Are Cub fans really all that racist?

[The Dude]

I think what makes Wrigley worse than other stadiums is that you have a lot of drunks in the bleachers with no filter. When they aren't being racist, they are considered good, tough fans by visiting players. Unfortunately, out of 4,000 people there will always be a few bad eggs. And if the bad eggs happen to be the drunkest and are sitting closest to the field, the players will hear from them.

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo(post=30474:date=Apr 15 2009, 01:22 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Apr 15 2009, 01:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30457:date=Apr 15 2009, 12:24 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 15 2009, 12:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm just gonna throw this out there . . . since meeting my wife 7 years ago and spending alot more time in the Chicago area, I've heard some of the most ridiculously insensitive things I can imagine come from people mouths. I've heard things said by complete strangers, in public situations, that I couldn't fathom anyone saying. I may be from podunk, backwards, hillbilly Iowa, but I've never heard anything here like what I've heard in some of my trips to Chicago.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've been all over the country, and I don't think people are that different by and large aside from the deep south. That said, Chicagoans are right up there as far as the friendliest around when you compare huge cities. Maybe you're thinking Joliet is a good representation of Chicago?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not talking about Joliet, I'm talking about a far greater reaching area than Joliet. Also, the bad connotations that Joliet gets are far overblown. I wouldn't wanna spend too much time on the East side of the river, but the rest of the city is just like any other suburb.

[jeffy]

I despise racism, but I'm so sick and tired of people accusing others of being racist just because they criticize someone that's black, when their skin color really has nothing to do with it. These days if you even begin to say anything negative about a black person, you're automatically a racist according to some. It's getting ridiculous. I've also seen people tagged as racist just because they questioned Obama's policies. I hate racism just as much as anyone, but when people are immune from criticism simply because of their skin color, that's just insanely silly.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=30477:date=Apr 15 2009, 01:25 PM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 15 2009, 01:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30464:date=Apr 15 2009, 12:40 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 15 2009, 12:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30457:date=Apr 15 2009, 12:24 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 15 2009, 12:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm just gonna throw this out there . . . since meeting my wife 7 years ago and spending alot more time in the Chicago area, I've heard some of the most ridiculously insensitive things I can imagine come from people mouths. I've heard things said by complete strangers, in public situations, that I couldn't fathom anyone saying. I may be from podunk, backwards, hillbilly Iowa, but I've never heard anything here like what I've heard in some of my trips to Chicago.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not really sure what this is supposed to mean.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It means that I've heard more racist comments there than I ever could have imagined. It means that I've heard the N word and other derrogatory terms used in passing, like it's common place, far too often. It means that I think there may be some truth to what the article is saying.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've lived my entire life in Chicago, and that hasn't been my experience at all. You've gotta stop hanging out at the Chicago Klavern when you visit...

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo(post=30499:date=Apr 15 2009, 01:44 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 15 2009, 01:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30477:date=Apr 15 2009, 01:25 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 15 2009, 01:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30464:date=Apr 15 2009, 12:40 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 15 2009, 12:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30457:date=Apr 15 2009, 12:24 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 15 2009, 12:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm just gonna throw this out there . . . since meeting my wife 7 years ago and spending alot more time in the Chicago area, I've heard some of the most ridiculously insensitive things I can imagine come from people mouths. I've heard things said by complete strangers, in public situations, that I couldn't fathom anyone saying. I may be from podunk, backwards, hillbilly Iowa, but I've never heard anything here like what I've heard in some of my trips to Chicago.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not really sure what this is supposed to mean.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It means that I've heard more racist comments there than I ever could have imagined. It means that I've heard the N word and other derrogatory terms used in passing, like it's common place, far too often. It means that I think there may be some truth to what the article is saying.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've lived my entire life in Chicago, and that hasn't been my experience at all. You've gotta stop hanging out at the Chicago Klavern when you visit...
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So, I'm making shit up?

