Josh Donaldson’s racist remark at Tim Anderson can solely be judged by White Sox shortstop
Benches cleared between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees on Sunday when catcher Yasmani Grandal began yelling at Josh Donaldson as he got here to the plate within the fifth inning. Grandal was standing up for teammate Tim Anderson after Donaldson made a racist comment to him on a number of events earlier within the sport.
Donaldson referred to as Anderson “Jackie” as a reference to Jackie Robinson. Listed below are Anderson’s feedback on the incident after the Yankees’ 7-5 win in New York.
Grandal acquired in Donaldson’s face when he approached dwelling plate. The benches cleared and Anderson needed to be restrained by teammates. You may watch the sequence right here.
Donaldson mentioned he referred to as Anderson “Jackie” as a nod to a 2019 Sports activities Illustrated characteristic the place Anderson mentioned “I type of really feel like right this moment’s Jackie Robinson.” Donaldson mentioned he and Anderson joked concerning the quote throughout a sport in 2019, however clearly Anderson didn’t discover this as some type of endearing reference between two pals.
Josh Donaldson says he referred to as Tim Anderson “Jackie” throughout right this moment’s sport, referencing a quote from Anderson in a 2019 story. Donaldson mentioned he felt the self-reference had been a joke between the 2 of them prior to now.
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) Might 21, 2022
Right here’s the quote from the unique SI story:
That is the quote from Tim Anderson that Josh Donaldson referenced right this moment. He mentioned it to Sports activities Illustrated in 2019. Josh Donaldson mentioned that previously, and and Tim Anderson had joked about it. pic.twitter.com/kMaSopsNaC
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) Might 21, 2022
Donaldson’s aspect of the story — that the nickname was mentioned in good religion between two gamers who’re pleasant with one another — is extraordinarily exhausting to imagine given the latest historical past between Donaldson and the White Sox. Simply final week, Donaldson hit Anderson with a tough tag at third base that led to a different benches clearing argument. Final season, Donaldson taunted White Sox ace Lucas Giolito throughout a sport, which led to an escalating battle of phrases and a parking zone confrontation.
Grandal additionally talked to reporters after the sport, and continued to face up for Anderson:
Yasmani Grandal says Josh Donaldson “lives in his personal world.”
“A remark like that’s simply unacceptable. It is one thing that shouldn’t be allowed.” pic.twitter.com/H12nsqOmaS
— White Sox Speak (@NBCSWhiteSox) Might 21, 2022
“This sport went by a time frame quite a lot of these feedback had been made, and I believe we’re well beyond that,” Yasmani Grandal instructed reporters, saying that Donaldson denied the incident when he confronted him within the fifth inning. “I suppose he lives in his personal world.”
Donaldson was additionally getting ripped on Twitter for the incident.
The quite simple downside with Josh Donaldson calling Tim Anderson “Jackie” is that he perverted honor into mockery.
— Bradford William Davis (@BWDBWDBWD) Might 21, 2022
Tim Anderson calling himself “the brand new Jackie Robinson” as a result of he attracts inspiration from Robinson’s legacy doesn’t give Josh Donaldson permission to name him Jackie
Unacceptable
Flippantly calling Anderson “Jackie” minimizes baseball’s historical past of racism and the ache it’s prompted https://t.co/2sbjg30tWu
— Joon Lee (@joonlee) Might 21, 2022
Right here is Donaldson’s clarification after the sport:
Donaldson’s remark is flat out ignorant. He was attempting to get below Anderson’s pores and skin by calling arguably the most important Black star in MLB right this moment by the title of the person who broke baseball’s shade barrier. It turns Robinson right into a punchline and flippantly overlooks the struggles Black gamers have needed to endure within the sport.
Anderson’s opinion is the one one who issues right here, and to him Donaldson’s clarification to bogus. Donaldson must do some critical self-reflection.
