Mets Go Full Tilt To Honor Robinson

[whoisonit]

This year's MLB Jackie Robinson Tribute will be anchored by the NY Mets, home at Shea. Every player and coach will wear # 42, among other planned activities.

from mets.com;

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080413&content_id=2524049&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym

from mlb.com;

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/events/jrd/index.jsp?year=08

[NYMets523]

I think the Mets (because of the NY roots) and the Dodgers (because Jackie played on them) should be the only two teams that every player wear 42. Every other team should just be 1-per team. Personally I don't even like every Met wearing 42.

[Dalkowski110]

"Personally I don't even like every Met wearing 42."

Same here. You should have one guy...ONE...chosen to represent the franchise. Willie, like him or not, is close to the Robinson family and probably should go out and wear it. If not him, then Jerry Manuel, Marlon Anderson, or Damion Easley.

[NYMets523]

I have no problems with Willie wearing it. I like him as a person, just not as a manager.

[whoisonit]

What is wrong with every player on a team, be it the Mets, Dodgers, or any other team, wearing # 42 ?
I'm curious, why would this would be frowned upon ?

[NYMets523]

Robinson didn't play on those teams. He only played on the Dodgers. You can at least make a case for the Mets because he played his whole career in NY.

[whoisonit]

But why is it wrong for other teams to honor him this way ?
Do you feel it's his baseball accomplisments that are being recognised ? Is that why you make mention of the city and team from his playing career ?
I'm genuenly interested in why this honor is viewed negatively. Please elaborate.

[NYMets523]

Having an entire team wear it is just overdoing it.

[whoisonit]

But why ? Your not saying why ?

[NYMets523]

I just did.

[Dalkowski110]

"What is wrong with every player on a team, be it the Mets, Dodgers, or any other team, wearing # 42 ?
I'm curious, why would this would be frowned upon ?"

Well, for one, it's confusing. But far more importantly, it cheapens the concept (JMHO). Having literally every single player in MLB wear number 42 for one day just doesn't seem right. That's overdoing it. However, by picking just one man per team to wear the number, it suddenly no longer becomes cheap and overdone. That player, manager, or coach is now being given an extremely high honor...as in "Here, this was Jackie Robinson's number. You, Mr. Ballplayer/Manager/Coach, have come to exemplify all Jackie stood for with your quality of play/managerial skills/coaching ability, attitude, and triumph in the face of adversity. And that's why only you will wear number 42."

[NYMets523]

Exactly. And seeing some guys like Milton Bradley or AJ Pierzynski wear it is just wrong.

[Silver Blaze]

The important thing is that respect is being given. You couldn't overdue it in any way. Somethings don't have to be a right or a wrong.
Come to think of it, Jackie would be honored if black people in this country were to receive the proverbial "forty acres and a mule" that is so long overdue.

Yes you can overdo it, and they are. Ever hear of the theory of compassion fatigue? MLB are beating themselves up, falling over themselves to honor Robinson in more and more convoluted ways, and as noted by others on this thread, every player wearing 42 is basically ridiculous. They aren't Robinson, they never were Robinson, and all wearing his number is OTT. Especially when some aren't fit to be mentioned in the same sentence as Robinson.

Now, of course, any time you argue against honoring Jackie, it's like booing Christmas to some people. So let's get it straight that he does deserve to be honored in a fitting and appropiate way. Absolutely no question. Also, while MLB must pay its penance for its part in the atrocious treatment of blacks endured for many decades, they need to do it in a way that does not cheapen it. I don't see how every player wearing the number really means anything more than if they all wore a 42 patch on their sleeve, that would be fine. Retiring his number across the league was the real honor, and I think that was fitting.

Also, I'm against the Mets honoring Robinson in the rotunda. Much as the Mets stole/borrowed their identity from the other three NY teams, Jackie was not a Met, and should not be honored so prominantly. It should be the Willie Mays Rotunda, if anything, to honor a man who did play for the team, even if it was in the twilight of his stellar career.

[Dalkowski110]

"Especially when some aren't fit to be mentioned in the same sentence as Robinson."

Amen. Do we really want to see Scott Olsen wearing number 42? How about Elijah Dukes? Milton Bradley? A.J. Pierzynski?

[NYMets523]

Also, I'm against the Mets honoring Robinson in the rotunda. Much as the Mets stole/borrowed their identity from the other three NY teams, Jackie was not a Met, and should not be honored so prominantly. It should be the Willie Mays Rotunda, if anything, to honor a man who did play for the team, even if it was in the twilight of his stellar career.

Or the rotunda could honor former Met greats. I know this idea is too radical and liberal and would be protested by thousands but it's worth throwing out there.