source: Atlanta Black Star
In 2012, after Washington Capitals’ Joel Ward scored the series-clinching overtime goal against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Twitter exploded with racist messages directed at the Black hockey player.
During the 2001 Tennis Masters Series tournament in Indian Wells, Calif., racism reared its ugly head after player Venus Williams withdrew four minutes prior to her semifinal match against her sister Serena. Serena was subsequently booed during the championship match against Kim Clijsters and during the trophy presentation.
After sitting in the stadium during Serena’s match, their father, Richard Williams, said: “The white people at Indian Wells, what they’ve been wanting to say all along to us finally came out: ‘******, stay away from here, we don’t want you here.'”
Venus has stated without elaboration, “I heard what he heard,” referring to her father’s recollection.
Neither Williams sister has played this tournament since.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9ufpU3X-t4w" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>
After golf champion Tiger Woods’ 1997 victory at the Masters, golfer Fuzzy Zoeller relayed a message to him via the news reporters:
“You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year. Got it? Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve.”
In 2007, Don Imus referred to Rutgers University women’s basketball team as “nappy headed hos.” The long-time radio talk-show host was suspended and ultimately fired by CBS after the incident.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fmlFCNb9Yqo" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>
During a 1983 Monday Night Football telecast, veteran sports announcer Howard Cosell referred to Wasington Redskins wide receiver Alvin Garrett as “that little monkey.” Cosell was later denounced, but refused to apologize for his comment. He left the show after that season ended.
In 2011, a banana was thrown from the stands at Philadelphia Flyers’ enforcer Wayne Simmonds during a 4-3 exhibition shoot-out loss against the Detroit Red Wings.
“I guess it’s something I obviously have to deal with — being a Black player playing a predominantly white sport,” Simmonds said of the incident. “You’ve got to come to expect things like that”
The infamous sports commentator Dimetrios “Jimmy The Greek” Synodinos was fired by CBS after his explanation on why he thought “The Blacks” were better at sports was aired on live television.
“The black is a better athlete to begin with because he’s been bred to be that way — because of his high thighs and big thighs that goes up into his back, and they can jump higher and run faster because of their bigger thighs. This goes back all the way to the Civil War when during the slave trading, the owner — the slave owner would breed his big black to his big woman so that he could have a big black kid.”
Earlier this year, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper was caught on camera threatening to fight “all the ******s” at a country music concert in Philadelphia. The incident caused strife in the Eagles’ locker room as some of the players – including running back LeSean McCoy – said they would never forgive him.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-dEQxO8Yuas" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>
In 2003 during an ESPN broadcast, newly hired sports commentator Rush Limbaugh said of Black NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb: “Sorry to say this, I don’t think he’s been that good from the get-go. I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a Black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn’t deserve.”
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W-iRLmaZf4A" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>
Racism and soccer have gone hand-in-hand for many years and Black players are regularly tormented by both European fans and coaches. African players and players of African descent are subjected to insulting, racist name-calling, and fans routinely throw bananas at them.
Racism on the soccer field happens so frequently, in 2006, ESPN made a short documentary highlighting the many incidents.
In 2012, after Washington Capitals’ Joel Ward scored the series-clinching overtime goal against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Twitter exploded with racist messages directed at the Black hockey player.
During the 2001 Tennis Masters Series tournament in Indian Wells, Calif., racism reared its ugly head after player Venus Williams withdrew four minutes prior to her semifinal match against her sister Serena. Serena was subsequently booed during the championship match against Kim Clijsters and during the trophy presentation.
After sitting in the stadium during Serena’s match, their father, Richard Williams, said: “The white people at Indian Wells, what they’ve been wanting to say all along to us finally came out: ‘******, stay away from here, we don’t want you here.'”
Venus has stated without elaboration, “I heard what he heard,” referring to her father’s recollection.
Neither Williams sister has played this tournament since.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9ufpU3X-t4w" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>
After golf champion Tiger Woods’ 1997 victory at the Masters, golfer Fuzzy Zoeller relayed a message to him via the news reporters:
“You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year. Got it? Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve.”
In 2007, Don Imus referred to Rutgers University women’s basketball team as “nappy headed hos.” The long-time radio talk-show host was suspended and ultimately fired by CBS after the incident.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fmlFCNb9Yqo" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>
During a 1983 Monday Night Football telecast, veteran sports announcer Howard Cosell referred to Wasington Redskins wide receiver Alvin Garrett as “that little monkey.” Cosell was later denounced, but refused to apologize for his comment. He left the show after that season ended.
In 2011, a banana was thrown from the stands at Philadelphia Flyers’ enforcer Wayne Simmonds during a 4-3 exhibition shoot-out loss against the Detroit Red Wings.
“I guess it’s something I obviously have to deal with — being a Black player playing a predominantly white sport,” Simmonds said of the incident. “You’ve got to come to expect things like that”
The infamous sports commentator Dimetrios “Jimmy The Greek” Synodinos was fired by CBS after his explanation on why he thought “The Blacks” were better at sports was aired on live television.
“The black is a better athlete to begin with because he’s been bred to be that way — because of his high thighs and big thighs that goes up into his back, and they can jump higher and run faster because of their bigger thighs. This goes back all the way to the Civil War when during the slave trading, the owner — the slave owner would breed his big black to his big woman so that he could have a big black kid.”
Earlier this year, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper was caught on camera threatening to fight “all the ******s” at a country music concert in Philadelphia. The incident caused strife in the Eagles’ locker room as some of the players – including running back LeSean McCoy – said they would never forgive him.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-dEQxO8Yuas" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>
In 2003 during an ESPN broadcast, newly hired sports commentator Rush Limbaugh said of Black NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb: “Sorry to say this, I don’t think he’s been that good from the get-go. I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a Black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn’t deserve.”
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W-iRLmaZf4A" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>
Racism and soccer have gone hand-in-hand for many years and Black players are regularly tormented by both European fans and coaches. African players and players of African descent are subjected to insulting, racist name-calling, and fans routinely throw bananas at them.
Racism on the soccer field happens so frequently, in 2006, ESPN made a short documentary highlighting the many incidents.
