While the return of live baseball can and should serve as a source of healing during a very tough year in the United States, there is also a sentiment shared by many in the Major League Baseball community that the building momentum against racial inequality and police brutality cannot stall just because the country’s top athletes are back on the field.
San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler provided that reminder Monday night as he and several of his players knelt during the national anthem before an exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics.
In Chicago, no White Sox or Cubs players knelt before either of their two exhibition games, but that doesn’t mean that such an act wouldn’t be supported by White Sox manager Rick Renteria, who was asked about the topic Tuesday.
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“I'll just simply say that I'll stand by whatever my players decide they want to do. I'll respect it,” Renteria said. “And I think it's about time that we start talking about getting together, coming together. Anything we can do that is not divisive is probably a helpful thing. Some people may take whatever actions people take as a divisive action, but I don't see it that way.”
The White Sox did not stand silently in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis and the ensuing protests all over the country. Executive vice president Ken Williams detailed his own experiences with racism in a lengthy interview released by the team. Renteria spoke about his upbringing in Compton, California, and the challenges of being a Mexican American in an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Chicago in June.
But that all occurred during baseball’s long hiatus due to COVID-19. Renteria’s thoughtful comments Tuesday, three days before the start of the regular season, were a reminder that the White Sox are still supportive of their players.
“I think that when I get together with my players and we speak about anything that goes on — I'm like a daddy. I'm like a papa,” Renteria said. “All of us are grownups. I have my own children, as well. I'm speaking to them like I would speak to my own kids. And again, they're all grownups and everyone has the right to have and feel what they're feeling. Some people are affected more than others.
“Sometimes I think when you live in a bubble and you don't experience what others might be experiencing, it's kind of hard to understand. What you hope is that people, at a minimum, would empathize and try to kind of get things that are going on, but you know, that's human nature.”
Renteria expressed the importance of being respectful, which is why he chose his words carefully, but he managed to acknowledge some of the hypocrisy in this country, without calling anyone out specifically.
“If we truly say everybody has the right, as I've heard many people say, if we truly have the right, like to wear a mask or not wear a mask, then everybody should have the right to express themselves respectfully in things affecting us (in society),” Renteria said.
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The manager was wearing his mask on the Zoom call with reporters, and he imitated taking it off as he made that comment. He has a point, as some of the same people screaming about their right to not wear a mask are the same people who get upset with athletes for expressing their beliefs during the national anthem.
“By the same token, I can't speak of being respectful to others if I don't do it,” Renteria said. “So if somebody wants to go ballistic about what someone is doing or not doing, they have the right to do so and I respect their right to be able to be upset or not be upset — whatever the case might be. If everything is done peacefully, we can learn from each other and move on.”
Whatever his players choose to do or not do Friday against the Twins will be supported. Either way, Renteria expects Opening Day to provide some healing.
“I hope that this is a place where everybody will be able to kind of let their guard down a little bit and watch the game and enjoy watching some very talented players going out there and playing the game of baseball,” Renteria said. “I know our guys are looking forward to it, and I hope we honor the city of Chicago, we honor you guys and we go out there and do what we're supposed to do.”
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