Here's some more from the Spanish Team on why they did the photo shoot. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26173075/ BEIJING - Players on Spain’s Olympic basketball team defended a photo in an ad showing the players using their fingers to apparently make their eyes look more Chinese. The photo, which has been running as a newspaper spread in Spain since Friday, shows all 15 players making the gesture on a basketball court adorned with a Chinese dragon. The photo was part of a publicity campaign for team sponsor Seur and is being used only in Spain. “It was something like supposed to be funny or something but never offensive in any way,” Spain’s Pau Gasol, center for the Los Angeles Lakers, said. “I’m sorry if anybody thought or took it the wrong way and thought that it was offensive.” Point guard Jose Manuel Calderon said the team was responding to a request from the photographer. “We felt it was something appropriate, and that it would be interpreted as an affectionate gesture,” Calderon, who plays for NBA’s Toronto Raptors, wrote on his ElMundo.es blog. “Without a doubt, some ... press didn’t see it that way.” International media criticized the photo. London’s Daily Telegraph said Spain’s “poor reputation for insensitivity toward racial issues has been further harmed” by the photo. “We’re surprised by the remarks of racism,” said Juan Antonio Villanueva, the communications director for Madrid’s 2016 Olympic bid. “Spain is not a racist country — quite the opposite.” Four members of Argentina’s women’s Olympic soccer team were shown making similar faces in a photograph published last week. Gasol said it was “absurd” people were calling the gesture racist. “We never intended anything like that,” he said. The Spanish basketball federation and Seur declined to comment Wednesday. “The players explained what happened,” Villanueva said. “We think that’s enough.” It’s not the first time Spanish sports has encountered questions over racist attitudes, and the photo comes at a time when Madrid is vying to host the Olympics. Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton was subjected to abuse at a Barcelona circuit in February, while former Spain coach Luis Aragones also used a racist remark about France striker Thierry Henry to motivate one of his players. Monkey chants rained down on England’s black players during an international friendly against Spain in a match played in Madrid in 2004, soon after Aragones’ outburst. The federation had just signed a four-year contract extension with Chinese clothing brand Li-Ning shortly after arriving in the Chinese capital for the games. “We have great respect for the far East and its people, some of my best friends in Toronto are originally Chinese, including one of our sponsors, the brand Li-Ning,” Calderon wrote. “Whoever wants to interpret it differently is completely confusing it.” World champion Spain is 2-0 at the Olympics after rallying to beat China 85-75 Tuesday while consistently getting booed.
This is just wrong. If its funny, it meant its a mockery of something. And you still see no wrong in that?
Woj chimes in. http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/be...ug=aw-nbaspainphoto081308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns [rquoter]Spain photo exposing NBA double standard? By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports 1 hour, 23 minutes ago BEIJING – When Jason Kidd logged into a laptop to see the Spaniards with his own eyes on Wednesday morning, the photo appeared just as described to him: Here were National Basketball Association players giggling like schoolgirls as they posed with fingers pressed against their temples in a squinty-eyed pre-Olympic salute to China. Before long, Kidd considered the consequences had those giddy European faces been substituted with those of Team USA. “We would’ve been already thrown out of the Olympics,” he told Yahoo! Sports. “At least, we wouldn’t have been able to come back to the U.S. …There would be suspensions.” And for his European peers, well, Kidd suggested, “They won’t do anything to them. It’s a double standard.” For Spain, there are several NBA players, including the Lakers’ Pau Gasol and Toronto’s Jose Calderon, in this unnerving team photo. They wore Spanish uniforms and had the federation’s seal on the floor. It ran as a full-page advertisement in a Madrid newspaper, an advertisement for a national team sponsor. This wasn’t an impromptu shot, but a carefully calculated choice. Gasol is too smart, too sophisticated, to have let this happen. After practice Wednesday, he suggested that he wasn’t troubled with the photo on the merits of longstanding racial implications as much as he thought it wasn’t funny. The sponsor pushed and pushed them to pose, he said. They broke him down. “It was supposed to be a picture that inspired the Olympic spirit,” Gasol said. And how’d that work out, Pau? Just imagine what would’ve happened had that explanation come out of the mouth of Carmelo Anthony? Here’s what would’ve happened: