Bill Parcells remarks

[Roguish Lawyer]

Were I Japanese, I'd take it as a compliment.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1817592

Monday, June 7, 2004

ESPN.com news services

IRVING, Texas -- Bill Parcells caused a a stir during his news conference after Dallas Cowboys minicamp Monday with offensive remarks. He called surprise plays used in practice "Jap plays," referring 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."

Parcells later released a statement, apologizing for his comments.

"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."

[CommoGeek]

Anytime you have to preface your statements with "No disrespect intended" you might as well say "I'm a closet bigot and I think....".

[DoctorDoom]

x

[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

Originally posted by CommoGeek
Anytime you have to preface your statements with "No disrespect intended" you might as well say "I'm a closet bigot and I think....".

Okay folks, I know Bill, whose actual first name is Duane, and he is no bigot. I played football with him in high school, his younger brother used to be married to my sister, and while he appears like a good ole boy dumb ass he is smarter than most. You have to understand his background and take his comments with a grain of salt. His old man was an FBI agent and WWII vet, many of whom today still refer to those that they fought as "Japs, Krauts, and Waps" and growing up with folks in northern NJ epithets that would make most of you blush were just a way of talking trash and not intended for racial slurs or anything else. Does it excuse his remarks, no. Is he politically correct, hell no! But he is in the business of bringing out the efforts of folks on a frigging football field and how many of you that have ever played football or any other contact sports have not heard your coaches use what they thought were self motivational sound bites to get you moving. Hell we both had coaches that probably would be thrown out of schools today for using quotes that I can remember such as, "Macaroni you Chooch, squeeze that ball like your girl friends tit". Now there was no misunderstanding the intent and that was a hell of a lot more effective than; " Marchioney(and you thought he was yelling at me) you need to properly cup your hands and qently fold them around the spiral end of that football so that you drop so many of those passes, and thank you for your efforts here to fore." As far as being a closet bigot, get real, have you ever really looked at the folks in the NFL, just how far do you think he would get if he were a bigot. He does have a nickname for everyone and always had. I had to live with the name of Mimo for the years we played together. You sort of have to understand the situation. I was an offensive (yeah, I know most of you that know me would think I am still offensive) guard and linebacker. Most of the folks on the line were six feet or better with an average weight of about 230, I was a tightly wound 5-7 and 175 lbs. Hence the name which was a contraction of Mighty Mouse.

Jack Moroney

[CommoGeek]

Sir,
I was painting with a broad brush. I know that Parcells is an offensive person (and I can be that way too, a lot of us are), but usually when someone has to say that they don't mean any offense they KNOW they are saying something that they shouldn't.

There is a time and place for almost anything, but saying that in front of reporters wasn't bright.

[Airbornelawyer]

John Tateishi of the Japanese-American Citizen's League, a national civil rights group.... "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."

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."

I wonder whom Mr. Kuboshima was referring to

Ever notice how there seems to be an entire class of people whose only role in life is to get offended at things, or at least to get themselves quoted being offended?

[Guy]

If they would have had an on-board recorder and played it on the news.

The entire world would have been offended.

[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

Originally posted by CommoGeek
Sir,


There is a time and place for almost anything, but saying that in front of reporters wasn't bright.

As I said, the lad is definitely not PC, never has been. Neither was his escapades during the evening before our Thanksgiving game when he decided it would be a good time to boost the mayors hub caps. We almost didn't get him back in time for the game. Bill has often had a propensity of letting his mouth overload his butt and really could care less about what others thought about his comments or him. I am not defending his actions and I agree with you that he ought to use a little common sense but then he just wouldn't be Bill Parcells. Don't know if you ever have watched his antics along the side line but it doesn't take a great lip reader to know exactly what he is saying.

Jack Moroney

[CommoGeek]

I think Parcells is one of the best coaches ever. He has a talent for building great teams and his record speaks for itself.

However, if you want to use an off-color saying you should choose your company, especially in his position.

Thank you for the stories about the man.

[NousDefionsDoc]

I personally don't think its a big deal. I get called worse on any given day. And the Japanese did attack Pearl.

[CPTAUSRET]

Originally posted by NousDefionsDoc
I personally don't think its a big deal. I get called worse on any given day. And the Japanese did attack Pearl.

We toured Nagasaki, Hiroshima, and Pearl Hartbor all within a couple of months. What was extremely disturbing to me was the fact that the Japanese have been rewriting history, in all the literature (propaganda might be a better term) found at Hiroshima and Nagasaki it was alluded that we the United States was the aggressor. I found one line which indirectly mentioned the Japanese attacked Pearl:

Terry

[Solid]

Their culture makes for an interesting study. What I also find interesting is the way the image of Japanese militarism (as personified by the Samurai) in western media changes in relation with western approval of Japan.

Solid

[Sigi]

It's news for a week and then its over, although no doubt I will have to hear about it whenever the Cowboys are on TV.

Good guy, great coach, and he is hostile to the media. What's not to like?

"Jap plays." Just hearing him talk about it made me laugh. Typical Parcells and his NJ attitude. LOL.