ESPN upset over Clemens' "insensitive" remark

[TheRivernator]

seriously, I cannot stand ESPN any more. They are so sensitive that it makes me want to vomit.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2397288

[Sox fan in Tex]

For those who don't want to view the article, Clemens said this regarding the WBC:

 

"None of the dry cleaners were open, they were all at the game, Japan and Korea," Clemens said. "So we couldn't get any dry cleaning done out there, but I guess the neatest thing is that 50,000 of them were at Anaheim Stadium."

[a700hitter]

Everyone is soo sensitive today. What if he said that he couldn't get any Sushi because all of the Japanese fans were at the games? Would that also be insensitve? or was it because the snobby bastards at ESPN look down on drycleaning as a blue collar job? Calling someone a drycleaner is not a put down. Wake up at ESPN!

[greenwell39]

Maybe I read the article wrong, but I didn't see any comment from ESPN indicating his comment was insensitive.

[Cityofchampions33]

Everyone is soo sensitive today. What if he said that he couldn't get any Sushi because all of the Japanese fans were at the games? Would that also be insensitve? or was it because the snobby bastards at ESPN look down on drycleaning as a blue collar job? Calling someone a drycleaner is not a put down. Wake up at ESPN!

 

Yea it would be insensitive to say the sushi remark, and no drycleaning is stereotyped having Asians working in them. That is a pretty racist remark, I'm insulted and I'm only half chinese.

[kreinbihl34]

Why he was talking about how he was impressed by how many fans there was. He found this out by going to the drycleaners. There was nothing else meant.

[mtbykr]

Why he was talking about how he was impressed by how many fans there was. He found this out by going to the drycleaners. There was nothing else meant.

 

 

Bingo, relax people!

[a700hitter]

Yea it would be insensitive to say the sushi remark, and no dry cleaning is stereotyped having Asians working in them. That is a pretty racist remark, I'm insulted and I'm only half chinese.

The PC Police is out in force. Is n't Sushi part of the Japanese Cuisine? It is the norm for Japanese people to run Sushi places. It is the norm for Italians to run Italian restaurants and French run French restaurants. So, where is the insensitivity? Lighten up.

[vegassoxfan]

clemens is just crying that he got beat. i hate clemens. he needs to go away for good.

[schillingouttheks]

Actually, I truly believe he was just impressed at how much they enjoy the game. I don't see anything wrong with what he said. I hate how so many people today bite at anything they can to scream "RACISM" or something of the sort. Whatevah. Again, nothing wrong with what he said, just people trying to get attention by claiming he was insensitive.

[Strawman]

The PC Police is out in force. Is n't Sushi part of the Japanese Cuisine? It is the norm for Japanese people to run Sushi places. It is the norm for Italians to run Italian restaurants and French run French restaurants. So, where is the insensitivity? Lighten up.

 

So you're saying the norm for all Asian people is to work in drycleaning?

[schillingouttheks]

Did you even read the article?

 

Clemens went INTO a drycleaning store, where the woman who was working there (who we can infer was Asian because of what the story is saying), said she was going to the WBC game. She also said that he wouldn't get his clothes back because she'd be at the game. He didn't say anything about Asians normally working in drycleaning, so you're wrong there. He was IMPRESSED with the devotion the Asian fans showed to the game. I don't even know why ESPN got upset...I don't even hear an upset tone in the story.

[Strawman]

ESPN has been wildly changing the article throughout the morning. An older version painted the comments in this derogatory and mildly racist light. It would be better to just read the source material for the article, ultimately.

[mtbykr]

From everything that i have heard there were no derogatory remarks made. ESPN wanted a story and made one here , where there wasn't one. The problem isn't clemens; the problem are these moron's who look for any little tidbit to try and invoke race into. Relax people and stop trying to make an issue out of nothing!

[a700hitter]

So you're saying the norm for all Asian people is to work in drycleaning?

No, that is not what I am saying. There is a big difference between saying that most dry cleaners are owned and run by Asians as opposed to saying that all Asians work in Dry Cleaners. I don't know if there is data to back up the first statement, but if there is supporting data it would not be a racially insensitive remark. The second statement saying that all Asians work in dry cleaners is implausible and racist. I hope you see the difference. Clemen's statement was more along the lines of the first statement.

[He Hate Me]

No, that is not what I am saying. There is a big difference between saying that most dry cleaners are owned and run by Asians as opposed to saying that all Asians work in Dry Cleaners. I don't know if there is data to back up the first statement, but if there is supporting data it would not be a racially insensitive remark. The second statement saying that all Asians work in dry cleaners is implausible and racist. I hope you see the difference. Clemen's statement was more along the lines of the first statement.

 

"None of the dry cleaners were open, they were all at the game, Japan and Korea," Clemens said. "So we couldn't get any dry cleaning done out there, but I guess the neatest thing is that 50,000 of them were at Anaheim Stadium."

