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BULL even PAX wrote:Hey guys I appreciate your emails about this silly conundrum, but I'm responding in mass e-mail style because I've received about 14-15 e-mails all saying/asking the same thing. "(If you know my name-insert it here), are you at all offended by these shirts and headbands?"

Of course, some e-mails were a little harsher than others(thanks Chachie, you whop! You too Tottle, you barbaric Greek. What kind of name is Aristotle anyways?), but all in good fun. You all know how I love my racist jokes.

My answer to this is simply, no. I'm not offended. I'm not Japanese and the mocking of the incorrect pronunciation of the word 'Holy', doesn't really reflect my culture's native language. Its actually offensive to any foreigner who doesn't speak proper English.

Its kinda like asking McD if he is affected by Nazi jokes. (he's Irish for those who don't know) Obviously he isn't offended. The Japanese and the Filipinos are as different as the Irish and the Germans.

The bottom line is, if this situation hadn't affected my enjoyment at the games, I wouldn't mind it all. I can actually sit back and soak up the humor in "Horry Kow!". Its offensive, but funny if you can get past the political correctiveness of it all.

However; over the past few days, I've been to a rooftop against the Bucs, and sitting at my normal seats against Cincy. Both times I felt uncomfortable in a way I've never felt before. Eye contact was scarce, and people who sported these shirts and headbands didn't interact with me as they usually would. By that, I mean, they didn't cheer when I attempted to rally the crowd, fewer people gave me high fives after scores. Maybe its just me being self conscious about it, but I've asked a few of my other Asian friends(die hard as me about he Cubs), and they've all experienced the same thing. It all started after that Sun-Times article was released about a week back.

Anyways, so yeah, no hard feelings about it, but I'm glad they've pulled the product, even though some will still attempt to sell it.

For the record, Fukudome doesn't approve, and he doesn't find it funny at all. In the Japanese newspaper, he's actually been quoted in saying that it is offensive to the culture.

So on a lighter note, when are you fools going to come out to a game. Many of you promise, but never come through.

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2poor wrote:I'll come to a game BeP!

What do you mean about this "lack of interaction" though? Do you have one of these headbands and/or shirts, or do you mean you, as an Asian, were specifically ignored by those wearing the offensive material(s)?

Or do you mean the fanbase as a whole seems to be less in-touch with Asians?

SportsWorld wrote:Yesterday, during Fukudome's at-bat there was two guys behind homeplate having a mock ninja fight. Are people that stupid?

Jo Jo English wrote:Racist? Yes.

Worn with the intent to belittle Asian people? Doubtful. (Very doubtful)

Does it need to stop? Oh yes. It makes those particular Cub fans look like idiots.

I'm not a person that blindly supports the PC movement of the past twenty or so years, but still... dumb is dumb.

This shirt was created due to ignorance.

Paul Sullivan wrote:The Cubs attempt to prevent vendors from selling racially insensitive T-shirts outside Wrigley Field apparently have hit a snag.

The T-shirts, which feature a cartoon of a slanty-eyed bear Cub with oversized, Harry Caray-style glasses and the words "Horry Kow" written on the front, drew the ire of the organization when they originally went on sale at some souvenir stands outside Wrigley in early April.

The T-shirts were supposed to be an attempt to poke fun at Japanese pronunciation of the English language, using Kosuke Fukudome's popularity on the North Side as a hook. The Cubs were able to get vendors who sell Major League Baseball merchandise around the park to stop selling the offensive T-shirts and a team spokesman said the company that manufactured the shirts has agreed to stop making them.

But apparently a large number of the shirts still exist, and the T-shirt ban hasn't stopped individuals with city licenses from selling them. A few vendors were selling them outside of Wrigley before Thursday's game.

"My personal viewpoint is they're not blatantly racist," said John Weier, a vendor selling the "Horry Kow" T-shirts outside of the Cubby Bear Lounge at the corner of Addison and Clark Streets. "It's a novelty T-shirt. We're not trying to hurt or offend anyone."

Weier knows Fukudome does not like the T-shirts but said he has no qualms about selling them to fans, saying he was "trying to make a living."

Fukudome has called the T-shirts offensive and the Cubs were so concerned about them they forced many souvenir stands to remove the shirts last month. But Weier said the Cubs have no say over the street vendors, as long as they are not selling the T-shirts on club property.

"There are four or five guys selling them on this corner alone," he said. "Hey, you can buy them on eBay for $50."

Weier also had another T-shirt that read "Fukudome for President," but left small spaces in between some of the letters to make it profane.

Cubs spokesman Peter Chase said the team is working with the city to crack down on the sellers but said they can not police every corner every game.

Efforts to reach a city spokesman were unsuccessful Thursday.