Baseball success, like in all sports, brings out bandwagon fans, media spotlights and a bunch of ill-informed analysts dressing up this Halloween season as experts. Just check out social media. (On second thought, don’t.)
My observations and opinions are just that — mine. But I
come from a perspective as a devoted fan of the Atlanta Braves for 55 years and
as a Christian who seeks justice in the ways the prophets of old and Christ
himself advocated and exhibited.
FIRST: I’m good with dropping the “chop” and even changing
the name of the team if those are determined, in consultation with Native
American leaders, to be good moves. But the issues are more complex than those
who express strong, immediate opinions on both sides tend to address.
The team name wasn’t created when Major League Baseball came
to the South in 1966. The Braves’ name goes back through Milwaukee to Boston.
It has a long, rich history.
Unlike clearly derogatory terms like “Redskins,” the Braves
— by definition — reflect a positive characteristic. In fact, one possible name
change would be the Atlanta Brave. That could be applied to heroes from the
Civil Rights Movement to first responders.
Braves management has done a good job in recent years
eliminating caricatures of Native Americans on team logos or as mascots. And
they have established close ties with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in
North Carolina.
It’s valid to ask if those arrangements are merely
transactional or transformative. But seeing Native American history highlighted
at the stadium and participation by tribal leaders has been intentional and
positive.
Which leads to all the chopping that draws so much
attention. In the marvelous last-to-first season of 1991, the “chop” became the
way Braves fans — like Florida State football fans were already doing —cheered
on their team loudly and in unison.
Admittedly, doing the chop cheer next to my Native American friend at a game last year had an uncomfortable feel. But it will change not by decree, but by choice. (And there has to be another way to do that cool cell phone lighting of the stadium when the opposing team changes pitchers.)
SECOND: With the high visibility of this World Series, there
are those who purportedly oppose the racist stereotyping of Native Americans
but do so by stereotyping Southerners in general, and Georgians in particular,
as a bunch of inbred racists. They are doing exactly what they say they oppose.
Some are just fans of other teams who look for any way to
try to rain on the Braves’ parade. But only the Astros have the chance of doing
that.
Repeatedly, I see comments on social media like, “What do expect from those people?” As if, Atlanta is not a remarkably vibrant city made up of people from many backgrounds and places.
And it was Georgians who recently elected as U.S. Senators, both an
African-American person and a Jewish person — and who (by a majority
of votes counted and recounted and recounted…) played a key role in denying a
second term to a president from New York City who stirs racial division.
So stop the nonsensical stereotypes of Southerners. Critics
who use regional caricatures cannot be trusted voices for denouncing the
caricatures of others.
And the last time I checked, the Cleveland Indians were
somewhere north of here.
THIRD, AND FINALLY: The Braves’ fan base, like with most
sports teams, is very diverse — in terms of race, socio-economics, religion and
politics. That’s been an aspect I’ve enjoyed over the years — especially while a
season ticket holder who attended dozens of games each season.
At the ballpark, and only there, I got to know many people — some
still friends today — with whom I had little to nothing in common except for our
love of this city’s baseball team. I didn’t get to know and then care about them in
any (other) church.
And my longtime devotion is not tied to a team name or a
particular cheer. It’s to the magic of baseball that is filled with disappointment
and — on rare occasions — with moments like this that keep me up way past my usual
bedtime. (And cost me quite a few bucks to share the experience in person with my daughters)
No one has a right to tell others what should or should not offend them — particularly if that “something” is tied more closely to
them. So a lot more listening needs to take place — along with a willingness to
change when it shows more respect and helps bring people together.
Ongoing discussions in Cherokee, N.C., must continue. And,
in the spring, tribal leaders and Braves officials might even talk while
attending a local high school game.
Together they can cheer on the Cherokee High Braves. Yep, that’s the team name.
In the meantime, I’m joining all kinds of fans — some old
and some new; some rich enough to buy tickets for tonight’s game and the many
more devoted fans who’ve already watched 170 games on TV this year; and the scores
of cheering, pearl-draped people as ethnically diverse as the players
themselves.
So, go Braves! Win this thing for all of us who are cheering you on.
But, regardless, I’ll see you at spring training. With a great assortment of friends.
