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| SMITH: Voice of reason? |
League
officials contend their rules were violated and that the Morgan Park
neighborhood-based Jackie Robinson West program put its team together from
talented youth across the South Side and surrounding suburbs – rather than just
their respective neighborhood.
JACKIE
ROBINSON OFFICIALS have finally filed their lawsuit against Little League Baseball,
contending the league acted unfairly to taint the on-field accomplishments of
those 12-year-olds who brought international glory to Chicago back in 2014.
But
what also is interesting is that the lawsuit also includes ESPN and one of its
announcers – in the form of Stephen A. Smith.
For
those of you who aren’t sports junkies compelled to watch the blatherings of
the many people who offer their opinions on ESPN, Smith is one who has a
particular record of irritating people.
I’m
sure he’ll say he just speaks his mind and says what he believes to be true.
Others say he’s just a donkey (insert more crude term here) who doesn’t know
what he’s talking about.
IT
SEEMS THE Jackie Robinson West officials take Smith more seriously than I do. I
rarely think anyone’s commentary – other than my own – is worth anything. And
even my own is only worth the price (gratis)
you had to pay in order to read it!
But
because his opinion was carried forth on ESPN and all the sports nerds of our
society were watching (except for those who might have been tuned into a Fox
Sports channel at the time), the local officials want to believe they’re
forevermore tainted.
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| How many 'cheaters' wind up with an Oval Office appearance? |
As
for the offensive comment that has local
officials upset, it seems Smith said it bothers him that a baseball program
named for Jackie Robinson would play loose with the rules concerning
eligibility and residency.
Which
if you think about it, isn’t an outrageous thought at all. Even if you believe,
as I do, that much of the outrage concerning the Jackie Robinson West residency
issue is a lot of sour grapes from people who couldn’t beat the ball club on
the playing field.
THE
MODERN-DAY family structure isn’t the same as it was back when Little League
programs became organized some 80 years ago. There are families with split
residences – with one parent living in the area proper and the other does not.
But
I’m not about to get into trying to justify the way the Jackie Robinson West
program operates – other than to say I am aware it is a highly-structured
program that attracts young people from across the area who want to play
baseball.
And
a part of me does wonder if the people who object to Jackie Robinson West’s
accomplishment are really bothered by the fact it is an all-black organization
in a Little League that all-too-often is dominated by white people?
I’ve
already seen some reports about the lawsuit saying that it is the portion
against Stephen A. Smith that will draw public attention and news coverage.
WHAT
IF IT is capable that Jackie Robinson West can do what many people in sports
have tried to do and failed – that is, put a gag of sorts on Smith’s mouth!
The
simple fact is that he’s a blowhard who spouts off on anything and everything,
and for his good fortune has found someone willing to pay him to do so. If
anything, facing a lawsuit may wind up creating friends for Smith of all the
people who want to rant about “those cheatin’ black kids from Chicago.”
Personally,
I don’t think much will become of their lawsuit. Particularly if it turns
Stephen A. Smith into the voice of reason whom we all stand up for to protect
the concept of freedom of expression.
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