You Write the Caption (Weekend Edition's Best)
Sorry for the delay in getting you the results from Friday's YWTC but I took some time off from the blog and news on Monday forced me to put it on the backburner.
Now, without further delay, here were the Top Five entries for the weekend edition of You Write The Caption (I apologize to any of you who were offended by what was regarded as an offensive inclusion in my original top five for this photo. I thought the photo was taken in Iraq, which it wasn't. If it had been I believe it would have then been a reasonable context for the offending caption, but it wasn't.) :
5. When WUSA officials said the league would return on a shoe-string budget, they weren't kidding. (SBI).
4. Ronaldinho (far left in disguise), runs by three unsuspecting opponents with one of his trademark stepovers. (Nick)
3. Aqila shows leg while going for the ball. She received a straight red and a five match ban for the infraction. (PS)
2. Looking for an upgrade at left back, Bruce Arena scours the globe for unfound talent. (Dan)
1. The new MLS Expansion side: Burqa FC! (INKED AG)
I will hold off on the next You Write The Caption until Wednesday. That is unless I find a really funny photo some time tomorrow.
Oh, and for KPugs, my dialogue was for the bonus photo, not for a YWTC so technically I didn't do what I 'chided' some contributors for. Who am I kidding, I don't mind dialogue but some people are posting movie scripts.
Not that I find the comments insulting, I'm not sure whats funny here. These girls are not even wearing burqas, in fact the one in the middle is wearing blue jeans and casual shoes with white laces. Its just not unusual to see Muslim school girls playing sports while wearing a headscraf. Those girls could be playing in a park in the Bronx. I do like Nick's Ronaldinho caption though. I'm trying to lighten up, but the Bend Like Hussein comment was just unnecessary.
Posted by: degerron | July 31, 2007 at 11:47 AM
OUCH! Ives, if you want to avoid some negative comments, I would remove the #4 captions quote ASAP. The "Hussein" bit is somewhat funny and perhaps acceptable. The "bombed out" theatres....maybe a little offensive to some. But hey, its your blog.
Posted by: Neal a.k.a. Dirty South Futbol | July 31, 2007 at 11:49 AM
On second thought, that comment (#4) REALLY needs to come ff the site. Just not funny at all in fact.
Posted by: Neal a.k.a. Dirty South Futbol | July 31, 2007 at 11:52 AM
I don't know what Neal is getting so upset about. People are a little too touchy today.
Posted by: Elmer | July 31, 2007 at 11:57 AM
I guess Elmer is right. I should lighten up. Nothing is more funny than bringing in the stereotypical "bomb" joke when looking at pics of Muslim women. How original and politically correct, if you are in the Bush administration of course! HaHa....even funnier when coupled with the fact that men and women die everyday because of bombings in this war. If you can't see at least a little controversy in that caption joke, then I dont know what to tell you.
Posted by: Neal a.k.a. Dirty South Futbol | July 31, 2007 at 12:05 PM
#3 actually made me laugh
Posted by: Steveinho | July 31, 2007 at 12:12 PM
I am beginning to think you are either racist or ignorant Ives. I cannot believe you would put something like this up. I am going to Digg this page for others to see. I am now divided on whether to keep reading your very informative blog or quit altogeter.
Posted by: Frank Olide | July 31, 2007 at 12:24 PM
Thank God for Frank - our moral compass. The Hussein comment may be in questionable taste, but it's hardly racist.
Posted by: Matt | July 31, 2007 at 12:45 PM
I agree with Matt. The comment is hardly racist, and I think that people just need to lighten up.
Keep in mind that the comment wasn't made by Ives. So, to be calling him racist or ignorant is a bit out of line.
Posted by: Elmer | July 31, 2007 at 01:03 PM
Why is everyone so offended now? I don't hear your outrage with some of the racist things towards Mexicans discussed in this blog...
Posted by: trent | July 31, 2007 at 01:10 PM
"it's hardly racist" Seriously? You don't see how these girls playing soccer have nothing to do with bombed out theaters. Just because these girls are Muslim doesn't mean one should associate them violence or war, their just having fun. While one comment stated that b/c one of the girls had her leg stuck out she would be suspended, many Muslim girls in the US and Canada are struggling to wear those same headscrafs while playing sports.
I don't think Ives inclusion of the caption was racist, but I'm disappointed in his lack of good judgment.
Posted by: degerron | July 31, 2007 at 01:10 PM
Sorry, I thought the red card caption was quite funny. Another example of political correctness run amok, and this is coming from a liberal.
Let's all hold hands and sing "Kumbaya".
Posted by: Matt | July 31, 2007 at 01:37 PM
Listen folks, I apologize for offending anybody with the original top five. The caption that offended most people was inappropriate.
