Major League Baseball slammed for BLM logo on mound, fans say politics and sports should be kept apart
Sports have been considered to be a medium of unity by many. Devoid of race, religion and color, a sports game can get people together as they cheer for their team. However, the recent Major League Baseball game saw the entry of a nationwide cause into the sport. The Black Lives Matter protests found their way into the ongoing MLB games as a BLM logo was put on the field.
While the cause is important, many Twitter users felt that politics and sports should be kept separate. Harshly criticizing the move, one user said, "So I can't watch a baseball game without seeing a BLM logo shoved in my f***ing face? Go f**k yourselves MLB." Another said, "Basketball ball also, it’s across the entire side of the court. What used to be a place we could all be part of a community TOGETHER cheering for our favorite team & sport has become another platform for politics & causes. A place of unity now part of the problem = a place of division."
Another said, "I couldn't even enjoy the game, so I changed it. It was bad enough with espn's ticker telling you about changing redskins name and all these other players speaking out on 'social injustice'." Some provided a better solution, "Hey @MLB, sell me a hat with the BLM version of the logo and donate the proceeds. #BlackLivesMattters."
CNN reported that BLM logo accompanied by the MLB logo have been stamped onto the pitcher's mound of the World Series-defending Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 23 night. That's the most prominently displayed ballpark location during a television broadcast. It further states that the left sleeve of some of the four teams' player jerseys — the Nationals, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants — have patches reading 'Black Lives Matter' and 'United for Change', alongside what the MLB says is an "inverted MLB logo where the silhouetted batter is black". It's the first time that the logo has been used on the field.
As reported, The Major League Baseball kicked off with a pair of games on July 23, conveying a poignant message. The New York Yankees first squared off against the Washington Nationals followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. Both contests saw players from either team protesting racial inequality and expressing their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Dodgers star Mookie Betts, who signed a 12-year, $365M extension on July 22, played his first game with the Dodgers. Prior to the night's opener at Dodger Stadium, Betts joined players from the rival team in taking a knee during the National Anthem, becoming the lone member of the Dodgers to do so. This gesture was met with a lot of applause.