Surprised no one commented on Calderon's statement: where he played the, "I'm not a racist, I have Chinese friends card".
I have to chime in. This is one of the most ignorant pictures I have ever seen and to see Pau Gasshole and Calderon, who I was starting to like, really disappoints me. For those people who think this is all fun, you guys probably have no clue because this is one of the biggest disrespects to any Asian. Dont tell me otherwise. Although ignorance does not mean racism, but in this case, the Spaniards were able to achieve both. Bravo
If the US team had done this, on the Chinese intertubes, the Patriotic Netizen brigades would have called for a nuclear strike on NBA headquarters.
This guy should have just kept his mouth shut. Pau could have done more by NOT defending his team. Instead of just saying: "Yes, it was dumb. We collectively did a really really dumb a$$ thing" they go on to basically defend themselves and qualify it by "I don't really understand why it's such a big deal?" I'm sorry, but however this is a reflection on the country that is Spain, the Brits are comparatively 100% more worldly and accepting compared to these bigots. Doing the whole slanty eye is DEROGATORY. No two ways about it. Flat out derogatory and disrespectful. theSAGE
After thinking about it, I think the picture does lots of good. Spain didn't know it was a big deal before, maybe they, and others will know now.
Have these people lived in a multicultural society? The ignorance and sheer stupidity of players like Gasol and Calderon who I once admired as basketball players have been lost because of their immense insensitivity. These guys are so naive, its unbelievable.
Am I the only one that thinks it's more damaging to make a big deal of this? Was it in good taste? No, but it's certainly not racist! Guess what guys...Chinese people DO have slanted eyes. By calling this "racist" you are actually saying there is something WRONG with slanted eyes - which there is not. If they did it in a disrespectful manner, perhaps something should have been done. But there is no evidence of the photo being done with any such intention.
Merely DOING the gesture is disrespectful. Maybe they DO have slanted eyes, so that makes it right for them to make the gesture? Rationalization is a funny thing.
at least these people agree with you. http://www.nowpublic.com/white_clemson_university_students_throw_yet_another_blackface_party_on_martin_luther_king_day_0
I think it all comes down to intent... One of my pet peeves is how sensitive our society is getting. So sensitive that you can't even say "the black guy" when trying to describe the only black person in the room to somebody who doesn't know his name.
I'll agree to some extent, but there's a time and place for everything. At the Beijing games representing your country???. The effects are going to far outweigh the intent in this situation. This is the world stage and in China. ie. saying "that black guy" in a class room may be fine.. but saying that black guy in Africa with a room full of Africans might offend someone eh? BTW, the excuse for the first Black-Faced party was the same when they interviewed one of the participants. He kept on repeating it was done just for fun and it wasn't racist. Look... I understand there's cultural differences... but all they had to do is apologize and be done with it. If I did something unintentional that offended someone... I'd apologize after the fact. Doesn't that just makes common sense?
I mean, c'mon. The intent is pretty damn clear. There is no other intent than poking fun at another's expense. Unprovoked, mind you. I understand that you are saying about people being too sensitive in this time of PCness. But this is NOT equivalent to calling out a black dude "black" only to have him or others call you out as being unPC. If you want a better comparison insofar as where this ranks in derogatory gestures, chalk this one up there with all the derogatory names black people have had to deal with. I don't think it's as bad as some aspersions toward Jewish people. But this gesture toward Chinese people may as well be a racial slur imho. Bottom line - it's all in bad taste imho. theSAGE
I see your points...but I still think there is a big difference between this and racism. Nonetheless, I agree it was in bad taste - albeit not comparable to the name-calling that has been done based on skin color.
The monkey noises made towards black soccer players was acceptable too right? Spain has a bad record with this stuff...
honestly this is just plain terrible and that both the male and female teams did i dont know how anyone wouldnt view this as derogatory if not racist. i really hope karma comes back and bites the team from spain in the ass.
As I said I won't call this racism without knowing more about the Spanish players but as you recognize this is in bad taste and at the minimum ignorant, juvenile and classless. It should be called out and rather than the lame excuses that the players are offering up they would be better served recognizing the mess they've created. I would liken this situation to when Steve Kerr called Yao a "Chinaman" during a game. It wasn't meant as an insult since Kerr didn't know that it was considered a slur. As soon as he found out he made an apology for an inadvertant offense. At the minimum the Spanish players should take that step.
The only difference is that this time they are doing the racism stuff on Chinese. If it is to humiliate Chinese, yes, it is funny and good in many westerners' eyes. we can see many here agreed with those Spaniards and thought it was funny. To a Chinese, this kind of funny stuff is racism and unacceptable. I think this one is even worse than throwing bananas to black players by the stupid fans. This time it was their whole national team were doing it. I hope there will be a sign in Beijing showing: Racists, get out of China. if you think this is funny, I can see one day somebody will do the same thing on CNN, some teenagers will do the same thing to any random Asians. what is worse than racism? The tolerance to the racism.
