ST. LOUIS, MO
The last couple of days of sports around these parts have been absolutely disgusting. From a student athlete at the Saint Louis University using unflattering language directed at the President of the United States ,to Chicago Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward having racial slurs hurled at him in his first game back at Busch Stadium.
And this isn’t ground breaking, not the first time we’ve heard about this. It’s been happening, but the thing is now, we are seeing this more frequently. It wasn’t that long ago we were talking about the protest at the University of Missouri and the rise of racial tension on the campus and throughout the city of Columbia, Missouri. For those who had friends and family there raced up the I-70 corridor, in the case of violence that has seemed to follow most protest as of late.
Now back to Saint Louis University. When I read the story written by Danny Wicentowski of the Riverfront Times, I instantly thought about how ironic that remark was coming from a student or athlete at the college nestled not far from low income housing. The remarks prompted a response from Robyn Browning – who wrote a letter to the President of SLU Dr. Fred P. Pestello urging for more action against the baseball players and requested to have them removed from the team. Robyn also sent same letter to the commissioner of the Atlantic 10 Conference Bernadette V. McGlade. Calls have been made to the Atlantic 10 Conference they’ve have not been returned yet. You can also read Robyn’s open letter @robynbirdfly.
Now on to the St.Louis Cardinals fans who can’t get over the fact that Jason Heyward is no longer wearing the birds on the bat. A day after playing in his first game as a member of the Chicago Cubs, New York Daily News columnist Kate Feldman wrote a piece about Heyward being hit with racial taunts. I’m not surprised in the least that some of the Cardinal baseball fans did that.
There is a sector of Cardinal baseball fans that are so annoying. They act as though it’s such a great privilege to wear the Cardinals jersey. Heyward only played one season in St.Louis and hit .293 with 13 home runs and 60 runs batted in – that’s right 13 home runs and 60 runs batted in.
People are breaking into salami sweats over a baseball player under 15 home runs and wasn’t a RBI machine by no means. He hurt Cardinals feelings by rejecting them – and by joining the Chicago Cubs. I Don’t remember Chicago Cubs fans treating Shawon Dunston like this when he played for the Cardinals. And I know circumstances were different for Dunston – and the only similarity being that Dunston is a black player for a bitter rival.
These people need to get over themselves. They should be more mad the Cardinals didn’t resign pitcher John Lackey who struck out 11 Cardinal batters en route to a 5-0 shut out, pitching out of a couple of jams.
Meanwhile, Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright hasn’t won a game – and Lackey was clearly the team best pitcher last year. He is undefeated so far at 3-0.
And by the way so far so good since the Cardinals and Heyward didn’t agree on a deal, Heyward is hitting under .200 with just 7 RBI’s.
I also think the local broadcast on Fox Sports Midwest fanned the flames and kept bringing up that Heyward said that the Cardinals core of players were too old. Cardinals color commentator Al Hrabosky said it’s is true about the Cardinals core being older. He even went so far as to mention Matt Holiday, Yadier Molina, and Adam Wainwright.
I don’t blame Heyward at all for choosing Chicago. Let’s face it, there is more to offer entertainment-wise. He’s 26 and single. And if these jilted fans feel this way, think about the region we’re living in.
It’s those little things, which are symbolic of the “Cardinal Way.”
Follow me on Twitter @thelegendkil