Stern would’ve been on the next plane to China to work the damage control. The Spaniards made a deplorable circumstance worse with dense justifications and a sense that they had done nothing wrong and nothing offensive. When they were hemming and hawing, digging a deeper ditch, Kidd talked at Team USA’s practice. He was curious how the Spanish players were spinning this. “They have some explaining to do,” he said. “They’ll come up with something good.” Gasol and Calderon aren’t just accountable to Spain on this Olympic stage but the global corporate entity that pays them more than $130 million in pro contracts. The NBA could’ve delivered a ready rebuke on Wednesday and there was none. They’ll dock you $50,000 for ripping an incompetent official, but you can get a pass on an orchestrated racial slur? Gasol is kidding himself to say that he was pushed into it. Do you think Kobe Bryant would’ve been pressured to pose this way? LeBron James? Gasol is a serious, sensitive player with the prestige and clout for Spain to step up and say: Forget it, fellas. This isn’t happening. Only he didn’t. As much as anything, this episode feeds a prevailing feeling among African-American NBA players that they’re the constant scapegoats for whatever issues – real or perceived – plague the sport. Without the public demanding a pound of accountability for European players, do they get a pass? “The simple question is, ‘Would Stern and the league hold the American players accountable?’ And I think the answer to that is yes,” one NBA general manager said. “So why wouldn’t he hold the ‘other’ NBA players accountable – unless the rules only apply to the American players.” So far, there’s nothing out of the league office. Rest assured, unless there’s an outcry over that photo, the NBA will wish this story away. Maybe the league will even issue a mild rebuke. It won’t be enough. Maybe this doesn’t rise to a suspension, but there should be significant fines and a bold condemnation. There needs to be a message delivered to NBA players everywhere: When you earn your money with us, you are always on the clock. Kidd, Kobe and LeBron understand it. It’s time the rest of the league does, too. As some suggest he’ll do, Stern can’t dismiss this as the business of a federation team. These are NBA players returning to NBA cities this year. Never mind the host country and millions of fans here, but consider the Asian-American season ticket holders in cosmopolitan cities such as Toronto and Los Angeles. One of the reasons the New Jersey Nets traded for Yi Jianlian was to market him to a large Asian-American base in Metropolitan New York. The NBA is a global league, so understand: Whatever the summer uniform, it’s the players who are forever representing the logo. The idea that Stern shouldn’t act on this behavior because it falls under FIBA and Spanish rule is ridiculous. “We could say that too, but at the end of day, we are still representing the NBA,” Kidd said. “No matter if we’re saying (the actions) have nothing to do with it. At the end of day, we have to go back home, and our jobs are there.” Stern is walking a slippery slope here, balancing relationships and partnerships in China and Europe. Already, there are jealousies developing in Europe over the way Stern is fawning over the Chinese market. Some European teams have told American marketers and agents that they’ve felt neglected in Stern’s wanderlust for Asia. FIBA is the governing body for European basketball and they’ve already dismissed this as a non-issue. That’s FIBA’s right, but the NBA has a different responsibility here. It has to take the higher ground. “It would start an international riot if we did it, but they aren’t us,” an Eastern Conference executive said. “It’s low-rent stuff, but FIBA won’t do squat, so (the) NBA would show them up with any punitive action. I would be shocked if the NBA does any more than condemn (the) action.” These Games have been a fascinating illustration in the complexities of the NBA’s globalization. The Americans have been treated like rock stars in China. Team USA has handled everything with grace and good humor. After too many trips overseas when this wasn’t the case for America’s national team, it sure is now. Yes, there are different attitudes in the world, different sensibilities in Europe and North America. But for the NBA, there can be just one set of right and wrong. There should be only a strong voice and strong action now. No one should have to call for accountability from the Spaniards – the way that they would for Americans. Once and for all, David Stern has to be clear that there aren’t rules and responsibilities for different athletes, and different backgrounds – just those for an NBA player. [/rquoter]
