(Kate Frese/Sports Talk Philly)
In the world of sports, the hot topic lately has been the protest of racial inequality, conducted during the National Anthem. It all started out last year, and in the wake of recent comments from President Donald Trump, it reached a fever pitch in Week 3 of the NFL season. Whether or not it's taking a knee, raising a fist or linking arms, NFL players have made their voices heard.
Oakland's Bruce Maxwell became the first MLB player to take a knee in protest last week, and NBA players such as LeBron James, as well as J.J. Redick and Ben Simmons of the Sixers, have also vocalized their opinions.
On the hockey end, though, radio silence has been predominant, aside from a few here-there opinions. Joel Ward, the longtime forward heading into his third season with the San Jose Sharks, opened himself up to the possibility of kneeling when his season begins next week against the Flyers.
He may not be alone. Wayne Simmonds offered his thoughts, understanding where Ward is coming from. Via Sam Carchidi of Philly.com:
“I definitely back Wardo. I know Wardo very well,” Simmonds said Wednesday at the Flyers’ practice facility in Voorhees. “What’s going on now is a shame. I definitely back his statements. It doesn’t mean I’m going to kneel, and it doesn’t mean I’m not going to kneel.”
“Everybody is relating to politics, but for the people who are doing the kneeling and protesting peacefully, I think it has nothing to do with how (other) people are taking it,” he said. “Some people are saying it’s a disrespect to the flag, a disrespect to the Army. That’s not the thought process behind it; it’s just the vehicle that’s being used to create a conversation about social inequality.”
“I don’t think it’s black and white; at this point, it’s about what’s wrong and what’s right. It’s not just a black and white thing. It’s the LGBT community, it different ethnicity — black, brown, Asian, all that. It shouldn’t just be black and white.”
“It’s not something I’ve put too much stock into, to be honest with you,” Simmonds said. “I knew at one point, this question was going to be asked to me, but I said to myself that I’ll take it as it comes. I don’t have anything in my mind at all as to what I would do. I’m not sure.”
Simmonds and Ward, of course, have been no strangers to the ugly side of racism in hockey. Some idiot pelted Simmonds with a banana during a preseason game in 2011 (his first year as a Flyer), while Ward, then a member of the Washington Capitals, received a firestorm of racial tweets after burying Boston in a Game 7 overtime in the first round of the 2012 playoffs.
Both men, obviously, are free to express their views. In a sport like hockey that encourages players to be as tight-lipped and close-to-the-vest as possible, though, it's interesting to see how they'll proceed.
[h/t Philly.com]
