If Only More Would Stand Up

    Happy Thanksgiving to all...just a brief post this morning, combining my favorite issues: sports and politics. Looks like Carlos Delgado is going to sign with the cross-town rivals, the Mets. I've always liked Delgado--but not solely because of his baseball skills. Back when he was with the Blue Jays, when his team came to Yankee Stadium, he refused to leave the dug-out in the 7th inning to stand in full view when "God Bless America" was played. It was his way of protesting the Iraq war.

    Unfortunately, Delgado is one of a very small number of athletes who are willing to say anything controversial that touches on anything outside of sports. Even though Curt Schilling is a Republican and campaigned for Bush in the last election, I don't fault him for speaking his mind and getting involved. Too many athletes are much more concerned about protecting endorsements than using their considerable influence to shape opinions. I always wondered: if Tiger Woods, who makes a gazillion dollars from Nike, said, "Sweatshops are unacceptable," you could guess there would be a lot more movement to upgrade working conditions in countries where sports wear is made.

   Yes, Thanksgiving is a time for wishful thinking.

Comments

[Chris M.]

As a Mets fan and a leftist, I was really excited to hear the news about the deal for Delgado - he's a great ballplayer and a decent human being. Predictably enough, his politics have already been criticized in the NY sports media; in a Daily News "Pros and Cons" article about him, his politics were listed as a "con." What a shame. I hope that he continues to stand up for himself and what he believes in, even though I know that he's going to catch more hell in the future. Let's go Mets!

[Carl]

I've argued frequently about the need to get professional sports unions involved actively. Athletes are probably the most recognizable union members to the non-union public. Whata great commercial it would be to have some injured athlete looking at the camera "I suffered a debilitating injury on the job, thank god I had my union to make sure I was taken care of....do you have a union?"

Carl

[Lee]

Unfortunately, Delgado has caved to the dictates of the tabloids and will stand for God Bless... He must have been under some pressure. Is there a way to contact him and appreciate his anti-war stance?