Those arrogant pri&ks! I can't believe this! They actually have the nerve like some bunch of idiots to think there's no harm in this! Esp. that Jose Calderon guy. He's public enemy #1 in my book now. How can these people be so clueless???? It's generally speaking in poor taste all around but did they realize that.... You're in freakin' CHINA!!!! HELLLLOOO!!!!!! I hate idiots who pull this sh$t and think there's nothing wrong with it. It speaks VOLUMES about the disrespect these people have with not just Chinese people, but Asians in general. They may as well be saying "chink" in unison when the camera flashes. The reality is that there is a historical context to which this hits home to a national identity. It's as if they called a black person a ***** or if they imitated speedy gonzales to Mexicans. theSAGE
The quote by gasol was lost, every AP writer has a different version. He didn't say "It was something like supposed to be funny or something but never offensive." Pau said, "It was not meant to be offensive or racist against anybody. I didn't find it that we were doing it to be funny or offensive. If you put it in the wrong context and put it with the wrong people or a different kind of people, you could take it that way. But not with our group and not with our people." And I don't understand why articles keep bringing up past issues involving fans from 2004. In 2004 it was a different spain, there were still statues of franco. Since the uprising of the socialist party , spain has become the motherland for many war refugees from africa. And the incident with the car racer, well car racing is a sport that attracts rich douchebags in spain. Douchebags will be douche bags. The guardian should stick to covering Posh spice and beckham and sucking up to the queen. long live the FMLN, the PSOE, and mao =)
Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/basketball/news?slug=ap-bko-spain-photo&prov=ap&type=lgns And wow I can't believe the Li Ning Spokeman said this, I will never buy stuff from that company ever again. This guy thinks he is cute or something? A disgrace to all Asians: ---------------- Frank Zhang, Li Ning’s director of government and public affairs, played down the incident. “We don’t think this is an insulting gesture to the Chinese,” Zhang said. “In fact, the gesture shows that the Spanish team is so humorous, relaxing and cute. They sat around a dragon pattern, which we think showed respect to the Chinese. “Li Ning Ltd. will not change any business plans with the Spanish team because of this,” Zhang added. “People should focus on great Olympic Games instead of something else.” ----------------
ROFL So if I went to Iraq and Im not muslim but I wore a turban with a fake beard attachment, I guess that would make me a very nice person? Calderons a dumbass, he needs to admit it was wrong along with the other retarted spainiard p***y members like Gasol
talk about culture difference...believe it or not people in the mainland china are nowhere near as sesitive to racism as the americans. guess what gets on their nerves most? tibet and taiwan...
Oh heres an even more boneheaded comment Your going to China, your playing the olympics... you cant put things just in your context and think that nobody is going to get offended.
Well if Li Ning want to market their products as a global brand, like they have been doing for years now. They better get their act straight.
Pau Gasol was in the league when Shaq’s mockery of the Chinese language hit the print and the airwaves. And he didn’t think that the pose wouldn’t sit well with people of Asian descent? The Grizzlies fined Darko $14,000 for his rant after the Serbian loss to Greece at the Eurobasket in 2007. I would think their NBA teams would be the ones who would do the punishing if they chose to.
Wojnarowski is right. European racism is always soft-peddled in the form of "well they don't know any better!"...as a consequence behavior that's simply not acceptable here 30 years ago was allowed to let slide there for a LONG time until recently - kids just aren't taught sensitivity about race and as a consequence don't display any when they get older. I knew black students in college who studied in spain in the 90's, it was not unusual for them to walk by little kids chanting "negro!" or making monkey sounds. Further I had black friends in France who basically couldn't get served in certain restaurants. It didn't have the same symbolism behind it, had such happened in the US, but it was still prett wrong. There's a reason why FIFA has the big "end racism" campaign going on this summer, some of the behavior there is shocking. To an extent I can understand WHY things got so bad over there and the "they don't know any better" excuse is used, but really in this day and age there's no excuse for it any more than Shaq can say "Ching Chong Wing Wong" and not be called an idiot for it. The world is simply too small and accessible to blame your upbringing.
I have no idea how that gesture could be seen as "nice" or an "affectionate gesture." I think Kidd is absolutely right that if the U.S. team would have done something like this, a lot more crap would have been raised. For a team to take a picture like this during the World Olympics held in Beijing is completely unnecessary. Whether it was a joke or not, it is just inappropriate.