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=30501:date=Apr 15 2009, 01:52 PM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 15 2009, 01:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30499:date=Apr 15 2009, 01:44 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 15 2009, 01:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30477:date=Apr 15 2009, 01:25 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 15 2009, 01:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30464:date=Apr 15 2009, 12:40 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 15 2009, 12:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30457:date=Apr 15 2009, 12:24 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 15 2009, 12:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm just gonna throw this out there . . . since meeting my wife 7 years ago and spending alot more time in the Chicago area, I've heard some of the most ridiculously insensitive things I can imagine come from people mouths. I've heard things said by complete strangers, in public situations, that I couldn't fathom anyone saying. I may be from podunk, backwards, hillbilly Iowa, but I've never heard anything here like what I've heard in some of my trips to Chicago.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not really sure what this is supposed to mean.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It means that I've heard more racist comments there than I ever could have imagined. It means that I've heard the N word and other derrogatory terms used in passing, like it's common place, far too often. It means that I think there may be some truth to what the article is saying.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've lived my entire life in Chicago, and that hasn't been my experience at all. You've gotta stop hanging out at the Chicago Klavern when you visit...
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So, I'm making shit up?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't know if you are or not -- that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that you're just painting with too wide of a brush. I'm not sure where you are when you're witnessing this type of behavior, but to say that there's "something to this article" because you've hear racist comments when you visit Chicago is kind of a stretch.

It's similar to me saying that there are more criminals in Iowa than the rest of the country because of the two Iowans I've met, half of them are vandals.

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo(post=30509:date=Apr 15 2009, 01:59 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 15 2009, 01:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30501:date=Apr 15 2009, 01:52 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 15 2009, 01:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30499:date=Apr 15 2009, 01:44 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 15 2009, 01:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30477:date=Apr 15 2009, 01:25 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 15 2009, 01:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30464:date=Apr 15 2009, 12:40 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 15 2009, 12:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30457:date=Apr 15 2009, 12:24 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 15 2009, 12:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm just gonna throw this out there . . . since meeting my wife 7 years ago and spending alot more time in the Chicago area, I've heard some of the most ridiculously insensitive things I can imagine come from people mouths. I've heard things said by complete strangers, in public situations, that I couldn't fathom anyone saying. I may be from podunk, backwards, hillbilly Iowa, but I've never heard anything here like what I've heard in some of my trips to Chicago.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not really sure what this is supposed to mean.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It means that I've heard more racist comments there than I ever could have imagined. It means that I've heard the N word and other derrogatory terms used in passing, like it's common place, far too often. It means that I think there may be some truth to what the article is saying.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've lived my entire life in Chicago, and that hasn't been my experience at all. You've gotta stop hanging out at the Chicago Klavern when you visit...
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So, I'm making shit up?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't know if you are or not -- that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that you're just painting with too wide of a brush. I'm not sure where you are when you're witnessing this type of behavior, but to say that there's "something to this article" because you've hear racist comments when you visit Chicago is kind of a stretch.

It's similar to me saying that there are more criminals in Iowa than the rest of the country because of the two Iowans I've met, half of them are vandals.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Whatever man, you just didn't like what I had to say.

[veryzer]

<!--quoteo(post=30499:date=Apr 15 2009, 01:44 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 15 2009, 01:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30477:date=Apr 15 2009, 01:25 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 15 2009, 01:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30464:date=Apr 15 2009, 12:40 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 15 2009, 12:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30457:date=Apr 15 2009, 12:24 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 15 2009, 12:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm just gonna throw this out there . . . since meeting my wife 7 years ago and spending alot more time in the Chicago area, I've heard some of the most ridiculously insensitive things I can imagine come from people mouths. I've heard things said by complete strangers, in public situations, that I couldn't fathom anyone saying. I may be from podunk, backwards, hillbilly Iowa, but I've never heard anything here like what I've heard in some of my trips to Chicago.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not really sure what this is supposed to mean.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It means that I've heard more racist comments there than I ever could have imagined. It means that I've heard the N word and other derrogatory terms used in passing, like it's common place, far too often. It means that I think there may be some truth to what the article is saying.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've lived my entire life in Chicago, and that hasn't been my experience at all. You've gotta stop hanging out at the Chicago Klavern when you visit...
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

nah, it hasn't been my experience either. dropping the n-word in passing like everyday conversation? yeah, you're making that up. sorry.

[bz]

Ruby, you're comparing a sparsley populated area that has the same population as Chicago, yet in a fraction of the area.

[Croz]

I'm from Iowa and I don't relate with Ruby's experience at all. Iowa is much more racist than Chicago. Then again, Butcher and Veryzer could get married in Iowa but not Chicago.

[kbwsb]

You know, it doesn't matter what ruby/butch/tom thinks. What matters is that the Cubs have a seriously bad reputation around MLB for having racist fans. Torii Hunter specifically put the Cubs on his "no-trade" list because he didn't want to be the subject of racial epithets while trying to play ball.

Doesn't it seem like something has to be done? Putting monitors/security guards in the bleachers? If Bradley made a bad throw, and the guy next to me called him an "N," I seriously would consider punching the guy. But shouldn't that guy at least be subject to ejection?

