June 9, 2004

: Are we all such Parcellites around here that nobody wanted to post the 'jap play' story? What gives? Is it the lack of a fine that makes this a non-story? Is it because race/ethnicity is a sensitive topic? Is it because it is a historically accurate analogy? Or is it because he should've called them 'Osama plays'?

read story | posted by garfield to Football at 11:16 AM CDT (16 comments total)

I just try not to pay attention to Bill Parcells. When people use the word "Jap" it makes me think they're time-travellers from the 1950s. Or they're in high school and subscribe to Soldier of Fortune.

Take your pick.

posted by rocketman at 11:23 AM CDT on June 9

I heard about the comment a bunch of times before I finally got to see it last night. He knew he shouldn't have said it then went ahead and did it anyway. He was pretty apologetic about it. The other funny thing was him saying "No offense to the Orientals out there" - which sometime around 1990 apparently became a slur also (but not one that Parcell's generation would know about).

Parcell's generation grew up using a few particular slurs, Jap among them. It's outdated and offensive. I guess the inevitable comment would be "what if he called it a n----- play, then would we be more upset" - the answer of course is "yes" and "yes" it's a huge double standard, but life is full of them.

posted by vito90 at 11:36 AM CDT on June 9

To be honest, I didn't see anything about it when I scanned the sports shows this morning.

It's dispicable, and he really should have been fined.

posted by grum@work at 11:51 AM CDT on June 9

I'm not sure that fining Parcells would make any difference. Personally, I'd like to see him forced to take sensitivity training. Not because I think it'd do him any good, but because I think it would be comedy gold.

Seriously, though, "Old White Guy Makes Racially Insensitive Remark" is not exactly an above-the-fold headline. Sure, he should be taken to task for his remarks, but he's apologized and unless this is part of a pattern (or becomes one) I think that should be the end of it.

posted by Jugwine at 12:17 PM CDT on June 9

They were talking about it last night on the local news, and Dale Hansen, who has been around forever in the Dallas area, said "The NFL announced today that Bill Parcells will not be punished for the comments he made, and Rush Limbaugh says that's the way it should be." He then just cut straight to the next story. It was the biggest WTF moment I've had in a while.

The other funny thing was him saying "No offense to the Orientals out there" - which sometime around 1990 apparently became a slur also (but not one that Parcell's generation would know about).

Yeah, the irony of apologize for making offensive remarks via means of slightly less offensive remarks is delicious.

posted by Ufez Jones at 12:38 PM CDT on June 9

Okay, after mulling it over a cigarette nearly 19 hours later, it just occured to me that Hansen was probably referring to the Rush/McNabb scandal. Dale's delivery has slipped over the years, as has my mind apparently.

posted by Ufez Jones at 1:15 PM CDT on June 9

I was afraid that because he is Bill Parcells, top 3 coach of the NFL for the past decade, the NFL may let him off the hook. At least us fans keep a higher standard.

posted by garfield at 2:02 PM CDT on June 9

Dale Hansen had his own ill-advised remark controversy years ago when he quipped about smacking his wife after playing an interview clip of then-married Robin Givens and Mike Tyson. So he'd be one of the last sportscasters in Dallas I'd expect to ride Parcells over this remark.

As racist comments go, this one appears more dumb than malicious. It probably didn't go very far in the media because he apologized so quickly and no fine was forthcoming.

posted by rcade at 2:04 PM CDT on June 9

If you have to preface it with an apology, then it's probably a bad idea to say it in the first place.

Although, the idea thathe would equate 'Jap' with surprise attack is indeed comedic.

Perhaps if Parcells had received a liberal arts education, he would have called it 'pull a Hannibal play' or 'pull a Trojan' or something?

posted by insomnyuk at 2:44 PM CDT on June 9

Although, the idea that he would equate 'Jap' with surprise attack is indeed comedic.

The 1989 OED lists this usage with several examples, the most recent from the early 70s, iirc.

'pull a Trojan'

Or maybe pulling an Achaean?

posted by jason streed at 4:27 PM CDT on June 9

It's a generational thing. Hang out with my 95 year old Great Aunt some day. I hear some beauties. And there is not a malicious bone in her body.

Some of these sayings just stick. And I know some of us will be accused of using ones that haven't even been outlawed yet.

With that being said, anyone interested in going Dutch on some dinner tonight?

posted by usfbull at 4:42 PM CDT on June 9

No, I'm having Chinese. I hear the Oriental sauce is really good.

(No offense to the Orientals. Man, that was so unexpected. What a Jap play.)

posted by worldcup2002 at 5:53 PM CDT on June 9

Japanese people should hardly be offended by this. If anything - given the high profile status of Parcells, his earnings and lofty position in our society - they should be laughing. That's right all you Asians - we're mostly a bunch of under-educated, ignorant meatheads. No offence to any 'Mericans.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 6:35 PM CDT on June 9

'pull a Trojan'

Ok, this is a pointless thought, but the Trojans didn't do any sneaking. It should be 'pull a Greek'. Or 'get Trojaned' or something.

posted by garfield at 1:13 PM CDT on June 10

'pull a Trojan'

Ok, this is a pointless thought, but the Trojans didn't do any sneaking. It should be 'pull a Greek'. Or 'get Trojaned' or something.

I totally agree.

posted by jason streed at 3:08 PM CDT on June 10

It was interesting mainly because it was like watching a trainwreck. He thought the sentence through, realized there was an objectionable word in their standard terminology, and the response was to apologize badly in advance, and then use it anyway! Wouldn't a sane man just use "sneak attack plays" instead?

posted by Smackfu at 2:28 PM CDT on June 12

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