Are Cubs Fans Racist?
Personally I have not had any experience with Cubs fans being racist, but according to the Sun-Times, there is a history of racism from the North Side faithful:
Wrigley seems like the last place an African-American player with such a well-traveled reputation for confrontations would choose to sign a multiyear contract. In the last five seasons alone, Cubs outfielder Jacque Jones and pitcher LaTroy Hawkins said they were the targets of racist taunts and fan mail. Jones also said in 2006 that he became the victim of racial slurs and threats on his cell phone when the number got out.
Former Cubs manager Dusty Baker said that same season that he received enough threatening, racist mail in Chicago that his wife and young son no longer would attend games.
This excerpt is from a piece trying desperately to link Bradley’s history of rage to racism at Wrigley Field. I have heard these rumors before, but as you can tell from the names named in that story, they were all during the Dusty Baker years. Yeah, I’m implying what you think I’m implying. I am not going to say that there aren’t racist Cubs fans, but I am going to imply that Dusty had a strange view of the world and may have brought those perceptions with him.
All that being said I really hope this kind of thing isn’t true. How embarassing is that reputation for Cubs fans?
***UPDATE: I was speaking with my friend, reader Black Rob, about whether Cubs fans are racist or not in real life and not just in Dusty’s head. Here was his reaction:
“I’ve dealt with racist cubs fans, but not at wrigley. Drunk assholes at the bars after the game. It’s why I don’t go there anymore (Wrigleyville). It’s what happens when drunk fratboys see a black kid that’s not dressed like a rapper. It’s never been at Wrigley…I still love the Cubs and wrigley…I’m not going to let some drunk assholes ruin that for me, ya know?”"
Rob is not a paranoid-type either, so I do trust what he is saying. Perhaps this is just a few bad apples, but if it is true, I am hanging my head in shame as a Cubs fan.
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Comments
Comment from threio
Time April 17, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Take a look at why the Cubs just decided to honor and retire Ferguson Jenkins number, #31, with Greg Maddux, a white player who pitched for the Cubs for 9 seasons posting mediocre numbers. Jenkins also 9 seasons, had 20 plus wins in 6 of them. Yeah, I know Maddux was drafted originally by the Cubs.
go to the poll
It’s a shame, since the man most remember nationally, “Mr Cub”, Ernie Banks, is a African American.
It’s a shame that a few a-holes would tarnish the game experience at Wrigley.
No different here in Philly, can’t go to Eagles games w/o preparing to sock a drunk in the mouth for calling me the N-word.
Comment from threio
Time April 17, 2009 at 4:52 pm
damn, I am sorry I found this blog this way, bookmarking, will be back to discuss baseball only issues!
Comment from Stormin Norman
Time April 17, 2009 at 5:00 pm
It really is sad and reflects so poorly on us Cubs fans. I agree with threio that it is a real shame. Its not all of us though, I swear!
Comment from bitternutz
Time April 17, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Its truly disgusting…but somehow its been tolerated for years at Wrigley. It seems like making Asian jokes is now a part of Cubs culture too after Harry Caray’s remark about Hideo Nomo in 1995 and the racist Fukudome t-shirts that are prevalent everywhere. Throw in an Antisemitic ownership group for half a century and you might as well change the name to the “Chicago KKKubs”
Comment from Marge Schott
Time April 17, 2009 at 5:30 pm
i dont see what the problem is
Pingback from Zoner Linkage | Zoner Sports
Time May 13, 2009 at 8:21 am
[...] Please — we put up with Ronnie Woo Woo who is black and annoying. Are Cubs Fans Racist? NQTC [...]
Pingback from Not Qualified To Comment » Why Its Okay to Boo Milton Bradley But You Were Kind of a Dick for Booing Jacque Jones
Time May 13, 2009 at 10:02 am
[...] ok to boo Bradley, but booing Jones wasn’t cool. Unless I’m completely wrong and Cubs fans are just racist. var addthis_pub = ‘jdyme1′; var addthis_language = ‘en’;var addthis_options = ‘email, digg, [...]
Pingback from Not Qualified To Comment » Hey Cubs Fans, Stop Blaming Milton Bradley and Just Enjoy His Hilarious Comments
Time August 28, 2009 at 8:11 am
[...] issue, but who am I to say that he shouldn’t be? It is the official stance of NQTC that there are most likely racist Cubs fans in the bleachers, and if I were in Bradley (or Jacque Jones) position, I’d be pissed off too. So we can boo [...]
Comment from Wonka
Time November 21, 2009 at 12:07 am
To be honest,it is very true many,if not the average cubs fan is very funny towards non-white people,especially blacks,it’s just something that’s in their
blood.I’m not a cubs fan,I’m actually a life long red sox fan,so if anyone knows
about prejudice/racism,it’s me.However I’ve been to wrigley about five times
in my life and as a person of color who has a couple of friends who are cubs fans,
I’ve seen and even experienced the prejudice that exist at wrigley.That being
said,my friends that are cubs fans,have always treated me with friendship and
continue to wonder why so many cubs fans are that way,they’ve even come to my
aid a few times when I’ve had words with cubs fans who have acted that way
towards me.In addition I have to say that I have met many cubs fans who are
very,very cool people,some who are actually part of my friends family.I’ve always thought that maybe white cubs fans feel that a black cubs fan is odd,and being
that most blacks from chicago are mostly white sox fans,the white cubs fan has
to question whether the black cubs fan is an actual die-hard cubbies fan and not
some white sox fan and/or chicago state of mind person who prefers to root for
both teams.I think alot of it has to do with the way many of them are raised and
also the white sox are a team that seems to be cheered by the average minority,
and the cubs are cheered by the average majority.Much of it has to do with
characterization,ignorant/arrogant beliefs,and overall classification of a persons
skin color.I just want to say to all die-hard cubbies fans who’m happen to be a
person of color or of non-white ethnicity,to hang in their,I know what you have to
deal with because I deal with it from time to time as well.NEVER!! stop rooting for
a team you love & support,because of the ignorance,arrogance and prejudice that
a person may show towards you,as long as they don’t physically try to harm you,
IGNORE!!! them.
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Comment from Eric
Time April 17, 2009 at 2:13 pm
wow! I’m totally shocked…