How dare Pernell Karl Subban not follow the outdated NHL code where guys like him know his role, take crap and never fight back.
Last night Joffrey "I can't spell Jeffrey correctly" Lupul became the latest in a line of white NHL players to rip on Subban for not learning how to act. You see Lupul who slashed and dropped his gloves first is upset that Subban hit him first in the fight and won. Lupul is upset that he lost in front of his new teammates, that he started the fight etc so he had to make the perfunctory "the kid has to learn" comment after the game. According to Lupul, Subban should have waited for him to take his helmet off before fighting (both wear visors), and Subban allegedly didn't follow the code by obliging.
Again Subban is being held to a higher standard than others, his actions are overblown.
That makes two losers who have ripped on him this week, first it was Marchand from the Bruins and now Lupul. It seems Subban can't win. He is ripped if he fights and ripped if he doesn't fight.
I have had many disagreements with posters on various webboards over this issue but I insist that the reason Subban is ripped as often as he is arises from the colour of his skin. Hockey is still basically a white sport (the last of the major four North American sports to remain mostly white) and Subban is a dark Afro-Canadian, who acts more like an Afro-Canadian than many of the other men of colour in the NHL. He is flamboyant like many NFL and NBA stars, doesn't take crap from his alleged superiors (as evidenced from his disagreements Crosby in the playoffs and earlier this year. He doesn't think his rookie status means he should have to accept the slings and arrows of his outrageous fortune. He has decided to take up arms and fight his opponents and beat them (thanks Will Shakespear).
The press piles on him, no one stands up for him (although Josh Gorges did to some extent) and even one announcer (although in fairness he apologized and said he didn't mean it the way it sounded and that it was just a slip of the tongue, said Subban needs to play the "white way").
Basically the NHL doesn't want players who are not drones, who make good comments to the press, and who have personality.
Subban is just being punished for being black, having a personality and not accepting the NHL code bullshit.
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