This time, Wayne Simmonds finds himself on the other side of the fence.
Last week in London, Ont., a fan threw a banana at the Flyers forward, an obvious racial gesture to Simmonds being a black Canadian hockey player.
On Monday night during the Flyers' 5-3 preseason win over the Rangers, Simmonds was sucker-punched by Sean Avery in the first period and the two exchanged words.
Avery told reporters after the game that Simmonds threw a slur at him. Asked if the slur was homophobic, Avery said, Yes,' it was.
Neither Flyers coach Peter Laviolette nor general manager Paul Holmgren were aware of what was said by either player.
First of all, who would do that? Avery said. And why would you do it? It just such an unnecessary thing. Its something thats not even an issue with us or our sport. So to be here now and having to answer your questions about what he did is disappointing for me.
I mean Kobe Bryant got fined 100 grand. Everything is different now. You know, its an issue. It is an issue that people are dealing with and trying to overcome. And I guess 10 years ago, maybe it was not such an issue. But it is such an issue politically with people in the game and just in life in general.
NHL
Bryant was fined by the NBA last April for a gay slur.
Simmonds would not get specific on what happened, saying it was between the two players.
In the scrumI felt he sucker-punched me and we were going back and forth for the rest of the game and emotions ran high, Simmonds said. We both exchanged words with each other.
Asked specifically about uttering a slur, Simmonds replied, I dont recall every single thing I said to him. He said some things to me I didnt like and I said some things he didnt like.
Simmonds reiterated whats on the ice is between players, not the media.
Avery told reporters that nothing he said to Simmonds should have prompted such a slur.
He didnt think he said anything? Simmonds replied. Thats Sean Avery there. Who knows what comes out of his mouth?
Asked whether Avery crossed the line, Simmonds said he couldnt recall all that was said and would not rat Avery out to the media.
Asked whether he crossed the line with Avery, Simmonds said, I dont think so. It just got heated, like I said before."
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net.