The idea was agreed upon by the Yankees in a team meeting, then shared with the NationalsGetty Images
Players, managers and coaches for the Yankees and Nationals "knelt in unison" prior to Thursday night's MLB opener, then stood for the national anthem "in a joint demonstration of support for the Black Lives Matter movement," according to Howard Fendrich of the AP. Both teams wore T-shirts saying Black Lives Matter during batting practice, the letters "BLM" were "stenciled into the back of the mound at the center of the diamond." In a "poignant reference to the racial reckoning happening in the U.S., players and other members of both teams held a long black ribbon while standing spaced out along the two foul lines." Everyone then knelt "after they placed the ribbon on the ground" (AP, 7/24). In N.Y., James Wagner reports all players, after a solidarity message "played over the stadium speakers, ... all took a knee for 60 seconds of silence." The idea was "agreed upon by the Yankees in a team meeting" on Wednesday and then "shared with the Nationals." A Black Lives Matter video "produced by the Players Alliance -- a new nonprofit comprising 150 current and former Black baseball players" -- also played in the ballpark during the pregame ceremony. The idea for the cloth and the "moment of unity" came from Phillies CF Andrew McCutchen and was organized by players "without MLB’s involvement." Similar cloths were "sent to the 14 other stadiums that will host an opening game on Thursday and Friday" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/24).
CREDIT TO GO AROUND: In N.Y., Ken Davidoff writes the Yankees deserve kudos "for conceiving the idea of kneeling en masse," while McCutchen also deserves credit for the "'moment of unity,' with everyone holding onto a 200-yard piece of fabric" (N.Y. POST, 7/24). In L.A., Bill Plaschke writes MLB deserves credit "for using opening day to advocate for social justice" (L.A. TIMES, 7/24).
SOME PEOPLE CHANGE: ESPN.com's Alden Gonzalez notes Dodgers RF Mookie Betts knelt during the national anthem "less than four years after saying he would always stand because his father, Willie, served in the Vietnam War as a member of the Air Force." Betts explained that his perspective has changed, saying, "I needed to be educated on the situation. I know my dad served and I'll never disrespect the flag, but there's also gotta be change in the world" (ESPN.com, 7/24). In L.A., Castillo & Harris note Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, the son of a Marine, also "experienced a similar turn on the subject." He vocally took issue with former A's C Bruce Maxwell kneeling during the anthem in '17, but on Thursday, Roberts said that he "changed that stance." Roberts: "I’ve realized that standing at attention, it’s not mutually exclusive to your thoughts on social justice and police brutality. ... I have evolved and changed" (L.A. TIMES, 7/24).
