Yahoo Sports:

Joel Ward of the Washington Capitals was born in Toronto to parents who migrated from Barbados. He used to hear racist taunts playing in youth hockey tournaments, but told the Washington Post this season that "I've [heard] nothing in the NHL."

On Wednesday night, Ward scored the series-winning goal against the Boston Bruins in overtime of Game 7.

The kind of racist language that Ward had avoided throughout his NHL career bubbled to the surface like sewage on social media.

"Hey Joel Ward!! You [expletive] spear chucking monkey, why don't you actually DO SOMETHING. You're totally irrelevant"

"How the [expletive] did Joel ward get out of my plantation? #WheresMyCotton"

"Warning to Joel Ward. Your one of three black guys in Canada. I will find you…and I will kill you."

And so on. There was outrage across the hockey world about the language being used about Ward, and on Thursday morning Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis thanked those who called out the offending parties via his blog...

And they are on sale for $35. Really.

Don’t look for former manager Terry Francona at Fenway Park when the Red Sox celebrate the 100th anniversary of their beloved ballpark a week from Friday against the Yankees. Francona is still smarting from the way things ended between himself and the Red Sox after the collapse of 2011.

“Somebody went out of their way to make me look pretty bad,’’ Francona said, referring to a story by the Globe’s Bob Hohler that cited unnamed club sources expressing concerns that Francona’s job performance may have been affected by his use of pain medication. “It’s a shame. I’m sure they’ll have a great event and I was part of a lot of that stuff there, but I just can’t go back there and start hugging people and stuff without feeling a little bit hypocritical.’’

The Sox have invited every living ex-player and manager back for the ballpark’s centennial celebration, but Francona rejected the offer in a phone call with owner John Henry last month, and again Monday when Lucchino called.

“Larry called me yesterday,’’ Francona said Tuesday. “I was in a phone store in Arizona. I had three people standing around me. I was at a little bit of a disadvantage. He got a little perturbed at me, telling me I was being unfair to them. I called him back last night and left him a message. He called me back and we ended up getting into an argument. I just feel like someone in the organization went out of their way to hurt me and the more we talked I realized we’re just not on the same wavelength. They’re probably better off going forth and leaving me out of it.’’

“Until I’m more comfortable with some answers on what happened at the end of the year, I don’t want to have much to do with the organization and that’s a shame,’’ Francona said Tuesday.

Francona, unfailingly loyal to his players, took an uncharacteristic jab by labeling the team “challenging” and disclosed that he called a meeting Sept. 7 in Toronto, after a 14-0 victory one night earlier, to express some concerns about what he perceived to be a lack of accountability by some within the clubhouse. A source told colleague John Tomase that more than one pitcher had been drinking beer in the clubhouse during games and there was grousing from players that team buses were departing for the ballpark too early each day on the road.

Brockton (MA) Enterprise:

And Red Sox manager Terry Francona and GM Theo Epstein revealed that there was even more going on behind the scenes that contributed to the unprecedented malaise.

“Normally ... there are events that make you care about each other,” Francona said, often looking stunned before a large group of media. “This club, it didn’t always happen as much as I wanted it to. And I was frustrated by that.”

“Ultimately, you don’t need a team that wants to go out to dinner together,” Francona said. “But you need to have a team that wants to protect each other on the field and be fiercely loyal to each other on the field. That’s what, ultimately, is really important.”

We recommend that Joe Girardi takes the advice of the Orlando Sentinel:

Having clinched the division title, the Yankees can send most of their regulars to Bern's Steak House for a fine Châteaubriand, or if the mood strikes, meet up at one of the area's fine adult establishments.

Yes, sir, I'll get these shoes mighty clean for you, skipper.

Adding fuel to baseball's bitterest rivalry, New York Yankees catcher Russell Martin said he hates the Boston Red Sox and would relish adding to their misery by helping to eliminate them from the playoffs during this weekend's series between the two teams.

"Anything to get the Red Sox out would be awesome for me," said Martin, who has been involved in the rivalry for one season.

When asked why, Martin sounded like the truest Bleacher Creature.

"Because I hate the Red Sox," Martin said.

And we love you, Russell (no homo - not that there's anything wrong with that).