Players on the San Francisco Giants baseball team — and anyone else in their dugout — will be required to stand for the national anthem this season.
The new rule has nothing to do with politics or even patriotism, new team manager Bob Melvin told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale on Friday.
What it is about, Melvin said, is teamwork, getting everyone out on the field together in a display of unity for everyone to see.
“You want your team ready to play and I want the other team to notice it, too,’” Melvin said. “It’s as simple as that. They’re embracing it.”
Nightengale noted that Melvin’s position represented a 180-degree difference from the policy under previous manager Gabe Kapler.
After the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Kapler stopped standing on the field for the anthem, he said.
Kapler even knelt during the anthem several times after the 2020 death of George Floyd while in police custody.
“I don’t plan on coming out for the anthem going forward until I feel better about the direction of our country,” Kapler said then, according to the New York Post.
Kapler was fired in late September after having led the Giants to only one postseason showing in four seasons, ESPN reported at the time.
Melvin told Nightengale that it was time to move on from all that and focus on winning baseball games.
“Look, we’re a new team here, we got some good players here,’’ Melvin told him.
“It’s more about letting the other side know that we’re ready to play,” he added. “I want guys out here ready to go. There’s a personality to that. It has nothing to do with whatever happened in the past or whatever, it’s just something I embrace.”
Reaction on social media to Melvin’s decision was largely positive.
About time this is such a distraction to the game. Just play baseball
— Gianni, Spokeperson for None of These (@giannipov) March 4, 2024
As it should be, ohmigosh.
— Randi Novak (@rnovak1111) March 4, 2024
@StevenACohen2 needs to make this Mets policy. Last couple games I went to in September only 5-10 players could be bothered to come out of the clubhouse for the anthem. Change the culture.
— Sean (@SLCDmac98) March 4, 2024
The Giants will play their first game of the season in San Diego against the Padres on March 28.
We’re blessed that the idiot was fired! Anyone who kneels during the National Anthem should have their ass kicked by someone wearing a size 14 steel-toed boot. For our country to go in the right direction, one must start by showing respect to this country that has afforded so many, who started out with so little, to end up with so much. God Bless the USA!
I BET THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PLAY…..I WOULDNT PUT UP WITH TAKING THE KNEE FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHYM….MAINLY I SAW BLACKS DOING THIS…IF THEY DONT LIKE AMERICA I SAY LEAVE….GIVE UP YOUR RICHES AND FREEDOM …GO WHEREVER YOU WANT TO GO ….BUT IF YOU STAY YOU HONOR THIS COUNTRY …BECAUSE YOU ARE FREE ..NOW….
it is about being proud of america
if any professional sports team member wants to take a knee or not put their hand on their heart
then GET OUT
go play in pakistan
and the public should engrain these whiny entitled peoples image in their minds to ask them when they see them in public places
“WHY THEY HATE AMERICA SO MUCH”
FYI: apples last 2 updates are censorship ridden…
even when using voice letters come up wrong,, this is on purpose
and google is officially a one sided far left
UNSEARCH ENGINE that threw a rod
If your a far left woke kabal er,,,
your good to go!!
I’d love to send these ungrateful “Americans” to China or North Korea for a year to live and then see how grateful they are for living in America!!!
Good for him. Thank you for that. Every team in professional sports should do this!