[Croz]

<!--quoteo(post=30565:date=Apr 15 2009, 02:50 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Apr 15 2009, 02:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know, it doesn't matter what ruby/butch/tom thinks. What matters is that the Cubs have a seriously bad reputation around MLB for having racist fans. Torii Hunter specifically put the Cubs on his "no-trade" list because he didn't want to be the subject of racial epithets while trying to play ball.

Doesn't it seem like something has to be done? Putting monitors/security guards in the bleachers? If Bradley made a bad throw, and the guy next to me called him an "N," I seriously would consider punching the guy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Have you actually heard the "N" word during a game? I have been to a lot of games and sat in all areas of the park and have NEVER heard one N word. A lot of f bombs though.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=30565:date=Apr 15 2009, 02:50 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Apr 15 2009, 02:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know, it doesn't matter what ruby/butch/tom thinks. What matters is that the Cubs have a seriously bad reputation around MLB for having racist fans. Torii Hunter specifically put the Cubs on his "no-trade" list because he didn't want to be the subject of racial epithets while trying to play ball.

Doesn't it seem like something has to be done? Putting monitors/security guards in the bleachers? If Bradley made a bad throw, and the guy next to me called him an "N," I seriously would consider punching the guy. But shouldn't that guy at least be subject to ejection?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't recall Hunter being that blunt about anything, just that he felt bad about how Strap was treated. Also, I think it's ridiculous that a fanbase that immortalized guys like Billy, Hawk, Fergie and Ernie is somehow more racist than others. That's just dumb.

One more thing. I was raised in an Irish/Italian/Polish middle class part of the city, and if there was anyplace that would be considered racist, that would be it. Now, I'm not gonna say that I never heard the N word, because that would be a lie. I did, and even heard it in my household by certain relatives and acquaintances more than I care to admit. That said, I was raised differently though, and so were my friends and family and those I went to school with. I can honestly say that there was no strain of racism that was overt in any way around me. Can I say with certainty that there were no closet racists around me? Nope. But, it's insulting to me, especially since this is all matter-of-fact talk from people who are not Chicago natives to paint a broad brush across Chicago and Cubs fans in general as somehow being intolerant. I would never denigrate or make assumptions about anyone's hometown without at least living there for an extended period of time. Wittenmeyer is not a native and has only been here for a few years. I'm sure he lives in one of the nicer parts of town too, so his opinion means shit to me. I'll leave it at that.

[kbwsb]

<!--quoteo(post=30567:date=Apr 15 2009, 02:53 PM:name=Croz)-->QUOTE (Croz @ Apr 15 2009, 02:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30565:date=Apr 15 2009, 02:50 PM:name=KBwsb)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KBwsb @ Apr 15 2009, 02:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know, it doesn't matter what ruby/butch/tom thinks. What matters is that the Cubs have a seriously bad reputation around MLB for having racist fans. Torii Hunter specifically put the Cubs on his "no-trade" list because he didn't want to be the subject of racial epithets while trying to play ball.

Doesn't it seem like something has to be done? Putting monitors/security guards in the bleachers? If Bradley made a bad throw, and the guy next to me called him an "N," I seriously would consider punching the guy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Have you actually heard the "N" word during a game? I have been to a lot of games and sat in all areas of the park and have NEVER heard one N word. A lot of f bombs though.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I never have. But I'm not a black ballplayer, and they all say they have. Is it a massive conspiracy to falsely paint Wrigley as racist?

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=30581:date=Apr 15 2009, 03:05 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Apr 15 2009, 03:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30567:date=Apr 15 2009, 02:53 PM:name=Croz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Croz @ Apr 15 2009, 02:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=30565:date=Apr 15 2009, 02:50 PM:name=KBwsb)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KBwsb @ Apr 15 2009, 02:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know, it doesn't matter what ruby/butch/tom thinks. What matters is that the Cubs have a seriously bad reputation around MLB for having racist fans. Torii Hunter specifically put the Cubs on his "no-trade" list because he didn't want to be the subject of racial epithets while trying to play ball.

Doesn't it seem like something has to be done? Putting monitors/security guards in the bleachers? If Bradley made a bad throw, and the guy next to me called him an "N," I seriously would consider punching the guy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Have you actually heard the "N" word during a game? I have been to a lot of games and sat in all areas of the park and have NEVER heard one N word. A lot of f bombs though.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I never have. But I'm not a black ballplayer, and they all say they have. Is it a massive conspiracy to falsely paint Wrigley as racist?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Define "they." I love ya KB, but I think you're generalizing too much.