BALTIMORE BURNS
There are far greater casualties in Baltimore than two baseball games.
“when the common events that normally bind the population cannot be staged, another bit of civilized life disappears and our differences become magnified.”
Amid the rioting and looting in the aftermath of the Freddie Gray protests, Major League Baseball postponed Monday night’s game between the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles. Given the imposition of a week-long curfew and the possibility of continuing violence, Tuesday’s game was also postponed. The Baltimore Ravens also announced the cancellation of their Thursday night NFL draft party.
Completely understandable. What would encourage a ticket-holder to attend this game with chaos in the streets? What assurance could MLB, the city, or the state offer of safe passage for fans where cars still smolder and anger rules? And how would it look, when so large a portion of the population feels aggrieved enough to burn and loot, for people to turn up at a ballgame?
Baltimore’s problem is far bigger than a postponed game. A portion of its population is engaged in violence against the city and the police, outraged over the years by what it sees as police brutality and abuse of authority. Even if the rioters go home, the issues don’t dissolve. Will out-of-towners want to visit Baltimore’s Harborplace with threats hanging in the air? What happens to the jobs at the burned-out drug store and in tourism? What of the city’s reputation and its economy?
Baltimore has some serious social issues, and they’re far bigger than baseball. But when the common events that normally bind the population cannot be staged, another bit of civilized life disappears and our differences become magnified.
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .
-
Brazilian footballer Vinicius Jr, who plays for Real Madrid, broke down in tears during a news conference on Monday,...
-
Famous British Olympian Retires After an illustrious career adorned with numerous accolades, Dame Laura Kenny, Britain’s most successful female...
-
Manchester City Brings it Home with a 3-1 Victory! Following Manchester City’s impressive 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen in...
-
Murray’s New Goals Before Retirement Andy Murray, the renowned British tennis player and three-time Grand Slam champion, has shared...
-
Kylian Mbappe led Paris Saint-Germain to a resounding 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their...
-
Klopp acknowledges defensive flaws as Liverpool suffers unexpected defeat against Arsenal. Following Liverpool’s unexpected defeat against Arsenal, manager Jurgen...
-
Ryan Mendes’ Heroic Penalty: Captain Leads Cape Verde to Victory In a historic moment for Cape Verde, the national...
-
Probe Raises Questions About PSG’s 2017 Deal and Political Involvement. French authorities have launched an investigation into allegations...
-
As Ireland faces a back-three injury crisis ahead of the Six Nations, some players have an opportunity to step...
-
16-year-old Luke Littler Makes History as the Youngest Player to Join the Prestigious Premier League Darts Luke Littler, the...
-
Get ready for the electric thrill! In a groundbreaking move, Formula E announces its exclusive broadcasting partnership with TNT...
-
Captain Kohli’s Record-Equalling Century Lights Up World Cup Match Against South Africa. On the occasion of his 35th birthday,...