The Chicago Tribune thinks Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger is a 5-foot-2 female figure skater. Now we find out the Chicago Blackhawks think Pronger is gay. They wrote as much on a whiteboard in their locker room, and that has come through in at least one photo of their Stanley Cup championship celebration. Chances are slim they meant it as a compliment of his grooming or his good taste in clothes.
I’ve always thought you were supposed to be classy in victory. I guess that message hasn’t reached the Blackhawks yet.
on Jun 11th, 2010 at 2:26 PM
This makes me sad, I really like the Blackhawks. Can’t say I’m surprised though. I do think this reflects more on one individual player being an idiot though, rather than the whole team.
on Jun 11th, 2010 at 3:05 PM
Gee, now I wish the Flyers had won.
on Jun 11th, 2010 at 4:17 PM
Did Pronger have nothing but kind words to say to the Blackhawks while on the ice?
Do you think that not ONE homophobic comment was uttered by the Flyers during this series?
If so, I’ll take that bet.
They have some growing up to do, yes. But these kids are in the range of 22-23 years old. Not saying this makes it right…just offering up some perspective….
on Jun 11th, 2010 at 4:59 PM
Hockey has always gotten chippy in the playoffs. Teams have always done little things to screw with eachother. This unfortunately goes beyong that. Yes their are some young players but comeon there are also veterans who should know a little better. The coaches don’t look so young. It was classless.
on Jun 11th, 2010 at 6:51 PM
Jon, that message board ISN’T on the ice, written during the heat of the game. Nor was the Chicago Post….err, I mean Tribune…picture. Between this and the comments by some unknown named Adam Burish, Chicago’s breaking their long drought is no longer something to feel sort of good about even though they beat the Flyers. The Blackhawks are now just another bunch of douchebags to hate, like the New York and Boston teams and, of course, the Dallas Cowboys.
on Jun 11th, 2010 at 8:04 PM
Yeah Hawks! I feel great about them winning. Toews and Kane can tell me I’m gay anytime.
on Jun 11th, 2010 at 8:34 PM
Ha! I think that’s fantastic, personally. No, this wasn’t heat-of-the-moment on the ice, but it was heat-of-the-moment celebrating after a hard victory.
Not a big deal.
At all.
on Jun 11th, 2010 at 8:36 PM
Jon, come on. Whats said on the ice and whats written on a white board are not one in the same. This is cowardly. Im guessing that they were too afraid to say it too his face.
on Jun 11th, 2010 at 8:58 PM
not too bothered by this if at all. Probably because it’s in the locker room, a semi private area that people normally don’t see much of except for situations like this where a championship is won.
I’m guessing if Pronger wasn’t such a major thorn in their side and pain in the neck that you wouldn’t have seen such a thing…..
on Jun 11th, 2010 at 10:01 PM
Maybe Chris is gay and the Hawks are just sharing it in a positive way while they celebrate! Kane and Sharpie can rock my world any day or night!
on Jun 11th, 2010 at 10:41 PM
Haterosexuals being haterosexuals. They can’t just celebrate their victory they also have to trash gay people in the process.
on Jun 12th, 2010 at 2:41 AM
Let’s remember we don’t know if anyone from the Blackhawks actually wrote that message. Between family, friends, media and others close to the team – it could have been anyone.
on Jun 12th, 2010 at 4:15 AM
Not really a suprise!
You have Gareth Thomas and his team mates, including Nick Youngquest, showing a positive environment for out sportsmen.
And then you have Jason Ackermis, the Chigago Blackhawks, etcetera showing that maybe team sports are not that welcoming to out players.
on Jun 12th, 2010 at 8:23 AM
Maybe Kane’s cab driver wrote it.
on Jun 12th, 2010 at 10:32 AM
Let’s be honest there are at least two and maybe three guys on the team that are gay anyways and just not out of the closet or not accepting it yet. So ten years from now when they are broke and their careers are over and they come out with a book talking about their experiences as a closeted gay man in the NHL, lets hope Chicago doesn’t make them grand marshall of the gay pride parade.
on Jun 12th, 2010 at 11:25 AM
JT Chiguy, you’re right. And, if you’re assuming, don’t. Trust. One is partnered.
on Jun 12th, 2010 at 1:23 PM
That this message is in the locker room should be just as troubling as if it were on the ice, perhaps even more so. It demonstrates how these players truly feel. Moreover, they knew that message was meant to be very public.
