Spain's Basketball Team Stages Offensive Photo

Has anyone taken the time to ask the team what they were thinking when they took the photo? There are so many different cultures in the world and things that are very offensive to Asians sometimes are not offensive at all to Americans for example. Maybe they did not mean anything offensive at all. I think it is easy to jump to conclusions. I would like to know the facts behind the photo before discussing what type of punishment they deserve! Some U.S. team members got off the airplane from the States wearing black fabric pollution masks, I think that was very offensive as well at first glance. They later explained that they would have done the same thing even if they were going to compete in L.A.

Sent by Carl E. McCaskill | 8:20 PM | 8-14-2008

I'm a Chinese American. Had this incident involved a U.S. NBA team doing this, I would be first say it is offensive. However, this incident involved a Spanish (i.e. from Spain) team and is playing out on an international stage. The Spanish team apologized. As of today, I haven't read any report of outrage by the Chinese people, Chinese Spaniards, or Chinese Europeans. Of course, this incident hasn't been widely reported in China. Until then, this is a non-issue. The Organization of Chinese American has said it is offensive. I think their response is reactionary. It presupposes that there is a universal standard for offensive gestures and that the Spanish team directed the gesture at Chinese Americans.

Sent by Casual Observer | 9:08 PM | 8-14-2008

"Some U.S. team members got off the airplane from the States wearing black fabric pollution masks, I think that was very offensive as well at first glance."

Actually, I spent the last 3 years in Asia... and the majority of Asians in the city do the same thing.

Sent by alexander | 9:43 PM | 8-14-2008

I think it Great! People need to get a life...
It's Funny....Get over it.

Sent by MacDoc | 1:38 PM | 8-15-2008

It seems extreme for them to have the masks on first thing out of the plane. That is no way to great a nation.

Sent by aaron | 1:53 PM | 8-15-2008

if they were black all hell would have broke out, but because these fools are from spain its ok!please!

Sent by carlos | 4:02 PM | 8-15-2008

what is wrong with everybody in this world now! you cant say or do anything that doesnt offened.I say let the offened whine and let us enjoy ourselves i am an american and i think it would have been great to see chinese basketball team make round eyes thats funny

Sent by tom | 4:08 PM | 8-15-2008

There is no racism anymore. Haven't you all got the memo? Dog the Bounty Hunter is Back on A&E. Mel Gibson is back to making movies. Hillary is still on the scene. Imus is back on in the morning. The word nigger is now the "N" word. Let it go. Obama is gonna be elected and it is all just gonna go away.

Sent by pico | 12:19 AM | 8-16-2008

If they were in black face, we would be offended but because they are only making fun of Asians it's okay? No it's not okay. As an American of Asian background I am deeply offended. We can not help how we look but the Spanish team can help how they behave, after all they are representing their country.

Sent by Toni | 1:23 AM | 8-16-2008

Gasol - 'didn't think it would affend anyone in anyways ,it was a joke'

Calderon - 'photographer told us to do it'

... lol? obviously its racist..

Sent by Josh | 1:55 AM | 8-16-2008

Every body in the world like to do that .......

Sent by tae | 9:57 AM | 8-16-2008

There are many ways to have made the same point without "going there" hands together and a bow, make a "kung fu" pose, whatever...but to use one's looks is different. to me. i am not the type to view the world in racially tinted glasses, but the ad was released all over. in a small way, didn't hitler do the same with the jews and blacks?

Sent by Jose | 7:56 PM | 8-16-2008

poor judgment at best, just plain stupid at its worst. I mean, what did they believe would be the response?
its not cute or intelligent...just plain stupid.

Sent by maurice | 1:10 PM | 8-18-2008

The photo is a flagrant case of cultural ignorance; a textbook example of a global marketing oversight. But accusing the players of racism is paternalistic.
We all tend to see the world through our own prism. And that's exactly what Spaniards and Americans -Anglos as well as Asians living in the US- are doing. Spaniards consider slanted eyes ("ojos achinados" or Chinese eyes) beautiful--when I was a little girl, we used to put our hair up in a tight pony tail, hoping it would stretch the skin around our temples and make our eyes more slanted, making us prettier. Anglos see their own childhood playground taunting reflected in the Spaniards' slanted eye gesture and seem uninterested in its genuine nature. Asians living in America see offense in a gesture done in America to hurt them but meant in Spain to show frienship, and they feel too insulted to see its genuine nature. If the Olympics were in Sweden and Spaniards took a photo wearing blond wigs, would Americans consider this photo racist and offensive? To Spaniards, both photos (slanted eyes and blond wigs) would contain the same spirit: an affectionate wink of friendliness.
The Chinese Embassy in Madrid quickly made a public statement, saying it doesn't regard the picture racist or offensive. Asians living in the US may feel otherwise because they see it through the American prism. "Spanish basketball players should have known better". How? They don't live in America. It's gotta be pretty difficult to be exposed to or learn EVERY single cultural difference in the 100+ countries of the world. There must be millions! I'm with Casual Observer: Chinese from China and Chinese living in Spain are not upset. Americans (Anglos as well as Asians living in the US) are - they should consider what that reveals.

Sent by Cristina Mateo, Spain | 2:13 PM | 8-18-2008

Sport teams from Spain have a history of racism. In the soccer stadiums they call the black players from opposing teams monkeys and other slurs. Anyone trying to justify this is delusional. I can't beleive the team believed no one would take offense to this.

Sent by kenhondo | 3:09 PM | 8-22-2008

Ricky, I love you.

Sent by Fan from Thailand | 8:37 AM | 8-29-2008