I went to the game on Thursday, which happened to be Jackie Robinson day. On this day, as I’m sure many of you know, the players of MLB all wear #42 to honor the man who broke the racial barrier. It’s a simple, understated but noticeable reminder of how fay we have come, and a sign of respect for a man who had such courage, not to mention talent. If there is any problem with the event, it’s simply that it’s forced upon all players, and individual players are unable to express their appreciation of their own accord on this day. How nice would it be if players could individually choose to don the 42? Of course, Orlando Hudson wore the Jackie Robinson tall socks for the game, so perhaps my point is moot.
With all that background, I sat next to a couple of knuckleheads at the game on Thursday, one of whom needed to borrow part of my personal space to accommodate his ample girth. First, they noted the retired 42 among the retired numbers. ‘Who the hell was #42?” Then they noticed the batter was wearing 42. “Why the hell can he wear 42 if it’s retired?” Then they noticed another Twin wearing 42 and I finally had to tell them it was Jackie Robinson day. Then they noticed the Red Sox were all wearing 42 as well.
That’s when it started. “Wait, everyone in the league does this? Do they do this everywhere? That’s stupid. What did he even do? He wasn’t even that good. I could understand if they do it every once in a while, but every year? That’s stupid. He wasn’t even that important. Every year? Stupid.” I didn’t dare mention that we also get Martin Luther King day off every year.
Keep in mind, these chuckleheads were complaining that people were wearing a number. Once. One day a year. That’s it. There was no necessary participation on their part. Really, all they had to do was show up, and say “oh, that’s nice” and their requirement was over. But they wouldn’t stop complaining. This is why we can’t have nice things, America.
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