For those who wrote that the players’ age (22-23) should give them a pass on this. No, it shouldn’t. They’re 22-23, not 12-13.
Add me to those who wish the Flyers had won.
on Jun 12th, 2010 at 1:38 PM
Wow, everyone just needs to calm the fuck down. Honestly, people call each other and random things gay constantly, and because there is a picture of it in relation to a sports team we get all worked up? Does ANYONE realize that these athletes get paid more money to play a game than many doctors get paid to save lives? What in God’s name is wrong with our country. I’m gay, seriously, I have a boyfriend and I’m a man. But you are all faggots. Do something with your time.
on Jun 12th, 2010 at 1:44 PM
Not homophobic? Not hate? Just locker room banter? Really?
Well, don’t forget the Chicago Tribune created a photo of Chris Pronger in a skirt and actually printed it while referring to him as Chrissy:
http://outsports.com/jocktalkblog/2010/06/09/whos-offended-by-chrissy-pronger/.
Seems to me a lot of professional hockey players would be better off if they grew up a bit.
on Jun 12th, 2010 at 6:16 PM
I’m not sure what bothers me more: gay guys who say ‘it’s not a big deal’; or the fact that gays are the last ‘group’ that can be insulted with a degree of immunity. Check that, it’s gays who say it is not a big deal.
Society wouldn’t accept “Pronger is a n _ _ _ _ _”, or “Pronger is a k_ke” or “Pronger is a ch_nk”. But hey, “Pronger is gay” is not a big deal to some of you, or it’s just a sign of youthful immaturity.
Try telling that to gay youths who live with the insult every day of their lives. Better yet, try telling it to the ones who committed suicide for that very reason.
on Jun 12th, 2010 at 6:49 PM
You want to see Chicago’s true colors? Go to the Flyers Fan page on facebook. It will definitely change your outlook on things.
Classless? Yes. Check it out.
on Jun 12th, 2010 at 9:39 PM
Patrick Sharp is bisexual. Wonder how classy he thought it was of his teammates to do that.
on Jun 12th, 2010 at 11:02 PM
Gosh, why is this a big deal? They were probably just goofing around in the locker room. Just because this was written doesn’t mean the whole team should be considered unclassy. I’m sure they say worse stuff to each other on the ice! Grow a backbone people. Go cry to someone else.
on Jun 13th, 2010 at 12:04 AM
It has nothing to do with growing a backbone. It has everything to do with human respect. I assume if you were black, it would be fine if they wrote “Pronger is a n _ _ _ _ _”.
As far as I know, it’s the team’s white board and obviously no one – players or management – was motivated enough to erase the message (that then went public). Sorry, I’m no longer willing to accept the insults, and the accompanying lack of equal rights, as easily as you are.
on Jun 13th, 2010 at 2:37 AM
A little joke never hurt anyone, lighten up!
on Jun 13th, 2010 at 8:24 AM
We need to consider what actually happened: (1) a national magazine ridiculed a hockey player by calling him names (Chrissy and gay), and (2) a message was printed on a very public message board about a persons sexual orientation. It’s easy to say this is no big deal but these actions are negative toward gay people. If you think that they don’t have an impact on young people struggling with their sexual identity, read about Roy Ashburn and how he was affected by a police sting operation that arrested people for being gay. These actions send a strong message that being gay is something to be ridiculed! We can downplay it if we like, but the fact is, these negative actions have a negative effect — always. They underscore the notion that being gay is wrong. It would not have been negative if they had written that “Chris Pronger is straight!”
on Jun 13th, 2010 at 7:12 PM
It’s guys being guys. They think its a joke but truely its cruel. I feel bad for Chris Pronger even if he’s really gay or not. Maybe he’s bi? Who cares? Ya its upsetting that the team did that. We love you man.
on Jun 14th, 2010 at 9:28 AM
Wow, just shows you how thin skinned a lot of guys out there are on these comments threads. You go into any pro locker room, you’re going to hear many many things. Not all are going to be sugary sweet and PC. Last thing we need in this society is more PCness.
on Jun 14th, 2010 at 12:02 PM
Paul in N. AL
Hear things like what? Kike? Nigger?Spick?Chink? Gook? Loudly and for everybody to hear?
