For weeks I’ve been looking for a way to work my Flyers — who are in the midst of a battle for the Stanley Cup against the Chicago Blackhawks — onto this blog. So The Chicago Tribune deserves a special thanks for finally giving me an opportunity. The Blackhawks’ hometown newspaper on Tuesday printed the above poster depicting Flyers star defenseman Chris Pronger in a skirt, calling him “Chrissy” Pronger and saying he, “Looks like Tarzan, skates like Jane.” While the poster may have been intended as a joke, some feel it’s flat out sexist – and surprising given that The Tribune has a female editor. I would argue that the poster is also homophobic, but I take comfort in knowing that Pronger is gonna make those effin sissies pay tonight!!!
Didn’t you read what it says under the right-most of the three pucks? “100% chance we’ll change our minds if the Hawks sign him.” Pronger is just one of those guys you love to hate until he’s on your team, then you love him, period. Think Dennis Rodman, who Bulls fans detested for years (in part for a huge hit he laid on Scottie Pippen a couple of years before Chicago signed him) until he became a Bull and showed that he was one of those players who would kill for you if he’s your teammate, otherwise watch out. Pronger is one of those guys. Plus, it’s not like he’s some lifelong Flyer…they’re his third team in four years. Get a grip.
The truth hurts dosen’t flyers
Terry, get back into the basement until you learn how to make complete sentences!! It should say “My butt hurts, not the Flyers”.
I really wish you would stop throwing the term homophobic around. Making fun of an athlete by putting him and a dress and saying he skates like a girl is not homophobic imo. There is nothing hateful or anti-gay on that poster. You make the term “homophobic” seem more and more invalid when you continue to throw it around so carelessly.
I think it’s more sexist than homophobic but I can see where it could lead to that assumption. “You hit like a girl”, “My mom could throw better than that”, and the most recent Snickers commercial, society still finds it amusing to insult women call them the weaker sex. Because of this lack of respect for women, femininity, and sensitivity, the gay community have inherited these derogatory statements. Thanx John for sticking up for us ladies 🙂
Lighten up. This coming from a Sharks fan pulling for the Flyers and living in Illinois. Go figure. It’s a joke, move on with your life.
OH BOOO HOOO. Sexist, my ass.
That was truly funny. I hope this pisses him off, cuz he wouldn’t have made a girls team in game 5. And I also hope he get bashed into the corner like he did the other night, perhaps it will be the last time for this season………go hawks.
“The truth hurts dosen’t flyers” ?? Must be a black hawks fan. I think you meant “doesn’t ” LOL!! Dey spell as gooder as de play da hokee
It is definitely sexist, and homophobic in that gays = feminine men = women = weak, in many peoples’ minds, which is reinforced by this poster.
Shame on this newspaper for being so freaking juvenile…but then team sports seem to bring that out in people.
For my serious post:
Hockey is known for it’s trash talk, especially on the ice, and most of it is gay related. Compared to what is said on the ice, in the locker rooms, and in the rink bars, this cover is pretty mild.
For the public stuff like this, you might get a retraction, apology, etc., and that’s a good thing, but the real problem to solve is how to change the attitudes on the ice, the locker rooms, etc.
The locker room is one of the last remaining areas where blatant discrimination is allowed.
It’s very hard to be a gay man on an all straight team playing in an all straight league.
For my non-serious reply:
Here are some hockey terms and sayings that I’ve always thought sounded gay:
stickhandle(r)
stick wax
shaft
paddle
5-hole
high slot
poke check
body check
equipment check
deke
head deke
jock on the clock
dump deep
dump and change
dump and chase
flip pass
saucer
team penalty
in the box
That picture is pucking ridiculous.