton and Co

    Report Post » sawbuck  
    • troymac20
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 3:30pm

      That just counters bowling. You know black ball knocking down all those self-righteous white pins.

      Report Post » troymac20  
  • The MAFS
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:49am

    Being a white fan of the black guy seem like the opposite of racism… what am I missing here???

    Report Post » The MAFS  
  • bdsconserv
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:47am

    i’m a huge flyers fan and love wayne simmonds. he’s a great hockey player and we are proud to have him on our team. i think the fan with the jersey could have honoured simmonds better by putting his name on the jersey instead.why bring race into it when there isn’t a racial issue to begin with? to me, it’s just stirring the pot, and we need less of that ridiculous divisiveness in our country right now. be a fan, sit down and watch the game. leave the politics and racial discord out of it. go flyers!

    Report Post »  
    • FlyrsFan28
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:51am

      Amen! I have yet to find a Flyers fan who does not have anything less than love for Simmonds! He’s been a perfect fit for the team! I hardly believe there was any racial motivation involved.

      Report Post »  
  • G man
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:47am

    Speaking as a “real” post-racial American from Philly….It‘s not racist and it’s funny as hell.

    Report Post » G man  
  • Rob
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:45am

    “Is this racist? Is that racist?”… You all are falling into the liberal trap. WHO CARES? This is America, FREEDOM, one can be racist if one wants. Screw all this political correctness.

    You guys are not really conservative on this site I think…

    Report Post »  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 10:03am

      Rob ..Not a conservative site… Really ??
      Aside for the occasional troll… I beg to differ.
      We are just having a little fun, at the over sensitive PC crowds expense..
      On account that if we didn’t laugh at all this overblown nonsense ..We might have to run a fence down the middle of our country ..Which might still happen.

      Report Post » sawbuck  
  • AnAmerican111
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:44am

    Who cares!
    The only ones creating racism at this point are blacks and their pathetic ambulance chasing “leaders” like Shaprton and Jones and OBUMA.
    It they want racism they can have it…………………………………….

    Report Post »  
  • pavnvet
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:44am

    This is a fact and not a racist comment. One of the reasons you see so few blacks in hockey is that the places that produce these players are primarily in states that have a cold winter. It you look at the black population of these states, you will see that the black population is well below the national average. On the other hand, you will also find fewer white players in other sports, such as baseball or basketball because of short summers.

    Report Post » pavnvet  
    • rickg62
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 10:50am

      You’re wandering around the right answer but the geography is wrong. Lack of a black population is right, but a majority of the players are from outside of the US, namely Canada and Europe. You‘re argument of the climate being the reason goes back to the days when people said that blacks can’t skate which does lead you down a racist path.

      Report Post »  
  • goldmind
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:43am

    Freedom involves choice, and I salute his choice and will stand with him on any consequences. Political correctness, is one of the worst viruses to even infect the social conscience.

    Report Post » goldmind  
  • Zarapachi
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:43am

    Hello all, my name is Shawn and I am black. I want one of these Jersey’s… NAWOUGH!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • garyganu
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:43am

    Racism should not be required by law as in the Jim Crowe laws. Racism should also not be outlawed. The government should make NO laws regarding race, religion or creed.

    Report Post »  
  • HKS
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:39am

    I guess if it were a basketball team one could say “the white guy” and be just as accurate. This is an accurate statement. Since when is the truth anything but the truth. Maybe that‘s what’s wrong with this American society, they don’t know the difference.

    Report Post » HKS  
  • garyganu
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:35am

    Big deal if something is racist. It doesn’t matter very much. Racism is not an obstacle in today’s America. We DO have the right to offend. there are much, much, much worse things than hurting peoples feelings.

    Report Post »  
  • USACommoner
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:34am

    No, it isn’t racist. Is all blacks’ stand-up comedy routines racist? All they do is make fun of white people, and that seems to be okay. I don’t ever hear anyone throwing a hissy fit over that… Whites are “devils” and the “enemy”, but mention one little thing about a minority and riots break out.

    Report Post » USACommoner  
    • NOTAMUSHROOM
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:51am

      For heaven’s sake. It’s a statement of fact or an adjective used to describe someone. When there’s only 5% black players,“the black guy” is the fastest way to point someone out. In basketball, the same descriptive would be “the white guy”. And do we really need to ponder why there’s a proportionate number of black players in hockey to our general population versus the number of white basketball players? Really? If you have a mix of 50:50 white to black players in either sport, blacks are still over represented.

      Report Post »  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:31am

    There are so few black hockey players, that I think it’s ok! That’s what he calls himself, btw!

