Abel and the Biscuits arrive in Korea

The Bigs Insider

Billy Grant

Gwangju- Crowds gathered in the streets of Gwangju yesterday to protest the arrival of hated manager Joey Abel and his ballclub the Baton Rouge Biscuits. Despite efforts to change the venue to Baton Rouge, Abel and his ballclub showed up in Korea early Monday morning amidst angry citizens. Many gathered at the Gwangju airport holding signs that read: "Crazy Cow Abel," "Abel is slippery eel" and "Choke on a Hamburger." The Biscuits received tight security and an escort to their hotel that usually only heads of state receive.

GoFYourself-This woman spoke an international language to Abel in the Biscuits at Gwangju Airport.

"We are doing what we can to keep Abel safe," Otters manager Whit Altizer said to BIGS.Com today, "but Koreans are passionate about what they don't like, and right now they are directing all of their disdain toward Joey and the Biscuits."

Tensions cooled down this April in Gwangju while the Otters enjoyed a 3-0 start. But with an 0-2 skid fresh in the minds of Otters fans, Biscuit hatred has flared back up. Some Kia fans have even tried to link the skid to Biscuits manager Joey Abel. "Abel is the cause for our angst," Kim Jeong-Ho told the Korea Times, "and the cause for our recent misfortunes."

Otters fans tried to get close to Abel and the Biscuits while hurling bottles and insults.

Abel, for his part, has done little to cool tensions between Louisiana and Korea. Last week, Abel committed two cardinal sins by insulting Korean cuisine and confusing Korea with Japan. "Kimchi smells like Kevin Youkilis's jockstrap in October," Abel said when the Korea Herald asked about his knowledge of the kimchi. When Yonhap News asked if Abel enjoyed any other Korean dishes he said, "Yeah, I love Korean food, I eat sushi all the time." Koreans responded with burning the 8th effigy of Abel in the streets.

"We're happy to be in Korea playing the Otters," Abel told the press today, "but damn it sure does smell like rotting fish."