The Brewers protest was not going to happen without the Bucks and the NBA leading the wayGETTY IMAGES
The Brewers' decision to sit out yesterday's game against the Reds over the police shooting of Jacob Blake was the "first step for baseball," according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. Brewers LF Ryan Braun explained that it was an "easy decision," but added that players left the difficult 30-minute conversation knowing there "could be severe consequences playing in front of a conservative fanbase in an ultra-conservative sport." The Brewers will be the "first ones to tell you their protest wasn’t going to happen without the Bucks and the NBA leading the way," for if the Bucks "hadn’t boycotted, the Brewers would have played." Nightengale writes it "would have been easy for the Brewers to ignore the boycott, and just play a game of baseball." While no one will "confuse the Brewers with the Brooklyn Dodgers breaking the color barrier," their role in history "should never be forgotten" (USA TODAY, 8/27).
FOLLOW THE LEADER: Dodgers RF Mookie Betts said that he "would’ve supported his teammates proceeding to hold the second of their three-game series" against the Giants yesterday. But in L.A., Jorge Castillo reports once his teammates heard Betts, their "best player and already a clubhouse leader in his short time as a Dodger, had decided to sit out, they held discussions as a team about showing solidarity and protesting." Then, in conjunction with the Giants, a "decision was made: We’re not playing." The clubs will "make up the game" today (L.A. TIMES, 8/27). Meanwhile, Cubs RF Jason Heyward -- who sat out yesterday's game against the Tigers -- said the team held "discussions" and there were "multiple guys saying they weren't comfortable going out there and playing if I wasn't going to go out there." But he continued, "I let them know, encouraged them, 'Go play the game. I don't think the game should be canceled, but I think I have to do what I have to do'" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 8/27). Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said, "We had some conversation with (the Cubs), our players did, and our players decided we were going to play, together, as a unit." He added, "We are all understanding of what's going on in the world and in this country and we've got to fix these things. We are all a part of it. We all have each others' backs in here" (DETROIT NEWS, 8/27).
AROUND THE LEAGUE: In Tampa, Eduardo Encina reports "more discussions will be had about whether today’s series finale" between the Rays and Orioles "will be played." Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that he had a "quick conversation with his Black players" to "gauge their feelings about playing Wednesday as players were already warming up on the field." Orioles CF Cedric Mullins said that he "supports the players around the league who decided against playing." Encina notes the Rays were "very vocal about social justice issues at the start of the season" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 8/27). Mets 1B Dominic Smith "did not mind that the Mets didn’t discuss a boycott." But he admitted, "That’s something that I did think about afterwards." Smith, who kneeled during the national anthem last night, concluded, "I'm sure we're going to discuss it. Like I said, we all have a job to do" (Bergen RECORD, 8/27).
POWER PLAYERS: THE ATHLETIC's Ken Rosenthal writes, "This wasn’t Tommie Smith and John Carlos giving the Black-power salute. ... This wasn’t Colin Kaepernick taking a knee on an NFL sideline. And this wasn’t the largely Black NBA." These were "mostly White teams in a mostly White sport following NBA players’ lead and saying they, too, have had enough." Today’s professional athletes are "figuring out that they have power" (THEATHLETIC.com, 8/27).
