Posted on 06/07/2004 8:37:18 PM PDT by freedom44
IRVING, Texas -- Bill Parcells apologized Monday for calling the surprise plays used in practice "Jap plays," saying the remark was inappropriate.
The Dallas Cowboys coach was talking to reporters at the team's minicamp about how his quarterbacks coach and defensive coordinator try to outdo each other when he made the comment, an apparent reference to Japan's 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
"You've got to keep an eye on those two, because they're going to try to get the upper hand," Parcells said about quarterbacks coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. "Mike wants the defense to do well, and Sean, he's going to have a few ... no disrespect for the Orientals, but what we call Jap plays. OK. Surprise things."
After a murmur in the room of reporters, which included a Japanese journalist, Parcells repeated, "No disrespect to anyone."
"Bill Parcells is a brilliant coach," John Tateishi of the Japanese-American Citizen's League, a national civil rights group told DallasNews.com. "Unfortunately, he is ignorant about racial slurs. I take great offense by what he said. Parcells ought to know better. He sorely needs more education on what is offensive and non-offensive to Japanese-Americans. I am shocked that he would say this."
Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple apologized on behalf of the organization, and Parcells later issued a statement.
"Today during my news conference I made a very inappropriate reference, and although I prefaced it with the remark, 'no disrespect to anyone intended,' it was still uncalled for and inconsiderate. For that I apologize to anyone who may have been offended," he said.
Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said the "organization apologizes to anyone who may have been offended."
Akira Kuboshima, editor of American Football Magazine in Japan, said he wasn't offended, though he knows many Japanese will be.
"There is a lot of chance for someone to feel offended," Kuboshima said. "To me, it was no big deal."
Parcells spoke to Kuboshima, offering what the reporter perceived to be an apology. Kuboshima said he was surprised more by the reaction of other reporters than the comment.
That comment was only part of Parcells' 45-minute session with reporters, in which he also talked about the team's quarterback competition, players at several positions and some of the new additions.
He said he isn't going to be as patient in his second season with the Cowboys.
After three straight 5-11 seasons, the Cowboys went 10-6 and reached the playoffs in their first year under Parcells. Still, he expects better in 2004.
"That doesn't mean we'll win more games," Parcells said. "That just means I think from head to toe that we have a chance to be better. I really believe that."
Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who had two of his Pro Bowl seasons for Parcells while with the New York Jets, came to Dallas in a trade with Tampa Bay.
Vinny Testaverde was reunited with his old coach last week, leaving the Jets as a free agent. The 40-year-old quarterback will compete for the starting job with incumbent Quincy Carter and serve as a mentor to Drew Henson, who was added this spring after he quit professional baseball.
"These guys that were here last year, they've already bought into it. From that alone, we'll be a better team," running back Richie Anderson said. "We already know what to expect. He's not going to allow certain things to happen or go on."
Parcells must be publicly flogged in Tokyo...
Jimmy Jones should be heavily fined...
Go Gints
Is "Bloody Limeys" OK?
My PC manual is always out of date. Can't seem to find the time to study this week's version.
Someone ought to ask that John Tateishi which side is he on in this ol ball game? I mean is he not sure or what? Was Pearl Harbor self defense for the Japs or what? Oops sorry
THEY BOMBED STOTSENBERG??!!!
What the f do any of us have to do with the imperial Japanese?
LOL
"JAP"...oh lord...the horror of it all.
We've lost our collective sense.
John Tateishi of the Japanese-American Citizen's League, a national civil rights group told DallasNews.com. "Unfortunately, he is ignorant about racial slurs. I take great offense by what he said. Parcells ought to know better. He sorely needs more education on what is offensive and non-offensive to Japanese-Americans. I am shocked that he would say this."
Methinks this Tateishi guy just sits around waiting for chances to get offended. If somebody says "jap" or "nip" to me, without malice aforethought, then there really is no reason to take offense; if somebody calls me a "jap" to be intentionally derogatory, then that person is clearly not worthy of consideration, and should be pitied.
Mr. Tateishi, from one Japanese American to another: be a man, for crying out loud!
Actually, Charlie is probably more upset being labeled "Chicken" of the sea.
While we're at it let's change the name Dallas Cowboys because after all the cowboys slaughtered a lot of our Native American friends and the name Cowboy might be offensive to them and also Cowboy is animal-sexist because it doesn't include the bulls so it should be Cattleboy but hell that's offensive too because animals are people too and have rights and look how they're treated by the whole beef industry so lets just call them the Boys but no that may conjure up images of the old Jim Crow South in the minds of our fans that are people of color so lets just call them the Dallas Athletes of Indeterminate Origin.
The Cowboys RULE!!!!!!
I could care less what he says... Jeez, the best teams the Cowbowys ever had, had a couple of felons, cocaine use on the sidelines, a flasher, and several drunk and disorderly linemen. It's football not a convent.
Check it out: 442nd Regimental Combat Team
TS
Whoa dude... No disrespect if you fought over there, but what you just said is about as bad as it comes. For some reason I doubt any of the reporters in the rooms has beheaded any aviators recently. To place blame on them for the actions of a section of their society over half a century ago... well, you might as well blame every white person living today in America for slavery. I mean really, you are offended every time you see one? You are offended by what exactly? Their very existence? I am sorry if you fought over there, and thank you for your service, but your continued hatred really has no place today.
Oh, and I think its no big deal what Parcells said, and no big deal for him to apologize about it.
Late 70s Boys were great.
Staubach was straight....the rest were wild. Well, Randy White was straight arrow too I guess.
The Dandy Don Boys were randy. Lance Rentzel.
Oh, and in case anyone thinks I am being overly PC about this....
GO REDSKINS!!!!!
What Parcells said was TERRIBLY inappropriate!
When referring to an unprovoked sneak attack, he should have called those "Nip plays!"
How do you say straw man in Japanese? Specifically, my rant is directed at ANYONE who attacks ANY American for using the term "Jap Attack". It is a colloquial term of long standing meaning surprise attack. As another poster has already noted, Americans with their blood have earned the eternal right to use that term, and any so-called "Japanese-American" who wants to play the race card on it obviously holds more affinity with Japan than with America. Conversely, a Real American of Japanese descent would have no problem with the term, since it stems from an historical fact, not from racial bias. Moreover, the fact that the Japs are arrogant, zenophobic and totally untrustworthy in their business and political dealings with Westerners does not require that we treat them with kid gloves. Cheers.
"Sensitivity Gulag"
I like it. I'm going to start using that term!
Ah yes, it wasn't too long ago that the Japanese were a proud and fierce people. With this statement by Tateishi, they have reduced themselves to victimhood status. They have become the kind of people that pathetic liberals must now pity.
Such a long fall from grace.
Ruh Roh! What will they do to my beloved Green Bay Packers?
*shudders*
Whatever.
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