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Racism & Hatred by Cubs fans in USA Today

Submitted by cgalik on Mon, 2006-08-21 09:04.

An disturbing article in USA Today on Cubs fans and the racism and hatred brought by Cubs fans. Including a quote from Baylor:

Don Baylor, who managed the Cubs from 2000-'02, remembers the hatred. He, too, was subjected to racist letters, just not to the extent that Baker is facing.
"I've talked to Dusty, and he's suffering," Baylor says. "It's a tough place to play, a tough place to manage. It's like they bring that hatred to the ballpark.
"They say that Cubs fans are great. Define that for me. Is that throwing things on the field, showing disdain for your players? Is that your definition?
"When does it end?"

I'm glad to see a writer bring this hatred out into public, even as embarrassing it is for Cub fans. I hope that Cub fans can discourage other Cub fans from doing this. If not for the moral reasons, then because it's hurting our team. Who think it helps by booing? Or writing nasty letters, or yelling obscenities at a Cub player? This guy is on our team. This is definitely a reason why the Cubs play better on the road, why LaTroy got worse, and why Patterson folded. Sure it's not the only reason, but it wears on these guys. I'm glad to see Jacque doing fine despite of it. I have to think this discourages players from coming to play for the Cubs. Which just hurts the Cubs, which in turn aches Cub fans more.

Please help stop the hatred of fellow Cub fans.

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A couple of related posts:

Submitted by cubsnet on Mon, 2006-08-21 13:51.

The Booing of Jacque Jones (4/25/2006)
On Booing (5/10/2005)

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I call it the jerkification

Submitted by cyberstoic on Mon, 2006-08-21 15:13.

I call it the jerkification of Wrigley Field, and it's one reason I haven't been to a Cubs game this year for the first time since I was born.

--
Kevin B. O'Reilly
http://www.kboreilly.com/howl/

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Re: the jerkification of Wrigley Field

Submitted by cubsnet on Mon, 2006-08-21 19:32.

the jerkification of Wrigley Field

An apt phrase.

I haven't been to Wrigley Field since 2001, mostly because I just haven't the time or opportunity to make the (relatively short) 4.5 hour trip. My wife and I had a pleasant experience then. Perhaps I shouldn't, but I worry about taking my kids someday.

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Racism

Submitted by Paul on Mon, 2006-08-21 16:29.

It is absolute hogwash that Cubs fans are racist and boo black players any more than white players. I've been to hundreds of games over more than 30 years. Fans boo players who don't produce without racial distinction. Remember Todd Hundley-- white guy who couldn't hit. He was booed. Derrick Lee doesn't get booed. Notice his race. Dusty Baker was popular until the team started losing and playing badly. Before that we all said 'trusty in Dusty'. He's no more black today than he was in 2003.

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Re: Racism

Submitted by cubsnet on Mon, 2006-08-21 19:35.

Paul, I agree, when we are talking about Cubs fans as a whole. After all, this is an organization whose most popular figure among fans is Ernie Banks. I think the point of the USA Today article, though, was something different -- that when certain fans turn on black players / managers, the insults are sometimes racist in nature, and are thus particularly unpleasant.

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Racism

Submitted by Paul on Wed, 2006-08-23 10:29.

There are certain fans in every city whose insults are racist. They are unpleasant and inappropriate whether made by Cub fans or fans of any other team. Since the USA Today article highlighted Cub fans and no others, the implication is that Cub fans are worse. That's just not true. I've heard racial comments in many ballparks but very rarely at Wrigley Field.

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Negative mail not influencing Baker

Submitted by cgalik on Tue, 2006-08-22 06:26.

Cubs.com responded to the USA Today article with Negative mail not influencing Baker.

Baker also received hate mail when he managed in San Francisco, but said he's received more in Chicago than during his 10 seasons with the Giants. The good mail outnumbers the bad, he said.
"It's outnumbered a couple hundred to one," Baker said

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Racism followup

Submitted by cgalik on Mon, 2006-08-28 08:56.

Some more foloowup from a Cubs.com article:

Baker has tried to downplay recent articles regarding hate mail.

"I'm not the one who brought it up," he said. "This is something that's been there on and off for 20 years since I've been in the game. It's not the majority of the time, it's sometimes. Everything I've said has been true, and I've left out quite a bit."

Baker has heard that a Chicago radio station claimed he made up the racist letters. That's nonsense.

"You don't fabricate stuff like that," he said.

He's shown them to some of his players. Baker has seen plenty in his time, especially as a teammate of Henry Aaron. He learned from it.

"That's what Hank did for me. I saw most of his," Baker said. "Some of [the letters] went back 20 years, and some of it was last week."

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