Racism banner at Fenway Park

[HemiBeers]

Today's news about 3-4 people hanging a large banner at Fenway Park during a Red Sox game. The banner said:

 

"racism is as american as baseball".

 

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20697346/fans-removed-fenway-park-seats-racism-american-baseball-sign

 

The banner was taken down, due to park rules and the people were kicked out.

 

While I admire their conviction and moxie, I'm perplexed at what they are trying to convey. Their message is so convoluted and has so many potential angles, it ends up entirely missing whatever point they were trying to make.

 

They stated that it was an anti-racism banner, but I'm not so sure. If they're going to this much effort, then don't be a bunch of dopes and display a crystal clear message. Perhaps they wanted it to be vague and thought-provoking. The only thought I have is don't be a dumbass and accurately express yourself.

[Narps]

Jemele Hill attended a Sox game? Good to know...smh

[theredtamasrule]

Of course those limey mick bastards in boston would do something like that! Fuckahs!

[custom55]

Yup. Racism is too common in America. A least that's what I get out of the message and I agree that it's vague.

[blueschica]

I guess I've never noticed the lack of hanging banners before (that are about baseball !!) in modern stadiums, kind of a little empty looking now that you mention it. It used to be fun to look around Three Rivers Stadium and read them; some of the season ticket holders had nice ones that stayed up all season.

 

I always loved the one Mets fans made in 1973 after the Pete Rose-Bud Harrelson feud- "Shea Stadium is no Rose garden!"

 

But the ball park is no place for obscure political fan signs, IMO.

[laughedatbytime]

It's not vague at all, the sign was a condemnation of baseball, but mostly America, as racist. Given what happened to Adam Jones at Fenway earlier this year, and the history of the Red Sox franchise in the Yawkey years, they do have a point. The Red Sox were the last to integrate.

 

Where they don't have a point is that the game is inherently racist. For one thing, there are players all over the globe that have come to play in the best leagues in the world, and there is more mingling between races in a positive way in a major league clubhouse than almost anywhere I can think of.

Edited September 14, 2017 by laughedatbytime

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

This is normally the type of topic that belongs in SOCN, despite the fact that the banner was hung at a sporting arena. We'll keep it out here as a piece of sports news unless (or until) it goes political. Then we'll move it.

[edhunter]

This is stupid. It was not a racist sign. It was a black sign with white letters. If it were black letters on a white sign, THEN it would be racist. Edited September 14, 2017 by edhunter

[Principled Man]

I guess I've never noticed the lack of hanging banners before (that are about baseball !!) in modern stadiums, kind of a little empty looking now that you mention it. It used to be fun to look around Three Rivers Stadium and read them; some of the season ticket holders had nice ones that stayed up all season.

 

I always loved the one Mets fans made in 1973 after the Pete Rose-Bud Harrelson feud- "Shea Stadium is no Rose garden!"

 

But the ball park is no place for obscure political fan signs, IMO.

 

The best banner BY FAR that sports fans ever unfurled was at Lambeau Field in January 1997.

 

Near the end of the playoff game, in which the Packers were whooping on the 49ers, some fans just off the field had a huge white banner with a huge green Packer "G" in the middle.

 

Above the Packer G were the words, "RESISTANCE IS FUTILE" and below the Packer G were the words, "WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL"...... :haz: :haz:

[blueschica]

I guess I've never noticed the lack of hanging banners before (that are about baseball !!) in modern stadiums, kind of a little empty looking now that you mention it. It used to be fun to look around Three Rivers Stadium and read them; some of the season ticket holders had nice ones that stayed up all season.

 

I always loved the one Mets fans made in 1973 after the Pete Rose-Bud Harrelson feud- "Shea Stadium is no Rose garden!"

 

But the ball park is no place for obscure political fan signs, IMO.

 

The best banner BY FAR that sports fans ever unfurled was at Lambeau Field in January 1997.

 

Near the end of the playoff game, in which the Packers were whooping on the 49ers, some fans just off the field had a huge white banner with a huge green Packer "G" in the middle.

 

Above the Packer G were the words, "RESISTANCE IS FUTILE" and below the Packer G were the words, "WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL"...... :haz: :haz:

 

[Mr. Not]

It's definitely a dig at baseball in at least some way. I'll put 20 dollars down on the sign holders saying there's some sort of systemic racism involved in professional baseball, or among baseball fans.

 

I find this funny because if there's one thing I've noticed about sports, it's that so many people are connected through them. It seems like sports only act as a net positive on society, although someone like Noam claims they're used as a distraction from what's important. So then is this true of all hobbies?

[JohnRogers]

I see a lot of white privilege holding that banner.

[Narps]

As far as professional baseball(or any professional sport for that matter)goes, GREEN is the only color that matters... Edited September 15, 2017 by Narps

[78jazz]

It's definitely a dig at baseball in at least some way. I'll put 20 dollars down on the sign holders saying there's some sort of systemic racism involved in professional baseball, or among baseball fans.

 

I find this funny because if there's one thing I've noticed about sports, it's that so many people are connected through them. It seems like sports only act as a net positive on society, although someone like Noam claims they're used as a distraction from what's important. So then is this true of all hobbies?

 

Maybe I am trying to justify my own hobbies, but I do not think so. I think the way sports tend to be glorified is sinister. I can dig the idea that sports are a distraction from what is important.

Edited September 15, 2017 by 78jazz

[Principled Man]

It seems like sports only act as a net positive on society, although someone like Noam claims they're used as a distraction from what's important. So then is this true of all hobbies?

 

More or less, yes. What is the definition of a pastime? Something we do to help pass the time (pleasantly, we hope!). Without hobbies and pastimes, we would be nothing but worker drones, existing only to work, eat and sleep..... :o

[Mithrandir]

It's definitely a dig at baseball in at least some way. I'll put 20 dollars down on the sign holders saying there's some sort of systemic racism involved in professional baseball, or among baseball fans.

 

I find this funny because if there's one thing I've noticed about sports, it's that so many people are connected through them. It seems like sports only act as a net positive on society, although someone like Noam claims they're used as a distraction from what's important. So then is this true of all hobbies?

I don't agree. My take is that baseball is ingrained into American culture. and so is racism. it had nothing to do with racism in baseball. Not sure how it can be taken as anything else. Edited September 16, 2017 by Mithrandir

[Principled Man]

It's definitely a dig at baseball in at least some way. I'll put 20 dollars down on the sign holders saying there's some sort of systemic racism involved in professional baseball, or among baseball fans.

 

I find this funny because if there's one thing I've noticed about sports, it's that so many people are connected through them. It seems like sports only act as a net positive on society, although someone like Noam claims they're used as a distraction from what's important. So then is this true of all hobbies?

 

I don't agree. My take is that baseball is ingrained into American culture. and so is racism. it had nothing to do with racism in baseball. Not sure how it can be taken as anything else.

 

 

The banner clearly communicated the idea of racism being as American as baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie.