Denver sportswriter out of job after tweet about Japanese Indy 500 winner

Frei is of German heritage! Should he be held responsible for the WWI, WWII and the Holocaust? I can't believe a professional writer can not edit his own racism before it slips out. I wonder if Frei knows that people of Japanese descent fought on the side of the US during WWII and our many conflicts since. Jerry Frei's family however was not put in interment camps while he served in the war.  

His apology seems to be about him and his father as if his father's service gives him some kind of license to hate.

As an American, am I responsible for Nagasaki and Hiroshima? I did not make that choice. We should all be beyond this racism by now.

My grandfather fought against Japan in WWII and flew in over 50 missions losing many friends in the process. My great uncle was a POW in Japan for 3 years. To this day, both have travelled to Japan and love the people of Japan. Instead of keeping hatred, get out and see the world. Times change.

Frei's comment just goes to show you that racism and bigotry are not going to go away any time soon.

Frei deserves to lose his job for being an idiot among other things. This kind of attitude may make sense from an actual veteran of WWII. So which war did Frei serve in? No one should be held responsible for actions of their country in the past that occurred before they were even born. Is Frei aware that PM Abe received a standing ovation from both houses of Congress for his speech in which he apologized for WWII on behalf of his country? Is he aware that The POTUS and the Japanese PM together have paid respects at Pearl Harbor and at Hiroshima? People like this use "history" as a thinly veiled cover for their racism. Seen it too often.

What a shame that something so silly was said.

No his apology is about the fact that he is human and he let his emotions get the best of him. He made a mistake and understanding that he apologized. Every time someone says something they should not have it does not mean they are terrible human beings.

But don't you think that the "my emotions got the best of me" excuse is very similar to the "I got drunk and don't remember' stuff? Everything we say or do is emotion-based so we can't use 'emotions', anger, being 'too passionate' etc as a carte blanche to do/say whatever we want then retract that statement if the 'victims' actually complain about it. Too late mate.

Congrats Takuma Sato on the win.

I'm undecided whether the firing was right or wrong, but what I am glad about is that the public took him to task for his idiotic, racist comment and rightfully made a stink over it. I hope that kind of push-back would happen from the Japanese public if comments like that were made from a Japanese journalist.

There are some things you keep to yourself when you're in a position of a writer for a newspaper. There are many things I am not comfortable with but I don't go blabbing about it in order to get supporters. I find it super cool that a Japanese driver won the Indy! Its not exclusive only to a certain majority!

Good! There's no place in this day and age (or ever, for that matter) for such racism and idiocy. What is it with these morons that think they can get away with this kind of crap?

I wonder if this idiot was as upset when Mario Andretti won in 1969, what with Italy being one of the Axis countries the US was fighting in WWII?

Perhaps if he was more of a professional he would still have his job?

What a remarkably stupid, stupid thing he said. The mind boggles.

Idiot deserves to lose his job. Sato-san deserves the accolades in winning. This has nothing to do with the war US had with Japan. I am a USAF Vet and I honor Memorial Day but in no way in a Japanese race driver winning the Indy 500 makes me feel less about those that gave their service and life to the USA.

As a US military veteran myself, I find nothing wrong with Mr. Sato winning the Indy 500; on Memorial Day, or any other day. We have a saying, "May the best man (or woman) win." Congratulations to Mr. Sato.

to all of those who say that since he apologized then everything should be forgiven: puh-lease. an apology does not negate people's actions. so you also think if a person apologizes for committing a crime, they shouldn't receive any time in prison?  no, your actions have consequences and now he's out of a job.

Reading the headline about a Denver sportswriter tweeting something stupid I thought . . . hoped . . . it was Woody Paige.

Seriously stupid remark. Almost as dumb as Simon Lazenby's remark about Grace Kelly.

A journo should know better, completely uncalled for.

The 'nothing personal' stuff makes it even worse imo, shows how deep his hatred really is.

What a pig. Definitely deserves to lose his job.

How long ago did he publish the book about his Dad and the war? Was the clearly offensive tweet an attempt to stir some controversy to sell more books?

Glad he lost his job.

It was a clumsy attempt to gather a sympathetic readership, a piece of too-clever mistimed journalistic opportunism that backfired. He was probably politely asked to resign, well, that would have been the Japanese way!

A BIG Congratulations to Takuma for winning that race! As a veteran, Beikokujin who lived in Japan over 30 years, I kind of always pull for Japanese to do good. On the other hand, I don't think the writer should have been fired. Strongly reprimanded, but not fired. The race was (is Indy 500 always Memorial Day?) on Memorial Day when we honor those who died defending America from the 1700s to now, and his Dad did fight against Japan in WWII, so I am willing to cut him a bit of slack for his remark. But dagnabbedit, people should just stop posting every thought that comes into their heads online! Like I just did... At least I did actually think a bit about what I just wrote, and I think I am right. Of course, we all think we are right... Don't get me started...

The World has to rid itself of "Racial Clowns" like Mr. Terri Frei!

It was a pretty dumb thing for an experienced journalist to say. But, many people, including some of the commenters on Japan Today, mouth off before thinking. Having had plenty of experience myself, with blurting out stupidities (and serving with the media), in my opinion, he and his employer had no choice. Let it rest. There are far bigger fish to fry.

I wonder if this idiot was as upset when Mario Andretti won in 1969, what with Italy being one of the Axis countries the US was fighting in WWII?

Or how about when Nigel Mansell won the Indy Car World Championship in 1993... you know, because he was British, and we know that Americans don't like us British because of the War of Independence... haha

Dumb. Dock him a week 's pay. Sure he wrote a stupid thing, but it 's not something to be fired for.

He was stupid. They are 2 different issues.

Outright blatant discrimination. As a veteran writer for the DP, instead of showing a broad minded attitude, instead tweets this kind of garbage. Kudos 4 DP for dropping him. Apology won't help.

His "apology" sounds like it's from the mouth of a Japanese politician ironically. Good riddance and now he'll be on minimum wage greeting people at Walmart. His dad would surely not be proud

It's a dumb comment but I don't think he needed to lose his job.

Good riddance, morons like these just don't seem to go away. Have fun honouring your heroic veteran father flipping burgers!

What Wolfpack said. A veteran journalist should be given what we all hope for in life, a second chance.

What he said was ignorant, but he has apologized and no doubt learned a valuable lesson.

Stupid comment? Yeah. Indy 500 and beer don't mix well with idiot tweeters. Racist? No.

His apology seems to be about him and his father as if his father's service gives him some kind of license to hate.

No his apology is about the fact that he is human and he let his emotions get the best of him. He made a mistake and understanding that he apologized. Every time someone says something they should not have it does not mean they are terrible human beings.

As an American, am I responsible for Nagasaki and Hiroshima? I did not make that choice. We should all be beyond this racism by now.

How is this story about you?

What a shame we live in a world where people can no longer deal with being offended, without having to go crying to the media about it.