TORONTO - The NHL called it "stupid and ignorant." Flyers winger Wayne Simmonds(notes) said he was "above this sort of stuff."

But there was no ignoring the controversy Friday after a fan threw a banana on the ice as Simmonds, who is black, was bearing down on Detroit Red Wings goalie Jordan Pearce(notes) during Thursday night's pre-season game in London, Ont.

For Kevin Weekes(notes), the goaltender-turned-broadcaster who is currently attending the Black Congressional Caucus in Washington, D.C., it hit a little too close to home.

"I'm not surprised," Weekes told The Canadian Press in an interview Friday. "We have some people that still have their heads in the sand and some people that don't necessarily want to evolve and aren't necessarily all that comfortable with the fact that the game is evolving.

"I understand that first hand — I'm the first black national broadcaster in NHL history, the first black broadcaster on 'Hockey Night in Canada.' The reality is that there's still some people that aren't very comfortable with that."

The incident, which came in the game's dying moments during an overtime shootout, has touched off a rare public discussion on racism in hockey.

It's the last conversation Simmonds wanted to find himself at the centre of in his first training camp with the Flyers. The 23-year-old forward was acquired from Los Angeles over the summer as part of the Mike Richards(notes) deal.

He handled the situation with grace immediately after Thursday's pre-season game against Detroit — "When you're black, you kind of expect (racist) things. You learn to deal with it," the Toronto native said — and issued a statement Friday indicating he wouldn't be making any further comments.

"He's in the middle of training camp, he was traded to a new team and all he's trying to do is showcase his ability for his new management," said Eustace King of 02 Sports Agency, who represents Simmonds.

"This is just another thing that I will say other players don't necessarily have to think about. When Wayne goes on the ice, he's got this in the back of his head, that he's got to go out and perform but he's going to be questioned about something that has nothing to do with him."

The incident happened during Philadelphia's annual pre-season trip to the John Labatt Centre, an arena managed by Flyers owner Comcast-Spectacor. In a statement following the game, company president Peter Luukko said arena staff hadn't been able to identify who threw the banana on the ice.

Norton Sports, a California-based sports management group, offered a $500 reward for the identity of the banana thrower. The Twitter offer quickly drew others promising to add to the reward and, as of Friday afternoon, Simmonds was a trending topic on the social network with everyone from fellow NHLers to former NBA star Jalen Rose commenting on the incident.

The NHL was quick to scold the unidentified culprit.

"We have millions of great fans who show tremendous respect for our players and for the game," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. "The obviously stupid and ignorant action by one individual is in no way representative of our fans or the people of London, Ontario."

Despite the disruption, Simmonds scored in the shootout — although Detroit went on to win 4-3. He also had a goal in the final minute to force overtime in front of a crowd of 7,427 in the 9,090-seat arena — many of whom were cheering for the Red Wings.

Scott Timmins(notes), a Florida Panthers prospect who played in the OHL for Windsor and Kitchener, suggested on Twitter that it was a case of London fans being their "usual self." However, Toronto Maple Leafs forward and former London Knights star Nazem Kadri(notes) disputed that characterization of his hometown fans.

"Nothing even close, nothing even remotely close," said Kadri, who is of Lebanese descent. "I felt like the fans in London were pretty respectful to not only their players, but the visiting players that came in as well. That's so disrespectful.

"I'm honestly pretty shocked right now."

It was less of a surprise for King, who also represents black players Chris Stewart(notes) and Anthony Stewart(notes). He believes the NHL should draft a code of conduct for fans that could be printed on the back of tickets and essentially states that respect is a two-way street.

Via Twitter, Stewart called the incident "simply disgusting, its 2011 ppl need to grow up."

King sees it as a continued problem that stretches well beyond the sport.

"The game doesn't necessarily have very many racial problems — I don't want to say there are none, but it's very limited," he said. "But I think the challenges become with people in society, there's a great problem that's out there that is still being addressed. Just because we're playing sports doesn't mean it's going to change."

Weekes spent 11 seasons in the NHL and had a banana thrown at him during the 2002 playoffs in Montreal while he was a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. He also believes he was subjected to more subtle forms of racism from some general managers and coaches.

However, he was quick to note that the sport had treated him well overall, which is why he was eager to stay close to it with his second career as a broadcaster.

"I certainly did have a lot of those challenges along the way, but I don't want to paint the picture that it was all about that," said Weekes. "I was fortunate to live my dream and play in the National Hockey League. I played with lots of amazing guys and played for some great people."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=capress-hkn_banana_incident-9207231

Hmmm, so this is what willie o 'ree struggled for, to have this bullshit happen in 2011??

