Spanish Fans and Race: Bad Sports?

Here's a thought from our colleague Sean Gregory. Could cause a kerfuffle if the Chinese netizens get wind of it:

What is it about sports that makes Spain appear quite racist? A few years ago, Spanish soccer fans made monkey noises at black players on England's team and the country's national soccer coach called French icon Thierry Henry "that sh-- black." Black Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton has been subjected to vile abuse by Spanish fans at the racetrack. And now this: in an advertisement in the popular Spanish sports newspaper Marca (here, six Spanish players stretch their eyes to appear Chinese

Childish? You bet? Offensive? Oh yeah. In any way funny? No way. Spain is riding a wave a sporting success: Rafael Nadal is the new number one tennis player, Spain's basketball team is the defending world champ, Spain won the European soccer championship this summer, and Carlos Sastre took the Tour de France. On the first day of the Olympics, Spain's Samuel Sanchez won the cycling road race. But Spain needs much improvement off-the-field, especially when it comes to racial sensitivity.