Beasley subjected to "monkey" chants

We know soccer isn't exactly a popular sport here in the U.S. But this should enflame even the least of soccer fans.

American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley scored his first goal for Glasgow Rangers and was taunted by racist fans during a 1-0 victory over FK Zeta on Tuesday night in European Champions League qualifying.

A small section of fans made "monkey chants" aimed at Beasley and teammate Jean-Claude Darcheville, according to Rangers' Web site.

We don't really like soccer. We loved the World Cup, but the MLS and that other stuff just doesn't do it. Beasley, however, is our boy. He played his high school futbol here in our city. His family resides around here and Beasley often comes back and puts on camps and mingles with the kiddies. So this angers us.

Zeta spokesman Veselin Tomovic said the "monkey chants" were common among the Montenegro fans and were not specifically aimed at Beasley.

"Our fans chant that to their opponents all the time, it has nothing to do with the color of skin," he said.

We'd like to drop some jokes about Montenegro never really being a country until last year, but we'll leave the history of Europe lesson up to Trip McFeeley, who could name you the Roman emporer in 1216.

Instead, we offer this interesting story from Keith Jackson of Scotland's The Daily Record. A snippet:

DaMarcus Beasley and Jean-Claude Darcheville were subjected to abhorrent chants from a section of FK Zeta's home supporters who will presumably have skulked off into the night dragging their knuckles behind them.

It really was disgusting to watch these people as they spat their hatred towards the Rangers pair but the courageous Beasley answered them in the best way possible by edging his new club closer to a £10million jackpot.

Apparently, too, parts of Eastern Europe are none too tolerant for gays. Can we paint the broad brush and say these parts are fully intolerant towards gays and minorities?

It would absolutely be a safe bet. Racism is rampant in European soccer. Here's an outstanding piece done by ESPN's Outside the Lines just before last year's World Cup.