Posted on 07/24/2004 5:06:08 AM PDT by buzzyboop
At first glance, the cases of Carlos Delgado and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf could scarcely appear less alike. Aside from being pro athletes, they have little in common. One is a baseball player from Puerto Rico, the other a now-retired basketball guard from Gulfport, Miss. One's political views were shaped mostly by his upbringing; the other's were profoundly influenced by his religious beliefs.
|
|
| Carlos Delgado says he doesn't believe in the war in Iraq. |
Even the songs they protest are different. Abdul-Rauf, then of the Denver Nuggets, drew the ire of the NBA's fan base (and much of sports at large) in 1995 by refusing to stand for the national anthem. Delgado, of the Toronto Blue Jays, is in the news lately for making sure he isn't on the field when "God Bless America" is played during the seventh-inning stretch of an MLB game.
But Delgado is just now finding out what he and Abdul-Rauf have in common, and it's a powerful bond: Neither man's views were considered remotely important until, very belatedly, they were found out.
Abdul-Rauf paid a steep price for that discovery. About Delgado, we shall see.
What Americans expect of their pro athletes in general is still a subject very much open to debate. Sports fans can't seem to arrive at a consensus, for example, on whether they despise cheating or don't mind it so long as it results in a sporting spectacle. They're clearly divided on the questions of what constitutes a decent role model and how far that definition should stray from the strict athletic arena. Drug use? It's either the scourge of the leagues or the most overhyped non-issue in modern sports.
On one measure, though, American fans have demonstrated a fairly consistent mind: They're happiest when their stars are seen and not heard. They are happiest when they can enjoy the 40-point, 20-rebound performance and not have to deal with anything afterward beyond post-game platitudes.
Delgado, in his own quiet and understated way, challenges that mindset. And he may well learn what Abdul-Rauf, and others before and after him, already know about how personal politics play in the pro sports arena.
In a series of recent stories, beginning with a piece in the Toronto Star, Delgado has discussed the fact that for some time now he has made his way into the dugout, out of sight, rather than stand on the field for the playing of "God Bless America." Delgado opposes the war in Iraq, an opinion buttressed by his longstanding disagreement with the Navy's presence on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques, which the Navy used as a weapons testing ground for 60 years.
"I never stay outside for 'God Bless America,' " Delgado told the Toronto newspaper. "I actually don't think people have noticed it. I don't [stand] because I don't believe it's right -- I don't believe in the war."
Sounds reasonable, at least insofar as Delgado's own politics go. Then again, Abdul-Rauf had quietly reached his conclusions about standing for the national anthem, and the world was fine with it -- until it found out.
 |
|
| Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf stands in prayer during the singing of the national anthem. |
Like Delgado, Abdul-Rauf was never terribly interested in using the playing venue as a political forum. Abdul-Rauf went on for most of an NBA season without anyone clueing in to the fact that he never seemed to be around during the pregame playing of the anthem. He'd be off in the training room, or in the hallway lacing up his basketball shoes -- anywhere but standing at attention.
There was no furor, that is, until Abdul-Rauf acknowledged his ongoing truth. At that point, he became one of the more publicly vilified athletes in recent memory, a development that coincided with the beginning of his gradual slide out of the sport.
Delgado is by no means afraid of being associated with his political views; he was one of a group of people who took out full-page advertisements a few years ago in The New York Times and The Washington Post to protest the Navy's continued presence on Vieques (the military ended exercises there last year). But he has made no large-scale presentation of his feelings about "God Bless America." He simply views it as an overt political statement imposed by Bud Selig and MLB in the post-9/11 era, and he doesn't agree with it, and so he makes himself scarce -- if he can do so unobtrusively -- when the song is played. It's pretty simple stuff.
What remains to be seen is whether the sporting public will agree with the simplicity of the transaction.
As time goes by, Delgado's position may not be put to such an ongoing test; many teams now play "God Bless America" only on weekends or holidays or special-promotion nights at the ballpark, and some, including Delgado's Blue Jays, no longer play it at all.
But the view is out there now. Delgado may not have particularly wished it, but, to his credit, he didn't shy away from it. Now comes the rest of the equation, which is to say, the response.
Mark Kreidler is a columnist with the Sacramento Bee and a regular contributor to ESPN.com
Would Bob Gibson, Greg Maadox, Tom Seaver,Nolan Ryan, Babe Ruth or Tom Glavine, put up with their crap?
Chin music would be tossed all night long.
With this publicity I doubt the Jays could get rid of Delgado if they wanted too. There isn't a baseball team in the country that wants this kind of publicity.
I don't know what the political veiws of the Detroit Tigers are and I'm content to keep it that way. I feel the same way about my favorite NASCAR drivers.
....and then plastered all over the place by the media. Slow news day? Then lets help create some.,,
At least Delgado is trying to stick to his convictions in the most inconspicuous way possible, too bad the media has to stir the pot....
I can think of more negative ways to show displeasure, such as standing on the field and giving the upraised fist - black power salute....
I don't agree with Delgado's politics but he isn't the one making the fuss about it. I also never grew up in Puerto Rico where anti-American sentiment is the norm.
All I ever wanted to do as a kid was play baseball but unfortunately, I could never hit a fastball, curveball or a slider.....Now they have to make it even harder by injecting politics into the equation.
You are absolutely right. I hope he get booed wherever he goes. A man like this has certainly lost a lot of potential money when he becomes a free agent after this year. As a Red Sox fan, I would not want him playing for the Sox. It is not as though he needs the money, he is making just $16 million a year.
Actually Puerto Rico is actually split between keeping the current comonwealth staus and statehood. Independence is supported by miniscule minority.
Also many Puerto Ricans serve bravely in the Armed Forces.
Del Gado spits in the faces of those soldiers, IMO.
If he doesn't like "God Bless America", maybe he would like to hear a little chin music.
"I also never grew up in Puerto Rico where anti-American sentiment is the norm."
Then they need to declare their independence and renounce their US citizenship AND ALL THE PERKS THAT GO WITH IT, including Social Security.
Oh, right, they refused to do that when given the chance.
Actually, there is one name that needs to be on your list, though it is a great list, and though he is dead--Don Drysdale.
I don't know what his politics were, but I knew that he was one tough SOG. You messed with him, the ground really WOULD rise to meet you. "Double D" would have put Delgado on his arse for lesser reasons than this, IMO.
One other name to consider, though he was not a pitcher: Rick Monday, now a broadcaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers. His action to rescue the flag during his playing days would lead me to believe he'd have a message for Carlos as well.
Does it make anyone else wonder why people hate this country so much, who so prosper IN it? That list would take forever to write.
My exact quote when I read this. You were just there a bit eariler...JFK
Remembering that Roger Clemens spent much of the offseason visiting troops and aircraft carriers in the war zone, I think Roger would like to stay in shape and sharpen his control in this postseason by using Delgado's head for target practice in Mr. Clemens's strike zone. Maybe Delgado can display the peace symbol or footprint of the American chicken on the side of his helmet.
Maybe he could be traded to Cuba's premier baseball club: The Industriales. Require that Castro agree to keep him there where clearly Delgado would feel more politically comfortable. A good byproduct would be that a few Cuban players would be able to get their freedom which they would appreciate as much as Delgado has despised his. Maybe he could take former pitchers of similar political disposition: Spaceman Bill Lee and Bulldog Jim Bouton with him.
Great minds think alike. Speaking of chin music, the Bosox and Yanks are in a wild one right now. A-Rod got plunked and there was a big fight.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.