Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Friday 10 august 2018
MLBS INCLUSION tournament in Connecticut
Continued from Page 17 recently — a feel-good
"We've worked so hard story for baseball in the
to not only introduce the aftermath of the offensive
sport in underserved areas social media posts. The
and grow our Play Ball league began operation
initiative, our Breakthrough just a few years ago and
Series — our RBI program has partnered with the
is in its third decade. The Washington Nationals'
number of kids that we're youth academy.
putting uniforms on and Keith Barnes, the league's
introducing to the sport president, said he didn't
at a younger age — that think the kids were paying
definitely gets pushed to too much attention to the
the wayside when (there is) controversy over racist
something as controversial tweets. He certainly doesn't
as a tweet that contains think it will affect their
racist or misogynistic or enjoyment of the sport.
homophobic language "I think most of the work
in it." Whatever progress has to be done at the
baseball has made grassroots level to bring kids
promoting inclusion, it took to the sport," Barnes said.
a backseat recently. Years- "I don't think it's more on
old racist, misogynistic the major league level. It's
and homophobic tweets more imperative that the
from Milwaukee reliever community drive kids to
Josh Hader were found play the sport."
during the All-Star Game. Still, young athletes look
Then Atlanta pitcher Sean up to major leaguers, and
Newcomb and Washington incidents like these can be
shortstop Trea Turner had damaging. Even before
their own offensive tweets the tweets surfaced, a
unearthed. The tweets well-known major league
were from well before those pitching coach was fired
players reached the major for comments he made to In this Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, file photo, Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Sean Newcomb adjusts
leagues, but they raised a team employee. Chris his cap in the dugout during the fourth inning of the second baseball game of the team's
uncomfortable questions Bosio, who was with the doubleheader against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington.
for a sport still trying to Detroit Tigers, later told USA Associated Press
increase participation Today he used the word Roberts said to him, choose my words wisely United States," said Bean,
among African-Americans. "monkey" — but insisted he the biggest lesson from and really try to lift people who came out as gay in
"I strongly believe people didn't say it in a racial or the Twitter revelations up, whatever their race or 1999, four years after the
are going to move forward," demeaning context. was that actions have sexual orientation is." end of his major league
Oakland slugger Khris Davis Earlier this year, Jackie consequences. "I don't think Bean wants to make it clear playing career. "The idea
said. "There's never an Robinson's daughter it's a cultural problem. I think that this issue isn't just about of just telling them to hurry
easy answer. I think Major said she thought black there's always something the perils of social media. up and delete an account,
League Baseball's doing a baseball players were more that we can all do as "We need to get to the that's not finding a solution.
fine job promoting baseball more reluctant to speak individuals," Roberts said. core of why young men That's perpetuating a
to black players." publicly about racial issues "We all, in uniform, have a find humor in disparaging situation that we want
Davis' father, Rodney, has because they constitute a platform and opportunity comments. I think that to eliminate 100 percent
done some work for the MLB lower percentage of rosters to build people up. I can't that is something that throughout the sport."
Urban Youth Academy, than in some other sports. speak for every individual permeates through every Bean said it was a "terrible
and the younger Davis Dodgers manager Dave but I know that I try to household across the day for baseball" each
played for a travel time more offending tweets
team affiliated with the were revealed — and the
Academy. Programs like message organizations
that received credit when send to their players and
MLB said the percentage fans is important.
of black players from the "If this date in time is
United States and Canada remembered for one of
on opening day active the most unfortunate
rosters rose to 8.4 percent weeks where it comes to
this year . That's the highest baseball's relationship with
level since at least 2012, social media and that of
but still well below the our players, sometimes you
percentage from the mid- have to roll up your sleeves
1980s. A report around and try to find the best
the start of the season outcome moving forward,"
found the sport was Bean said. "If it can make
showing improvement with everybody take a beat and
racial and gender hiring realize just how damaging
practices. those words can be to the
A team made up largely fans that look up to our
of black players from In this Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, file photo, Washington Nationals' Trea Turner prepares to bat during players, then maybe it will
Washington's Mamie a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Nationals Park in Washington. be a learning experience
Johnson Little League Associated Press that none of us will ever
qualified for a regional forget."q