I included it originally because I actually thought the photo was from Iraq (It was mixed in with other photos taken from Iraq during the Asian Cup). That is why I thought the original offending caption fit with the photo. When I went back to look at the details of that picture, it wasn't taken in Iraq.
All that said, I don't want SBI readers being offended by comments made on the blog so I took it out. I know there are cases when people can be too sensitive and politically correct but in this case I believe people had a legitimate gripe. That is why I took the caption out.
What many of you do need to realize is that soccer brings all different kinds of people together and these people have different views.
We're not all going to agree on things and some things that offend some of you won't offend others. I believe we can learn from each other without making fun of or chastizing others for not thinking the way we do.
It is much more constructive to try and understand why people think the way they do rather than criticizing and ostracizing them for thinking differently than you.
Posted by: Ives | July 31, 2007 at 01:43 PM
Everybody needs to relax!!!
Seriously, a smart guy once said that humor is the juxtaposition of dislike things. (Like the big guy in a little suit, etc.)
This picture works along the same lines. A soccer ball, which we are all familiar with, and a group of girls that are dressed in an unfamiliar way. It's "funny" because it sticks out from our normal perceptions.
The whole purpose of this thing is try to have some fun. If someone thinks something is funny, great. If not, then get over it--it's a blog! It's not as though anyone using these transcripts to teach our children right from wrong.
Posted by: Randy Biernat | July 31, 2007 at 01:45 PM
Right on Randy.
Posted by: Elmer | July 31, 2007 at 01:51 PM
Not that I thought any of that was really offensive or anything, but cheers to Ives for being a stand-up guy. I think as a whole, we tend to throw race cards and accuse people of being racist far too quickly. This whole contest is about friendly jabs dealing with odd pictures. I'm sure Ives doesn't want to have to dance around everyone's highly combustible feelings, so let's just keep this relaxed and try not to make this a forum of Ives-bashing and accused racism. At the same time, I did kind of cringe when I read that 'bombed out' suggestion on Saturday. Yikes.
I suppose I'll need to start coming up with some mainstream suggestions. My Lord of the Rings and Star Wars captions aren't bringing in the stats. Even though I thought me calling those ladies Jawas was rather hilarious.
http://www.bothan-online.com/IMG/jpg/jawa02.jpg
Posted by: Brad | July 31, 2007 at 01:52 PM
The problem I have is someone thinking that four muslim women playing soccer is funny. Just imagine four westernized women playing soccer. That would not be funny. But because these women are in their standard attire makes it funny? I take back the racist comment but will not take back the ignorant comment.
Posted by: Frank Olide | July 31, 2007 at 02:22 PM
Frank, just because you don't find the picture funny doesn't mean others won't. And trust me, if you find me a picture of four American women wearing business suits playing soccer I can guarantee you that would be a You Write the Caption entry.
Actually, adults playing soccer in regular clothing is generally going to be funny. Whether it were cops, construction workers or nurses, it's funny.
If you don't think something is funny then don't laugh. Telling others they shouldn't laugh is a bit much.
Posted by: Ives | July 31, 2007 at 02:29 PM
I think a cop, an Indian, a construction worker, a biker, and a cowboy should play soccer. THAT would be a funny picture to everyone except Frank due to the emergency removal of his funny bone.
Posted by: Brad | July 31, 2007 at 02:50 PM
Yay!! Mine was number one! :D
SHAMELESS PLUG. :)
Posted by: inkedAG | July 31, 2007 at 03:43 PM
Making jokes about appearences and clothing is one thing. Jokes regarding a race/ethnic/religious group often have ugly overtones lying just beneath the surface. Jokes like that one have negative/hurtful roots to it.
Additionally, Ives if I posted a picture with 4 women in business suits playing soccer and make a joke about bombed out towers would you really find it funny? I doubt it, why? Because jokes that make light of death and people being injured are not funny.
Posted by: degerron | July 31, 2007 at 03:44 PM
Ives,
I appreciate your honesty, and thanks for removing the original caption #4.
Posted by: Neal a.k.a. Dirty South Futbol | July 31, 2007 at 03:46 PM
Sorry folks...
I suppose I kinda feel a little like Imus now?
The Imus of the Ives blog.
ugh.
explannation below for those that want it.
I go for extremes in humor, sometimes inappropriate, but just the same..... "Bend it like Hussain" was an easy mark, heck any soccer fan can pick up that one out....."opening in bombed out theaters near you" is my commentary on the seemingly endless War that is going on.
Was it over the line? of course...but some us cross that line to make our point.
NY Cosmos forever!
Peace
Posted by: Russ | August 01, 2007 at 08:22 AM