Garrett Sparks indefinitely suspended for online post

[Josh]

Check this out:

http://www.tsn.ca/sparks-suspended-indefinitely-by-maple-leafs-1.617534

From the article:

According to users in a Facebook goalie group for which Sparks is an administrator, members of the forum were mocking a disabled person and Sparks came to that person’s defence by asking one of those in the forum where he lived and writing, “I want to go to open hockey with you, drag you out to center ice and beat you into a [expletive] pulp until you can’t run that [expletive] little mouth of yours. God, you sound like a 13-year-old girl.”

When another member reprimanded Sparks for insulting women, he apologized and continued, “Girls don’t even whine as much as this guy does.”

[Be The Thunder]

Damn, I really don't know what to think about this. One thing I really hate is when people spout off shit behind there computers that they would not have the balls to do in front of the person, so I commend Garrett Sparks for coming to the defense of the disabled person for that. Sparks though has to realize he is a public sports figure on a minor league hockey team and he really can't spout off like like without getting reprimanded for it so I do understand what his team and organization had to do.

[Josh]

I think it's an example of PC culture at its worst.

[Alfie11]

Yeah, it's a bit of a tricky situation. I have respect for Sparks for standing up for standing up for the disabled person. However, I'm a firm believer in people needing to control themselves, especially in social media. He probably could have conveyed his message in a more professional way.

[Josh]

Sure, I can agree with that. But did the parent club really need to suspend him while he's not even up in the bigs? It's posturing. They don't really care or want the guy to miss any time; they're just appeasing fans who might take issue.

Is saying someone is whining like a little girl sexist? Really, do we not understand what is meant?

Is saying you would like to show someone who is ridiculing the disabled what it's like to be physically dominated considered a violent threat? It's the Internet..

[Be The Thunder]

Sure, I can agree with that. But did the parent club really need to suspend him while he's not even up in the bigs? It's posturing. They don't really care or want the guy to miss any time; they're just appeasing fans who might take issue.

Is saying someone is whining like a little girl sexist? Really, do we not understand what is meant?

Is saying you would like to show someone who is ridiculing the disabled what it's like to be physically dominated considered a violent threat? It's the Internet..

One thing if it was a caliber of player like Auston Matthews or Mitch Marner who did the same exact thing I bet they would not would have suspended them indefinitely. They may have slapped a fine on them, but they wouldn't have missed any game time that is for damn sure.

[Alfie11]

Oh, I agree with both of you. I'm sure the suspension was just more of a reminder/wakeup call to Sparks to watch what you're posting on social media.