Chicago Cubs: Front office must take swift action on racial messages
By Jason Parini
In a disturbing report, MLB is investigating racially charged messages sent to Chicago Cubs pitcher Carl Edwards, Jr. The front office must act swiftly and firmly towards the news.
According to a report Tuesday, Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Carl Edwards, Jr. was recently sent racially charged messages on social media. Major League Baseball has disclosed that they are investigating the messages.
It’s not the first time that the Cubs organization has been clouded by racial discrimination in recent months.
Just two months ago, a collection of discriminatory emails sent by Cubs ownership patriarch Joe Ricketts were revealed by Splinter News.
Shortly after, Ricketts issued a half-apology for his actions while his son, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, tried to distance the organization from his father and the elder’s comments.
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Tom issued a statement on behalf of the organization, arguing that his father was “not involved in the day-to-day operations” of the team.
Although that may be true, there likely wasn’t a single article published that didn’t mention that Ricketts wasn’t linked to the team in some way.
Not long after the news broke of the messages sent to Edwards, Cubs President Theo Epstein also issued a statement, saying that the team “vehemently condemns the content of the message.”
While the team’s messages after both instances are appropriate and necessary, the club must take firm and aggressive action after the latest controversy.
Perhaps the club can start by banning the individual from Wrigley Field once the identity of the perpetrator is known.
If Pete Rose isn’t allowed in a ballpark because he tried to make money off the game, then there’s no excuse for someone who is sending hateful and possibly threatening messages to players to be allowed through the gates either.
Sports leagues and organizations have a voice and power paralleled by few other entities in America. There’s truly no better time for them to use their voices for positive change than now.
It’s unfortunate and disturbing that Edwards or anyone else has to face issues like racism or discrimination in today’s day and age. But with each issue comes an opportunity to educate and grow as a society.
It doesn’t matter if it’s the ownership’s patriarch or someone on the streets wearing a Cubs shirt. It’s not about how the team is connected to the issue but rather the issue itself.
The longer the team waits to take any more action than a condemning statement, the bigger the issue becomes.
It’s time that the Cubs took the lead and use their voice to turn a major issue into a solution.