Minor League Baseball Team Promptly Cancels ‘Caucasian Heritage Night’

And, now, this week in facepalms.

With the nation’s focus on the devastating, racially motivated shootings in Charleston, South Carolina, right about now wouldn’t be the best time to promote something like, say, “Caucasian Heritage Night.” Yet, the Orem Owlz, a minor league baseball organization, had that very promotion scheduled in August, according to Mashable. The description of the event says “Irish, Italian, Scandinavian, German…. or even Utahn! Whatever your background, celebrate it at the Home of the Owlz!”

Granted, the now-canceled promotion was scheduled long ago, as the organization detailed in the following statement:

You may have read that the Orem Owlz had long ago scheduled Caucasian Heritage Night as one of its 38 promotions.

Minor League Baseball, and the Orem Owlz, is about baseball, togetherness and family fun for all fans of all races, religions, and orientations. Our goal in this promotion, like any of our promotions, is to have fun and make fun of everyday normalcies. Our night was to include wonder bread on burgers with mayonnaise, clips from shows like Friends and Seinfeld and trying to solve the vertical leaping challenge. We understand, in light of recent tragic events, that our intentions have been misconstrued. For that, we sincerely apologize.

The Owlz are committed to all its fans, families and all fans of baseball alike – no matter who you are. The event has been removed from our promotional schedule effectively immediately.

Still, this was the right move.

But let’s be very clear about something: mayonnaise is awesome and Seinfeld is an all-time classic. Frankly, these specific things should be celebrated more often for no real reason. For those wondering what’s to become of things like Caucasian Heritage Night? Let’s just say that’s unofficially celebrated often in America, so no real loss here.

(via Mashable)