Paybacks Can Be Fun

For John, BLUF:  Atlanta loses $100 million in revenue when Major League Baseball pulls the All Star Game, but then the Braves go to the World Series.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Braves Fans Rejoice as MLB Backpedals

From PJ Media, by Reporter Chris Queen, 27 October 2021, 11:00 AM ET.

Here is the lede plus four:

The Atlanta Braves are in the World Series — and won the first game Tuesday night — which is the perfect opportunity for us to thumb our noses at Major League Baseball.  If you need a refresher as to why Braves fans everywhere have a beef with MLB, let’s hop in the Wayback Machine and take a look.

You may remember back in the spring when Georgia passed its voting rights bill, which extended voting opportunities while tightening security.  The Left actually pounced, the way they accuse conservatives of doing, mischaracterizing the law as one that would disenfranchise minorities.

Major League Baseball virtue-signaled in a big way, moving the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta’s beautiful ballpark to Colorado.  MLB commissioner Rob Manfred issued a statement at the time:

“Over the last week, we have engaged in thoughtful conversations with Clubs, former and current players, the Players Association, and The Players Alliance, among others, to listen to their views,” Manfred said in his statement.  “I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game and MLB Draft.

“Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box.  In 2020, MLB became the first professional sports league to join the non-partisan Civic Alliance to help build a future in which everyone participates in shaping the United States.  We proudly used our platform to encourage baseball fans and communities throughout our country to perform their civic duty and actively participate in the voting process.  Fair access to voting continues to have our game’s unwavering support.”

The move cost businesses in Cobb County, the location of Atlanta’s Truist Park and the Battery, a business and entertainment area that surrounds the park, an estimated $100 million.  A group of businesspeople sued MLB.  Yet the game stayed in Colorado.

Yes, it is fun when some high level poobah finds his pious inanity is paid back by fate.

Later in the article Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledges that Major League Baseball is 30 different markets, each unique:

“It’s important to understand that we have 30 markets around the country,” Manfred added.  “They aren’t all the same.  …  The Native American community in that region is wholly supportive of the Braves program, including ‘The Chop.’  For me, that’s kind of the end of the story.  In that market, we’re taking into account the Native American community.”

E plurabis unum.  Out of many, one.  We should celebrate our diversity.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff