Pedro's Compadres

[Centerfield]

Fans having fun? Or offensive stereotype?

For those that might have missed it, at Shea last night, there were a group of fans last night calling themselves "Pedro's Compadres". In "honor" of Pedro, they wore sombreros and fake moustaches.

I have no doubt these fans were well-intentioned. But did they end up reinforcing an outdated and offensive stereotype? Or is it harmless fun?

And aren't sombreros Mexican?

[Guest Edgy DC]

They should have been drinking Margaritas and wearing ammo belts across their chest.

Offensive? Maybe, that's up to Pedro. I'll say that I was embarrassed.

[seawolf17]

I don't know about offensive, but it could have been. They looked like a bunch of fucking morons if you ask me.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Edgy and seawolf similarity scores shooting up.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

It's less about honoring Pedro than it's about getting on TV. Ever since the original K Korner guys got their 15 minutes, other fans have been trying to replicate that success.

I agree that it's offensive and embarrassing.

[Willets Point]

Sombrero's are Mexican. I didn't see them but it sounds like they were modeling themselves after the mascot of the (in)famous South Carolina roadside attraction South of the Border. The mascot's name is Pedro.

[Guest Edgy DC]

From the site's front page:

BUENS DIAS, AMIGO! pedro VER' GLAD YOU COME!!

pedro got 112 meelion amigos, who stay weeth heem, opp teel now all satisfy come back, send frans...thees make pedro ver' HAPPEE...like for frans come back all time...pedro hope YOU make 112 meelion and wan happee amigos! you come back soon, too, yes?

Find your distance to Pedro's

Ugh.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

I saw it more like trying to emulate the fans in Philly, who have had The Wolf Pack, The Padilla Flotilla, etc.

More stupid than offensive, IMO.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Jeez. What year is it again?

[seawolf17]

Actually, I always thought the Padilla Flotilla was really creative.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

ScarletKnight41 wrote: I saw it more like trying to emulate the fans in Philly, who have had The Wolf Pack, The Padilla Flotilla, etc. More stupid than offensive, IMO.

The offensive part is in saying that all Hispanics are alike. That Dominicans might as well be Mexicans.

[Guest Edgy DC]

And Mexicans might as well all be comic stock characters who genially suck up to their white amigos, while they laugh at his butchering the language.

Double ugh.

[metirish]

Lets hope more fans don't show up like that when Pedro pitches.

[Willets Point]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: ="ScarletKnight41"]I saw it more like trying to emulate the fans in Philly, who have had The Wolf Pack, The Padilla Flotilla, etc. More stupid than offensive, IMO. The offensive part is in saying that all Hispanics are alike. That Dominicans might as well be Mexicans.

I agree. I doubt The Wolf Pack & Padilla Flotilla involved dressing as ethnic stereotypes. These guys could call themselves Pedro's Comprades and wear Pedro Martinez jerseys. The costumes are not necessary.

[Willets Point]

]Find your distance to Pedro's

Frankly, I'm not far enough away.

[Centerfield]

Willets Point wrote: ="Yancy Street Gang"] ="ScarletKnight41"]I saw it more like trying to emulate the fans in Philly, who have had The Wolf Pack, The Padilla Flotilla, etc. More stupid than offensive, IMO. The offensive part is in saying that all Hispanics are alike. That Dominicans might as well be Mexicans. I agree. I doubt The Wolf Pack & Padilla Flotilla involved dressing as ethnic stereotypes. These guys could call themselves Pedro's Comprades and wear Pedro Martinez jerseys. The costumes are not necessary.

It occurs to me, that if there were a group of fans calling themselves "Floyd's Homies" that came in wearing blackface, they probably wouldn't be allowed in the stadium, much less put on TV.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I thought the same thing.

[Guest Hillbilly]

WP, is right on the money. These fans are likely motivated by 'Pedro' (our Ace) having the same name as 'Pedro' the mascot for south of the border. In fact Pedro's Compadres are people (suckers) that stop at south of the border (see web page linked above).

