Steve Simmons being an idiot again.

[sureLoss]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1579527669842341889

https://twitter.com/user/status/1579527831704735744

[TheScorpion]

Naz showing a lot more restraint than I'd be able to.

[sureLoss]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1579530942200569856

[Erick Estrada]

Great response by Kadri.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Simmons has been writing spiteful takes for decades. Let's not pretend he hasn't been doing this for years or forget an editor approved this just like editors have been approving his vitriol for decades. I've always been at the front of the fire Steve Simmons line. If he get fired a spiteful take on a colored man then great but I still don't see anything here pointing to racism. It's more of a bad take from a man that clearly doesn't understand the room. His inclusion of Simmonds in the article further prove how much he misjudged things. I'm just not going to assume he's sitting in a white robe and mask because he did what he always does to someone of color.

You've picked an awfully strange time to start excusing/minimizing his stupidity.

[Heavy Jack]

Kadri is quickly becoming at the very least ‘A’ material for the Flames and IMO consideration for the captaincy. He’s been an incredible role-model off the ice, especially this past off-season and he’s a great ambassador for the game on key issues. I’m so happy he’s wearing Flames gear and I know he’s going to be such a great leader in Calgary on and off the ice! Go Naz!!

[Paulie Walnuts]

Not sure how you can read that conclude its not racism but a hot take. It is blatant racism, and he knows it, and everyone reading it knows it. Just look at the comments from Kadri.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Not sure how you can read that conclude its not racism but a hot take. It is blatant racism, and he knows it, and everyone reading it knows it. Just look at the comments from Kadri.

I did read. I noticed he mentioned that Simmons comments were outdated to which they clearly are as I noted he totally read the room wrong. You will also note that Kadri didn't call him a racists and discussed Simmons trying to discredit Alui which is exactly what Simmons did. Steve Simmons career is based on writing stuff that criticizes and discredits people in professional sports. He targets people in sports he doesn't like and is encouraged by his employers to provide a hot take on a team or individual. Can Steve Simmons write disparaging comments about a colored man without racist intentions? I believe yes because if Simmons can't do his regular thing to a man of color then that means Aliu is different than other people and if that's the case then we have failed as a society that is striving to treat everyone the same regardless of ethnicity, gender, skin color, etc.

As far as I'm concerned I just see a spiteful man that picked a fight he can't win. Maybe it was by design to generate clicks or maybe he just doesn't like Aliu (is friends with someone in hockey that crossed paths or even Bill Peters for all I know) and did what he does to people in sports that he doesn't like. If people that know Simmons come forth and say they know he's racist then I will admit I am wrong as it would appear his comments were born of racism but I just don't see enough evidence here. I know my take isn't popular but that doesn't mean it's wrong.

[FusionX]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Great response by Kadri.

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I did read. I noticed he mentioned that Simmons comments were outdated to which they clearly are as I noted he totally read the room wrong. You will also note that Kadri didn't call him a racists and discussed Simmons trying to discredit Alui which is exactly what Simmons did. Steve Simmons career is based on writing stuff that criticizes and discredits people in professional sports. He targets people in sports he doesn't like and is encouraged by his employers to provide a hot take on a team or individual. Can Steve Simmons write disparaging comments about a colored man without racist intentions? I believe yes because if Simmons can't do his regular thing to a man of color then that means Aliu is different than other people and if that's the case then we have failed as a society that is striving to treat everyone the same regardless of ethnicity, gender, skin color, etc.

As far as I'm concerned I just see a spiteful man that picked a fight he can't win. Maybe it was by design to generate clicks or maybe he just doesn't like Aliu (is friends with someone in hockey that crossed paths or even Bill Peters for all I know) and did what he does to people in sports that he doesn't like. If people that know Simmons come forth and say they know he's racist then I will admit I am wrong as it would appear his comments were born of racism but I just don't see enough evidence here. I know my take isn't popular but that doesn't mean it's wrong.

Such odd responses. Putting aside whether or not Simmons' is racist, there's no denying his "hot take" has a commentary on race/colour. To ignore that and simply say he's spiteful against a particular person makes light of how everyone else (rightly, IMO) sees it as him making light of a serious issue.

What gets me though is your applause for Kadri's response. If it's truly just an outdated, irrelevant and spiteful comment on one particular person, why bother with what Kadri specifically has to say? Your applause can only make me think that you in fact, disagree with what you've been arguing about this whole time.

Of course, you mention that Kadri doesn't specifically mention race, and he only calls Simmons outdated and "not a racist," but again, that's just you ignoring the clear undertones of the conversation. Kadri goes on to talk about "us" and the "great things we do," which in the context you've taken, is a response to a spiteful comment against one particular player that didn't make the NHL. That seems way over the top, no? However, if in fact, he is discussing the bigger issue of racism in hockey, then it makes perfect sense, and as you posted yourself, is a "great response by Kadri."

So which is it?

[sketchyt]

I’ve come across Steve Simmons a small handful of times.

I can verify first hand that he does not mean well and has generally poor intentions. An absolute embarrassment to journalism and a complete oxygen thief.

[dammage79]

Simmonds should be fired. Racism is not an opinion piece.

[Paulie Walnuts]

It’s definitely racist. The only part missing from it was I'm not a racist but.....

[powderjunkie]

Kadri took the high road.

Wayne Simmonds called it like he saw it.

Steve Simmons is a skidmark and should go away.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Kadri took the high road.

Wayne Simmonds called it like he saw it.

Steve Simmons is a skidmark and should go away.

Simmons is just doing what he does.

Look...we're on the other side of the country and he got 4 pages out of us. Who knows how many clicks.

The guy is a troll but he's doing what he has to in order to keep his paycheques clearing.

[Reggie Dunlop]

This is Simmon's "You People" moment...

As in "You people should be more like Wayne Simmonds and less like Akim Aliu."

[Manhattanboy]

I don’t know if Simmons is a closet or even blatant racist but clearly he has no empathy, compassion or decency.

[N-E-B]

I could never stand Steve Simmons so I’m quite enjoying this. What a stupid thing to write. What does it matter where he played? This happens at all levels and affects players of all skill levels.

I truly hope this is the end of him. One of the worst in the business.

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Simmonds should be fired. Racism is not an opinion piece.

Not much to add except that it's annoying one guy in this situation is Simmons and another one is Simmonds. I never know what anyone is talking about after a few posts.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I did read. I noticed he mentioned that Simmons comments were outdated to which they clearly are as I noted he totally read the room wrong. You will also note that Kadri didn't call him a racists and discussed Simmons trying to discredit Alui which is exactly what Simmons did. Steve Simmons career is based on writing stuff that criticizes and discredits people in professional sports. He targets people in sports he doesn't like and is encouraged by his employers to provide a hot take on a team or individual. Can Steve Simmons write disparaging comments about a colored man without racist intentions? I believe yes because if Simmons can't do his regular thing to a man of color then that means Aliu is different than other people and if that's the case then we have failed as a society that is striving to treat everyone the same regardless of ethnicity, gender, skin color, etc.

As far as I'm concerned I just see a spiteful man that picked a fight he can't win. Maybe it was by design to generate clicks or maybe he just doesn't like Aliu (is friends with someone in hockey that crossed paths or even Bill Peters for all I know) and did what he does to people in sports that he doesn't like. If people that know Simmons come forth and say they know he's racist then I will admit I am wrong as it would appear his comments were born of racism but I just don't see enough evidence here. I know my take isn't popular but that doesn't mean it's wrong.

A. You said "coloured man". Don't.
B. Simmons tried to compare two black players to prove a nonsensical point that he invented in his head. It's essentially "look at Wayne Simmonds - he's a good one of those people".

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

A. You said "coloured man". Don't.
B. Simmons tried to compare two black players to prove a nonsensical point that he invented in his head. It's essentially "look at Wayne Simmonds - he's a good one of those people".

Excellent points.