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Saturday, July 28, 2012

Mayor Fires Cop Who Slurred Crawford

A Massachusetts mayor on Thursday fired a white police officer accused of using a racial slur to taunt Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford, saying the officer had ‘‘brought discredit’’ on himself and the department.

‘You have demonstrated through your racist comments that you cannot continue as a patrol officer,’’ Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella wrote in his termination notice to officer John Perrault.

Perrault had been on paid leave since he called Crawford a ‘‘Monday’’ before a July 5 minor league game in Manchester, N.H.

The word can be used as a derogatory term for blacks, and is often associated with Mondays being one of the most-hated days of the week, such as in the common phrase, ‘‘I hate Mondays.’‘

Crawford was playing with a Red Sox minor league affiliate while rehabilitating a wrist injury and Perrault attended the game while off duty. After Perrault taunted Crawford, the outfielder notified stadium officials.

News too hot to wait for Monday….

Don Malcolm Posted: July 28, 2012 at 09:40 AM | 60 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: red sox

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1. Gern Blanston Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:12 PM (#4194525)

The word can be used as a derogatory term for blacks, and is often associated with Mondays being one of the most-hated days of the week, such as in the common phrase, ‘‘I hate Mondays.’‘

Huh. Learn something new every day, I guess.

2. Bhaakon Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:14 PM (#4194526)

Hands up if you'd ever heard of this slur before this incident.

3. Yastrzemski in left. Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:19 PM (#4194530)

Good for the Mayor.

4. The District Attorney Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:21 PM (#4194532)

In related news, Jim Davis and Bob Geldof have been summoned to the Hague and charged with crimes against humanity.

5. Steve Treder Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:22 PM (#4194533)

Hands up if you'd ever heard of this slur before this incident.

Two hands down here.

6. Mayor Blomberg Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:24 PM (#4194536)

I'd never heard of it, but it doesn't matter. The cop obviously had, and he also has a history.

7. Avoid running at all times.-S. Paige Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:25 PM (#4194539)

I always suspected the Bangles were a bunch of racist hate-mongers.

8. JJ1986 Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:26 PM (#4194540)

I can understand using a new slur as a code word when you're a racist talking to your racist buddies. Shouting it out doesn't seem to have much of a purpose unless people know what it means.

9. Best Regards, L.M. Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:28 PM (#4194542)

I always suspected the Bangles were a bunch of racist hate-mongers.

And Garfield.

10. Steve Treder Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:31 PM (#4194546)

I'd never heard of it, but it doesn't matter. The cop obviously had, and he also has a history.

Oh, agreed.

But I'm baffled as to what the history of this slang might be. I get the "Monday is the worst day of the week" thing, but where, when, and how did it become "a derogatory term for blacks"?

11. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:34 PM (#4194549)

Since Crawford joined the Sox, he always struck me as less of a Monday and more of a Nickelback.

12. Mayor Blomberg Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:34 PM (#4194550)

dunno, Steve; copspeak? Down here in Houston, the Harris County DA's office had an issue a couple years ago with using "Canadian" as slang for black, as in, "can't have too many Canadians on the jury."

Haters gonna hate.

13. Avoid running at all times.-S. Paige Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:44 PM (#4194556)

My cousin was a waiter in New York City for a few years and said "Canadian" was code for black as well. He said blacks had/have a reputation for being bad tippers. This was seemingly verified by a black waitress on an episode of "Louie".

14. smileyy Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:47 PM (#4194561)

My guess would be that "Monday" is code language evolved out of white supremacists so that they're not so obvious.

[8] I can see the urge to want to hate, thinking you can get away with it by using code.

15. A triple short of the cycle

Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:52 PM (#4194565)

Whoah my whole life until now I imagined that Rick Monday was white.

16. Shock Posted: July 28, 2012 at 02:59 PM (#4194569)

I thought Mondays were blue.

17. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: July 28, 2012 at 03:03 PM (#4194572)

I thought Mondays were blue.

Racist.

The real thing that tipped it for me was the Police Chief suggesting he be fired and the fact that he had prior incidents of using racial slurs.

18. Srul Itza Posted: July 28, 2012 at 03:26 PM (#4194594)

Hands up if you'd ever heard of this slur before this incident.

I had never heard this before this incident became publicized. I guess since racists can't use any of their normal slurs in public any more, they had to come up with new ones.

Now that "Monday" has been outed, I guess they are going to be in the market for a new one.

How about anchovy? I can't stand anchovies, and when shouted it sounds vaguely derogatory.