Although this all quite stupid at many levels, I don't think that it's motivated by racism.

As far as "Floyd's Homies" are concerned it would be more like fans showing up dressed as Floyd the barber, since he has the same name, but is of a different ethic back ground than our left-fielder. Get what I mean?

[Guest Hillbilly]

or 'Cliff' the postman would be a better analogy.

[Guest mlbaseballtalk]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: ="ScarletKnight41"]I saw it more like trying to emulate the fans in Philly, who have had The Wolf Pack, The Padilla Flotilla, etc. More stupid than offensive, IMO. The offensive part is in saying that all Hispanics are alike. That Dominicans might as well be Mexicans.

I was just ready to say that! You want to run around with the Dominican Flag, play Salsa or Regga music and wear garb associated with the Caribbiean/DR (i.e. look like you are going to a casting call for the next Bob Marley & The Whalers movie or something) thats one thing, just don't use a different culture's sterotype. Thats the truely offensive part of it

[Guest Hillbilly]

mlbaseballtalk wrote: ="Yancy Street Gang"] ="ScarletKnight41"]I saw it more like trying to emulate the fans in Philly, who have had The Wolf Pack, The Padilla Flotilla, etc. More stupid than offensive, IMO. The offensive part is in saying that all Hispanics are alike. That Dominicans might as well be Mexicans. I was just ready to say that! You want to run around with the Dominican Flag, play Salsa or Regga music and wear garb associated with the Caribbiean/DR (i.e. look like you are going to a casting call for the next Bob Marley & The Whalers movie or something) thats one thing, just don't use a different culture's sterotype. Thats the truely offensive part of it

You mean like you just did?

[seawolf17]

mlbaseballtalk wrote: Bob Marley & The Whalers

That made me laugh. Thanks.

[Guest mlbaseballtalk]

Hillbilly wrote: ="mlbaseballtalk"] ="Yancy Street Gang"] ="ScarletKnight41"]I saw it more like trying to emulate the fans in Philly, who have had The Wolf Pack, The Padilla Flotilla, etc. More stupid than offensive, IMO. The offensive part is in saying that all Hispanics are alike. That Dominicans might as well be Mexicans. I was just ready to say that! You want to run around with the Dominican Flag, play Salsa or Regga music and wear garb associated with the Caribbiean/DR (i.e. look like you are going to a casting call for the next Bob Marley & The Whalers movie or something) thats one thing, just don't use a different culture's sterotype. Thats the truely offensive part of it You mean like you just did?

Jamican/DR very close in cultures, different than the one in Mexican

If I'm in error then I'm wrong and apologize perfusley but both are islands in the Caribbiean and I've noticed simillarities in cultures, if I'm wrong then yes that was stupid of me to say and I apologize

[Guest Hillbilly]

I'm looking to get into a big thing here but. Jamica and the DR aren't very simialr at all. They don't even have the same language, and the DR is not an island it's a county on an island, where Jamica is both an island and a country.

[Guest abogdan]

I don't want to see what D. Sanchez' fan club decides to wear to the games.

[Guest mlbaseballtalk]

Hillbilly wrote: I'm looking to get into a big thing here but. Jamica and the DR aren't very simialr at all. They don't even have the same language, and the DR is not an island it's a county on an island, where Jamica is both an island and a country.

Then I apologize and take back the Jamacian references (Regge, ect)

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Yeah, what they should do instead is wear Castro uniforms, along with a fake beard, and carry big fat cigars.

And they can sing Babalu like Desi Arnaz.

Wait, now I'm doing it too, aren't I?

[Centerfield]

I think we should be the Pedro Martinis. We'll go to games dressed like martini glasses.

Or we could just drink lots of martinis and get really drunk.

[Willets Point]

I like that. Everyone dress suavely and carry plastic martini glasses (I doubt real glass would make it past security).

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Or they could wear a large one of these on their backs: