ron
Century (over 100 posts)
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Post by ron on Oct 17, 2006 12:31:28 GMT -5
tee shirts, personally, i think they stink. not necessarily the sentiment, in that people like the guy, but the level of disrespect it shows to the team's coach is unacceptable.
question, would you call him homeboy to his face? the answer would be a resounding no. so why wear a tee shirt that equates a middle aged guy to a "homeboy"?
in fact, do you guys (presuming many posters are white), when you are communicating with one another, call each other homeboys? if not, you are painting an intelligent, talented guy in a narrow, limiting box.
it cheapens him, and imo is disrepectful, as it plays on a group sterotype.
food for thought, before you jump out there wrong.
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Post by JohnJacquesLayup on Oct 17, 2006 12:44:20 GMT -5
How about "Esherick is not my homeboy" t-shirts?
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the_way
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The Illest
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Post by the_way on Oct 17, 2006 12:53:21 GMT -5
I hear you Ron.
I'm not too fond of it either.
Its kind of cheap for an upstanding man such as JT3.
Just take the homeboy part out.
I think more taste and thought could be used to show the appreciation of a great coach and man in JT3.
Although, a young man, JT3 is an elder or in a position of authority at Georgetown. I don't think people would call their professors their homeboy, no matter how much love and respect they have for them. There still is the respect factor that exists to NOT address them in that way.
This would not happen if JT2 was the coach.
People wouldn't dare make a shirt like that.
He would let you have it. lol
I know folks mean well. And yes we all love JT3.
But I think it could be done with a little more taste.
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Oct 17, 2006 12:57:46 GMT -5
Hmmmm...does the fact that JT3 bought one of the shirts for his father change your opinion?
Because I'm pretty sure he did
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Oct 17, 2006 13:00:23 GMT -5
I agree with Ron.
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Post by JohnJacquesLayup on Oct 17, 2006 13:02:20 GMT -5
Everyone on this board is my homeboy, no disrespect intended.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2006 13:02:23 GMT -5
To piggy back on ron's comments, is anyone offended by the "Father, Son and Hoya Spirit" tag line?
I'm not offended by it, I just think its lame. Same with the pansy-ass blue used on the shirt.
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aggypryd
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Post by aggypryd on Oct 17, 2006 13:10:41 GMT -5
I didn't take it as racist or disrespectful.
Maybe JTIII wouldn't take too kindly to being labeled "Homeboy", but that would be up to him.
I think the makers of the T-Shirts had no mal-intent when they borrowed the slogan from the Jesus is my Homeboy T-Shirts.
For JTII? Certainly wouldn't be appropriate, IMO. But for a younger JTIII? Maybe he'd think it is OK...
JMO...
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ron
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Post by ron on Oct 17, 2006 13:10:47 GMT -5
again, the intent may not have been racist, but the effect, imo, is.
would you call him a homeboy to his face? if the answer is no, then the latent racist effect of those shirts should be evident. especially since being a "homeboy" is almost patently attributed to being a black guy.
when you use it in conjuction with a black guy, it draws an immediate connection to if not negative sterotypes, then an image that is less befiting someone of jt3's stature, intelligence, and ability.
the little known play on those shirts is really releavant only to those with prior knowledge. but using the jesus tees as a firewall for criticsm falls short, given the common use of homeboy as both a pejorative and non-maligning though very familar name for a black guy.
imo, any failure to acknowledge the real world effect of "jt3 is my homeboy" and cling to the presumed benign genesis of the phrase as a shield from criticsm undermines the tee shirt defense.
its not what you necessarily mean, but the effect of your statements and actions, as your understanding and recognition is not beyond fault.
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PhillyHoya
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Post by PhillyHoya on Oct 17, 2006 13:15:57 GMT -5
So what does that make the "Johnny Damon is my homeboy" shirts that the Sox had a few years ago?
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GUHoya07
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Post by GUHoya07 on Oct 17, 2006 13:18:48 GMT -5
The solution: Wear the WE ARE GEORGETOWN shirts which we've been pushing for the past 2 years and help create a sea of gray which unites the student body, alumni, and general community behind Georgetown Basketall.
Boooo ugly colored blue shirts! Hooray gray We Are Georgetown shirts!
haha
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2006 13:19:18 GMT -5
...and this is where we get to the slippery slope...
I would be willing to bet that every one of us, black or white, homeboy or not, does and says things every day that might be deemed offensive by someone somewhere. Does that mean we should never say anything to anyone, or never wear anything but a plain t-shirt?