Even the WOMEN posed for this stupid shot Maybe it was the photographers idea after all??? Perhaps he's the one who should be shot. theSAGE Several players on Spain's racist Olympic basketball team have defended the print ad where both the men's and women's squads are photographed slanting their eyes in an obvious racist gesture. The ad, which has been running in Spain since August 8, shows the Spanish basketball teams photographed in full Olympic gear on a basketball court decorated with a picture of a Chinese dragon. The photo was taken before the Olympics and appear in Marca, Spain's best-selling daily newspaper. The picture is part of a marketing campaign for Seur, a Spanish courier company that's co-sponsoring the Spanish team. Spain, which is known for its rampant racism, is stunned by the global reaction to the picture. Similarly, the Spanish basketball players are shocked by the international outrage the ad has ignited, saying the media is blowing the issue out of proportion. "It was supposed to be funny, but never offensive in any way," says Spanish center Pau Gasol, who also plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. In addition, it's "absurd" that anyone would consider the gesture racist, says Gasol. Similarly, Gasol's teammate, Jose Calderon of the Toronto Raptors, is puzzled by the reaction. He too blames the media for stirring the pot on what he thinks is a non-issue, saying he felt the slant-eye gesture was a sign of affection toward the Chinese. “We thought it was going to be something nice, and that it would be interpreted as an affectionate gesture,” Calderon told Yahoo! Sports. “But somebody wants to talk about it. It is too much of a big deal with you guys [the media].” Meanwhile, the photos have been bashed by international media. London's Daily Telegraph says Spain's "poor reputation for insensitivity toward racial issues has been further harmed" by the photo. U.K. The Guardian agrees: "The failure to recognize the potential consequences is striking in the light of the problems Spain has had with race issues and the Spanish Olympic committee's continued desire to host the Games in Madrid in 2016 or 2020." The Spanish women's basketball team also posed for a similar photo (see right), and four members of Argentina's women's Olympic football team were shown making similar faces in a photograph published last week. The Spanish basketball federation declined to comment Wednesday. "The players explained what happened," says Juan Antonio Villanueva, the communications director for Madrid's 2016 Olympic bid. "We think that's enough." A Seur official in Madrid said the company had not intended to offend the Chinese people, but has no immediate plans to withdraw the ad, which is scheduled to run on selected days until the end of the games. http://www.theimproper.com/Template_Article.aspx?IssueId=4&ArticleId=2149 Apparently, there have been other incidents as well... against blacks Racist Spanish Team Is a Disgrace to Sports Olympic basketball squad makes racist gesture in newspaper ad By Samantha Chang Spain's Olympic basketball teams have offended their Chinese hosts by making racist, slit-eyed gestures in a print ad for a Spanish courier company. The offensive ad, which was splashed across a full page in Spain's top-selling newspaper, Marca, shows two large photographs: one of the men's basketball team (pictured), and one of the women's team. Both squads pose in full Olympic gear on a basketball court decorated with a picture of a Chinese dragon. In the photo, all the players are slanting their eyes with both hands. Notably, two NBA players are in the picture: L.A. Lakers forward-center Pau Gasol and his brother Marc Gasol, a center with the Memphis Grizzlies. Sadly, this news isn't surprising, since the Spaniards are well known for their rampant racism. In 2004, Spain's soccer manager, Luis Aragonés, publicly referred to French footballer Thierry Henry as "that black *****" while monkey chants greeted Henry and other black soccer players on the field. British race car driver Lewis Hamilton (who is black) experienced similar abuse during a competition in Barcelona, with Spanish fans sporting blackface and T-shirts that read "Hamilton's family." (see picture) What's odd is that no one seems to have considered the recent print ad as insensitive or even bothered to think how it would be perceived outside of ignorant Spain. "The failure to recognize the potential consequences is striking in the light of the problems Spain has had with race issues and the Spanish Olympic committee's continued desire to host the Games in Madrid in 2016 or 2020," writes U.K.'s Guardian newspaper. The photo is unlikely to affect Spain's viability as an Olympic host, but won't win them any points, either. Ironically, Spain's Olympic basketball team is co-sponsored by Li-Ning Footwear, a Chinese company founded by Li Ning, a former Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics. The Organization of Chinese-Americans has released multiple statements condemning the picture. George Wu, deputy director of the group, called the photo "disturbing" and "divisive." Wu said: "It is unfortunate that this type of imagery would rear its head during something that is supposed to be a time of world unity." U.S. Olympic basketball player Jason Kidd, a point guard for the Dallas Mavericks, was shocked when he first saw the photo. “We would’ve been already thrown out of the Olympics,” he told Yahoo Sports. “At least, we wouldn’t have been able to come back to the U.S...There would be suspensions.” Meanwhile, in Spain, there has been no criticism of the ad. Members of the Spanish media say they can't even understand why there has been so much publicity surrounding what they deem a harmless and humorous photo. That's the problem, dumb-asses. Here are some suggested Chinese replies to the photo, courtesy of bloggers: The only way to resolve this conflict is to photograph the Chinese basketball team dressed in pink matador outfits and passed out on Sangria at 2:00 PM on a Monday afternoon. The Chinese team will respond in kind by not bathing for six months.
