Look, I feel the same way about gnomes as I do about hobbits, elves and David Archuleta; they are to be avoided at all costs. The Reading Phillies, however, do not share my aversion to the mythical and tiny. Although not quite as high on the Minor League Baseball Peculiar Promotion Meter as say, the Sen. Larry Craig Bobblefoot Doll, this one is still pretty out there. The Reading Phillies will be giving away Ryan Howard Garden Gnomes to the first 2,500 fans at FirstEnergy Stadium on Aug. 3. But as I could have predicted, our friend to the right here is already causing a bit of a controversy. Annette John-Hall of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who is black, thinks that the gnome may be racist.
“He’s there to protect your garden,” affirms Kevin Sklenarik, the team’s director of operations. Fans are sure to “enjoy them and display them in their gardens.”
Well, OK. I can laugh with the best of them.
But, hmm. This is all starting to veer dangerously close to lawn-ornament territory, and we all know that history.
She’s speaking of course about these, the infamous lawn jockeys; some versions of which have become objects of racial mockery in some of your finer Southern front yards. For me the gnome-to-lawn-jockey equation is a bit of a stretch, but then I’m not black, or a jockey. I do enjoy short jokes, however, and think that a much better choice for this statue would have been the Padres’ David Eckstein (5-foot-6). The Trenton Thunder, for whom Eckstein played Double-A ball, really swung and missed on that opportunity.
Anyway, this Reading Phillies promotion was much better.
In related news:
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Annette John-Hall: Garden gnome giveaway is no all-star [Philadelphia Inquirer]
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- Tim - May 28, 2010 at 11:08 AM
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Crossing Broad doesn’t think it’s racist
http://www.crossingbroad.com/2010/05/ryan-howard-just-happens-to-be-black.html
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- Jim Guida - May 28, 2010 at 12:49 PM
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The history of the Black Lawn Jockey is not one of racism but of freedom. Those traveling the Underground Railroad during the years of slavery knew that a lawn jockey with the lamp lit was a safe place for refuge. However, please feel free to offended, if not by this than by the innocuous object of your choice.
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- Lynn - May 28, 2010 at 6:26 PM
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What’s offensive here is your remark about David Archuleta. “Avoid him at all costs”?! What has he ever done to you? He is an amazingly talented young man who has morals and values. He is kind, compassionate and is involved in a lot of charity work– for multiple sclerosis and “Save the Children”. He is an excellent role model for today’s youth to look up to. So don’t diss someone you know very little about. I can think of many famous young musicians, actors, actresses that should be “avoided at all costs”. I’m not mentioning names, but many have alcohol and drug problems, are in trouble with the law, are promiscuous and sleazy. David is in no way like them. He’s someone to be admired and respected.
Get a life!
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- Rick Chandler - May 28, 2010 at 6:39 PM
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Get a life! (she said, while watching the American Idol audition where the guy plays a banjo with his toes).
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- asmiralda - May 29, 2010 at 9:05 PM
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A agree with Lynn and support her opinion. I don’t understand you even suggested that we have to avoid David Archuleta at all cost??? what is the reason???? I can’t believe that Out Of Bound let somebody like Rick Chandler wrote this kind of stupid article. Why this man (Rick Chandler) hate David A. so much???? He is just 19 and so talented, not one ounce of his body ever hate anybody. I don’t know how old are you, but you should be ashamed of yourself, that as old as you are now, you are not even as half as good as David A., never will and never was. More power to David A., may God bless him always. The more you hate him the more people love him. I don’t think that you ever have loyal friends/fans the way David has. Jealous so much Rick????
You Rick, get a life.
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- Dee Mirich and the Supremes - May 30, 2010 at 11:12 AM
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Brain-dead American idol fans get out of here! Shoo! (waves broom). Vile rodents.