And the NHL wonders why they can't make inroads with afro canadian kids within canada

There will never be a change, the NHL is a white mans sport, what do they care if a couple niggers get banana's tossed at them (This isnt the first time) They will do the song and dance and talk bullshit about diversity, but nothing will change.

Its kind of like Canada as a whole, love to shove the Diversity bullshit down your throat, but most blacks still live in poverty and there are very few examples of success, even in cities with larger black populations like Toronto.

Banana Tosser 'Mortified': Lawyer


An Ontario man who threw a banana at a black hockey player during a game-deciding shootout was only trying to keep his favourite team in the game and had no idea his actions could be construed as racist, his lawyer said Thursday.

Faisal Joseph said Chris Moorhouse is "mortified" and overcome with remorse for his role in the incident, which sparked an international furor, drew condemnation from the National Hockey League and led to an apology from the mayor of his home town of London.

Joseph said Moorhouse, 26, was caught up in the drama of an overtime shootout when he lobbed the banana at Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds on Sept. 22. Simmonds had just forced the game into overtime with a third-period goal and was approaching Detroit goalie Jordan Pearce during a tie-breaking shoot-out. Detroit went on to win the pre-season game 4-3.

Joseph said Moorhouse has freely confessed to throwing the fruit, which he bought at London's John Labatt Centre where the game was played. He had no idea that hurling bananas at black athletes could be seen as hateful or racially motivated, said Joseph in a telephone interview from London, Ont.

"He was horrified when he saw the implications a day later as to how it had come out, and he said to me, 'if I had an apple or an orange, I would have thrown that out onto the ice. I did not realize the significance.'"

Moorhouse's sole intention was to prevent Simmonds from scoring against his favourite hockey team, Joseph said.

Moorhouse was officially charged Wednesday with engaging in a prohibited activity, an offence under the provincial Trespass to Property Act rather than the Criminal Code. If convicted, he faces a maximum fine of $2,000. Joseph said he will make his first court appearance on Nov. 14.

London police chief Brad Duncan said the incident did not meet the criteria for a hate crime or even a mischief charge.

``You have to demonstrate and be motivated by hatred,'' he told a news conference Wednesday. ``Although the banana did hit the ice it did not interfere with the play so it didn't meet the mischief threshold.''

Joseph said audience members watching the game near Moorhouse reported that he didn't utter any racial epithets or show any hateful attitudes during the exhibition match.

Joseph said the vitriol that poured in in the days after the banana-throwing incident has made Moorhouse fearful for his own safety. Moorhouse has received indirect threats, Joseph said, declining to comment further.

Duncan cautioned against vigilante justice while announcing news of Moorhouse's charge.

"I ask that the public let the court process unfold," he said. "I've heard the term vigilantism. We certainly don't want that.

Simmonds himself has downplayed the banana-throwing incident, calling it unfortunate, but the NHL was quick to weigh in the morning after the game.

Commissioner Gary Bettman the incident did not reflect the attitudes of most NHL fans.

"The obviously stupid and ignorant action by one individual is in no way representative of our fans or the people of London, Ontario."

Much of Moorhouse's remorse stems from the impact he has had on his home town, Joseph said, adding he fears he has left a cloud over the city and promoted an inaccurate image of a racist community.

Mayor Joe Fontana issued a formal apology and defended London as a diverse and welcoming city.

Joseph said he hopes people will be more tolerant of Moorhouse once his motives are better understood.

"This is a young guy who's guilty, if anything, of an act of stupidity,"he said.

http://news.ca.msn.com/canada/alleged-banana-tosser-mortified-lawyer-8

Wow, just when i thought that hate crimes were completly understood by the police force, and the canadian government.

More and more, the canadian police force, and canadian government's track record are becoming more and more obvious, when it comes to treating afro canadians equally, again, this is just another slap on the wrist to someone who " Didn't Know Better ", the same way those who were at the halloween party in campbellford ontario last yea: KKK costumes at Royal Canadian Legion Halloween part causes racist outrage in Campbellford — THE LATEST


The presence of a man dressed in a white Ku Klux Klan robe and hood at a Campbellford Legion Halloween party Saturday night set off a tide of outrage that has reached the Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command.The man in the KKK costume, who also had a Confederate flag attached to his back, was with another man, his features darkened in full blackface. The second man wore a red and black checkered shirt and jeans and had string tied to his arm. The guest in the KKK costume led the man in blackface around by the string, said Rubbs Restaurant owner Mark Andrade. Supplied photo


http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2827669