“I’m tired of Angel players who don’t speak English”
Baseball, Media Gossip/Musings, Race July 14th. 2009, 11:30am
Bucky Fox is an internet columnist. He wishes many of the Anaheim Angels – one of the most cosmopolitan teams in the league – would learn to speak English.
I’m tired of Angel players who don’t speak English. At least not with a mike in from of them.
This Kendry Morales ignoring our language for Spanish the way Vlad does is outrageous. This is an American team with American fans paying them American millions.
Learn to speak to us without a Jose Mota dictionary, for crying out loud.
Follow hockey’s lead. Guy Lafleur and Mario Lemieux were two French Canadians who entered the NHL knowing hardly any English. The Habs and Penguins made sure they learned it. Simple marketing. They knew their fan base spoke English, so get with the program, guys.
The Angels should do the same. So should every team in baseball, which has crashing attendance as it is.
Fans want players they can relate to. It sure would help if they could understand them.
Bucky’s request – which will gain no traction, but might get him punched out/laughed at in the locker room if he voices his opinion to the players – comes on the heels of last year’s news that the LPGA was going to make some of its foreign golfers learn English. Of course, the LPGA claimed it was necessary so that the elite players could easily mingle with much-coveted sponsors (and fans and the media, too).
Sorry, Bucky, but the big-market teams in baseball aren’t going to exert the same pressure on its players. Don’t need to. Might it make sense for the players to speak some English from a marketing/endorsement angle? Sure. Except that for whatever reason, baseball players make considerably less from endorsements than basketball players, football players and golfers. So is it really even worth it?
Easy solution: Why not take up Spanish, Bucky?
If you’d like to contact Bucky directly with your thoughts, his website is pretty helpful.
62 Responses to ““I’m tired of Angel players who don’t speak English””
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July 14th, 2009 at 11:33 am
He shouldn’t hang around in Flushing then either.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:34 am
So in twenty years what are the “America love it or leave it” people going to do when Spanish is the official language of the Western US (I know it already is, but I’m, talking the people with jobs)?
July 14th, 2009 at 11:35 am
This guy lives in LA, right?
July 14th, 2009 at 11:37 am
I also like that he brings up hockey players to try to put out any racial implication fires. Good luck with that.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:37 am
You know who I think should have to learn English? Chris Berman, Joe Morgan,and Steve Phillips.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I say just be tired of illegal immigrants instead of people who don’t speak English even though most of them are Me+icans speaking Spanish. Otherwise what is the real privilege of US citizenship and paying taxes other than to be able to say “America! Fuck Yeah!”?
But as it is a sports matter, this dude should have just stayed off the case obviously.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:38 am
well, it’s not a dumb statement.
it’s best that players (of all nationalities) be somewhat bilingual to help market not just the team, but themselves. why cut your potential profits in half?
July 14th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Who is Kendry Morales?
July 14th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Sadly, this does currently seem to be the extent of the privileges of American citizenship.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:43 am
I can understand if he thinks players are dodging questions by playing the “No speaka English” game.
But when he made the NHL comparison he lost it.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:44 am
THEY TOOK OUR JOBS!!!!
July 14th, 2009 at 11:44 am
I am sure all of the American basketball players that play in Europe, learn the language of the country they play in. Oh, they don’t? Never mind.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:44 am
well, it’s not a dumb statement.
it’s best that players (of all nationalities) be somewhat bilingual to help market not just the team, but themselves. why cut your potential profits in half?
that may have been his case, but it wasn’t implied from the tone of the article…he comes across as a guy who is complaining how hard his job is, b/c he can’t understand the language, and for that…yeah he’s an asshole
July 14th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Not according to the numbers I’ve read. They’ve actually done quite well despite the econmy with minimal losses of pure bodies (though they have had to slash prices/increase promotions to get those bodies to the park). They do want you to think they aren’t doing well though so that your favorite team doesn’t have to take on payroll.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Does Bucky know that the United States does not have an official language? English is the traditional language. i really wish that people would remember that we are a nation of immigrants, from all cultures and languages, and are strength is born from our differences.
/going to listen to some Toby Keith
July 14th, 2009 at 11:45 am
based on his phone number listed on his website, i’d assume he’s in LA.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Bucky Fox
A grown-ass man named “Bucky”? Is this the 1950s?