19. zenbitz Posted: July 28, 2012 at 03:34 PM (#4194601)

How about "Crawford"? At least in Boston.

20. Sheer Tim Foli

Posted: July 28, 2012 at 03:40 PM (#4194604)

To throw everyone off their trails the racists should use new terms like "hunk" or "hardbody".

21. Sheer Tim Foli

Posted: July 28, 2012 at 03:41 PM (#4194605)

Or just plain "good looking".

22. JE (Jason Epstein)

Posted: July 28, 2012 at 03:42 PM (#4194610)

So why was the cop fired on a Thursday? Couldn't it have waited until, ahem, after the weekend?

23. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: July 28, 2012 at 03:43 PM (#4194611)

"articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy"

24. Guapo Posted: July 28, 2012 at 03:43 PM (#4194613)

Can't believe Karen Carpenter has gotten a free pass from you guys. I'm guessing "Rainy Days" is code for "Jews."

25. Lassus Posted: July 28, 2012 at 03:44 PM (#4194616)

Odd.

26. Danny Posted: July 28, 2012 at 03:46 PM (#4194618)

To throw everyone off their trails the racists should use new terms like "hunk" or "hardbody".

Or "strapping young bucks."

27. Sheer Tim Foli

Posted: July 28, 2012 at 03:54 PM (#4194627)

Perfect

28. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: July 28, 2012 at 04:03 PM (#4194635)

This totally changes the meaning of "I don't like Mondays."

29. Steve Treder Posted: July 28, 2012 at 04:07 PM (#4194640)

Looks like somebody's got a case of the Mondays!

30. Bhaakon Posted: July 28, 2012 at 04:16 PM (#4194646)

Don't be a Monday morning quarterback.

31. frannyzoo Posted: July 28, 2012 at 04:27 PM (#4194652)

Re: *24. Need we even attempt deconstruction of other Carpenters songs? "Superstar"? Really? That ode to the Anschluss, "We've Only Just Begun"?, and who can forget the "Final Solution" lament "It's Going to Take Some Time, This Time"?

32. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: July 28, 2012 at 04:32 PM (#4194653)

Don't be a Monday morning quarterback.

To Doug Williams: "How long have you been a Monday morning quarterback?"

33. Bhaakon Posted: July 28, 2012 at 05:05 PM (#4194670)

Rush LimBaugh: "Overrated...The media has been very desirous that a Monday Morning quarterback do well."

34. Tuque

Posted: July 28, 2012 at 06:19 PM (#4194713)

I don't care if Mondays black
Tuesday, Wednesday - heart attack
Thursday, never looking back
It's Friday, I'm in love

It depends on what a "Friday" is, but I think Robert Smith might be a white supremacist.

35. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: July 28, 2012 at 06:34 PM (#4194720)

I was having a discussion with two Libertarian/Tea Party members at work yesterday, and they were saying much of what you folks are saying above...that they hadn't heard that term used as a slur before and they were dubious that it meant that. So, I told them of the guy's "priors", and they agreed that he was a racist. Then, I asked them, as I'll ask anyone here who doubts that it was meant as a racial slur to explain what the guy meant by calling Crawford a "Monday". They couldn't, and agreed that, given the guy's "priors" that it was, indeed, a slur. And then they went on to say that he should have been fired. One of them is very suspicious of cops and resents their power. Funny.

36. nick swisher hygiene Posted: July 28, 2012 at 06:39 PM (#4194724)

holy ####, I was just singing that Boomtown Rats song in the shower the other night.......thank God we don't have hate speech laws in this country!

37. Howie Menckel Posted: July 28, 2012 at 06:47 PM (#4194729)

Monday, I'm gonna rock with Jane
Tuesday, it's gonna be Lorraine
Wednesday, I'm taking Nancy Lee
Thursday, it's Betty Lou and me
Friday, I'm gonna jive with Sue
Saturday and Sunday, any chick will do

So Nick Lowe has established that his African-American pal will hook up with a lass named Jane.
What ethnicities are his friends Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and "Saturday and Sunday" - each of whom also are quoted about their amorous intentions?

And frankly, this Saturday and Sunday fellow seems to have rather low standards....

38. Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: July 28, 2012 at 07:00 PM (#4194734)

I had never heard this before this incident became publicized. I guess since racists can't use any of their normal slurs in public any more, they had to come up with new ones.

How about 'responsible fathers'? I would never guess that term was being used to describe persons of color.

