We’re doing things a bit differently at Thursday Thoughts this week. Typically this space is reserved for eight different mini-thoughts on the Orioles. What’s going on with the team, how they are playing, injuries that seem worrisome. There are always a lot of things to cover in a given week. This week, there’s just one thing on my mind.
Despite the fact that the Orioles are embroiled in a playoff race, I can only think of how proud I am to have Adam Jones on this team. I’ve gushed over Jones in the past. I did it just a few weeks ago over at MASNSports.com. I also wrote about him last week in this very space, when he was named the team’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. That all came before this week, when Jones gave O’s fans another reason to smile. I wrote last week that while Buck Showalter is the brains of the Orioles, Jones is the heartbeat. This week, I’m sticking my chest out proudly because of Jones.
If you missed it, or have been living under a rock this week, Jones spoke to Bob Nightengale of “USA Today” about the ongoing movement in sports right now, started a few weeks ago by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. I encourage you to read the entire article, not just the headlines. It’s important to read Jones’ words in context.
Jones has made me proud to be a fan of his because he’s stepping out of his comfort zone to do something that not many would. He recognizes a platform that he has and is utilizing it. Like Kaepernick, Jones is speaking out about something that is uncomfortable. It’s not an easy subject; otherwise it wouldn’t be a national topic of conversation. The treatment of minorities in this country has been an issue for decades, but has really bubbled to the surface once again in the last few years.
You might be reading this while asking yourself, why is this white male deciding to wax poetically about race relations in this country? The simple answer is because I can. Anyone can. That’s what makes this country so great. It’s the same reason Colin Kaepernick or Adam Jones can stand up (or kneel down) and speak out for something they believe in. I don’t pretend to understand the complexities of race, but I also am not going to chastise anyone who wants to explain what’s wrong with race relations in their view. Most of the people who will be upset with the things Jones said this week are those who don’t exactly know why he said them. The same goes for Kaepernick. More than anything for me, this is about being proud of Jones. While there aren’t many African-American baseball players, there are enough to take a stand on something like this. Jones has never been one to shy away from a controversy or fail to speak his mind, and it’s no different here.
Personally, I don’t think I could or would ever sit (or kneel) for the national anthem. I was raised differently. But I was also raised with tolerance. I can respect and understand that someone wasn’t raised the same way that I was. Colin Kaepernick sure wasn’t raised like me and neither was Adam Jones. I wasn’t raised as a minority, so I can’t begin to speak about what that would’ve been like then, or what it’s like now. Anyone who tries to put themselves in another man’s shoes and tell them how they should feel isn’t getting what this whole debate is about.
For Jones, this week has just been another example of why he belongs at the top of the list of leaders. He does it on the field, but he also does the work off the field. He’s not just out there talking about making the world a better place. He’s doing it through his words and his actions. I beam with pride every time he steps up to the plate, even if he’s swinging at a slider down and away. I also light up every time he speaks, because he’s going to say something meaningful, funny and important. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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I am going to the game tonight. While I generally dislike the idea of “protesting” the National Anthem, I would be willing to take a seat if that made Adam and others feel like we support their position. Thoughts from other O’s fans?
Laurie,that’s not what Adam is looking for. Take a seat and your game experience might be very uncomfortable!
If you sit in front of me there may be confrontation.
I have no problem with anyone saying sis they believe in about any subject. I do have a huge problem with it when they do it while representing a team, a city and a league. There are many ways to get attention now days for the subject you want to bring to light. This is the wrong way to do things when you know everyone you are representing at work as l Colin is does not agree with you and how you are going about it. Adam saying he agree on his mind with what Colin is doing and backs him but realizes he would not do it himself cause he has family in the malitary just shows he knows he is wrong. This,type of anti American thinking is horrid and why this country is falling apart. Of any Orioles player kneeled or sat during the National Anthem I would no longer support the team. It is pretty simple when you have thoughts while you are representing others you should not speak on it. COMMON SENSE, that does not run ramped now days.
Totally disagree. Jones can,say what he did, I don’t happen to agree but he didn’t cross the line. There’s a difference between disagreeing and disrespect. Kaepernick and these other ex-patriot muckruckers are disrespectful. I want to ask you a question, in your experience in the work force and society as a whole, where do you,see this discrepancy? I work with mostly men all day in Baltimore City, my immediate supervisor is a black man. I do not,see anyone being treated differently due to skin color. I attend a church that has about a 30% Black congregation. Again no one is treated differently. However if you are pointing a gun at an officer, or refuse to obey his commands, you may put yourself in a precarious situation. It has no bearing on your skin color. I do not,agree with Adam but he,was within his right, again I will reiterate he crossed no line of respect. An example, I could work with the biggest,racist bigot there is of any color. If he passed away, I would not,show up at his funeral and poor mouth him. That is called respect and common courtesy, no matter how I feel about the,situation.
The Orioles are in a race
Racism is not inherent to any particular race or group. One group that has been victimized by racism does not become immune to carrying racism in their own hearts and souls.
Adam Jones, who has been beloved by all, even white males, not only for his athletic ability, but for what was perceived as his character, calls baseball a “white man’s sport”. Funny, I never thought of him as a black man, brown man, or any other color. I appreciated his play and his community service.
While Mr. Stella and others may see themselves as enlightened, I see him them as naive. Judging others by the content of their character and not the color of their skin is applicable to all races and creeds of people.
Professional baseball has become what the other sports are, politicized. How very sad.
When you say racism in this case, you’re talking about bigotry. Yes, anybody can be a bigot. However, the conversation about systemic racism – which is the conversation going on in this country today – is not the same thing.