As an Asian person (of Indian heritage), I can tell you that I grew up in liberal metro NYC (was born in da Bronx yo, lifelong Yankee fan) – and my family and friends and I have always experienced tons of racial bullying and degradation – and its always been excused even by my white liberal friends as “not a big deal” whereas for any other race it would be considered a big deal. Even though we’re Christian and Westernized and rarely eat curry and traditional Indian foods – we’re still called things like “dot head”, “gu-du”, “dirty Hindu”, “curry”, “dumb Gandhi”, etc, etc. Ironic, since the entire Civil Rights movement which white liberals now portray as their own invention, was inspired by Mahatma Ghandi and Hindu and Buddhist concepts, a great man and great religions that are now reduced to a racial insult.

I think it comes down to the fact that Asians tend to be quiet, nerdy, introverted – and are easy targets for the more aggressive races of people. Asians simply don’t stand up for themselves enough. Also Asians are not “cool”, therefore white liberals (who are obsessed with being seen as “cool”) don’t see a need to defend us, the way they do blacks or hispanics (who tend to be tougher and “cool”).

I’ve tried to eat with chop sticks, .. they are NOT a good idea, .. hence the fork and spoon.

But, to you point it was a fairly minor slip of the tongue barely worth mentioning.

It’s certainly not on par as when Howard Cosell called Alvin Garrett a little monkey. And, I kind of thought Ciosell’s remark was fairly innocuous too. He took a lot of heat because he was Howard Cosell and a lot of people clearly hated him.

I believe that Cone was attempting to be clever and had no ill intent. And really, let’s be honest, Ichiro does chop at the ball and bats are commonly referred to as ‘sticks’. Just because Ichiro is Japanese, it does not in turn mean that Cone was doing anything other than making an attempt being colorful.

Pretty sure ‘slant eyes’ is a bit on the derogatory side – but who am I to judge.

While I agree with you that Cone used the term because Ichiro is Japanese (and any claims on the contrary are far fetched), your statement that it is far worse because it was an intended pun, combined with your remark above of how others around Cone were shocked (proving it was offensive) go to great lengths to solidify my original point.

The people in the booth that cringed/winced when it was said are just conditioned to how little insignificant issues like this one get blown completely out of proportion (especially when its on TV) by people in this country.

By the way, to all of you trying to now claim that Cone used “chopstick” because Ichiro sometimes slaps/chops at the ball, are really reaching. We all know the term was used because he is Japanese.

I am in no way saying Cone should be crucified. But, it would make sense for him to say “The remark that I made could be considered offensive to some, and I am sorry that I used it. No offense was intended.” If he did that, it would all go away and be forgotten. I truly believe it was likely a slipup. In fact, I would consider it worse if he intended it as a pun, as frenchy surmises, rather than just as a slipup.

*gong sound*

“Ohhh…most honorabre Ichiro with his chopstick…hit the barr over warr…HOME WON!”

*gong sound*

Reminds me of this:

I don’t see how this is rascist by merely referring to something culturally specific that is not offensive in and of itself.

Coney on his match-up with Kevin Millwood in game 2 of the 99 WS.

“I rolled him up and smoked him like a Cuban cigar”

Ooops, can I say that? I mean, white guys use forks all the time, perhaps I’m offending all the Caucasians out there.

Guess I really stepped in it. Damn! There I go again; offending the canines now. It’s not their fault they poop outside. Stupid humans.

Free country ? freedom of speech ?

Good god man, freedom of speech doesn’t mean you have the right to say whatever you want. It means the gov’t can’t tell you to shut up. If you are going to cite an amendment as justification for doing something, at least know what is actually said/written.