ST. LOUIS -- After a T-shirt controversy this week at Busch Stadium, the St. Louis Cardinals intend to re-evaluate their "long-standing policy" of disallowing shirts with the word "suck" on them, according to their head of security.
"It's not targeted at any one shirt," Cardinals spokesman Ron Watermon told ESPN.com Thursday afternoon. "We should have a new policy in place by next homestand."
Several Chicago Cubs fans reported running into trouble at Busch when wearing manager Joe Maddon's "Try Not To Suck" T-shirts during the three-game series between the clubs this week. Even Maddon was approached by a fan while dining before the series began.
Latest "Try Not to Suck" tshirt....find them at https://t.co/j5SNQtlL0x #Respect90 benefits...thanks in advance pic.twitter.com/t3KtyhQAXC
— Joe Maddon (@CubsJoeMadd) March 18, 2016
"A guy came in with the shirt on and he told me he was denied access at the ballpark, so I was debating all kinds of methods to combat all that, but then I decided to let it fly," Maddon said. "If the fans are responding, that's the best way to indicate how foolish it is."
The genesis of the T-shirt came last year when Maddon jokingly told call-up Javier Baez "try not to suck" when advising him on his role with the big league club. The phrase caught on, the shirt was mass produced, and sales benefit Maddon's foundation, Respect 90, which supports athletics for kids in inner-city Chicago. The Cubs have adopted the simple mantra "Try Not To Suck" for the season.
Watermon said the team didn't want to put ushers in the position of deciding what's offensive and what's not so they kept a strict policy until now. Even shirts with the words "Cancer Sucks" were met with resistance.
"I'd love to know why they're offensive in any way, shape or form," Maddon said of his shirt before Wednesday's game. "Anyone that thinks it's offensive has a dirty mind."
Maddon considered wearing the T-shirt during warm-ups before games but took the high road instead. He said he figures the publicity will only sell more shirts.
"The message to the ushers is 'Why do you think it's dirty?'" Maddon asked.