kujhawker
Feb 23 2005, 07:33 AM
I don't know if this is the appropiate place for this, so moderators feel free to move this.
The NFL's 'Gay' ban Scroll to the bottom of the page, past the aritcle "Attack of the Mutant HIV" to find the article.
QUOTE
Louisiana State University Theater Department Prof. Leigh Clemons was one of New England Patriots player Randall Gay's college teachers.
After the Patriots won the Super Bowl, Clemons went to NFLShop.com to order herself a Randall Gay jersey. But the site refused to cooperate.
\"The NFL Shop Web site said that they weren't allowed to print 'naughty words' on jerseys,\" Clemons says. \"I had to call the shop and go through three levels of bureaucracy to get the jersey.\"
Clemons said site employees lifted the block on the word \"gay\" just long enough for her to place her order then immediately reinstated it.
It seems so. I just attempted to replicate Leigh's order and when I tried to print \"Gay\" on a jersey, the site snapped at me, \"This field should not contain a naughty word\" and refused to move to the next step.
I say we report this one to Big Media. Some reporters at The New York Times and the Washington Post are on my mailing list. Stay tuned.
So gay is a naughty word? Despite being the last name of one of its players.
sfdriftking76
Feb 23 2005, 08:28 PM
No restrictions on MLB.com when I customized a jersey using "Gay". However, when I tried to use "Ass Hole", it was declined.
theodoresdaddy
Feb 24 2005, 04:16 PM
another case of PC gone too far?
Jim at Outsports
Feb 25 2005, 02:37 PM
Funny, but "DYKE" is acceptable. As is "STRAIGHT" But "GAY" and "LESBIAN" are not.
canmark
Feb 26 2005, 07:57 AM
I used to know a guy named David Dyke. If you went to his place you would say, "We're going to the Dykes!" I imagine GatorJamie says that often when visiting friends. wink
George Twins fan
Feb 26 2005, 08:05 AM
Could Andy Dick get a jersey? Wonder how Dick Van Dyke would have gone over?
Joe in Philly
Feb 26 2005, 02:00 PM
QUOTE
Jim at Outsports:
Funny, but \"DYKE\" is acceptable. As is \"STRAIGHT\" But \"GAY\" and \"LESBIAN\" are not.
Someone should try "fag" and "queer" to see what happens.
Jim at Outsports
Mar 1 2005, 12:16 AM
I
wrote about this and had some fun with some examples.
Joe in Philly
Mar 1 2005, 07:47 AM
Very amusing. Wonder what the NFL thinks of this?
kujhawker
Mar 1 2005, 08:20 AM
QUOTE
Jim at Outsports:
I
wrote about this and had some fun with some examples.
Very good article, and shows how ridiculous it is to try to come up with a list of naughty words.
I wonder if the NFL Shop will review their list of words.
Jim at Outsports
Mar 1 2005, 04:46 PM
Update:
Since this article first appeared and the NFL contacted, the wording has changed. Now when you enter "GAY" you get the following: "The personalization entered cannot be accepted." The wording until a couple of hours ago: "This field should not contain a naughty word."
This is no less offensive than "naughty" and doesn't change the issue. Especially when you can buy jerseys with "FAG" on them.
kujhawker
Mar 1 2005, 04:57 PM
QUOTE
Jim at Outsports:
Update:
This is no less offensive than \"naughty\" and doesn't change the issue. Especially when you can buy jerseys with \"FAG\" on them.
Looks like the entirely missed the point. No I didn't like it being called naughty, because it isn't. I still want to know why that word can't be accepted and others can. Also who is determinig these "Acceptable" words?
myqel2005
Mar 1 2005, 05:02 PM
Even if you can't use gay as a name on your jersey and even if I think we should be able to buy a jersey with any name we want, you should have fun with it. I tested with "gai" which is in french and then I tested ".gay." and it was accepted. I wonder if they would send us the jersey. ???
Jim at Outsports
Mar 1 2005, 05:10 PM
The NFL will sell you anything. If you pick a name, hit "go to checkout" and it allows you, the jersey can be bought.
I did have fun with it. GAY NAZI is OK but GAY is not. The whole thing is absurd.
jdos89
Mar 1 2005, 05:10 PM
Want to see the entire list?
The order page loads a javascript array with all of the banned words. You can see it directly here:
http://www.nflshop.com/nfl/jscript/naughtyWords.jsThe list has 1155 entries.
It'll be interesting to see if the NFL revises.
Jim at Outsports
Mar 1 2005, 06:03 PM
That list is amazing. Who took the time to figure them out?
Also, we made the lead to
Wonkette, a great honor. Nore her reference to Santorum.
kujhawker
Mar 1 2005, 07:16 PM
QUOTE
jdos89:
Want to see the entire list?
The order page loads a javascript array with all of the banned words. You can see it directly here:
http://www.nflshop.com/nfl/jscript/naughtyWords.js I converted it to a readable text file just so I could go through it.
[107]=BI
[108]=BI SEXUAL
[109]=BI-SEXUAL
Nice to know that Bi-Sexuals aren't included as well. Apparently Trannies, Transexuals, transgender are okay.
