Hate or Not?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/28/sports/main20113020.shtml

When I first read this article about Simmonds, a black National Hockey League player for Detroit, getting a banana thrown at him I thought it was absolutely ridiculous. The banana was thrown by a fan of the opposing team from Philadelphia. I do not understand why a grown person would act out in this manner.  Initially, I equated the fans actions with those of an audience who throws tomatoes at a comedian to show signs of disapproval. However, then I realized this was a banana being thrown at a black man. A stereotype of the black population is that they resemble monkeys, or are sometimes called monkeys. Monkeys eat bananas. To me, his action was obviously planned and an act or racial hatred. Yet, the league did not believe this to be the case because there was no interference with the game play. The league also mentioned that this particular fan’s behavior is not a correct representation of NHL fans, and we should not think their fans are cruel or disrespectful. My argument to them is that, stereotypes and judgments are typically made by the “one bad apple that spoils the bunch.” Therefore, it is a possibility that the fans could acquire this negative outlook.