NYT piece on the discomfort gay hockey fans in New York feel at MSG

I thought this was an interesting, albeit sad, story.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/sports/hockey/21fans.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=sports

 

Kudos to Tom Jolly and the NY Times for yet another terrific enterprise story!

 

i'm shocked (shocked!) there are anti-gay sentiments shouted at athletes. a good story, and an important one in many regards. unfortunately, it will never go away. yelling "effing fag" at athletes is a time-honored tradition of drunks and idiots alike. (booing a gay hockey league mention and "ho-mo larry" is something else entirely.) being a gay sports fan definitely can't be easy.

first the jets fiasco now this. people are going to start thinking ny sports fans are some kind of boors. we can't have that.

 

Tough nut to crack. It'll take several more decades to turn that fan base over, and until then, it'll take ejections to stop it . . . and MSG doesn't have the nerve.

 

One of the negatives about going to sporting events is that jerks have the very real potential of ruining the game for everyone within earshot.

 

It could be that hockey fans are just assholes.

 

Not surprised. This is New York, after all.
Think any of the people chanting it ever get laid?

 

Sure. Hockey fans hardly compare to Eagles and Raiders fans.

 

It is definitely not that. Get over yourself.

The NYT definitely took a chance on this story. Sadly, there's no way to wipe out homophobia.

 

Sadly, some people's idea of a having a good time at sporting events involves ruining the experience for other people.
I imagine it's always been that way.

 

I've sat in the nosebleeds twice this year. If you wear a jersey of the visiting team, you are relentlessly mocked and yelled at. Of course, we also have sensible fans who tell the mockers to STFU.

No homosexual epithets, though.

 

Either Kevin Sullivan will be vilified or celebrated for coming forth in that story.