Wait…that might explain it.
Does it matter what language a player speaks? If he can hit the ball, field well and factor in towards victories, does anyone give a damn?
July 14th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Who is Lafayette?
July 14th, 2009 at 11:47 am
When Guerrero was with the Expos he played in a city that spoke 2 different languages and he couldn’t speak either of them. Did not stop him from getting paid so I doubt he cares much.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:48 am
the nhl reference would have been a bit better if he used players that are a little more relevent like ovechkin.
the point the guy was trying to make is on target. the process he tried to make his point was a bit awkward.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:49 am
If Kendry Morales ability to speak English effects your desire to go watch a baseball game it is unlikely you have the disposable income to do so anyway.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Why would anyone in their right mind actually try to become a legal citizen? Seriously, how would that benefit you to wait 20 years in line and pay a bunch of taxes?
My point for years has been that the illegal immegration is going to be a gigantic problem once a recession hits b/c all the legal americans who lost their jobs now have nothing to fall back onto. Employers can lower wages b/c they know that an illegal will take it for a 5th of what is standard living wages.
Look at California if you want to see where catering to illegal immigrants gets you. A bankrupt state.
That said, Americans not trying to learn Spanish are living with their heads in the sand. Also, I don’t blame the illegals from coming over. I’d do the exact same thing. I blame the govt for the last 30 years.
This is a night for AMERICA!!!!
/Bill the Butcher
July 14th, 2009 at 11:50 am
i really wish that people would remember that we are a nation of immigrants, from all cultures and languages, and are strength is born from our differences.
@SirSpicious: then you’d love Florida then. It’s like the UN here. I took my daughter to the Dr last month and out of 21 people in the waiting room, I was the only one speaking English. The others spoke Spanish, Portuguese, Creole, or French (and one spoke German).
I feel like I’ve become a linguistics expert since coming here.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Who gives a shit. As long as the manager and coaching staff can all communicate with him, does it matter? Baseball uses fucking hand signs half the time anyway so his argument is retarded. If I was a ballplayer and “Bucky” came up to me, I’d pretend I didn’t speak english too.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:52 am
What’s his point? That players should speak English because it helps them to hit better? Play better? Pitch better?
Are people THAT bored with baseball that they’d be more interested in watching the players being interviewed while the game goes on?
July 14th, 2009 at 11:55 am
you’re missing the point.
personally, i could give two shits what any language a player speaks. but there’s (more) money in them thar hills to be made if you can actually communicate with a large element of the population that speaks a different language.
a buddy of mine owns a contracting company that does work in miami. my buddy is as right-wing, midwest as they come. but he learned to speak spanish. why? like he told me, in miami, if you don’t speak spanish (or english) you literally cut your potential market in half.
if you want to make cash, that’s not a smart thing to do.
sure these players make a lot of cash. you can’t tell me they don’t want to make more… or how about the day when that well runs dry?
July 14th, 2009 at 11:56 am
If players admit to speaking English now, how will they deny understanding it later when they’re talking to congress about steroids?
July 14th, 2009 at 11:56 am
This is a good point. Don’t you generally like athletes less when they talk? I bet there’s like five or ten guys I actually enjoy listening to and the rest tend to lean towards “I wish he’d just shut his mouth so I can still root for him.”
July 14th, 2009 at 11:56 am
jpq, my girlfriend is a linguistics expert. we talked about this on sunday, because her cousin’s daughter is going to a French immersion school. once kids are past a certain age, they literally can’t differentiate certain sounds any longer. so it isn’t so easy to just say “learn a new language”. it isn’t really so big an issue with English (all the exceptions to rules is difficult), but some languages have very nuanced sounds that if you don’t learn at a very early age, you’ll never pick up.
believe me, i get frustrated sometimes when a guy at a restaurant obviously can’t understand what I’m asking, but it is ignorant to take a stance that you are being put out by it.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:58 am
LOL i’ll never forget one time i was in miami and the cabbie — who spoke no english — cussed me out (in spanish) because i barely know 20 words of spanish.
and this was in friggin’ america!!!
July 14th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Just say it louder
July 14th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Aside from Lou Gehrig, has any baseball player ever said anything worth talking about? When was the last time you ever said to yourself, wow I can’t wait for the post-game interview with him!
