Wednesday was a day that the sports world will not soon forget, as the Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the court to court for their playoff game against the Orlando Magic in response to police beating Jacob Blake seven times. back in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the latest example of police violence against people of color in this country. The Bucks were followed by other teams in the NBA, many of the MLS, and a few teams in MLB.
The Red Sox and Blue Jays were not among those teams because they played their game on Wednesday, which I expressed my frustration with in the game column after the final. After the game, it was expressed by Jackie Bradley Jr., the lone Black player on the Red Sox active list, that while he had discussions with Ron Roenicke and Kevin Plawecki, there was not enough time between the Bucks’ decision and the start of yesterday’s game to come together as a team and make that decision. It would appear they could make it through Thursday’s series final in Buffalo.
Jeff Passan reports that the Red Sox players are considering not taking the field for Thursday’s game.
Boston Red Sox players have strongly considered not playing tonight’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays to protest against social injustice, sources told ESPN. The teams are talking at the moment and have offered each other support, regardless of whether they decide to play or not.
– Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 27, 2020
No final decision has been made here, but ESPN’s Marly Rivera reports that Bradley is indeed the one who stimulated this discussion, and he will definitely not be playing on Thursday.
I have already made it clear that I would like to see the Red Sox in solidarity with other athletes over sports at the moment, and I would certainly hope that they stand here in solidarity with their teammate. There were teams playing on Wednesday despite black teammates sitting outside, but the Dodgers were one who stood by Mookie Betts after his decision not to play, and that was the right decision. It seems the Red Sox clubhouse is leaning towards doing the same for Bradley, and I would hope this is the decision they make in the end.
It is also repeated that this is a laudatory move by the players. The obvious and tired answer will be that this racism does not resolve on its own, which is no shit. Nobody claims it will. But one, it stands in solidarity with the oppressed in this situation, who are people of color over this whole people. That includes but is certainly not limited to athletes in this league and others across the nation and world. It also takes a distraction, even for a night, away from important conversations that need to be held in this country.
We will continue this situation and keep you informed as more details come out and final decisions are made.
Update
It’s official. They will not play tonight.
Source: The Red Sox have decided not to play tonight.
– Julian McWilliams (@byJulianMack) August 27, 2020
