ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the treatment of minority ethnic players in ice hockey (NHL) and basketball (NBA). It analyses the racist Twitter abuse of NHL player Joel Ward, drawing on notions of ‘whiteness’, identities and inclusivity/exclusivity. It then looks at online representations of NBA star Jeremy Lin, the only active Asian American competing in the NBA, who has encountered a series of archaic stereotypes within the game as well as on social media. Both Ward and Lin are considered pioneers in their sports but this ‘Otherness’ has led to unwarranted scrutiny and stereotypes, while prejudice and racisms can be observed across social network sites.
