Cubbie blogger (and Deadspin) calls out Brandon McCarthy, C.J. Wilson

One of Bmac's heroes is Tiger and CJ is not a racist like that dolts think. Those guys over there must be bored as hell or need a girlfriend or something...

WHO CARES.

Really... suspension?  For a photo which might be interpreted as racist?  People really throw that term around way too loosely...

Just absolutely tired of people throwing around the word 'racism' without even knowing that person and for them to deduce that type of behavior from one picture? Give me f'in break.

But whether or not Wilson really feels that way -- and I have learned he probably doesn't -- can you see how it could be taken the wrong way? And why posting something like this is just probably not a really smart thing to do?

People need to RELAX

I'd hate to think that he felt like he couldn't post on boards or interact with fans without censoring himself or being a normal person.

What a joke. People are far, far too sensitive these days.

Go get some snatch, Al. You'll feel a lot better.

If Wilson meant it as an inside joke, it doesn't come through.

If CJ is assuming people at large will think it's in good fun, meant a different way, etc., he's real dumb.  Is he generalizing from LSBers?

Actually, I don't know his beliefs one iota.  And I have read his posts.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=123931408

The fact that we're actually discussing this like it matters is pathetic.

its in bad taste but its just meant to be humorous.

personally that doesnt quite make the list of things that would cause me to TRY to cause some kind of uproar and throw out personal attacks based on merely posting a picture.

so again.. he shouldnt have posted it, but jesus come on reading the posts at cubbieblue you would think he had done something 5 times as bad.

and how on earth do they try to connect B-Mac to it... he doesnt control what people post on his page.

The nice and sensible thing to do would've been to ask CJ wouldn't it? Instead of making a post of assumptions. I think so.

Very smart of you to handle this issue in the exact medium (blog/internet) that the discussion emerged...and lightning fast.   Kudos for 'getting' this newfangled internets thingie...

Go Rangers!

:: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 ::

    Political Correctness Run Amok

    PC stuff these days generally drives me nuts, but this one really put me over the top.

    If you've ever flown Southwest Airlines, you know that the flight attendants are encouraged to use humor to try to entertain the passengers.

    Well, not long ago, a SW flight attendant used the children's rhyme "Eeny, meeny, miny, mo" to try to lighten up the atmosphere just before takeoff, and to get people in their seats.

    Now, according to the Kansas City Star, she's being sued by two African-American women, who accused her of being racist.

    (begin rant)

    This is so absolutely ridiculous that I can't even fathom it. I mean, LIGHTEN UP, PEOPLE! A quote from the flight attendant, Jennifer Cundiff, in the above article, I think, sums this ludicrous situation up best:

    "The statement I made on Flight 524 was not racist or discriminating, and I am offended that because I have white skin suddenly I am a racist. Maybe those that run around pointing fingers yelling racist should stop and turn that finger around."

    We're not ever going to get along in this country unless we go along, and have a little bit of humor along the way. There are enough real threats to the future of this world, to allow something like this to get to us in this way. I think Ms. Cundiff has it exactly right, and I'll be rooting for her to win her case, big time.

    (end rant)

    Thanks to my friends at alt.fan.cecil-adams for bringing this story to my attention.

    :: posted by Al at 6:57 PM [+] ::
    ...

That's from Al's old website, which you can find here:
http://www.yellon.org/archives/2003_02_09_archive.htm

I especially like the part about how we need a little humor to get along.

1.) interacting with your fans
2.) doing so as yourself, and not an alter-ego (although i wouldn't blame you if you did or do so in the future)
3.) conducting yourself with class on this issue today

Its rare when athletes take the time out of their schedule to interact with fans. I can't tell you how much a player such as yourself would be appreciated in Chicago. I also believe you when you say your comments were not done under the guise of racism. However, i think you're also right to be more cautious, as there are people who will overreact or jump to conclusions, particularly on sensitive issues such as these.

Part of the power of this medium is its interactivity and its responsiveness to developing situations. However, this power carries with it a price: things are published unedited and unchecked. As such, you can post something that has implications you did not realize, and it also means people can put together stories about you that don't "check out." Fortunately, the power of the medium balances this somewhat (for example, read the comments at Al's site).

I hope you continue to post on sites such as these, and that more athletes do so in the future.  I also hope you're more careful in the future, because otherwise the nature of this medium may discourage you from participating further.

A lot of people here are assuming Al is doing this to be a glory-hog. While that may be the case, to accuse him of that is very similar to Al accusing McCarthy and Wilson of racism (although i admit one set of accusations is far more serious than the other one). Its just as possible that Al is doing this because he is simply over-reacting, or misconstrued Wilson's intentions, or is biased based on his own experiences as a site administrator, or a number of other reasons.

