What up with racist Boston fans?

[jonzer]

Joel Ward scored the winning goal for the Capitals, sending defending champs The Bruins home. Ward, who is black, was attacked on Twitter with a bunch of racial slurs from Bruin fans. The Bruins organization has condemned those attacks.
But what's up with that? Boston is supposed to be an enlightened, liberal place. I've heard people say some nasty things about Boston in the past, but I'm not really familiar with it. I've only stopped in Boston to eat while passing through.

I know we're not supposed to talk about race here, but I don't think this is political. We talk about sports all the time. I think a discussion about being sore losers is topical. And maybe I can learn something about Boston from all the replies here.

[JamesVRoy]

What is it with racists period? Many sports fans aren't the biggest brains and Boston doesn't have an exclusive on that. Don't judge us all by the actions of a few.

[TheGoodTexan]

Did you read this in a news story? If so, I'd love to read the story too, if you would provide the link.

Although there are idiots in every segment of every society, I'm willing to bet that the "bunch" in this case was in reality only a few. That doesn't excuse it - but it might help to explain it.

[jonzer]

Here's one:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-ca...b_1459232.html

And another:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...mLlT_blog.html

Of course you can't judge everybody or an entire city or a team's fanbase by this. But it is disgusting and so blatant. And yeah, what's up with racists in general?

[JamesVRoy]

Originally Posted by TheGoodTexan

Did you read this in a news story? If so, I'd love to read the story too, if you would provide the link.

There are several, here's two:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-ca...b_1459232.html

and one from New York (seizing the day)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/us...ss-boston.html

[Twin and Twang]

Originally Posted by JamesVRoy

What is it with racists period? Many sports fans aren't the biggest brains and Boston doesn't have an exclusive on that. Don't judge us all by the actions of a few.

True words. A friend of mine was in line for the NFL draft two days ago. He got stuck behind ten or so Giants fans who were yelling out obscenities at women who passed by and chanted JEREMY LIN every time an Asian person walked by.

Stupid people are everywhere!

(I'm a proud open minded, educated and peace loving Bruins fan)

[sacizob]

The only black thing I noticed was that puck going into the net.

[jonzer]

Originally Posted by sacizob

The only black thing I noticed was that puck going into the net.

Actually, I had a hard time noticing that because it happened so quick. I wasn't even sure he scored until I saw the bench clear. It was an amazing overtime shot.

[Red Square]

I don't think you can condemn a whole city for the ignorant words of a few.
Sports fan are generally good folks and pretty much the same everywhere (except Philly of course).
Kidding. ; )

[Manolete]

It is more amazing that these people go and post racism online. That stuff can be traced, yet they feel their views are so overarching that they don't need to moderate their online content.

Probably in the future their grandkids will have their racist posts stored on a server somewhere to teach folks how racist we all were back in "the old days".

[JamesVRoy]

Originally Posted by Manolete

It is more amazing that these people go and post racism online. That stuff can be traced, yet they feel their views are so overarching that they don't need to moderate their online content.

Probably in the future their grandkids will have their racist posts stored on a server somewhere to teach folks how racist we all were back in "the old days".

In the old days you used to be able to read the news. Now you get to read the news and the comments. There's an old adage, "Stupid people shouldn't have computers." They've given a voice to those with nothing to say.

[fendahbendah57]

Hey Jonzer, Don't lump Boston into the racist pile because one or two clowns have access to the internet. It happens everywhere.

[Jakedog]

Holy crap. Some days it's just plain embarrassing to be part of the human race. I wonder if these people's parents have a clue as to how badly they failed their children.

If you have a really strong stomach, some of the tweets are printed on the Capitals Outsider page. Be warned though, it's pretty sickening stuff, and I will not link to it here or anywhere else.

FWIW, I know this kind of crap is not exclusive to any one city or fan base. I actually feel for the Boston fans who will get hit with the backlash from this because a few idiot bogots couldn't keep their dumbassitude to themselves.

[SteveO]

Have you ever been to Boston? Not as liberal and enlightened as you think.It amazes me every time I go there.

[plymman]

Originally Posted by Manolete

It is more amazing that these people go and post racism online. That stuff can be traced, yet they feel their views are so overarching that they don't need to moderate their online content.

Probably in the future their grandkids will have their racist posts stored on a server somewhere to teach folks how racist we all were back in "the old days".

In the UK recently we had a footballer (soccer) stop breathing during the match. He was revived an hour later but presumed dead at the time.

Someone posted on twitter, laughing about it and then posted some really vile racist things later that evening. He was arrested the next day and got sentenced to almost 2 months in prison for inciting racial hatred.

Not only do the authorities trace it, they do it quickly and prosecute. There's not the same level of freedom of speech over here in the UK, it seems that you couldn't be prosecuted like this in the US.

[JamesVRoy]

Detroit-Tigers-Delmon-Young-arrested-on-hate-crime-assault-charge

[JBennett]

It's a sad state of affairs. Certainly not isolated to sports. A bunch of Hunger Games movie goers tweeted ugly racist comments about one of the young actresses. People are awful.

[czook]

I think your assumptions are racist and political. Things are far better than they were a few decades ago. And since when does being liberal or conservative make you enlightened? I'm just waiting for this thread to turn to religion and we will have all three of the deadly rules broken.

[kelnet]

We've got idiots out here, too. Unfortunately, some folks like to lump all Vancouver hockey fans together with the rioters. But just as we are not all rioters, neither are Bruins fans all racists. Let's hope the actions of a few don't leave a mark on the whole city.
It's obvious that the Bruins organization had nothing to do with the racist comments, but it seems that some kind of statement is expected nowadays when the local idiots act up.
There are good and bad hockey fans in every town. It's too bad that the bad ones make the news.

[Coop47]

Originally Posted by kelnet

We've got idiots out here, too. Unfortunately, some folks like to lump all Vancouver hockey fans together with the rioters. But just as we are not all rioters, neither are Bruins fans all racists. Let's hope the actions of a few don't leave a mark on the whole city.
It's obvious that the Bruins organization had nothing to do with the racist comments, but it seems that some kind of statement is expected nowadays when the local idiots act up.
There are good and bad hockey fans in every town. It's too bad that the bad ones make the news.

+1. Well said.

At least they tracked down one of these morons. Nice work by Anson Carter:

http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/...l_Sports_links