Simmonds blasts 'gutless' tweeters
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Simmonds blasts 'gutless' tweeters
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Flyers winger Wayne Simmonds was sickened by the dozens of racist and vulgar comments that Twitter users directed at his close friend, Washington’s Joel Ward, after he scored an overtime goal to defeat host Boston, 2-1, in Game 7 of their first-round series Wednesday.
“It’s the Internet. They can say whatever they want, and they don’t have to show their faces,” said Simmonds, who, like Ward, is one of 28 black players in the NHL. “It’s disgusting. Things like that have happened to me before. It’s not something you want to happen, but it’s sad in this day and age that it continues to happen.”
Simmonds, 23, and Ward, 31, both grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, but they didn’t meet until about five years ago. They have trained together in the last two off-seasons.
“We’re good buddies and it was nice to see him score. You could see the relief on his face,” Simmonds said after the Flyers’ practice Thursday in Voorhees. “The celebration was classic. He just smashed his stick into the ice, and it was pretty funny.”
Simmonds, who denied tweets that he received racial slurs during the Flyers’ recent games in Pittsburgh, said social media is getting out of hand.
“It is what it is. People can be as gutless as they want,” he said. “They don’t have to show up. They just throw a comment out on the Internet and it’s getting kind of ridiculous. Social media is not meant for that. It’s for ‘Say, hey, nice score. Congratulations.’ You’re not supposed to throw things out like that.”
In the preseason, a fan threw a banana peel at Simmonds during a Sept. 22 exhibition in London, Ontario, against Detroit. The 26-year-old man was fined $200 for “provincial trespassing,” but police said there wasn’t enough evidence to charge him with a hate crime.
“I guess it is what it is, but it’s sad I have to say that, though,” Simmonds said of the latest incidents.
Ward told USA Today the slurs were “shocking to see, but it didn't ruin my day. It doesn't faze me at all. We won, and we are moving on. … People are going to say what they want to say.”
Ted Leonsis, the Capitals’ owner, wrote on his blog that “there should be zero tolerance for this kind of hate mongering. Their messages should now stay glued into the algorithms to place a forever warning and a mark upon these people and their actions.”
Leonsis called Ward “a great teammate and a great citizen. He is now the star of stars in our city for his heroics” on Wednesday night.
Ward said he thought it was “just kids” who tweeted the comments.
Contact Sam Carchidi @scarchidi@phillynews.com, or on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Well it IS Boston. But seriously, you are just giving them what they want, attention. Ignoring idiots like that is the best thing you can do.— Sidewinder7- Unfortunately these kind of racist/hateful people will always be around. You just have to ignore them. You can't stop it without taking freedom of speech away. It is a minority and Ward is right in he doesn't allow it to phase him. The good news is that I think these social sites are constantly coming up with ways to ignore and delete these types of morons, but the trust is it is just a part of life. The majority of people do not support that kind of behavior.— ChrisM
- unfortunately there always has been, and always will be, idiots...— nyphilliephan
- Also as for Ted Leonsis, the Capitals’ owner he should have a clue of how easy it is to avoid word filters. Also it is not a social network's resposibility to police free speech Racist, sexist homophobic comments are not illegal in this country. They wanted a reaction and you are supplieing it. Instead of ignoring these comments, he is giving them power.— Sidewinder7
- Actually, Twitter can censor you if they wish. It's part of their TOS and it's their service, there is no guarantee of free speech on Twitter, Facebook or even in these comments. — Kumaryu
- Not sure about Boston but all the Flyers fans cheered when Ward scored last night.
- It is people like this guy that make me sick. There is no place for that kind of stuff! Hockey players are from all over the world and in all colors so shows ome respect because they are doing what you only wish you could do! That guy is a coward and a moron! As hockey fans we all need to show some respect to the player even if we do not like them! I am a FLYERS FAN but I will give credit to every one who has every played hockey in the NHL or AHL well for that matter as a pro period! There is no place for that kind of comment in Pro hockey or in the world grow up dude and get a life! LETS GO FLYERS!!!!— srcdaddy1216
- pats lose to jints in super bowl. red sox not doing so well. celts not as good any more. and bruins out in first round. guess that makes the racists pretty angry.— P Even
- Its Wayans World Baby!!!— FoRealTruth
Comment removed.- Hopefully Simmonds doesn't read the comments on articles about the Trayvon Martin case (especially articles on Fox News and more conservative websites). The outright racism is shocking and embarrassing. Truly disgraceful. Look past it Simmer, and be the better man that you are.— snipesmorris
- Guess there are some who have no life except to be the role models for those who need to know what not to do in life...— ruthlezzone
- Were it not for the good amount of African-American professional athletes whom represented Boston/NE over the years, Boston/NE would not all of those other major sports championships. Oh, and the Bruins even had Anson Carter...— lookyhere
- Hey, this is social networking, too, huh? Seems the anonymity brings out the idiot's true colors. Congratulations, Joel Ward....and we love Wayne here in Philly.— PhillySubsMac
- It is sad that we still read about this stuff. I am proud to have Simmonds on my team. He is a great player, leader and seems to be a great guy. "Just kids" is no excuse. Those kids need to be smacked in the head!— chase26TJ