[He Hate Me]

BTW, in the same way peopel think non Red Sox fans shouldn't make comments about what affects Red Sox nation, I think non Asians probably shouldn't decide whether this is offensive or not. You only wind up looking like an idiot telling an Asian person why they shouldn't be offended by this. Why not make a fried chicken eating joke about black people and then telling them why they shouldn't be offended. Stereotypes are stereotypes.

[a700hitter]

BTW, in the same way peopel think non Red Sox fans shouldn't make comments about what affects Red Sox nation, I think non Asians probably shouldn't decide whether this is offensive or not. You only wind up looking like an idiot telling an Asian person why they shouldn't be offended by this. Why not make a fried chicken eating joke about black people and then telling them why they shouldn't be offended. Stereotypes are stereotypes.

So, in a discussion about the meaning of a statement by Clemens, and a debate whether or not it was offensive, you found the opportunity to bring up an offensive stereotype.

[He Hate Me]

So, in a discussion about the meaning of a statement by Clemens, and a debate whether or not it was offensive, you found the opportunity to bring up an offensive stereotype.

 

So why do you find that comment an offensive stereotype, but not the one Clemens made?

 

Exactly.

[a700hitter]

So why do you find that comment an offensive stereotype, but not the one Clemens made?

 

Exactly.

If you don't see the difference, that's unfortunate. It's nowhere near a valid analogy

[bagwell368]

In my neck of the woods it would be like saying "all" the pizza places would be closed if Greece was playing for the World Cup. There might be some truth in it, but isn't it better to just let it play out and shut-up?

 

Clemens is based on what I have seen and studied the greatest pitcher of all time. However, it doesn't mean he has the brains to match....

 

Tempest in a tea-pot, but ESPN is NOT overplaying the story IMO. However if someone of the SE Asian descent says he/she is upset, then what are you going to do? Deny that they have a right to being upset?

 

W

[a700hitter]

It was a lame joke, but for ESPN to enflame the situation by calling it a "racially insensitive remark" was irresponsible. It did not rise to a level of newsworthiness, whether or not some people were offended by it. I am offended by about 3/4 of cable broadcasts, but that doesn't make it a news story.

[CrespoBlows]

Did you read the article? Where did it say that ESPN was upset over the comments?

[Cityofchampions33]

My bad about earier, didn't rea the article, just saw the quotes and got inda peeved, just saw the title f this thread thought it was a legit racist comment, but no harm done, my apologies for any remarks I amde if they were offensive.

[a700hitter]

Did you read the article? Where did it say that ESPN was upset over the comments?

Huh, who said that ESPN was upset? Yeah, I read the article. They reported it under a heading calling it a "racially insensitive comment" or something like that.

Tempest in a tea-pot, but ESPN is NOT overplaying the story IMO. However if someone of the SE Asian descent says he/she is upset, then what are you going to do? Deny that they have a right to being upset?W

I don't think the remark was newsworthy. It never should have been printed. And no one is denying someone the right to be upset. The point is that this was an insignificant remark made by an athlete in an attempt at humor, not malice. It was made in the context of complimenting the fans in those countries. If someone wants to be offended, they have every right to be thin-skinned and take offense. But let's have some perspective, this was not Charles Barkely saying "I hate white people." Rocket's remark should not have been published with ESPN's editorial heading. If they printed it at all, they should have let the comments stand on their own.

[Cityofchampions33]

Yeahd di they change the article? because I saw none of those comments in there.

[a700hitter]

Yeah, someone earlier in the thread said the story had been changed. An editor with some sense must have pulled the editorial comment.

[CrespoBlows]

Huh, who said that ESPN was upset? Yeah, I read the article. They reported it under a heading calling it a "racially insensitive comment" or something like that.

 

Sorry, I should have quoted the main post. I think who ever started this thread may have perpatrated the "Racially insensitive comment."

 

I did some digging up, and the title of the article was actually "Clemens gets ring, still uncertain about future."

[26 to 6]

Actually, I truly believe he was just impressed at how much they enjoy the game. I don't see anything wrong with what he said. I hate how so many people today bite at anything they can to scream "RACISM" or something of the sort. Whatevah. Again, nothing wrong with what he said, just people trying to get attention by claiming he was insensitive.

Agreed

 

From everything that i have heard there were no derogatory remarks made. ESPN wanted a story and made one here , where there wasn't one. The problem isn't clemens; the problem are these moron's who look for any little tidbit to try and invoke race into. Relax people and stop trying to make an issue out of nothing!

They really didnt even try to make a story out of it. There was a paragraph of the entire story dedicated to it. And nowhere in the article did it say ESPN was upset because he made the comment.

[billmueller11]

espn is a joke .nuff said