My article on Subban's reception having nothing to do with race (a frame down) has generated lots of responses from people. Here are a few:
Jeff
Totally agree. He comes across as arrogant and
self-centered. He wants the spotlight to be on PK. Where I come
from in Southern Ontario, athletes like that get booed. Do leaf fans boo
Daniel Alfredsson because he was born in Sweden? Of course
not.
Max
Extremely well-written and argued. I
admit I am among those who suspect that race is a factor with Subban, and
although I am not entirely persuaded, you make a very strong case.
I
agree that people boo Subban because they perceive him as arrogant. Iginla,
Simmonds, Jones are not regularly booed the way Subban is, as far as I know.
And a post-racial world would be one in which we are free to boo players
because we perceive them as arrogant, and not feel awkward doing so because
they are black. And maybe that is where we are with Subban.
But...
It's a loaded issue. It's loaded because there is so much history of
white people taking major exception to black people they perceive as uppity or
arrogant. Just like women who display confidence are portrayed as bitchy.
There are double standards.
Would
people boo Subban if he where white and acted how he does on the ice?
Honestly, there is an argument that they would. But my sense is maybe
not. Maybe he would be treated as a talented phenom. It's really hard to
know. My sense -- and it's only a sense -- is that some of the boos or
some of the volume is due to the fact that he is black, and a lingering
discomfort that people unconsciously have with a black person not knowing their
place.
Justin
I agree that
booing Subban is not racially motivated at all. In fact, I would go as far to
say that the booing is almost somewhat of a compliment to him. He's a good
player; very good player and one of the best defenseman in the NHL today. You
boo him because there is that sense that you might "throw him off his
game" or whatever. And he draws a lot more attention because he is
arrogant. If Erik Karlsson did what Subban to the Ottawa fans in Montreal or
Toronto, he would be booed loudly. Remember Alfredsson's mocking of Sundin?
Ottawa fans loved it. Toronto fans never ever forgave him for it and he's good
and in professional sports, that will cause fans to boo you. And I am sure that
after last year's playoff beat down, it felt good for Montreal fans to see
Subban do it too.
If PK had come
into the league and had automatically been booed, I could see an argument being
made for it being race motivated. But that wasn't the case. And after a few
years of the triple high five, along with a few other antics, people have
started to boo him. If he wasn't this good, people probably wouldn't boo him.
He's a guy you hate playing against but you would love him on your team. In a
way he's like Milan Lucic or Chris Neil; would love them on my team, would hate
playing them. But Lucic or Neil do not possess anything like the skill Subban
has and they are not dirty players, so they do not get booed. Maybe a better
comparison even in my mind is Crosby. Frankly, I hate the guy- he's somewhat
arrogant, complains a lot and makes excuses every time things don't go his way.
But as soon as him or Subban put on the Team Canada jersey next month, I will
be in love with them both cause they have so much to offer to the team.
Sadly, I think
there will always be some crazy individuals who are racist and will boo or
dislike Subban simply because of the color of his skin. Look at what some crazy
individual did to Wayne Simmons a few years ago at a pre-season game. It's
really sad, stupid and unnecessary.
As for Subban I
don't think it is racially motivated at all.
Frank
I thought it was a frank, honest look at a sensitive
subject...Your column was spot on and pitch perfect and this isn't the kind of
thing that's going to go away anytime soon.
Mark
Race in
hockey is an issue, as you pointed out, because there are so few non-white
players. Only biathlon is more racially
homogenous. This isn’t
going to change for a long time primarily for economic reasons. You’d be hard pressed to find a more WASP
bunch of people than in a minor hockey rink for morning practice. The
reality of youth sports really comes down to cost. Whether you’re a new Canadian or not, hockey
is darn expensive. Basketball and soccer
not so much. If you’ve got several kids
(boys and girls) you’ve got to make economic choices. Soccer and basketball are just more
affordable and also much more girl friendly too.
Tom
I just read your thoughtful piece on what you believe to
be a lack of racism regarding the response to P.K., for whom I have a
tremendous amount of respect and affection. I've also been quite frankly
incredibly outraged at what I absolutely perceived to be some degree of racism
where PK is concerned.
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