If it is indeed true that JT3 got one of these shirts for his father, then I'm pretty sure he's not offended. And if he's not offended, there's not a need to be offended on his behalf.
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ron
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Post by ron on Oct 17, 2006 13:20:49 GMT -5
are you denying homeboy has been used as a pejorative for black guys? are you refusing to accept jt3 is an intelligent, middle aged black guy who is intelligent and at least deserves the respect of any other authority figure on that campus?
if not, what's your point? would you call jt3 homeboy to his face...no, b/c at some level you would deem it disrespectful.
how does the phrase on a shirt mitigate that?
don't know why the concept is causing you and others issues...its not the intent...but the effect.
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Oct 17, 2006 13:21:24 GMT -5
Wow! Ron is throwing out the race card! I never thought I'd see the day...
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Locker
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Post by Locker on Oct 17, 2006 13:21:39 GMT -5
This sounds like "Sead Is My Homeboy" t-shirt industry propaganda to me.
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Post by roy's spin move on Oct 17, 2006 13:22:51 GMT -5
Wow, strong commentary, Ron-- I respect your opinions, but let me say this: First, as someone else mentioned, this is a takeoff of the "jesus is my homeboy" shirts, which are marketed by religious groups trying to appeal to young people (see www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,119408,00.html). So, if anything, this is a parody of the way the religious right has already tried to co-op African American speech, not any original attempt by "white guys" to co-op such speech. I do not think you can argue that this "feeds a group stereotype" when the cultural context makes clear this is not meant to denigrate African Americans. Second, as far as respect for Coach goes, I am not a college kid, in fact, I may be older than JT3 (not sure his exact age). I think a lot of your objection is rooted in the presumption that white college kids are the ones who would be wearing this shirt. I respect Coach Thompson, but I don't think it is necessarily disrespectful of me to wear a shirt that implies some familiarity with him. Which leads me to my third point: I think Coach Thompson would understand that as soon as he accepted a major college coaching job he became a symbol. I am from Pennsylvania, and there is a lot of merchandise there with Joe Paterno's face or name all over it, in variously respectful contexts. He has become a symbol of the university and a commodity, and his image is used in contexts that may be completely divorced from what he would himself wear or how he would self-reference. I don't think Coach Thompson would think that this shirt shows any disrespect for him as a man and an educator-- this shirt just promotes a somewhat irreverent association with JT3, "our" coach. However, I will say I really want the shirt for the "Father, Son, and Hoya Spirit" tag that was suggested on this board over the summer, not for the homeboy logo.
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ron
Century (over 100 posts)
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Post by ron on Oct 17, 2006 13:26:39 GMT -5
so cam, your position is to embrace the speculative assumption jt3 got one of the shirts, as to butress your preconcieved right to say and do anything you want.
that last entitlement says alot. instead of looking at your beliefes critically, it is more important to exercise your desire to wear a phrase some find pejorative, and for good reason.
if you feel so strongly about that, call he and his father "homeboy". but you wouldn't, b/c at the core you know its disrespecful.
wow. free speech does not just end with the individual who utters something offensive. those offended have a right to confront and combat it. its a double edged sword.
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Post by TrueHoyaBlue on Oct 17, 2006 13:27:20 GMT -5
Where's thebin? Paging thebin? I'm feeling an old school Hoyatalk Battle of the Titans coming on...
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JimmyHoya
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Post by JimmyHoya on Oct 17, 2006 13:28:24 GMT -5
You idiots.
It's in fun.
JT3 liked the shirts.
It's not racist and if you think it is, get your bloody headchecked you disgustingly PC-devoted imbeciles.
Friggin unbelieveable. The only thing I'd change is the back and that's only because T. Crawford said he didn't like it and well, he's captain and that makes him pretty damn important IMHO.
Admin, please don't delete this.
EDIT: people wouldn't call JT2/3 homeboys to their faces because their Coach Thompsons and the best things to happen to the campus. In real life, I'd probably trip over myself and call him "Mr-Sir-Coach Thompson" in a high cracking prepubescent voice. However, the shirt is directed at STUDENTS and THEIR culture and the joking, but endearing term "homeboy" is ONLY meant in praise. If you don't like that culture, or more likely, don't understand it, stop complaining about it and "turn that proverbial radio dial."
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the_way
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Post by the_way on Oct 17, 2006 13:30:41 GMT -5
I do not think you can argue that this "feeds a group stereotype" when the cultural context makes clear this is not meant to denigrate African Americans. But thats the thing, it DOES denigrate. I don't care what cultural context intent it is. It denigrates them when they are referred to in that way. You can spin it all you want, but it does.
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