Emery a victim of Racism?

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

This thread won't end well.

My exact thoughts, Because a- someone will step out of line, or b- it'll be taken out of context and someone will get banned and/or being shunned because of what they say..

Leave it at, Emery is playing hockey in Russia. Good Riddance, We couldn't be happier.

[Opie 308]

As a white guy who has lived in the 2 of the whitest states in the country (Maine, New Hampshire) can I ask that people stop typing arrogant untrue statements like,

The Excuse every black person uses

or gems like this

Because what is the first thing a minority does when they don't get what THEY feel the deserve? EXACTLY, they pull the race card out.

There are black people who do act this way, as well as white people, Asians, Latinos, every other group, a sense of entitlement is not a disease of color, it is an attitude that follows people who are usually spoiled or have gone from having nothing to having everything really quickly.

EMERY HIMSELF, stated this was not a race issue, this is another person trying to make a name for himself, another Jemele Hill, Skip Bayless, Scoop Jackson, etc.....

Poor journalism is not an excuse to lay blame to race, especially when the people involved first hand admit race had nothing to do with it!!!

[eva unit zero 271]

What excuse is he implying? I don't see it. And what is the excuse that every black person uses? Is it the same "excuse" that Ottawa gave him the starting job just because of his skin color like you said? That is bull, and you being racist about it. Hasek got injured, Emery took over the reigns and played well enough and Hasek couldn't get healthy to play (please for the sanity of this thread no goalie/Hasek/Emery drama). This has absolutely zero to do with skin color.

Emery got the job because he's Canadian and his teammate was from *shudder* EUROPE.

[Barrie 900]

I'm sad to see that this article was written by Mike Toth. I listen to him daily on the FAN590 and appreciate his work and opinions on all sports.

This has nothing to do with race, but has everything to do with Emery's off-ice actions making headlines, late arrivals for practices, 12-13-4 record, 3.13 goals against average, and a .890 save percentage this past season.

Anytime someone plays the race card, they take an argument to a new and dangerous level. I think anyone who cries racism better be damn sure it has something to do with race because isn't something that should be used lightly.

I have to 100% disagree with Toth on this one. Plus I think there's a lot of things that have gone on off the ice with Emery that we don't know about. Ottawa just doesn't want to deal with him anymore.

[LeftWinger 5,131]

As a white guy who has lived in the 2 of the whitest states in the country (Maine, New Hampshire) can I ask that people stop typing arrogant untrue statements like,

or gems like this

There are black people who do act this way, as well as white people, Asians, Latinos, every other group, a sense of entitlement is not a disease of color, it is an attitude that follows people who are usually spoiled or have gone from having nothing to having everything really quickly.

EMERY HIMSELF, stated this was not a race issue, this is another person trying to make a name for himself, another Jemele Hill, Skip Bayless, Scoop Jackson, etc.....

Poor journalism is not an excuse to lay blame to race, especially when the people involved first hand admit race had nothing to do with it!!!

...and living in those places you do not see the race card everyday. Living in areas dominated by "minorities" (which would actually make me the minority) the race card is used on a daily basis and used to the advantage of getting something that that certain someone doesn't derserve or didn't earn...

...outside of your "white" states, this is reality. And to think, Michigan voted to abolish affirmative action, and yet, it, affirmative action STILL runs wild...

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

...and living in those places you do not see the race card everyday. Living in areas dominated by "minorities" (which would actually make me the minority) the race card is used on a daily basis and used to the advantage of getting something that that certain someone doesn't derserve or didn't earn...

...outside of your "white" states, this is reality. And to think, Michigan voted to abolish affirmative action, and yet, it, affirmative action STILL runs wild...