I've been posting at Al's site for a long time, have met him in person, and post at other Cubs blogs that have a strong distaste for Al's site. Given all that background, i believe that the most likely explanation for Al's story is this: Al is very PC, and posted his story with primarily good intentions. He does not tolerate insensitive remarks of any kind on his website, and is intolerant of slanderous remarks about players and managers... and i think he was both concerned with the carelessness with which the picture was posted, and the potential implications for the two Rangers involved.

IMO, Al made some errors in judgment in the process of posting the story. However, i would ask all of you to realize the best defense of Wilson and McCarthy is that one has to make a set of assumptions about Wilson and McCarthy before accusing them of racism. Likewise, i hope you realize the same rationale applies to Al when he is being accused of trying to draw attention to his site. One has to assume things about Al to make conclusions about his intent in posting the story in question.

Basically, it seems that CJ is a good guy that made a mistake in a post that people assume was racist/insensitive/etc. I would argue to all of you that Al is a good guy that made a mistake that people assume was inflammatory/self-promoting/etc.

quick question:  'al' is quoted as saying 'how do make something out of this'  or something to that extent, publicly.  He is also quoted as saying he hates the political correctness but then rails on it.  

Personally i came to my conclusion that 'al' is a glory hog through facts whereas 'al' came to the fact CJ is racist through assumption.

for all we know "al" could be an adulterer, a racist, have 7 wives, beat them all, the point is we dont know who 'al' is.  Al is a mysterious name on a mysterious website who can hide behind the whole thing.  CJ Wilson is a public figure who you can find every minute detail you want.  and very easy to contact.

May you ride your cursed goat to hades cubs fans. you are losers.

all of you.

PS:  it wasnt that kid who caught the foul ball in the pennant that cost you the game, it was your SS blowing a routine double play.  

curse of the goat!

i was even rooting for the cubs that night, i felt they finally deserved it, that night was the night that i came to the conclusion that cubs fans deserved to never win a WS ever.  Maybe the cubs do, but not their fans.

Personally im kinda sick of the cubby 'lovable loser' stigma.  the cubs have been a much better measure of success over the last 40 years than the rangers.  Somehow being 'lovable losers' allows your fans can call in death threats or try to ruin a guys life b/c your team blew it.

after that night, i will never look at the cubs or their fans the same way again.  it was classless,  just like Al's hypocrisy is classless. Like this post is classless. One day his blog is about how he's very anti PC, then in a later blog, he is the purveyor of Political Correctness.  Can't have your cake and eat it too.   Thats a hypocrite.

BTW: This is why ballplayers act like they do to the public.  Like Arod being Captain PC.  Hell, i dont blame him, what does he gain from being himself, or opening himself up and showing the public who he really is?  I know i wouldnt bother and I assume CJ over time learns the same thing.  

First, no, I didn't send this to Deadspin. They found it on their own.

Second, after having read all (and yes, ALL) the comments both here and at BCB, I admit that I didn't position this as well as I could have.

To accuse CJ Wilson of racism -- well, that was just wrong. Basically, it appears that he posted a photo that could have -- and was, by me -- taken the wrong way. CJ's explanation is perfectly reasonable. My point, which I clearly didn't make very well, is that people who post online perhaps should think more carefully about what they post, for this exact reason -- that they can be taken the wrong way.

To those who gave me constructive criticism on this issue, I thank you. You're right, and I apologize, and I apologize specifically to CJ Wilson, who I have been told is a standup guy. Never having met him myself, I'll trust those who have told me so.

Thanks also to the BCB'ers who have come over here to join the discussion.

Oh, and FWIW, there isn't anything on the Myspace page I created (yes, that was created by me) -- I created this page primarily because you can't look at photos on other people's Myspace pages unless you are logged in. Thus, I had to create a Myspace login to do this. And no, there's no deep dark secret here either -- there are some people that I know who have Myspace pages and who wanted to show me some photos posted there. No other ulterior motives of any kind.

I wanted to start a dialogue. I didn't do it very well. For that, I am sorry.

Al, Bleed Cubbie Blue

Back to Deadspin.  The author of that article comes across as REALLY ignorant to me:
We don't understand what that "Taoist" business means...  Not just that, but his writing style is childish (which might be a complement).
Finally, some of the comments, real mature adults they have over there at deadspin:
"C.J. Wilson prevented Hafner from breaking the single season GS record.
I hope someone uploads child porn on his Myspace."
"great another scrub.
i'm not sure which is more offensive, the racist picture of a black guy passed out on a corner next to mcdonalds and watermelon or texas' pitching staff.
at least black folks created rap. What have the rangers ever accomplished?"

And that is not counting the numerous references to the girls on BMac's page, and how he must be hooking up with all 'dem skanks.

Retards.

I cringe at comments here and elsewhere about people knowing what type of person another poster/commenter is. Saying that, I don't cringe at thinking I know what type of person CJ is. He's not racist, but I do KNOW that bleedcubbieblue is a piece of crap site based on one and only one post. F---stick.

People do love their high-horsin witch hunts...