But you can't be "[1112]=TWO BIT WHORE" or a [144]=BULL DIKE, [145]=BULL DYKE, [185]=CARPET MUNCHER, [186]=CARPETMUNCHER .
There are 34 naughty words with cock in them, including cocktail.
Why is [1092]=TONGUE a bad word?
When you are reading this list there are some naughty words so don't get an [355]=ERECTION
The NFL shop is [1032]=STUPID for their [341]=DUMB ASS list of naughty words. They can just 1048]=SUCKMYDICK. Why don't the get themselves down to [619]=KMART and get something to cure there [73]=ATHLETES FOOT - In mouth disease.
I could go on and on, but I want to watch some [801]=PORN and smoke some [809]=POT.
Joe in Philly
Mar 1 2005, 07:35 PM
Huh? [735]='NEON DEON'
Shouldn't it be Deion as in Sanders? Now he's definitely naughty! wink
Jim at Outsports
Mar 1 2005, 08:33 PM
Thanks to a reader, we have posted the
entire list.
CowboysHskrFan
Mar 1 2005, 08:51 PM
Well at least we are in the same category as "Jesus Christ". I'd hate to be the one to have to answer to that one. Duck!!!
sportinlife
Mar 2 2005, 06:30 AM
DOGGIE STYLE
DOGGIESTYLE
DOGGY STLYE
DOGGYSTYLE
No comment. wink
Starshatterer
Mar 2 2005, 09:04 AM
If you really want a Randall Gay replica, you can order them from sites other than nfl.com.
Here's a site that has a database of current New England players -- hit the sidebar link for "NFL," pick "Patriots" from the team pop-up list, pick "jerseys" from the sidebar, pick "Reebok Authentic Alternate Jersey" from the results, and choose "Gay, #21" from the player list.(Direct link to the product page didn't work.)
Of course, that's the most expensive custom jersey site I've found: $256.98 with estimated shipping.
Jim at Outsports
Mar 2 2005, 01:22 PM
The NFL
has reversed itself and will now allow GAY on a jersey.
kujhawker
Mar 2 2005, 01:30 PM
QUOTE
Jim at Outsports:
The NFL
has reversed itself and will now allow GAY on a jersey.
Unfortunately it is because there is a Gay in the NFL, not because they they feel Gay and Lesbian should be acceptable on a jersey.
Jim at Outsports
Mar 2 2005, 01:45 PM
That's what I wrote.
This is getting us record traffic as people
are loving the naughty words list.
kujhawker
Mar 2 2005, 01:58 PM
QUOTE
Jim at Outsports:
This is getting us record traffic as people
are loving the naughty words list. I bet the NFL shop is getting a lot of hits as well, as people are trying to put \"naughty\" words on customized jerseys.
I thought this was interesting over on fark
QUOTE
I think its actually pretty silly to \"outlaw\" legitimate last names just because you think it sheds a \"bad light\" on the NFL.
Last Name Popularity Lookup Rankings of the popularity as a last name of various words on their \"banned list\":
Gay: 818 (6)
Hooker: 1973 (1)
Carruth: 8925 (2)
Boner: 9553
Dike: 14149
Hole: 15021
Balls: 18494
Pecker: 53599
The number in parenthesis after that? The number of NFL players who have had that last name since 1971.
The rest of the comments are pretty funny too.
CPT_Doom
Mar 2 2005, 02:05 PM
QUOTE
Also, we made the lead to Wonkette, a great honor. Nore her reference to Santorum.
You also got a reference on Americablog.org, where the readers had just as much fun determining what was actually allowed.
My favorite? Skankyho
Starshatterer
Mar 2 2005, 02:18 PM
I still get a "The personalization entered cannot be accepted." error from trying to personalize "GAY" (#21) on a Patriots jersey. Can't order it from nflshop.com.
Jim at Outsports
Mar 2 2005, 02:48 PM
The NFL told me it might take a day or so for GAY to be accepted. I will keep checking on it but was assured it would be removed from the banned list.
Jim at Outsports
Mar 3 2005, 11:23 AM
We had record traffic yesterday because of this story (208,000 page views). No story we've wrtten has gotten as many sites linking to it.
But it's interesting that this thread has been rather quiet when it's getting hundreds of comments on other boards. Wonder if we're just used to it.
orsino4
Mar 3 2005, 12:34 PM
I'm surprised the Boston Sports Guy on ESPN's Page Two hasn't picked up on this. He's had a running joke that the Randall Gay NFL jersey must be the worst selling in history.
... now we know why!
kujhawker
Mar 3 2005, 02:18 PM
Here is something when Jim published the list it add 1121 naughty words. The list has 1161
Removed from list:
Gay
It looks like 35 were on the original list but left off of Jim's list this is because they were all starting with the letter U-Y. They looked like they got dropped.
But 5 New ones were added
bin laden
binladen
gay nazi
gaybinladen
gaynazi
Gee - Wonder were they got that idea
Jim at Outsports
Mar 3 2005, 02:34 PM
Well, we clearly struck a nerve!
