BOSTON — Red Sox manager John Farrell was unaware Friday of the racist remarks that angry Twitter users spewed toward P.K. Subban following the Montreal Canadiens defenseman’s game-winning goal against the Bruins in the previous night’s Stanley Cup playoff game. But upon being informed, Farrell was firm in his condemnation of such racism.
“I don’t think there’s any place in society for comments like that,” Farrell said before Friday night’s Red Sox-Oakland Athletics game at Fenway Park. “All we can speak of is what we do here and within the (Red Sox) organization. We’re fortunate enough to work in an environment where we embrace diversity. We try to create an accepting environment for all that walk through that door. It’s unfortunate that those comments even exist today.”
Subban was verbally attacked on Twitter after scoring a clutch goal in double overtime of Game 1 of the Bruins-Canadiens Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series, and many of the tweets included racial slurs. The ordeal prompted Bruins players and staff to make clear Friday that the hatred in no way, shape or form reflected the organization or the city of Boston.
Unfortunately, this marks the second race-driven issue to emerge in the last week, as Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned from the NBA for life for racist comments he made to his girlfriend. Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was among those to denounce the racial vitriol that still plagues society today in the wake of Sterling’s comments.
