Curt Schilling and Andrew Shaw...A Terrible Tuesday

I guess I'll call it Terrible Tuesday since it was a couple of days ago when a comment and a social media post by two high-profile sports figures resulted in a $5000 fine, mandatory sensitivity training and the issuance of a public apology from one and the loss of a dream job for the other.  For lots of people, these incidents are further proof of rampant homophobia in the world of sports.  I don't see it that way.  Granted, there may very well be rampant so-called homophobia (so-called because increasingly it seems that if you don't agree with or support the lifestyle, you're a hater and that's just ridiculous) in the world of sports, but neither of these incidents qualifies as proof.



Incident 1:

Chicago Blackhawk forward Andrew Shaw upset over a call during Tuesday's game against the Blues (the Hawks lost), flipped double birds at officials. Then while cooling in the penalty box, began a profanity-laced rant that included the double "f" slur.  Players often lose their cool on the ice, but it's the fact that Shaw's use of the f-word (not that one, the other one) was captured on video that set things in motion. Does anyone really believe that Shaw, angry about being penalized, decided to seize the opportunity to express hatred for homosexuals? Or is it more likely that he was ticked-off about the call and was ranting?  Of course, it was the latter.  Having said that, I understand the NHL's position.  If they have rules regarding this kind of behavior, then so be it, he must pay the price for his actions.  Personally, I think that professional athletes should be more cognizant of their actions in general since so many youngsters are in their fanbase.  But the idea that he was fostering an anti-gay atmosphere is just silly.

Incident 2:

ESPN baseball analyst, Curt Schilling was fired on Wednesday for posting a comment about a meme that someone else had posted regarding the big social issue of the day--transsexuals having the right to use the restroom of their choice.  This is the meme that was posted by Facebook user Autumn Williams II:

And this is what Schilling posted:

"A man is a man no matter what they call themselves. I don't care what they are, who they sleep with, men's room was designed for the penis, women's not so much.  Now you need laws to tell us differently? Pathetic."

And for this Schilling is being called homophobic?  He's entitled to his opinion, and frankly, I agree with him.  I was reading several stories about this incident and a number of writers pointed to a tweet made by Schilling several months ago where he compared extremist Muslims to Nazis and included a picture of Hitler.  That's right, he said extremist, not Muslims in general, and for this, he's been labeled a racist. I guess all mass murders being carried out in the Middle East, and the terrorist activity (including murder) being committed across the globe in the name of Islam should be described as acts of  disgruntlement...maybe people would feel more comfortable with that description.  

Schilling has made himself an easy target because he proudly identifies as pro-life, pro-second amendment, Christian, and proud American.  Clearly, we as a society are losing our moral compass, along with our minds and inevitably we will pay a heavy price for being fearful of speaking the truth and for defending the indefensible.

Lastly, if these students represent our future, we're in serious trouble.