While we all know that sports brings in big money, gives society a release, and brings communities together it’s also time we acknowledge something else about sports. It’s brings out the petty in people! There was a sign during the opening game of the world series in which a fan of the Astros calls out the Braves, saying “the ‘chop’ is racist“, referring to the Tomahawk Chop.
“The Chop Is Racist” guy probably likes Hard-Seltzers…..#SeltzersSuck #WorldSeries
pic.twitter.com/Yqa8b9Sktu— Kellen Sherman (@KShermanSports) October 27, 2021
Below is a video or two of what the chop looks like for those of you who haven’t seen it before.
Heres Come:#tomahawkchop
Go @Braves
@MLB #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/yU62hsaA1L— Cesar Vargas (@cesaring10) October 25, 2021
Tomahawk chop with the stadium lights down and flashlights on. #BattleATL pic.twitter.com/BiNAFfOdWW
— Griffin Gulledge (@griffingulledge) October 24, 2021
Twitter filled with SJWs lighting up the trending section (as is normal for the site) to proclaim that the name of the team and the Tomahawk Chop chant have to go. They decry it all as racist and that there is no room for the inclusion of Native American culture in sports anymore. You know, just like black people aren’t allowed to be included in marketing for food.
Here are a few of the tweets with their manufactured outrage…
Not enough for Atlanta to glory in the racist tomahawk chop — tonight’s National Anthem singer is a vocal anti-vaxxer who’s been appearing on Tucker Carlson and canceling shows in venues that require vaccination. What a garbage franchise. https://t.co/yIF7ug4stE
— Sammy Roth (@Sammy_Roth) October 23, 2021
These are the fans using their phone flashlights to do the tomahawk chop but it’s Atlanta that dims the lights.
They aren’t just complicit they are responsible for the cultural genocide of Natives. #changethename #TheTimeIsNow pic.twitter.com/gQIyg2k7c3
— Frances Danger (@FrancesMFDanger) October 24, 2021
Let’s be real for a moment, fans of the Houston Astros are likely trying to take the focus away from the media that would normally be fixated on their scandal. The American League Pennant Champions were caught in some hot water during the 2020 investigation findings. But know this, I don’t have a horse in this race. I am not making bets or even overly invested in this World Series because neither team is “my team”.
However, wouldn’t it be funny if I were right?
What if the entire point of having a white man show up in the stands with a sign about racism wasn’t about ribbing the other team? What if it wasn’t even to bring attention to an issue he felt strongly about. Instead, (read: likely true) it’s probably to keep the talking points off his own controversial team. Pushing the media to focus heavily on the Braves can have huge consequences that will affect the staff and players. It can wear down their psyche and get them focused on the wrong things.
It’s why the NFL’s New England coach Bill Belichick is so dour and short with the press. He doesn’t want his team focused on the ugly pettiness of sports fans, sports journalism, or sports opinion. MLB may want to take note. The tweets above may come from a few baseball fans, but I have a hard time believing that all the people whining and complaining are actual fans of baseball. Even if they are, they probably don’t care about either of the teams playing.
The thing is, the Braves corporation is looking into whether or not they will continue the use of the Tomahawk Chop in future seasons and they have to consider every time this gets brought up. According to Fox News they already took down the “Chop On” statue before the 2020 season even began.
Thanks to the pettiness of the Astros fans it’s highly likely that this will continue to be a problem for the remainder of the series. If they have their way, all focus will be on the Braves and trying to get them to change everything about their team so the Astros history of stealing signals won’t be brought up again.
Oh! In case you hadn’t heard, Braves won the first game 6-2. I’ll leave you with a few tweets in support of the Atlanta Braves.
Chop on!
As a Cherokee, it is not racist to mascot a team with a Brave Warrior. Nor is it racist to do the tomahawk chop. What is racist is seeing a white man try to use his reverse psychology to cancel us forever because he can’t fucking stand us. https://t.co/Fz43e739va
— Tell The Truth2 (@tell_truth2) October 27, 2021
PSA: If you’re going to write columns on the chop and related topics associated with Atlanta Braves, do research on the organization’s relationship with Native Americans and, specifically, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Don’t just rattle off takes https://t.co/8m0QKcjqAf
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) October 25, 2021
Why are people so easily offended by everything nowadays? Dave Chappelle, the Atlanta Braves tomahawk chop, a bottle of syrup, etc.
— Lowkey Rey 2.0 (@AtlRey) October 27, 2021
The Left is mad that the World Series will be played in Georgia
The Left is mad that masks or vax aren’t required to attend games
The Left is mad Atlanta team name is the Braves
The Left is mad that Braves fans do the tomahawk chop
Best World Series ever
— Denlesks (@Denlesks) October 27, 2021
This story syndicated with permission from For the Love of News