OMHA Racial Slur Incident

[something]

A violation of human dignity went unaccounted for in a recent OMHA game, details are in the articles:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1843291/

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...o-opposed-slur

Greg Walsh, coach of the midget house league NAPA Auto Parts team, forfeited a game in November after an opposing player hurled a racist barb at one of his teenaged team members. He was temporarily suspended as a result. Now, the Ontario Minor Hockey Association has decided to extend his suspension until April 10, 2011.

To me, this isn't just about some words that were thrown around during a hockey match. This is about failing to respect something essential and unchangeable about another individuals identity.


Make of of it what you want, you might believe that there is a place in this game for slurs of any kind. If you are this person, stop reading and enjoy the next thread.


Anyone else, I urge you to contact Richard Ropchan, executive director of the OMHA and express your concern surrounding his organization's decision. This has absolutely destroyed the integrity of the OMHA in my eyes.


rropchan@omha.net

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Hasn't the coach ever heard the saying, "sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me"?

Let the OMHA take care of the matter if a player is throwing out racist garbage on the ice.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Hasn't the coach ever heard the saying, "sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me"?

Let the OMHA take care of the matter if a player is throwing out racist garbage on the ice.

Racism-it's not your problem, it's somebody else's

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

Racism-it's not your problem, it's somebody else's

So if he'd pulled out a gun and shot the kid shooting out the racist comments, that'd be okay because he took care of the problem?

Forfeiting the game, just looking shooting someone, wasn't the proper way of dealing with the issue. Instead you bring the matter to the people who can deal with the issue according to the association's rules.

[something]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Forfeiting the game, just looking shooting someone, wasn't the proper way of dealing with the issue. Instead you bring the matter to the people who can deal with the issue according to the association's rules.

The rest of the team disagrees with you:

The whole team agreed to forfeit the game they were winning in support of
McCullum.

Keep in mind, the team forfeited after the offending player was allowed back onto the ice, which should not have been the case. Evidently, there was no accountability and so the coach, and the rest of the team, thought to create some.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by something

The rest of the team disagrees with you:

The whole team agreed to forfeit the game they were winning in support of
McCullum.

So what? The kids aren't in charge. If they all agreed to shoot the kid making the racist comments, would that make it okay?

[FlamesKickAss]

I am behind this coach, there is no place in the game for this. The kid only got three games, I guess the OMHA thinks retaliation on the ice was a better course of action for the team. Reading the comments on both of those links I am proud of this country

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Forfeiting the game...wasn't the proper way of dealing with the issue..

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

If they all agreed to shoot the kid making the racist comments, would that make it okay?

Yup, because these two options are ever so close/parallel....

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Yup, because these two options are ever so close/parallel....

They are both breaking the rules/law.

There are two issues at stake here. One, is the kid who reportedly made a racist comment. Two, the coach who broke the rules when he refused to play.

Clearly, if the kid did make the remarks alleged he should be punished for it and since he did get a three game suspension it can be assumed that he made the remarks. Hopefully, the kid learned his lesson because his actions are clearly unacceptable.

But the coach made a mistake here too. He had no right to forfeit the game according to the rules. So he was punished for that. While the actions of the kid who made the racist remarks reflect solely upon the kid, the coach's actions affected all the kids involved, set a poor example for the kids he coached (the lesson being if you don't like things you are allowed to break the rules) and, as an adult, he's much culpable for mistake since it cannot be blamed on youth.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

the coach's actions affected all the kids involved, set a poor example for the kids he coached (the lesson being if you don't like things you are allowed to break the rules)

Really? To each their own I guess. I think he set a fabulous example for the kids. The whole team agreed with/made the decision. Some things are greater than, or worth fighting for, then a forfeiting a single hockey game.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

So if he'd pulled out a gun and shot the kid shooting out the racist comments, that'd be okay because he took care of the problem?

*Laugh*

Ridiculous post is Ridiculous.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

They are both breaking the rules/law.