39. The District Attorney Posted: July 28, 2012 at 07:11 PM (#4194740)

How about 'responsible fathers'? I would never guess that term was being used to describe persons of color.

What the...?

40. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: July 28, 2012 at 07:18 PM (#4194743)

Hooda thunk these guys would be racists

41. boteman Posted: July 28, 2012 at 07:29 PM (#4194751)

Silly me! I thought when the headline said "slurred Crawford" he meant that the guy yelled "Hey Clawfoot, you suck!"

Drunk fans and so forth.

42. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: July 28, 2012 at 07:39 PM (#4194757)

I hate you Carl, Monday!

43. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 28, 2012 at 07:41 PM (#4194760)

I've heard "Canadians" used as code as well.

44. JE (Jason Epstein)

Posted: July 28, 2012 at 08:10 PM (#4194787)

I've heard "Canadians" used as code as well.

I learned that from one of Howard Stern's guests/crew some 10 years ago and have not heard it used since.

45. smileyy Posted: July 28, 2012 at 08:33 PM (#4194798)

[26] I don't know if you're being ironic or not, but I've seen "buck" and "young buck" used on white supremacy websites as derogatory terms for (young) black males -- the idea being that they just have animal instincts of eating, fighting and *()$#ing, like an adolescent deer.

46. Leroy Kincaid Posted: July 28, 2012 at 09:20 PM (#4194853)

Monday-American, please.

47. Sheer Tim Foli

Posted: July 28, 2012 at 09:22 PM (#4194858)

#45 - I had not heard that. I have heard "young buck" used in the homosexual community.

48. gef the talking mongoose Posted: July 28, 2012 at 10:19 PM (#4194891)

Referring to black males as "bucks" was pretty common racist speech just a few decades ago.

49. gef the talking mongoose Posted: July 28, 2012 at 10:21 PM (#4194894)

It depends on what a "Friday" is, but I think Robert Smith might be a white supremacist.

Between that & "Killing an Arab," I don't think there's any doubt.

50. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: July 28, 2012 at 10:23 PM (#4194896)

26] I don't know if you're being ironic or not, but I've seen "buck" and "young buck" used on white supremacy websites as derogatory terms for (young) black males

that goes back along ways, and yes, it used to be THE derogatory term, when one was trying to not be overtly racist--and the implication was mostly sexual

51. villageidiom Posted: July 28, 2012 at 10:34 PM (#4194901)

Oddly, "Friday" is a derogatory term for Rebecca Black.

52. Tripon Posted: July 28, 2012 at 10:40 PM (#4194907)

How about 'responsible fathers'? I would never guess that term was being used to describe persons of color.
What the...?

That one I heard before. If you have to point out that a black man is a 'responsible father', then you're implying he's the exception, and not the rule. Basically, black men just have a lot of bastard children he doesn't want to take care of.

53. TerpNats Posted: July 29, 2012 at 12:33 AM (#4194974)

Does this mean Bing Crosby and Ella Logan were making racial observations when they each recorded "From Monday On"? (And Logan's version was recorded with the Spirits Of Rhythm, a black vocal group. Now I'm really confused.)

54. Jick Posted: July 29, 2012 at 12:42 AM (#4194978)

Monday, Monday. Can't trust that day.

55. Bhaakon Posted: July 29, 2012 at 12:53 AM (#4194982)

Holy crap, this puts a whole new spin on Garfield.

Not sure whether it makes it better or worse.

56. Bruce Chen's Huge Panamanian Robot Posted: July 29, 2012 at 01:15 AM (#4194998)

A racist cop? I'm shocked!

57. Best Regards, L.M. Posted: July 29, 2012 at 01:16 AM (#4194999)

#42 is great.

58. phredbird

Posted: July 29, 2012 at 01:34 AM (#4195005)

Hooda thunk these guys would be racists

beat me to it.

59. G.W.O. Posted: July 29, 2012 at 04:00 AM (#4195027)

Perrault pleaded for clemency on grounds of reduced responsibility, claiming the silicon chip inside his head had switched to overload.

60. RMc and His Roster of Rubbish Posted: July 29, 2012 at 06:29 AM (#4195032)

Now that "Monday" has been outed, I guess they are going to be in the market for a new one.

A few years back, I ran into a gentleman from the Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce, in New Jersey. I now use it as an all-purpose swear word: "You dirty rotten pascack!" "Don't give me no pascack!" "Son-of-a-pascack!"

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Saturday, July 28, 2012

Mayor Fires Cop Who Slurred Crawford

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