After making it known that he wants players to have “a voice” in a volatile Election Year, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell still had six months before preseason games started in which he didn’t have to worry about any potential on-field demonstrations. But thanks to new San Francisco Giants skipper Bob Melvin, all of the present pressure is now on Major League Baseball.
“Look, we’re a new team here, we got some good players here,’’ said Melvin about why he is requiring every person in the team’s dugout to stand on the field for the national anthem. “It’s more about letting the other side know that we’re ready to play. 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.”
Deion Sanders once said, “If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good.” But in Melvin’s mind, on-field performance is determined by having his team stand in unison during a song that’s unnecessarily played before sporting events in this country — fans are usually doing everything else but paying attention during it —as a way of letting their opponent know that they’re “ready to play.”
“Apparently, watching film, mental preparation and batting practice fail in comparison to “presenting as a unit” to Melvin, as standing in formation is the new way to win baseball games around The Bay,” the article states.
Melvin’s decision has sparked controversy as it is seen as unnecessary and attention-seeking. It is noted that Melvin works in a league that took nine days to address George Floyd in 2020, so it should not come as a surprise that his decision to require players to stand for the national anthem has caused a stir.
While there is nothing wrong with a new coach establishing their culture in the locker room or clubhouse when they take over, some argue that Melvin’s decision is needlessly loud and attention-seeking. It is seen as a political move, especially given the history of protests in sports, including Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling in the same city where Melvin now works.
Overall, Melvin’s decision to require players to stand for the national anthem has become a topic of discussion and has brought unnecessary attention to the team. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the team’s performance and whether it will have any lasting effects on the league as a whole.