“He wants more salary? Meh, he’s an effin kike, so what do you expect.”
You hear things like that? Or is just “faggot” because America, like Germany hates “faggots” and can freely speak it, unlike well, “kike”.
Are gays the same as Blacks and Jews? Or not? Is that reason for the difference and the open hate?
on Jun 14th, 2010 at 12:06 PM
“Last thing we need in this society is more PCness.”
Well, if that’s the case, then bring back nigger, kike, and all the rest. I want to see “Chris Pronger is a Nigger!” dispalyed freely and proudly and with humor. I want to see this. Hopefully I get to one day without a media uproar, and if there is, I hope people tell the people who are truly and deeply offended by this awful and digusting word that they need to lighten up, not be so PC, and take a joke.
on Jun 14th, 2010 at 12:20 PM
“Are gays the same as Blacks and Jews? Or not? Is that reason for the difference and the open hate?”
Yes, that’s exactly it. American society as well as other societies, do not view homosexuality as anything other than a behavior. Like alcoholism, or drug addiction. They see it as something that is changeable, or can be “cured”. They do not see gay people as a “people” when they are. But, that’s nobody’s fault but the gay communities. The lack of visibility and fear they have towards persecution and their desperate desire to normalize (when they are normal already) is the reason things like this exist, and why homophobic epithets are so often used in everyday language. Gay people need to get louder and more visible, they need to come out, or else things like this will happen over and over again. The lack of visibility and cowardace, and excuses for everything about not coming out, is a huge problem and will cause nothing but trouble for gay people. I am not stating to out peoole, which I agree with if they are homophobic, but come out for yourself. For a real life.
Cyd Zeigler raised this issue and that’s a great, great thing. But, I think he needs to write an editorial calling for an apology and for gay groups to examine this kind of display in the media and confront it. He needs to not let this go. Letting things go is another problem. Even if he’s the only one who writes a piece calling for an apology, I respect that immensely. He needs to do that.
on Jun 14th, 2010 at 12:33 PM
I would just like to add is that an oppressive majority will always think less of an oppressed minority. The struggles to each oppressed group are all the same. The labels, the stereotypes, the ideas, etc. Hitler despised gay people, and he tried to eliminate them, so just think about the company homophobes keep when you hear something homophobic, (and also the homophobe is most likely a self-loathing closeted gay man). Don’t take it personal, but don’t take it either.
I hope Cyd writes an editorial because he has the outlet to do so. He has an audience.
on Jun 14th, 2010 at 2:56 PM
Is calling someone gay really so bad these days? Is it really an insult? I don’t think it is because I dont think that being gay is a bad thing nor do many people. Calling someone gay has rather lost its potency because so many of us have friends, family, colleagues who are gay.
Calling some a n***** or k*ke or ch*nk is overtly derogatory and racist and is INTENDED to be; there is no banter there; the intention is to offend. Surely it is important to look at the intention behind this locker room banter and consider the context also. I mean, if these guys really wanted to offend one of their teammates, I’m sure they’d use much stronger language than gay; the vile f word for example. Just my opin.
on Jun 14th, 2010 at 3:21 PM
Are you serious UKgirrl?
My nephews (one is 8-years-old) say that the prevailing insult on the school playground is easily “you’re such a fag”.
If the phrase isn’t meant as an “insult” and demeaning, why was a gay 15-year-old boy shot in the head in 2008 in a California classroom? And why did two 11-year-olds hang themselves in early 2009 in Massachusetts and Georgia after merciless anti-gay bullying? Those are just three of the more recent youth suicides related to this issue.
Somehow I think that these kids – if they were still alive – would tell you that ‘yes’ the phrase, and the harrassment that accompanied it, really was so bad.
on Jul 11th, 2010 at 4:08 AM
ADAM BURNISH WROTE THAT. BELIEVE ME.
AFTER HIS CLASSLESS COMMENT AFTER WINNING THE CUP, MY FINGER POINTS TO HIM