Cubs fans love their Asian stereotypes

Maybe the Chicago Cubs brass did know what they were doing when they created an offensive advertising campaign touting their newest signing Kosuke Fukudome back in the spring. It seems that the campaign turns out to have been targeted perfectly to the racist fans who frequent Clark & Addison.

On the front of the shirt is the traditional Cubs cartoon bear face but with slanted eyes and wearing oversized Harry Caray-style glasses. It's accompanied by the words "Horry Kow," scrawled in cartoonish "Japanese" script. Fukudome's name and number are on the back.

"That's the No. 1 seller this year, by far," said Kolbusz, who estimates one in 10 customers complain about being offended.

While Kolbusz was answering questions, two white guys stopped by the stand and pointed at the shirt, with one affecting a 1960s B-movie accent while reading aloud the words on the shirt.

His friend responded in a similar offensive accent, "Oh, you tink dat funny?"

They walked away laughing.

Fukudome thinks it's pretty funny though. Oh wait, no he doesn't. He thinks they are jackasses.

"I don't know what the creator of the shirt meant this to be, but they should make it right," Fukudome said through his interpreter after being shown one of the shirts Thursday. "Maybe the creator created it because he thought it was funny, or maybe he made it to condescend the race. I don't know."

Cubs officials had no official comment on the shirts. Smart move.

Sun-Times