Chicago Cubs: Anthony Rizzo leaves camp after Florida shooting
Anthony Rizzo has left Chicago Cubs camp to be with family and friends after his alma mater was the sight of Wednesday’s mass shooting.
When things like the high school shooting that rocked Parkland, Florida happen, they shake everyone, even in our isolated lives and small corners of the world.
And for the Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo, who was with his team preparing for the 2018 Major League Baseball season, this tragedy hit home in a way that he simply couldn’t ignore. Literally.
Rizzo graduated from Stoneman Douglas High School, the site of yesterday’s shooting that left 17 people dead and dozens injured.
And so, after sending messages of support to his home community, he left the Cubs’ camp to join them today.
Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has returned to Florida to be with his family and Parkland community
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) February 15, 2018
For him, this was far, far bigger than baseball.
Rizzo just donated $150,000 and hosted a fundraising event through his foundation to provide adequate lighting for the baseball and softball fields at Stoneman Douglas, where he starred in high school. The high school’s baseball field now bears his name.
He takes batting practice at that field in the offseason when he comes home for the winter.
And he knows many of the staff at Stoneman Douglas. In fact, he played football under Aaron Fies, a football coach there who gave his life to defend students from the gunman.
This senseless act of violence would’ve resonated with him and other Chicago Cubs regardless of where it happened. But this? This is personal.
And Rizzo has become the latest sports figure to call for change in our country’s gun policies.
Parkland and Coral Springs please stay strong! This is out of control and and our country is in desperate need for change. I hope In this darkest of times back home this brings everyone together and we can find love. You’re all in my prayers 🙏🏻🙏🏻
— Anthony Rizzo (@ARizzo44) February 14, 2018
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Now, the interpretation of the Constitution and Second Amendment is beyond the scope of this article. Others will debate that.
But I tend to agree with Rizzo. Throwing up our hands and lamenting that nothing could have prevented this or that “people will find their way to guns anyway” is weak.
And people, including a lot of our children, are dying as we all watch and wait for change that isn’t coming.
That’s as far as I’ll go with that here.
In the meantime, our thoughts go with the community of Broward County, Stoneman Douglas High School and with Rizzo and his family.
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Rizzo is one of the good guys in sports, and I hope the Chicago Cubs fanbase will rally around him in this tough moment.