JR in TX
Mar 3 2005, 05:54 PM
QUOTE
Jim at Outsports:
But it's interesting that this thread has been rather quiet when it's getting hundreds of comments on other boards. Wonder if we're just used to it.
Painful to admit, but probably true.
Starshatterer
Mar 4 2005, 09:29 AM
As of this morning, "GAY" is still a naughty word: "The personalization entered cannot be accepted."
I used their suggestion-box to offer a solution: link team rosters to the customization form. Got back what looks like a canned reply:
"Unfortunately our site may not be updated to except this name as of yet. We will except the name to place on a customized order. Please feel free to place your order via phone for the time being."
So if you want an official Randall Gay jersey wink , you have to call it in like Prof. Clemens did. Hopefully they don't make you go through three levels of phone reps.
Myself, I'm not sure I want to give nflshop.com the money at this point.
Jim at Outsports
Mar 4 2005, 11:56 AM
I was able to get "GAY" past the site just now so it is not on the list.
The story was also in today's
NY Daily News and has gotten picked up elsewhere.
Anonymous Coward
Mar 4 2005, 12:38 PM
The naughtywords javascript is still available. It includes all the words currently in the system.
http://www.nflshop.com/nfl/jscript/naughtyWords.js
George Twins fan
Mar 4 2005, 02:20 PM
There was an article in today's NY Daily News about this and citing Outsports. I also heard Dan Patrick talking about it on his radio show this afternoon but I didn't hear an Outsports mention.
glb04
Mar 4 2005, 02:21 PM
Jim at Outsports
Mar 4 2005, 03:26 PM
We ran the list in a
more readable form. This list has attracted more traffic than any other story in the history of Outsports. It has been linked from more than 300 websites, including three days in a row on Wonkette.
The Fox story says: "it caused outrage among gay-rights activists." That's an exaggeration. Other than our story and an original one by Rex Wockner, the gay media and gay rights groups have ignored this. It's the mainstream blogs that have loved this story. Even on this board, this matter has gotten relatively little attention despite it being a big talker elsewhere.
[ March 04, 2005, 02:29 PM: Message edited by: Jim at Outsports ]
Joe in Philly
Mar 4 2005, 03:27 PM
They banned HE HATE ME -- but that's an ACTUAL player, Rod Smart! wink
kujhawker
Mar 4 2005, 03:40 PM
Heard it on my radio today. They were having fun with the list, while trying to stay within FCC guidelines. They mentioned they got it off a gay sports web site. At least they could have mentioned the name.
I actually know someone who has one of the banned words as his personalized license: "Crabs". He's a marine biologist.
Jim at Outsports
Mar 4 2005, 04:53 PM
QUOTE
At least they could have mentioned the name.
That always bug me. Why not tell your listeners where they can go to find the list. After all, no one would know about it unless we published it.
Jim at Outsports
Mar 5 2005, 12:36 AM
Since this story is getting wider attention, not all the e-mails are that friendly. Such as:
Have to admit I loved the Rocker rating and also the gay slur from athlete's section .... that was some funny stuff. So now you're trying to destroy marriage, and now sports. Let me give you some advice,YOU'RE A FAG.......simple as that. So I hope that the NFL isn't a bunch of wimps and ignores everything you and your publication has to say.....but as we know they will fall into the same hole of guilt everyone else does. Please notice me and accept me .... I can't help it I am gay ( lol ). < ----- that's funny. Ok just wanted to drop a line and say hi .... so I won't take no more of your time from you painting your nails and eating the hershey highway. God loves you even though you people are a pleague with your ideals.
Ms. de Blazer
Mar 5 2005, 03:19 PM
QUOTE
Let me give you some advice,YOU'RE A FAG
Damn, don't these homophobes even know what the word "advice" means? That is not advice.
Jim at Outsports
Mar 6 2005, 12:12 PM
Today's Boston Globe. Other than not using .com and calling us a magazine, can't complain:
Getting all the names straight
When Louisiana State professor Leigh Clemons went to NFLShop.com to order a Patriots jersey with the name of one of her former students, cornerback Randall Gay, she was rejected, according to Rex Wockner, a columnist for 365gay.com, a website for gay- and lesbian-related news and issues. Clemons was told that the league's official online merchandise center does not print "naughty words" on jerseys. She had to make a series of phone calls to get "Gay" on a jersey.
Columnist Jim Buzinski of Outsports Magazine, which covers the gay sports community, did further research and found there are 1,159 banned words in the NFLShop filter. Among the acceptable words were "Hitler," "Fag," "Terrorist," and "Bin Laden."
Buzinski's story got the NFL to revise its filtered list, and now Randall Gay fans can order a jersey with his name on it.
Adam
Mar 6 2005, 03:07 PM
Outsports.com also got a mention in a 3/6 column anout the NFL 'Gay' Ban by Tom Hoffarth in the Los Angeles Daily News Sports section.
~Adam
Jim at Outsports
Mar 6 2005, 06:19 PM
Tom at the Daily News did
a great article. Very clever.
Joe in Philly
Mar 6 2005, 08:46 PM
It would be interesting to try this with the other leagues. Anyone up for the challenge?
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please
click here.