Heathcliff isn't carried in my local papers. Probably because it isn't funny.

This isn't honestly offensive, it's just stupid. There's really no humor on any level here.

not offensive!

I even chuckled a little.

Not offensive. It's showing that Heathcliff is a poor sport and acting immature, which is his character.

I think it's offensive so far as it says "it's ok to call people fairys or fags if you don't like them or what they have done" given that sports are considered macho I think it makes an even worst message.

I hate to state the obvious, but Heathcliffe is nuthin' but a fricken "pussy" in any case!

People still read newspapers?

maybe hes calling him a drama queen

but not really offensive

It's the old "if a tree falls' argument. Since no one reads it, it can't offend.

I think it is time to put that cat to sleep

I think that when we're desensitized to epithets, no matter how minor… we've lost the battle.

That Heathcliff! Such a rascal! And terribly un-PC, too.

No, Heathcliff is a poor sport and an asshole, I wouldn't read any more into it than that.

I think Heathcliffe is calling the ref a fairy.

And, if you check the caption, I'd say the artist is making a valid point: abusing your right to speech like that is likely to just land you in even worse trouble.

I read Heathcliffe books when I was a kid and he is nothing like Garfield. He is just as #12 says, an irascible reprobate of a cat and this is completely within his character, or lack thereof.

The joke is on Heathcliff (and Garfield). Orange and black cats are exclusively female. Well, there is the rare (and supposedly impossible) male, but they're born sterile. So that "black and orange stray cat, sitting on a fence" in the Stray Cats' "Stray Cat Strut" is in the same boat!