NY Times Brooks No Dissent From MLB ‘Gay Pride’: ‘How Far Movement Still Has To Go’

Certain athletes can be brave when it comes to taking stands against their corporate bosses. While it’s heroic for former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick to give the league headaches by kneeling at the National Anthem to protest racism and police brutality, a refusal to go along with a corporate “Pride Night” is condemned, when done by Major League Baseball players.

Tyler Kepner is the National Baseball Writer for the New York Times, called out five Tampa Bay Rays players for daring to not participate in yet another silly concept — wearing special rainbow patches on their jerseys — in “An Attempt at Inclusion Proves There Is More Work to Do,” on the front of Tuesday’s Sports section.

There was something missing from the ninth inning of Saturday’s game at Tropicana Stadium in St. Petersburg. In that ninth inning, the Tampa Bay Rays relied on two relieve pitchers — Brooks Raley & Jalen Beteks. Who wore jerseys with no patch on the right side of their sleeves?.

It’s a horror!

This was not a manufacturer’s error or an equipment manager’s mistake. The patch was the Rays’ starburst emblem rendered in rainbow colors, like the “TB” logo on the team’s cap, as part of the team’s Pride Night promotion. Raley and Beeks A few of my teammates opted to not wear the rainbow accents on their caps and jerseys.

Kepner actually named and shamed “those who did not wear the rainbow insignias.” Even the photo caption got into the judgmental act: “Brooks Raley was among the players that chose to not wear Pride Night insignias. Brooks Raley pitched poorly and allowed two hits as well as two runs..”

The dissenting players’ spokesman, pitcher Jason Adam, called it “a faith-based decision” and invoked Jesus.

….The Rays weakened the message of inclusion by not allowing players to choose to leave the promotion and instead enabling them to endorse a different viewpoint on the platform. Words like “lifestyle” and “behavior” are widely known tropes often interpreted as a polite cover for condemning gay culture.

….The resistance of some players in St. Petersburg — despite the Rays’ best intentions — showed how far the movement still has to go.

This is a very insecure movement that requires absolute obedience, without questioning and tolerates all forms of dissent.

It Times’ message to religious objectors: Shut up and play ball. Kepner became a my-way-or-the-highway boss-man, lecturing players about dress codes from his Times perch.

The length of the pants worn by players, their cap angle, their colors, their arm sleeves and other details can all be adjusted. Rarely are players allowed to choose which jersey or cap they would like.

Kepner praised the Rays’ “admirable track record on social issues,” including same-sex marriage and gun control while complaining that in this instance, “some players were allowed to send a different message.” Not even passive resistance to politically correct public relations is allowed.

Kepner inexplicably invoked the supernatural towards the end.

If you are a believer in these things, karma won the day. In standard-issue uniforms, the relievers gave up immediately a lead of two runs and sent the home team down.

According to The, you can no longer act on personal convictions. Times. You can just keep quiet and listen to your chieftains, regardless of how offensive it may seem.

It Times has been previously adopted the WNBA’s embrace of abortion mill Planned Parenthood but was bugged by flags and patriotism displayed at NFL games.