BOSTON -- A playoff hockey classic was shoved to the backburner Friday as Canadiens and Bruins players and coaches found themselves addressing the ugly
issue of racism.
Cheap Soccer Jerseys Wholesale . Montreal defenceman P.K. Subban, who is black, was targeted for racial abuse on social
media in the wake of his winning goal in Thursdays thrilling 4-3 double-overtime
playoff win over Boston. "Im shocked," Montreal coach Michel Therrien told
reporters Friday. "Honestly Im shocked to hear those type of comments." "No one
deserves to be treated like this," he added. "And P.K. has all our support."
Many comments with racist and derogatory terms were posted on Twitter and other
social media websites after the victory. The 24-year-old Subban, a slick-skating
defenceman who is one of the NHLs most exciting players, scored twice as
Montreal won the opener of the best-of-seven second-round series. Subban was not
made available by the Canadiens, who had a closed gym session instead of a
practice Friday thanks to the tight turnaround between Thursdays extended Game 1
and the afternoon start for Game 2 Saturday. Montreal brought out four players,
all of whom decried the abuse of their teammate. "I just think its
unacceptable," said defenceman Mike Weaver. "Its just classless." Forward
David Desharnais echoed his coach. "Nobody deserves to be treated like that. It
has nothing to do with sports or anything," he said. Weaver, like the other Habs
players who met the media, blamed the ugliness on "a few individuals." Boston
was quick to denounce those responsible. "The racist, classless views expressed
by an ignorant group of individuals following Thursdays game via digital media
are in no way a reflection of anyone associated with the Bruins organization,"
team president Cam Neely said in a statement. Boston coach Claude Julien also
spoke out against those behind the abuse. "Its just poor judgment, poor taste,
and we dont associate ourselves with people like that, and people who think that
way are not what we call our fans," he told reporters at the Bruins practice
facility. "They may think they are, but we certainly dont support that at all.
"Its a shame that this is still going around in this day and age, and that
people are still thinking that way." In a week that saw a Spanish soccer fan
throw a banana at Barcelona defender Dani Alves, the torrent of abuse aimed at
Subban was a painful reminder that hate knows no boundaries. "Youd like to think
that it wouldnt happen but it does," said Montreal forward Brendan Gallagher.
"Its still part of the life and part of the world ... I think it is getting
better. I think its a very small group of people. It doesnt represent the
National Hockey League in any way. We have great fans." Said Julien: "Theres a
lot of good fans out there, and thats the sad part about it is that, you know,
your good fans get tarnished because of comments like that from people who dont
belong in that same group." The abuse was an embarrassment on several levels for
the Bruins, who drafted Subbans younger brother Malcolm. Asked if the Boston
organization plans to reach out to the younger Subban, a goalie, Julien replied:
"I think were reaching out to everybody in that situation. You know, weve got
Jarome Iginla on our team. Lets be realistic here about this. Its something we
dont support." Gallagher said P.K. Subban was professional in handling the
abuse. "He understands the best way to handle it is just ignore it," he said.
"And understand that their opinions dont really mean anything." "He shakes it
off pretty good," added Desharnais. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre called the
remarks "unfortunate", saying he would not defend the undefendable. "We will
answer back with the goals that we score," Coderre told reporters Friday at
Montreal city hall. The mayor also had a few words for Boston fans, saying there
are some who will try to destabilize the Habs. "They will try with all kinds of
insults, (both) acceptable and unacceptable, but we wont fall into their trap,"
Coderre said. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement that the offensive
tweets were "a disgrace." "These racist comments are not reflective of Boston,
and are not reflective of Bruins fans. Ive said before that the best hockey in
the world happens when the Bruins and Canadiens play each other, and there is no
room for this kind of ignorance here." The racial abuse wasnt the only fan
misbehaviour on the night. Some in the building reacted to the overtime loss by
throwing drinks and garbage at the Canadiens as they left the ice. "Its Boston,
its the rivalry. They dont like (it) when were winning, I guess," said
Desharnais. "Thats just Boston." "We come here, we dont expect to be cuddled,"
he added. Therrien, who is one of the first off the bench, said he had not
noticed the cascade of garbage. As to how the rest of the Habs reacted,
Desharnais said: "We just got off the ice pretty quick." Subban, meanwhile,
restricted his Twittter activity Friday to a tweet directing followers to check
out a link to one of his sponsors. But he addressed the issue of racism in a
2012 interview on "George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight." "Ive been playing hockey
since I was two-and-a-half, three years old. And theres been a number of those
incidents. And theyre just stupid people really, to be honest with you," he
said. "Hockeys filled with great people, and its a great sport, and I encourage
a lot of people to play it because of the relationships that you make in hockey.
Those are the things that Id rather talk about than all those other things,
because theyre just ignorant people." When Stroumboulopoulos cited fans throwing
bananas at black soccer players, Subban said "Id probably just pick it up and
eat it." Which is exactly what Alves did this week, to worldwide acclaim.
Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic . Dragic was a game-time decision because of a sore right ankle that had kept him out of Wednesdays loss at Utah, but played
all but the last 10 seconds of the second half in the first 40-point game for a
Phoenix player since Amare Stoudemires 44 on March 19, 2010.
Cheap Soccer Jerseys . - Young and old.RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Luiz Felipe Scolari says he will pick Diego Costa for Brazil, leaving up to the player to
decide whether he will play for his native country or world champion Spain.
Diego Costa holds a Spanish passport and said he would be willing to play for
Spain. Scolari had been making it clear that he had the right to pick Diego
Costa despite Spains desire to have the player, and late Wednesday he confirmed
to Globo TV that he will include the striker in the squad that will play
friendlies against Chile and Honduras in November. The Brazilian football
federation said in a statement on Thursday it has already advised FIFA of
Scolaris intention to use Diego Costa. It sent a letter saying the coach will be
calling up the player next Thursday, when the squad for the friendlies is
announced. Brazil will play Honduras on Nov. 16 in Miami and Chile on Nov. 19 in
Toronto. "We intend to pick him again," Scolari said. "We want to be able to
better analyze him. He is a Brazilian who has been performingg well with
Atletico Madrid.
Soccer Jerseys China. " Diego Costa was picked by Scolari for friendlies in March, but the 25-year-old spent only a few
minutes on the field when Brazil faced Russia and Italy. Diego Costa is still
allowed to join Spain because the friendlies are not considered official
matches. "When Diego played for us the first time we heard about his
satisfaction to be defending the colours of Brazil," Scolari said. "And thats
still the case." Scolari said the player shouldnt have the option to play for
another country after wearing Brazils jersey. The coach was upset with questions
about Diego Costas intention to join Spain. "Spain should respect Brazils right
to choose its players," Scolari said. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said
recently that its up to Diego Costa to decide. "Its the players personal
decision," he said. Diego Costa helped Atletico to a club-record start of eight
straight wins in the Spanish league, scoring a league-leading 10 goals.
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