ESPN Stephen A. Smith of course

His take isn’t necessarily wrong, but if he were white he would have been cancelled immediately.

“ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith offers full apology for “insensitive” comments about Angels star Shohei Ohtani”

https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/espn-s...10712.html

I found it very ironic that ESPN was in full meltdown mode regarding the racist comments made online towards the black England soccer players (a story in another country) but neglected to mention one of their own black employees making racist comments about a MLB player. Especially in this day and age where the left is so worked up over anti-Asian hate because of the China flu backlash.

(07-12-2021 11:28 PM)Niner National Wrote:  His take isn’t necessarily wrong, but if he were white he would have been cancelled immediately.

True.

He said what many think - he just said it poorly. My views on speaking language have changed over the years. I find it amazing how many people can speak enough English to get by when you travel to a foreign country. When foreigners come here, there are a very few number of people (in relative totals) who can.

That said, if you are going to live and work in a country (not just visit) and the predominant language is not your own, I think you should have to learn the basics. If I was going to live in France, I would learn to speak the native tongue, likewise with foreigners coming here.



Otani is not hurting baseball, but his Star is probably not quite as bright (or marketable) as it could be if he was able to speak English. That is not insensitive, it is an acknowledgement of fact.

Disagree. Tons of MLB stars have been Spanish speakers only.

(07-13-2021 03:21 AM)CardinalJim Wrote:  “ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith offers full apology for “insensitive” comments about Angels star Shohei Ohtani”

https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/espn-s...10712.html

That was hardly an apology.

(07-13-2021 07:36 AM)Kyle Mack Wrote:  Disagree. Tons of MLB stars have been Spanish speakers only.

Well baseball is "their" sport now, just like basketball is only for black folks and football is for the gays.

(07-13-2021 07:36 AM)Kyle Mack Wrote:  Disagree. Tons of MLB stars have been Spanish speakers only.

Difference between a star and what Ohtani is right now.

(07-13-2021 07:36 AM)Kyle Mack Wrote:  Disagree. Tons of MLB stars have been Spanish speakers only.

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the US, and few if any of the Spanish speaking players need an interpreter.

(07-13-2021 08:07 AM)fsquid Wrote:  

(07-13-2021 07:36 AM)Kyle Mack Wrote:  Disagree. Tons of MLB stars have been Spanish speakers only.

Difference between a star and what Ohtani is right now.

What is he, a Martian?

Just another sign the rest of the world is overtaking the US in one of OUR sports. This was caused by Travel Baseball similar to how basketball was over taken due to AAU. When the US kids starting walking around at ball parks with 3 $400 bats and a $200 glove in a monogrammed $100 "bat bag" with $250 blade sunglasses on his hat at 10 years old it was the beginning of the end. US youth baseball players are soft and have nothing to work for. There are kids in other parts of the world that are hungry. Our kids are fat and bloated.

(07-13-2021 08:18 AM)Kyle Mack Wrote:  

(07-13-2021 08:07 AM)fsquid Wrote:  

(07-13-2021 07:36 AM)Kyle Mack Wrote:  Disagree. Tons of MLB stars have been Spanish speakers only.

Difference between a star and what Ohtani is right now.

What is he, a Martian?

Some are calling him the Japanese Babe Ruth.

(07-13-2021 07:36 AM)Kyle Mack Wrote:  Disagree. Tons of MLB stars have been Spanish speakers only.

I agree with your disagreement. It hurts his marketability in the States, but it is hardly harming baseball.

(07-13-2021 08:18 AM)Kyle Mack Wrote:  

(07-13-2021 08:07 AM)fsquid Wrote:  

(07-13-2021 07:36 AM)Kyle Mack Wrote:  Disagree. Tons of MLB stars have been Spanish speakers only.

Difference between a star and what Ohtani is right now.

What is he, a Martian?

Compared to the players of the last 40 years, you could say that.

IDK. Ichiro was pretty popular.

I get he's concerned about the marketability of the game.

But it ain't because some dude needs an interpreter.

#atlantaAllStarGame

(07-13-2021 08:24 AM)Eagleaidaholic Wrote:  Just another sign the rest of the world is overtaking the US in one of OUR sports. This was caused by Travel Baseball similar to how basketball was over taken due to AAU. When the US kids starting walking around at ball parks with 3 $400 bats and a $200 glove in a monogrammed $100 "bat bag" with $250 blade sunglasses on his hat at 10 years old it was the beginning of the end. US youth baseball players are soft and have nothing to work for. There are kids in other parts of the world that are hungry. Our kids are fat and bloated.

Baseball is killing baseball all by itself, it has little to do with foreigners taking it over.... it is a boring and slow sport.

In a 3:30 minute game there is only about 15 minutes of actual action. The best day of my life as a parent was when my son told me he did not want to play baseball any more.

People today (kids) have an attention span of about 3 seconds. While your observation about the "bling" is also correct, that is just parents overkilling it like they always do. Baseball is killing baseball all by itself.

(07-13-2021 09:02 AM)Eagleaidaholic Wrote:  IDK. Ichiro was pretty popular.

Yeah, but Ohtani is just a freak of nature. He and Trout just don't get as much national exposure playing on the west coast as they would in NY, Boston or Chicago. All that said, I did play $100 on Alonso last night @ +300 when everyone in the world was on Ohtani and found myself pulling for Mancini to win. What an amazing comeback story.