Well I've lived in a region where people play the race card on a fairly regular basis unfortuantely. Thankfully I have been fortunate to live in good settings in the area both when I was young and where I live now where I don't have to worry about it personally, but unfortuantely it is a huge problem down here still. In fact I just read in the local paper this morning how a black politician down here played the race card, for reasons that are not really needed to get into as it isn't relevant to the subject and thread. Also heard plenty of commentary regarding it this morning on local talk radio. And quite honestly, many people of BOTH RACES black and white are sick of this excuse and are ready to look past skin color or descent.

[stormboy 47]

Help me out here- I don't know anything about this guy other than seeing him play in a couple of games, and obviously you can't pull off the ghetto look in goalie pads. But if he bought into that side of black culture, more power to him. Other cultures tend to react badly to it, though. Outwardly, not so much, but I've seen black guys who get hassled for standing outside their apartment building, "Get a job!" and black students in my school who teachers tend to mistrust and mistreat right from the start. This is me trying to see it completely objectively. Especially in my school, I've seen this "beneath the surface" racism, or at least unfair treatment towards anyone who subscribes to black culture. Wearing baggy pants, baggy clothes, big chains, and whatever else will get you sent home immediately. They're harmless clothes, just like anyone else's. Somehow they "aren't conducive to a proper learning environment."

If you don't think racism or contempt towards that culture exists up and down throughout our society, then you're probably just not paying attention to it. Nobody minds a black guy that "acts like a white guy." When a black guy talks differently or dresses differently, it's a problem.

Sure Emery wasn't helping himself along the way, but his attitude got a lot more attention than Jagr's and some of the others'.

as one of the few in this thread who has thought that there was some element of race involved, i agree with everything you've said here. my point has never been that emery simply had to sign in russia because of the color of his skin. another poster made a point about sean avery and all the problems people have had with his antics and personality. and yeah, he gets bounced from team to team, but he still keeps getting offered contracts. i could be wrong here, but it seems to me that if a black guy was going what avery does, he'd have a lot harder of a time getting a contract.

i've never said that anyone looked at emery and said, "you're black; we're not signing you." my point is that whether it's been in his relationships with his teammates or the attention he's gotten in the media or whatever, it has all been affected in (sometimes imperceptible) ways. i just think when people immediately dismiss any mention of race in a context like this it's a bit ignorant.

Well I've lived in a region where people play the race card on a fairly regular basis unfortuantely. Thankfully I have been fortunate to live in good settings in the area both when I was young and where I live now where I don't have to worry about it personally, but unfortuantely it is a huge problem down here still. In fact I just read in the local paper this morning how a black politician down here played the race card, for reasons that are not really needed to get into as it isn't relevant to the subject and thread. Also heard plenty of commentary regarding it this morning on local talk radio. And quite honestly, many people of BOTH RACES black and white are sick of this excuse and are ready to look past skin color or descent.

a lot of people are willing to move on and look past it, but the thing is that a lot--and i mean a lot of people--overtly or not--are still affected by the color of someone else's skin. i'm not a huge fan of the term "race card" because it implies that any time anyone brings up the issue of race, they're just using it as an excuse that is illegitimate. a few weeks ago, i got put in a cop car because i gave a black guy a few cigarettes at the liquor store down the street. the white cop thought we were doing a drug deal. now do you honestly thing that two white guys at a suburban gas station would have gotten that kind of attention? no chance in hell. and if curtis, the guy who i was talking to who also got searched and put in the cop car, said that his treatment had something to do with race, then he's absolutely right. and for someone to say, "oh, he was just playing the race card" is absurd.

i know that's a little off topic, but it ties into my point that you can't just dismiss these things. i'm glad this thread was created for discussion. there's no way to quantify what percentage of emery's cumulative problems are a result of race. but it's something that at least needs to be considered and not simply dismissed with an, "oh bulls***" comment.

edit: grammar

Edited July 18, 2008 by stormboy

[Doc Holiday 0]

as one of the few in this thread who has thought that there was some element of race involved, i agree with everything you've said here. my point has never been that emery simply had to sign in russia because of the color of his skin. another poster made a point about sean avery and all the problems people have had with his antics and personality. and yeah, he gets bounced from team to team, but he still keeps getting offered contracts. i could be wrong here, but it seems to me that if a black guy was going what avery does, he'd have a lot harder of a time getting a contract.

