How did this get by unnoticed?

[boots]

On Tuesday, June 5, an apology appeared on page 2-E of the Baltimore Sun's sports section courtesy of Sun reporter and fantasy sports columnist Childs Walker.

"An article on LeBron James' performance in the NBA playoffs...contained a term that is derogatory...I'm embarrassed by my ignorance of the offending term, and I sincerely apologize for using it," wrote Walker.
This was what was written in the early edition of the Sun on June 2.
"There aren't many true prodigies, and the chance to catch one coming to full bloom is rarer still. But LeBron James did just that, hitting shot after shot in one of the great playoff performances in memory. At times, he rumbled through a good Pistons defense like a tank through spearchucker."
So, the question I ask is how a term as archaic and blatantly racist as "spearchucker," can make it onto the sports page of a major metropolitan newspaper in 2007?

 

[Riddick]

you have to be kidding me? Maybe they just don't proofread over there. Either that, or they need to, hmmm, get some diversity in there.

 

[spnited]

First of all, what does "like a tank through spearchucker" even mean?
Second, how can this moron not know spearchucker is a derogatory term?
Third, do they have editors in Baltimore?


Disgraceful on all levels

 

[boots]

you have to be kidding me? Maybe they just don't proofread over there. Either that, or they need to, hmmm, get some diversity in there.

No, this is is not a joke. A columnist for a major metro wrote this.

 

[Mayfly]

First of all, what does "like a tank through spearchucker" even mean?
Second, how can this moron not know spearchucker is a derogatory term?
Third, do they have editors in Baltimore?


Disgraceful on all levels

I am going to venture to say in one of the World Wars, when lands went to conquer Africa, they rumbled through on tanks while the natives threw spears and rocks. A mismatch of sorts.

 

[sportschick]

I've never seen or heard spearchucker even used, but I wouldn't let it through either.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

First of all, what does "like a tank through spearchucker" even mean?

That was my first question. My second was whether the folks at the paper had been having beers with Brit Hume.

Yes, disgraceful.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

I've never seen or heard spearchucker even used, but I wouldn't let it through either.

Glad I'm not the only one who has never seen nor heard "spearchucker."

 

[boots]

I've never seen or heard spearchucker even used, but I wouldn't let it through either.

I wouldn't use it unless you wanted to get a beat down either verbally or physically.

 

[Claws for Concern]

Didn't they just have a few people leave the paper? Anyone connected to the departures involved in this incident?

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

I've never seen or heard spearchucker even used, but I wouldn't let it through either.

Glad I'm not the only one who has never seen nor heard "spearchucker."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearchucker_Jones


http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=spearchucker


http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/06/03/brit-hume-uses-the-racist-phrase-spearchucker-to-describe-john-glenn/

 

[ondeadline]

I can only assume that the desk people who read it weren't familiar with the word. You, of course, never should let a word by unless you're sure about all of its meanings. Obviously, if they knew the usual usage of this word, it wouldn't have gotten through.

 

[Riddick]

I'm curious, but since most of you said you never heard of the term, are any of you black?

 

[Bob Slydell]

This guy says that is so wrong.

And who's never heard the term spearchucker. Guess I've been around too many racists. And how does that make it into the paper. Better question, who would write that. Idiot!

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

I'm curious, but since most of you said you never heard of the term, are any of you black?

25-year-old white male. My high school was 97% white.

Edit: Come to think of it, my college was 95% (+/-) white.

 

[shotglass]

At the age of 49, pretty much my only experience with the word has been the aforementioned Mr. Jones.

 

[boots]

First off, the analogy was awful and any decent copy editor would have deleted the phrase and called the guy on it.
As I understand it, he said he "didn't know it was a derogatory term." I say if he didn't, then he's the dumbest columnist I've ever met and should NEVER be allowed to voice his opinion for that paper.

 

[shotglass]

I do know what "spearchucker" has been taken to mean over the years.

But I can't ever recall it being actively used in that context. And unfortunately, I've heard my share of racial epithets thrown around over the years.

Never that one.

 

[dooley_womack1]

I think it was also part of the classic SNL bit where Chevy Chase interviews Richard Pryor for a janitor position.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I'm curious, but since most of you said you never heard of the term, are any of you black?

25-year-old white male. My high school was 97% white.

Edit: Come to think of it, my college was 95% (+/-) white.

35 year old white male. Went to mostly white high school and college.