When kids hear it at home & all around them, they think that it's normal & what is supposed to be done. When I played soccer here in SC from 01-05 it was pretty bad, especially since our team was mostly hispanic w/ a few blacks every now & then & one white guy. I'd hear everything from the n word, to wetbacks, tomato pickers, you name it. We'd hear it from the fans, players, coaches, even some refs. Like NorthChuckSoccer's team, we fed off of it too, but I'd be lying if I told you it didn't mentally affect us. As strong as we try to be as players, these words & actions did affect us mentally. What made it worse was that refs would tell us we need to suck it up cuz there's nothing they can do about it. Or when you hear coaches joking around with their players saying these derogatory terms. What can you do?
If the administrators, coaches, players, and refs are not committed to eradicating this sickness, then it will continue. When a ref or a coach says "there's nothing I can do", then that empowers those that are continuing with the racist remarks. Yet when a black or hispanic kid decides that (s)he's had enough & reacts, then the conversation won't be the racism that caused this kid to snap, but how these kids are uncontrollable & a shame to the league & they should be banned forever.
Rather than just taking the easy way and passing it along for someone else to deal with, we can start by having zero tolerance for racism. But the only way is when everyone is on the same page. It does no good if some administrators, coaches, and even refs just turn the other way.
Last edited by EaglesFutbol; 05/27/14 04:34 PM.