Avery has a job and does it well. However he can't stick to the same team because of his attitude. Same thing would have happened if Emery kept up these antics we hear about. Didn't Emery receive offers but for backup jobs?

i've never said that anyone looked at emery and said, "you're black; we're not signing you." my point is that whether it's been in his relationships with his teammates or the attention he's gotten in the media or whatever, it has all been affected in (sometimes imperceptible) ways. i just think when people immediately dismiss any mention of race in a context like this it's a bit ignorant.

I think it is ignorant to believe that his race has something to do with it when there is no indication of such.

i know that's a little off topic, but it ties into my point that you can't just dismiss these things. i'm glad this thread was created for discussion. there's no way to quantify what percentage of emery's cumulative problems are a result of race. but it's something that at least needs to be considered and not simply dismissed with an, "oh bulls***" comment.

edit: grammar

I'll consider it if you can give me a substantial reason to consider it.

[T.Low 1,011]

I think the only aspect of this that involves racism is when people allude to his "typical hip hop" attitude. Because the implication is "typical n*gger."

While the hip hop culture began as an inner city manifestation, complete with its blaitant disrespect for authority, its tendency to use a gun as a main conflict resolution method, and its conspicous consumption, make no mistake, it is a multi racial culture: negroid, caucazoid, and mongoloid.

While I do not prefer to hang out with a baggy pantsed, slant capped, wanna be boy from the hood, I am not going to instantly hate on the guy just because of his silly appearence. Would I question the guys judgement? Yes.

The fact that he may be black is not my issue at all.

[e_144 0]

What a load of crap. Mike Toth doesn't know what the hell he is talking about!

First of all, we all know that emery is out because of his attitude. He practically admitted it in that in that interview on off the record.

He also admitted that he could stay but earn 1/10th of the money. So he is going to russia for the money. (as well as the fact that he thinks it gives him the chance to sort out his life)

[e_144 0]

And in terms of the partiying issue, maybe Emery doesnt know, Mike Toth definately doesnt know and what a lot of ppl on LGW probably dont know either is that the nightlife in Moscow is crazy!!!!

The clubs there are open 24 hours a day. And because the difference between rich and poor is sooo big, and the russians love to show their money, you will find people spraying more champagne than miami, london, new york. Probably even more than in St. Tropez! I know because I have seen it. Its crazy....

Oh and btw, speaking of racisim. Russia is the most rascist country in the world. Russians hate Jews and there are practically no black people there because the Russians are so rascist....

[stormboy 47]

Avery has a job and does it well. However he can't stick to the same team because of his attitude. Same thing would have happened if Emery kept up these antics we hear about. Didn't Emery receive offers but for backup jobs?

it's a fair point. i agree that his downturn in playing ability and attitude were the reasons for his downgrade to potential backup, and therefore his motivation to sign in russia. it's very possible that ray emery is just a bad seed. in response to this:

I'll consider it if you can give me a substantial reason to consider it.

i'll go along with that by saying that i can't give you anecdotal evidence to support my supposition that racism has something to do with ray emery's career trajectory. all i'm saying is that it's pretty clear that he came to feel like an outsider, hence his lack of commitment to the team. that could be purely only personal and non-racial issues. but what i'm saying is, and in response to this:

I think it is ignorant to believe that his race has something to do with it when there is no indication of such.