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • teddrunk
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:48am

      Of course it’s racist. You want to know how I know? My dog laughed. You see since one famous black guy abused dogs and forced dogs to fight to the death, and now another famous black guy eats dogs, my mutt has become a bit of a racist.

      Report Post »  
    • Razlord
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 3:55pm

      nice ted…thanks for the laugh.

      Report Post »  
  • lel2007
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:30am

    I think it’s humorous and I expect “The Black Guy” (Flyers Wayne Simmonds) would find it so too. Black hockey have been rare in a sport designed for “average size white boys” who can’t jump.

    Report Post » lel2007  
  • 1proudAmerican
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:30am

    What’s the big deal? Hockey is a predominantly “white” sport. A black basketball fan could easily wear a jersey that says “The White Guy” and no one would even question his motive.

    Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:28am

    Makes me wanna go loot a Walgreens with twenty of my closest friends…….

    Report Post »  
  • sWampy
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:25am

    It’s darn funny.

    Report Post »  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:24am

    I have two chevy s10′s; one is named Blacky and the other is Whitey. Is that racist?
    .
    .
    .
    .
    the two trucks colors? black and the other is white.

    Report Post » Stoic one  
  • All American American
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:23am

    My opinion is who gives a ****?

    Report Post » All American American  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:22am

    No thats great!

    Report Post » Mr.Fitnah  
  • THXll38
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:20am

    Racism: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

    Stop taking this damn word out of context. The majority of alleged racists are nothing more than bigots and/or stereotyping.

    Report Post » THXll38  
    • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:38am

      Hey THC… what do you think of them old Ron Paul Newsletters? Lol. Are they racist, homophobic or anti-Semitic? What do you think of a man who would allow such drivel to be written under his name? What do you think of a man who would actually sign off on most of that crap, then make feeble excuses regarding his non-management of same? What do you think of a man who wouldn’t vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, or vote to give old Rosa Parks a medal? What do you think of a man who has a racist and bigoted libertarian mentor named Murray Rothbard? What do you think of a man who has racist, bigoted and anti-Semitic friends, business partners (like Lew Rockwell) and acquaintances? What do you think of a man who would pander to subscribers of an Anti-Semitic newspaper called “The Spotlight” for Congressional campaign $$? What do do you think of a man who has accepted donations from White supremacist groups and stood along side them smiling in photos?

      Well of course you would vote for him…

      Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
    • FlyrsFan28
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:49am

      Thank you THXLL38! That word is used and abused SO much that it has become very easy to forget what that term means! It‘s no wonder you can’t have a real discussion about race and racial issues!

      Report Post »  
    • sWampy
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:51am

      Racism is acknowledging the truth, that there are differences in race. It’s insane to deny that there are none, and dangerous to try to force everyone to pretend there aren’t.

      You do realize Rosa Parks was a plant right, she was paid to travel to the south, and sit on the front seat of the bus. She sat there for weeks, without incident, until one day when an old lady who couldn’t easily get to the back of the bus, got on, and she refused to move to let the old lady have the front seat which did rightfully piss off those on the bus. Come read the actual police record of the day. Look up the suit she filed when after nearly 50 years, the terrorists that paid her finally stopped paying her for her act of terrorism.

      Report Post »  
    • daninkansas
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:55am

      Are you saying it’s racist to believe that blacks are better at basketball and football because of inherent racial traits, and whites and those darn Korean ladies are better at golf, asians at math, Kenyans at marathons, etc. ? Different races do have different traits and abilities when viewed as a group. It cannot be racist to state this obvious truth, but it may perpetuate racism to deny it. Of course culture is very important, but no amount of culture or training can compensate for a basic lack of genetic ability. I think the jersey is funny, and accepting of “the black guy” as a part of the team. It strikes me as an affirmative message.

      Report Post »  
    • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 10:54am

      SWAMPY. “You do realize Rosa Parks was a plant right…”

      You miss the broader point… but that’s okay. My comment was mean’t for an ardent Ron Paul supporter who (like most of the rest of Paul’s gang), tend to ignore the “finer” points of Ron Paul‘s history and ideology as it doesn’t quite fit the rest of the agenda. Ron Paul supporters should stay as far away from topics like race and racism, bigots and bigotry, Jews and anti-Semitism and even radical Islam. They tend to sound disingenous at best…

      Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
    • Fella
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 11:52am

      How does therealconservative keep track of all the accounts he posts from? Good grief the meltdown and obsession is getting worse.

      Romney 2012

      Report Post »  
    • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
      Posted on May 1, 2012 at 3:19pm

      Only one of me boy, er FELLA. Ain’t that enough? Yooz boys can’t keep up with this one… why would I need anymore? But you try to rationalize however it makes you feel happy and gay…

      Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
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