MLB player makes racial gesture behind teammate

Bruce Chen (center) and Humberto Quintero (right)

/ MLB.TV

(CBS News) Royals pitcher Bruce Chen was being interviewed during the Kansas City-Pittsburgh game on Saturday when teammate Humberto Quintero decided it would be a good time to sneak up behind Chen and make the gesture in the photo above.

Of course insensitive jokes are common in the clubhouse and Quintero certainly doesn't seem to have any malicious intent. But to see this kind of racially charged gesture on national TV caused a stir - and it wasn't long before Quintero began taking heat for his "friendly racism."

Chen, a native of Panama of Chinese descent, apparently wasn't fazed by Quintero's "joke" and quickly took to Twitter to say he took no offense.

I am proud to be of asian descent and I love the way my eyes look!I think it makes me look sexy.I am not offended by Quinteros actions

— Bruce Chen (@ChenMusic) June 10, 2012

A Royals blog has noted that Quintero has a reputation for being a "prankster" but the gesture was at best immature, at worst offensive. In a bid to further downplay the situation and protect his teammate, Chen later tweeted:

Humberto is my friend and he was pointing out one of my best attributes, my eyes! #proudtobeofasiandescent

— Bruce Chen (@ChenMusic) June 10, 2012

It's good to see Chen have a sense of humor and defuse the incident - although Quintero likely did offend many viewers (Asian and otherwise) who were watching the nationally televised broadcast on Fox.

It's not the first time we've seen this gesture cause a stir in the sports world. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Spanish Olympic basketball team drew fire for a photo in an ad showing the players using their fingers to apparently make their eyes look more Chinese.

At the time, the team said they were just trying to be "funny" and point guard Jose Calderon (who plays for the Toronto Raptors) said the team thought "it would be interpreted as an affectionate gesture."

Perhaps Quintero thought the same - but we doubt he'll do it again, at least not in front of a TV camera.

[superdem1]

We did this when we were twelve. These are grown men making millions of dollars. They are supposed to be professional athletes, in a sport which is open to many nationalities. This is amazing racism. Not funny, and you folks defending it are wrong. Didn't you ever watch Star Trek - mature people respect differences. These guys are big babies who will never grow up, I guess.

[CalmCoolCollective]

Of course Chen is not going to be offended? Why? because he probably sees that all the time. If any of you have been around Latinos, they tend to do this gesture or call every single person "Chino" if they have small eyes.

The fact of the matter is, if that was a Black athlete and the person behind them was mocking their skin or pointing out their big noses and lips, many BLACK activists would DEMAND an APOLOGY and a SUSPENSION. It's not about them as teammates, when you're on camera and in uniform, you're representing your organization. This is why Ozzie Guillen was suspended, even though he was using Freedom of Speech.

[rainbowroosie]

Much ado about NOTHING.

[Rafterman11]

The clubhouse can get pretty raw, so this is not a big deal, in relation to the atmosphere. But you do have to question the brains of Humberto to bring that smack out on live TV. Are people really that stupid?

[rubberrezi]

Thank God someone still has a sense of humor. Being politically correct all the time sucks!

[racenutz12]

Now I get it...the next time someone makes fun of my red hair and freckles...I am supposed to scream their racist against the Irish lol!

[Montana5]

This guy is hitting .212 and strikes out about one out of every three times he bats. He's not playing well enough for the KC management to have to put up with his infantile humor. Triple A ball beckons.

[nomorelibs]

Trivial

[devlish1]

5 posts formerlyluvnut? What, did you have an fn stroke? Maybe you need to lighten up. a lot

[formerlyluvnut]

LOL...I didn't do that; must have been a 'puter fart.

[knewsteerrrrr]

It's good to see Chen have a sense of humor and defuse the incident - although Quintero likely did offend many viewers (Asian and otherwise) who were watching the nationally televised broadcast on Fox."

Well maybe those viewers need to grow some and grow up, Chen reacted exactly the correct way.