when you're a black man in a country, culture, and sport that is predominantly white and in which whites have the vast majority of the power, and in which there is a ubiquitous underpinning of racism from a high percentage of the people, smart money says that his race and our country (and canada's) racist tendencies played some part in his feelings, decisions, and behaviors. i guess because i can't prove it, maybe i don't have a right to speculate. but i guess i'm a little sensitive because i hear people say all the time that they're not racist, and then observe racist tendencies that they themselves may not be aware they're exhibiting but nevertheless influence not only their lives, but the lives of people of other skin colors whom they encounter. and i've heard enough people say, "racism is dead," only to hear people make happy comments that they thought were in private about two black girls drowning in the river in my hometown to know that racism ain't ******* dead. and it pops up where you'd least expect it.

so, i guess all i can really do is say, "huh...i wonder if racism had something to do with that. i bet it did, but i can't really know for sure," and then discuss it with my friends/people on the internet and hope that it's something that people think more about and take more seriously. i guess that's what my aim here is.

i appreciate your honest comments and your non-inflammatory way of stating your opinions, even if i don't fully understand them.

Edited July 18, 2008 by stormboy

[Guest Shoreline]

If this were in the Water Cooler I could have stirred the pot with a few articles coming out of the southeast.

Anyways, clearly players are not discriminated against, by teams, regarding race. It's not that the "problem was solved long ago", as someone else puts it (racism is certainly lingering amongst society), it's just that more than likely the NHL hasn't seen a significantly large spike in black players to make anyone feel one way or another who might teeter on the issue. Once we see that, then we can get a better idea of things. That's just my skepticism though. For now, black players are treated like any other, by effort and merit (skill, contribution, etc.). Emery clearly couldn't handle criticism. Canadian teams are very highly critical of players, and goalies are usually the first in the spotlight. If you don't want to be criticized and in the spotlight very much, be the equipment manager.

[Doc Holiday 0]

when you're a black man in a country, culture, and sport that is predominantly white and in which whites have the vast majority of the power, and in which there is a ubiquitous underpinning of racism from a high percentage of the people, smart money says that his race and our country (and canada's) racist tendencies played some part in his feelings, decisions, and behaviors. i guess because i can't prove it, maybe i don't have a right to speculate. but i guess i'm a little sensitive because i hear people say all the time that they're not racist, and then observe racist tendencies that they themselves may not be aware they're exhibiting but nevertheless influence not only their lives, but the lives of people of other skin colors whom they encounter. and i've heard enough people say, "racism is dead," only to hear people make happy comments that they thought were in private about two black girls drowning in the river in my hometown to know that racism ain't ******* dead. and it pops up where you'd least expect it.

so, i guess all i can really do is say, "huh...i wonder if racism had something to do with that. i bet it did, but i can't really know for sure," and then discuss it with my friends/people on the internet and hope that it's something that people think more about and take more seriously. i guess that's what my aim here is.

i appreciate your honest comments and your non-inflammatory way of stating your opinions, even if i don't fully understand them.

The reason I don't really believe in the "he felt like an outsider" assertion is Emery made no mention of feeling like he wasn't welcome or being an outsider. I totally agree that racism is still prevalent in this country and when blacks do lose their jobs or get overlooked in an interview it is because of race. However I am very very skeptical that this is the case here. Emery did have offers, but turned them down. Goalies are under a lot more scrutiny than forwards and defensemen are because of their job, and if coaches believe that the goalie's unprofessional behavior (past or present) will effect their ability, there is no way they will give him the number one spot.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Does racism also play a part in Anson Carter not being able to find a job in the NHL?

Being black has absolutley nothing to do with it. Emery is a mediocre goaltender who in no way should be a starter, and he's nothing but a distraction with his antics. That's why he couldn't find a team to sign him, especially a young-team like Los Angeles that doesn't need a cancer in the lockeroom (I couldn't believe for a second they were actually interested in him, like the rumors said).

Also, as somebody pointed out earlier, there are noteable black players in the NHL (mainly Jarome Iginla, Mike Grier, and Georges Laraque) that are well-respected and well paid for their talents. Guys like Emery or Carter couldn't find a team because their bad hockey players; not because their black.

Edited July 19, 2008 by Kp-Wings