Outsports Discussion Board > ching-chong-ching

Outsports Discussion Board > Outsports > Baseball

canmark

Nov 15 2003, 02:34 PM

Well, it seems it wasn't enough for Shaq to talk in mock Chinese, but now former MLB pitcher and now Mets special assistant Bill Singer is caught speaking gibberish to a Dodgers (and former Yankee) assistant GM Kim Ng. What was he thinking?

It's also amazing to note that when hired by the Yankees in '97, she was the youngest assistant GM in the league at 29. For an Asian woman to hold so high a position in the front office of a MLB team (the Yankees and Dodgers, no less) at so young an age is quite an accomplishment, to say the least. Thanks to Brian Cashman for stepping in and defending Ng.

QUOTE

According to the Times, Singer approached Ng as baseball people gathered in the hotel bar Tuesday night after attending an instructional league game. Two officials within earshot described the exchange, which Singer initiated at about 11 p.m., to the Times as follows:

Singer -- \"What are you doing here?\"

Ng -- \"I'm working.\"

Singer -- \"What are you doing here?\"

Ng -- \"I'm working. I'm the Dodger assistant general manager.\"

Singer -- \"Where are you from?\"

Ng -- \"I was born in Indiana and grew up in New York.\"

Singer -- \"Where are you from?\"

Ng -- \"My family's from China.\"

Singer -- Nonsensically mock Chinese, then \"What country in China?\"

Adam

Nov 15 2003, 05:53 PM

When Shaq spoke in mock Chinese to "imitate" Yao Ming, most of the press--those that covered it at all--treated it as highly amusing at first, only becoming critical after an activist group pointed up how Shaq's actions could be seen as offensive. This time, the Mets have already said they are looking into the action & will evaluate Singer's continued employment as part of their investigation.

~Adam

Jim Allen

Nov 15 2003, 07:22 PM

Not to be cynical or anything

but I wouldn't be surprised to see this follow the usual pattern:

* Hints of being drunk OR
* "My comments were taken out of context"
* Intense contriteness on Singer's part and possible willingness to go to sensitivity training
* Chinese-American Night will suddendly appear on the Mets schedule of promotions for the 2004 season

What a pity he played for the Angels.

[ November 17, 2003, 07:49 PM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

coyoteugly

Nov 16 2003, 12:26 AM

Singer's career = OVER (as it should be).

Joe in Philly

Nov 16 2003, 02:06 PM

QUOTE

Jim Allen:
Not to be cynical or anything

but it wouldn't be surprised to see this follow the usual pattern:

* Hints of being drunk OR
* \"My comments were taken out of context\"
* Intense contriteness on Singer's part and possible willingness to go to sensitivity training
* Chinese-American Night will suddendly appear on the Mets schedule of promotions for the 2004 season

Or all of the above.

canmark

Nov 17 2003, 06:42 AM

Singer blames a low-carb diet:

QUOTE

After the incident, Singer met privately with Mets general manager Jim Duquette and claimed that he had been on a low-carbohydrate diet, which caused him to suffer a chemical imbalance in conjunction with consuming alcohol, the Daily News reported.

Bill W

Nov 17 2003, 08:02 AM

Hmmm, shades of Harvey Milk's killer using the "Twinkie defense."

What a moron.

ung

Nov 17 2003, 08:20 PM

another weird part of this was that Singer was hired as a "super scout" and to be scouting asian players.

what the hell was he doing? practicing chinese for when he goes to asia to scout players?

Can you imagine how horrified and shocked the other GMs ni the bar must have been? I mean... they're jocks and they like to joke around. But they're also fairly up on the times.

seeing Singer approach one of their own and harass her about "why are you here?" and then to say "wah-sooo! ah-so-la-ching-chong!" to her?
No wonder Cashman was so livid.

Jim Allen

Nov 17 2003, 08:53 PM

OK, I was only kidding about Singer using a lame excuse to try and wiggle out of this, but I never expected The Low Carb Diet (Oh, And Booze) Defense.

I'm on a low-carb diet and I like beer, so let's see:

How about them Christians? Pity those lions didn't finish off the job 2,000 years ago!

What do you think? Think that'll fly?

Herr Tiggee

Nov 17 2003, 09:44 PM

If the Wookie's on Endor, you must acquit!

Joe in Philly

Nov 18 2003, 05:46 PM

Singer has been fired. Good decision by the Mets.

canmark

Nov 18 2003, 05:53 PM

QUOTE

``As a matter of policy our organization can not and will not tolerate any comment or conduct by an employee that suggests insensitivity or intolerance to any racial, ethnic or religious group,'' Duquette said in a statement. ``Any deviation from this standard is not acceptable.''

Note no mention of insensitivity or intolerance towards homosexuals.

[ November 18, 2003, 04:53 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

ung

Nov 18 2003, 08:44 PM

singer has now ben fired due to crazy behavior stemming from his "low carb diet". (he said it. not me.)

Will his next course of action be suing Dr.Atkins?

[ November 18, 2003, 07:45 PM: Message edited by: ung ]

jqueer

Nov 18 2003, 08:58 PM

QUOTE

ung:
singer has now ben fired due to crazy behavior stemming from his \"low carb diet\". (he said it. not me.)

Will his next course of action be suing Dr.Atkins?

Dr. Atkins is spending the year dead for tax reasons. However, there are lots of people left around to sue over this. On the other hand, since alcohol is verboten in the Atkins diet, he would have some difficulty convincing a jury (or more importantly the appelate system) that the Atkins plan was at fault.

Munson Man

Nov 19 2003, 08:04 AM

Apparently the Mets have fired Singer. The only shorter run in NYC lately was Ellen Burstyn on Broadway in a show that opened on Sunday and closed on Monday.

ung

Nov 19 2003, 08:12 PM

no. an even shorter run was Farrah Fawcett whose show was cancelled by the producer while in previews.

This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.