Shaw offers apology for slur
Andrew Sobotka was playing in a hockey game late on Tuesday night, so he missed the Chicago Blackhawks’ Game 4 loss to the St. Louis Blues and the controversy that followed immediately afterward. It was not until the next morning that the president of the Chicago Gay Hockey Association watched the previous night’s highlights and became aware of Andrew Shaw’s anti-gay slur.
It was shocking, said Sobotka. Not so much because of what Shaw said, but because it came from a Blackhawk.
This is an organization that two weeks ago had participated in a You Can Play event, promoting respect for athletes who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. The Blackhawks loaned the Stanley Cup to the Chicago Pride Parade in 2010 and 2015, with former player Brent Sopel marching along.
“In terms of sports teams, they’re leaders in the LGBT community,” said Sobotka. “They’ve not just made news, but changed hearts and minds about equality in sports by doing big things like bringing the Stanley Cup to pride parades.”
The Blackhawks continue to be leaders in that regard, with the team issuing a statement on Wednesday that said it was “extremely disappointed in Andrew Shaw’s actions last night.”
Shaw, who initially claimed he didn’t remember what he said, also apologized and told reporters that the slur he shouted at an official after being penalized in a Game 4 loss was inexcusable.
“That’s not the type of guy I am,” Shaw told reporters. “I saw the video last night and I had a tough time sleeping. What’s gotten to me is I let my emotions get the better of me. I want to apologize to the organization, the NHL, my teammates, my family, and my friends.
“I’ll never use that word again, that’s for sure.”
The league punished Shaw on Wednesday with a one-game suspension. The Blackhawks forward will also be required to undergo sensitivity training.
“While Mr. Shaw was apologetic and remorseful for both the offensive comments and the inappropriate gesture directed at the on-ice officials, he must be held accountable for his actions,” said Colin Campbell, NHL executive vice-president of hockey operations. “The emotion of the moment cannot and will not be a mitigating factor for the conduct that is expected of an NHL player.”
Equality in sports, and specifically in hockey, has come a long way since the days when using homophobic slurs to heckle opponents was considered common practice. Since then, players have become more sensitive and careful about what they say. Hockey is a physical game, but the fallout to this incident shows there is no excuse to say or do anything without punishment.