Barons Pledge to Eliminate the 'R' Word

Originally Published: Mar 3, 2011 4:45 PM CDT

Layna Dewell
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY—The Oklahoma City Barons hockey team has taken a pledge to support the Special Olympics in ending the harmful use of the ‘r-word.’

Each member of the team signed the pledge Wednesday to proactively participate in stopping the derogatory use of the word ‘retard’ and ‘retarded’.

Friday the Barons are wearing special jerseys during its game against the Abbotsford Heat that will later be auctioned off to support the Special Olympics.

“All the guys took the pledge and we are very excited about the game Friday,” said head coach Todd Nelson.

In support of the Special Olympics and Best Buddies International, the Barons joined the Spread the Word, End the Word campaign to eliminate the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word.

The Barons are the first-ever entire team to all together sign the pledge.

The campaign was started by youth and is intended to bring together schools, communities and organizations who will pledge their support of ending the use of the r-word and promote the acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities.

For more information on the Spread the Word, End the Word campaign visit www.r-word.org.

The Barons will face off against the Heat Friday at 7:05 p.m. inside the Cox Convention Center.