WHY ARE AFRICAN-AMERICANS RELECUTANT TO ACCEPT HOCKEY?
Blog by Cory ''Greasly'' Estes, PSN Contributor
As youngster from the outskirts of Pittsburgh, it was essential to be a well-rounded sports enthusiast. Football, basketball, and baseball all were known as the norms around the way, but hockey always intrigued me and sparked interest in a few kids in my neighborhood.
Hockey sort of reminded us of a cleaner, smoother, and crisper version of football, but with added discipline. The goal scoring aspect seemed dominating, and we idolized the superstars that also could beat their opponents both mentally and physically.
Maybe being a youth, loving the “Mighty Ducks movies” and associating 'winning' with the Pens, gravitated us to following the likes of Lemieux, Jagr, Francis, Stevens, Barrasso, Mullen, Straka, Samuelsson, Recchi, Coffey, and Murphy aligned with the new blood of Crosby, Malkin, Staal, and Fleury... it was like we had to watch this legendary team.
It's discouraging knowing that most African-Americans don't even accept hockey as a likeable sport. Maybe because it is so difficult to pay for the expensive equipment necessary to play ice or deck hockey? Or maybe the players who excel at the sport aren't the same color as us?
In their defense most high schools in the area can't afford to offer any form of hockey as a recognized sport at the varsity level. Although, there are always programs to help promote the sport and familiarize it to additional cultures. The high pace of the sport, collaborating with the winning tradition should attract more colored fans inch by inch. I actually gained many friends and associates through watching the sport of hockey, and it seemed to unite us with at least one thing in common-- supporting our city's team, the Pens.
So, as we watch the Pens throughout the play-offs , just take a second to really acknowledge all of the Pens fans around you.
As youngster from the outskirts of Pittsburgh, it was essential to be a well-rounded sports enthusiast. Football, basketball, and baseball all were known as the norms around the way, but hockey always intrigued me and sparked interest in a few kids in my neighborhood. Hockey sort of reminded us of a cleaner, smoother, and crisper version of football, but with added discipline. The goal scoring aspect seemed dominating, and we idolized the superstars that also could beat their opponents both mentally and physically.
Maybe being a youth, loving the “Mighty Ducks movies” and associating 'winning' with the Pens, gravitated us to following the likes of Lemieux, Jagr, Francis, Stevens, Barrasso, Mullen, Straka, Samuelsson, Recchi, Coffey, and Murphy aligned with the new blood of Crosby, Malkin, Staal, and Fleury... it was like we had to watch this legendary team.
It's discouraging knowing that most African-Americans don't even accept hockey as a likeable sport. Maybe because it is so difficult to pay for the expensive equipment necessary to play ice or deck hockey? Or maybe the players who excel at the sport aren't the same color as us?
In their defense most high schools in the area can't afford to offer any form of hockey as a recognized sport at the varsity level. Although, there are always programs to help promote the sport and familiarize it to additional cultures. The high pace of the sport, collaborating with the winning tradition should attract more colored fans inch by inch. I actually gained many friends and associates through watching the sport of hockey, and it seemed to unite us with at least one thing in common-- supporting our city's team, the Pens.
So, as we watch the Pens throughout the play-offs , just take a second to really acknowledge all of the Pens fans around you.
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