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BY MOLLY HULSEY
ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

It’s a slippery slope. Toss a banana on the ice. Wage a racial and then homophobic war. It’s only the preseason, and the National Hockey League is already facing controversy.

Here’s the timeline of events: a fan threw a banana on the ice in front of Philadelphia Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds, one of the few black players in the NHL.  Days later, Simmonds allegedly used a homophobic slur toward New York Rangers forward Sean Avery during an exhibition game.

The NHL announced Tuesday night it will not fine Simmonds for the incident.   The big question now, how are these two incidents impacting the sport?

“When you get bananas thrown at black players or any player gets caught using a gay slur on camera, the essential question is whether that behavior is preventing someone from trying out for a team or skating locally; about whether that behavior is discouraging someone from embracing the game.”

It appeared Simmonds tried to embrace the spirit of the game after the fruit fling, but it apparently didn’t stick.  And the Globe and Mail is calling him on it.

“The irony is that last week Simmonds and his agent... said they hoped the incident in which a fan tossed a banana on the ice would become a learning experience about racial tolerance. Simmonds may have been a victim in an ugly incident, but he also needs to be accountable for his own actions.”

A piece of the puzzle concerning the gay slur seems to be a cultural one. Analysts for TSN say it's all too common, but players can’t get away with it anymore.

“There has been an acceptable norm where guys have used that word for awhile now ... Unfortunately in this day and age, with TV and high definition microphones on every corner and behind every bench, you’re going to get caught. Players need to wise up to the fact that not only is it socially unacceptable, but with technology it’s not acceptable either.”

Sean Avery, the focus of Wayne Simmonds homophobic slur, isn’t gay.  He is, however, a champion for gay rights and marriage.  Avery previously stated if a gay hockey player wanted to come out in the NHL, he would fly to the game and stand next to him on the ice.

Transcript by Newsy.