MLB used its two opening games last night "to place Black Lives Matters center stage." The BLM abbreviation "accompanied by the MLB's logo" was visible on both pitchers mounds at Nationals Park and Dodger Stadium, while the left sleeve of some players' jerseys "have patches reading, 'Black Lives Matter' and 'United for Change'" (CNN.com, 7/23). Every player and coach on the field for last night's Yankees-Nationals MLB season opener "took a knee while all holding a single length of black rope" prior to the national anthem. After a "short moment of silence, they all stood up while 'The Star-Spangled Banner' was performed." Yankees manager Aaron Boone did his "pregame press conference wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/24).
Dodgers RF Mookie Betts "kneeled during the national anthem" before the opener against the Giants. Giants manager Gabe Kapler and several of his players "also kneeled during 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' which followed a pregame ceremony promoting social justice" (L.A. TIMES, 7/24). After the standard opening night introductions, "players and staff from both teams -- all but Giants reliever Sam Coonrod -- knelt and grabbed a black ribbon that stretched down both lines in a moment of silence that followed a Black Lives Matter video." Coonrod "did hold the ribbon" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/24).