July 14th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
+2009
July 14th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
in miami, if you don’t speak spanish (or english) you literally cut your potential market by 80%.
jimmy: I worked in Miami as the only gringo in an office of 30 people and I traveled throughout the Spanish speaking world for 2 years. More people speak English in Sao Paolo, Madrid or Mexico City than they do on a city street in Miami
/truth’d
ps: the cabbie that bitched you out was undoubtedly Cuban
July 14th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
BELIEVE ME, I GET FRUSTRATED SOMETIMES WHEN A GUY AT A RESTAURANT OBVIOUSLY CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M ASKING
July 14th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
God damn Mexic@ns!
July 14th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
sure these players make a lot of cash. you can’t tell me they don’t want to make more…
That’s not Bucky’s point. Bucky is saying they should speak English because he’s tired that Angels players would rather speak Spanish (and I’m guessing he doesn’t know Spanish). He then dresses it up with an appealing to your fanbase argument, which is laughable given that he’s talking about the Angels — the Los Angeles/Anaheim/California Angels.
Bet you Vlad Guerrero appeals to plenty of their fanbase without ever uttering a word of English.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Maybe they could just speak English most of the time, but then when they get to the Spanish word or their name, they could over-pronounce the shit out of it so that nobody can understand what the hell they are saying.
/news anchor’d
July 14th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
yup.
i wound up in a dark, seedy bar a few blocks from the orange bowl once and i was the lone gringo. but i survived because i knew the five magic words i spanish.
cerveza fria, por favor.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
God damn Mexic@ns!
They need to learn to cheat like white people do.
/Senor Cartmano tryin’ to reeech theeseee keeeeedsss.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Meanwhile, Alfonso Soriano knows Japanese, having played in Japan at the beginning of his career. I’m sure English (which is based on some form of Latin) is a lot easier to learn than Japanese.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Is that a shot at Michael Buffer?
July 14th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
July 14th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Buy a fucking Rosetta Stone, Bucky Fox. Lazy ass sportswriter.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
That Vlad Guerrero has been playing baseball in the United States for over a decade and doesn’t speak English boggles my mind.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
if you are going to live in a country learn to speak the language. if i was gonna move to brazil i would learn brazilian(ba duh cha). or japan i would learn japanese and so on. i dont think it is too much to ask for someone to learn english . i know there alot of spanish and other languages here in america but if i tried to learn them all i would never leave the house because i would contantly be in front of the rosettta stone. suck it liberals or im sorry sorber pron libremente
July 14th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Jon Miller and Oliver Pah-rez agree with this.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
@mrejr: haha, it has nothing to do with liberals or conservatives, but if someone’s upset b/c one person can’t speak another language, their just as lazy as the person they are criticizing for not trying to learn the language in question.
i do agree with you though on basic principles.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
what language does chris berman speak?
July 14th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Except that Brazil has an official language and the US and Japan don’t.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
when i used to watch bspn, i only wish someone would have given stuart scott a rosetta stone book.
or subtitles.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
clown the u.s. also doesnt have an official stance on tight rolling your jeans but everyone knows that it isnt cool
July 14th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
+1
July 14th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Im so mad I missed this. This guy is right. Learlish. Not because this guy says so because hes a total cock, but becan Enguse this is America and youre not a tourist.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
*but because
July 14th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Hmmm…looks like we should all learn English.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
NHL players learn English for marketing purposes? I thought it was because paying translators for French, Russian, Swedish, Finnish, and Czech for every team, and the occasional Slovak, German, Slovenian, Danish, Kazakh, Polish, Latvian, Norwegian, or Korean would be a wee bit cost-prohibitive. (OK, maybe we can skip Korean. Richard Park grew up in North America.)
In baseball, once you get beyond English and Spanish, you just need spot translators for Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and swearing in French at Eric Gagne.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
@mamalickaboobooday
Whether you’re a citizen or not, if you (legally) work in this country, you pay taxes, genius!
July 14th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
@ mrejr8234
you wouldn’t learn brazilian. you’d learn portugese.
July 14th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Love the fact his name is Fox.
Is that a work or a shoot?
July 14th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
+1000
July 14th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Most of these guys can speak English, at least conversationally. You naturally pick up the language when you live somewhere. They just choose to use the interpreter because they don’t feel comfortable answering questions (or they just don’t want to).