There are two issues at stake here. One, is the kid who reportedly made a racist comment. Two, the coach who broke the rules when he refused to play.

Clearly, if the kid did make the remarks alleged he should be punished for it and since he did get a three game suspension it can be assumed that he made the remarks. Hopefully, the kid learned his lesson because his actions are clearly unacceptable.

But the coach made a mistake here too. He had no right to forfeit the game according to the rules. So he was punished for that. While the actions of the kid who made the racist remarks reflect solely upon the kid, the coach's actions affected all the kids involved, set a poor example for the kids he coached (the lesson being if you don't like things you are allowed to break the rules) and, as an adult, he's much culpable for mistake since it cannot be blamed on youth.

I'm with RedHot here. To me, the example set is that some things are more important than rules. It's not a matter that he broke the rules because there was something he didn't like; he broke a rule because he saw something that he knew was wrong.

A large amount of the social change in our world has come from acts of rule-breaking. Yes, there are consequences for breaking rules, and while the penalty in this case seems like overkill, enduring the consequences are always a lot easier when you know you did the right thing.

[RedHot25]

I couldn't have said it any better octothorp.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

We are clearly becoming a nation of wimps.

If you're going to break the rules, beat the crap out of the kid who made the racist comments. But running away from some ignorant comments is acting like a chicken.

[Devils'Advocate]

Seriously?!?!?

You are against the coach pulling out of the game to make a statement, but *FOR* beating the crap out of someone? Oi. Violence isn't always the answer.

I think it more likely that this is a case of our nation showing we won't stand for intolerance.

[puckluck]

Good on the coach.

I've heard this story a couple times already and every time it seems like there is a different view fro each side.

Would be nice to get the real story. Either way the OMHA should be ashamed.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

They are both breaking the rules/law.

There are two issues at stake here. One, is the kid who reportedly made a racist comment. Two, the coach who broke the rules when he refused to play.

Clearly, if the kid did make the remarks alleged he should be punished for it and since he did get a three game suspension it can be assumed that he made the remarks. Hopefully, the kid learned his lesson because his actions are clearly unacceptable.

But the coach made a mistake here too. He had no right to forfeit the game according to the rules. So he was punished for that. While the actions of the kid who made the racist remarks reflect solely upon the kid, the coach's actions affected all the kids involved, set a poor example for the kids he coached (the lesson being if you don't like things you are allowed to break the rules) and, as an adult, he's much culpable for mistake since it cannot be blamed on youth.

Those foolish rule breakers like Rosa parks not following the rules when faced with racial intolerance.

People that stand up for what is right are the real heroes people that do nothing are the real chickens.

[Yamer]

This is a tough situation.

While I commend the coach (and the team for that matter) for standing up for what is right and good, you can't just take your ball and go home. IMO, an equal statement could have been made by continuing the game and letting that player (and anyone who chooses this kind of path) know that filth like that isn't strong enough to deter them from playing and winning. The coach and the team made a poor decision (and the wrong one) by refusing to finish, and therefor he/they deserve some kind of punishment...even if I do think it is a little bit of overkill without knowing the entire story.

That doesn't mean that the offender doesn't deserve some discipline as well. If I was the parent of that child he would be taking a rest from quite a few games, but he would be required to attend every single practice and game.

This situation just let the offender know he won, his team was awarded the game (if I am not mistaken). Again, I respect the team standing up for their teammate...they just made the wrong decision in this case.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

Those foolish rule breakers like Rosa parks not following the rules when faced with racial intolerance.

The difference is that she stood up to racist rules. The coach was running away from an ignorant kid.

People that stand up for what is right are the real heroes people that do nothing are the real chickens.

How did the coach stand up for anything? He, and his team, ran away. And where does it say that the only two options are running away or doing nothing?

[RedHot25]

It befuddles me about this whole "yeah it was wrong, but they should have just stayed and played. they made the wrong decision".

Its a minor hockey game people. For fun. A game. Some things in life - like dealing with racism - are a bit more important. But may be that's just me.