"PorkChop" Mascot Inflames Pa. Fans

(CBS/AP)  Two days after naming its mascot "PorkChop," the Philadelphia Phillies' new Triple-A affiliate abruptly dropped the moniker after receiving complaints from Hispanics that it was offensive.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs, whose mascot is a large, furry pig, had selected PorkChop from more than 7,300 fan submissions

General Manager Kurt Landes said he heard from several Hispanics who said PorkChop was derogatory.

The team, which begins play in 2008, announced Monday that the mascot will be named "Ferrous" instead.

"We were really unaware of any negative connotations with the word 'pork chop,"' Landes said. "If it offended a few, it's a few too many."

The name dredged up memories of prejudice and racism for some area residents.

"Here in the Lehigh Valley, the name for Puerto Ricans was pork chop and in particular in areas like the steel company and Mack Truck," said Guillermo Lopez, a Bethlehem Steel Corp. worker for 25 years. "I was called pork chop in the workplace," reported The Express-Times in Allentown.

"If my parents were alive, they'd be having fits," said Lopez, among those who complained to the team. "It meant much more to them than it does to Puerto Ricans now in the Lehigh Valley."

PorkChop had been submitted by 32 fans. The replacement name, Ferrous - from the Latin word "ferrum," or iron - received the most fan nominations, with 235.

"Thankfully because we have so much support in town, I think most of the e-mails were heads-up to say, 'I don't think you were aware of this,'" IronPigs spokesman Matt Provence said, according to the newspaper. "They were more instructive than they were resentful."

The team moved to Allentown from Ottawa - where it was known as the Lynx - following the 2007 season. Construction is wrapping up on a new stadium in east Allentown.

[ianlou]

To whom it may concern, Nice Job:
America needed a new nick name for Hispanics.
Without this protest and this CBS news story, 99.999% of Americans would not have been aware that the word "Porkchop" had another meaning.

[miikal20]

This country has gotten out of control! It''s gotten to the point that people are offended by every little thing that someone says. I agree with stillsumhope, this is Socialism 101.

[rohink-2009]

Is pork butt ok? How about pork loin? We could always settle on pork shoulder.

[baron45]

The big supermarkets and Costco better not call their meat "pork chops" or they may offend these Peurto Ricans. Anyone offended by the name Pork Butt or Spare Rib? Maybe the team can change the name to another cut of meat. Come to think of it, I am going to have Pork Chops tonight for dinner. Got it? Pork Chops! Pork Chops!

[redbarron73]

ARE YOU FREAKIN" SERIOUS?

Holy cow,lighten up people, or did I just offend someone else with "hoy cow?"

[kansas1946]

WHAT???? I have never heard pork chop used against hispanics. You mean we can''t have pork chops in the grocery store, or order them in a restaurant without insulting someone. The only thing that is more stupid than someone being insulted by "pork chop" is the ball team that dropped the name.

[robstrck]

Posted by stillsumhope

Some may call you paranoid. I call you insightful.

[robstrck]

My boyfriend used to call me pork chop as a term of endearment. And no I wasn''t obese. I have quite a few latino friends and have never heard them say this was a derogatory statement. We can''t guarantee that all will go through life unoffended.

[stillsumhope]

Try to keep up boys and girls, this is Socialism 101. These "protected classes" are being encouraged to file grievances and lawsuits over such petty issues. Anyone who speaks out against this madness is lumped in the "oppressor class" and is labeled a racist who is trying to deny their civil rights.
We''re all quietly being trained to live in the new socialist America that''s just around the corner.

[hambonehd]

"I got it... lets call the little porker "Muhammad"! Who cares if we **** them off!"
Posted by aboz3 at 03:07 PM : Dec 04, 2007

LOL ! Good call aboz.
Yea, what a bunch of BS.