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MLB Pulls All-Star Game Out of Atlanta Due to Georgia Election Laws

MLB Pulls All-Star Game Out of Atlanta Due to Georgia Election Laws

Major League Baseball (MLB) has pulled the All-Star Game out of Atlanta because of their misinterpretation of new Georgia election laws.  Apparently, the Gods of Baseball never actually read the legislation signed by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.  Rather they believed the lies and disinformation campaign that Democrats and their media allies are carrying out.

One must assume that MLB made the decision in the belief that there would be benefits to the sport of baseball. Maybe even enough pressure to change the laws or gain more fans for the civic mindedness.  Of course, none of that is going to happen.

What is arguably more likely to happen is a loss of fans and television viewers. 

That is what happened to both national football and national basketball when they caved to the political left.  Baseball has played it smart – up until now – by staying out of the flag and National Anthem controversies.

The irony of the League’s action is that the only measurable consequence will be an enormous negative impact on the people and businesses of Atlanta. A minority majority city that will lose more than 100 million dollars in direct financial benefits.  All those Uber drivers, taxis, hotels, restaurants, and bars that have been reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic were looking for some relief from tens of thousands of baseball fans pouring into their neighborhood around Battery and Truist Park.

This year’s game was to highlight the career of Atlanta Brave’s legend Hank Aaron.  MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says that will still take place wherever the All-Star Game lands. But it will now be a huge disappointment for the Aaron fans in his hometown.

The State and Atlanta governments will lose a lot of tax money. More than they have already lost in the early preparation phase.

Manfred did get some “atta boy” emails from such celebrity sports stars as Magic Johnson and LeBron James. They also may have been deceived by the lies swirling around the new law.  We will have to see how that balances with the manifest anger of a lot of baseball fans – or should I say former fans.

Perhaps Manfred & Company were following President Biden’s call for the League to abandon Atlanta.  Maybe they should have taken notice that Biden got four Pinocchio’s by the Washington Post – the lowest rating reserved for unmitigated lies – for his outright prevarications about the Georgia election law.

Sports have long been an entertainment – an escape from the grind and conflicts of the day.  Our stadiums were places where citizens of all backgrounds and opinions could shelve their differences and engage in friendly banter over the relative merits of one team or another.  The players and the owners have let that all slip away.  There seems to be less and less common ground where politically driven animosities can be checked at the door in favor of civic comity – and a unified respect for America.

The MLB has just removed another place of refuge from the passion of politics.

So, there ‘tis.

About The Author

Larry Horist

So, there ‘tis… The opinions, perspectives and analyses of businessman, conservative writer and political strategist Larry Horist. Larry has an extensive background in economics and public policy. For more than 40 years, he ran his own Chicago based consulting firm. His clients included such conservative icons as Steve Forbes and Milton Friedman. He has served as a consultant to the Nixon White House and travelled the country as a spokesman for President Reagan’s economic reforms. Larry professional emphasis has been on civil rights and education. He was consultant to both the Chicago and the Detroit boards of education, the Educational Choice Foundation, the Chicago Teachers Academy and the Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts. Larry has testified as an expert witness before numerous legislative bodies, including the U. S. Congress, and has lectured at colleges and universities, including Harvard, Northwestern and DePaul. He served as Executive Director of the City Club of Chicago, where he led a successful two-year campaign to save the historic Chicago Theatre from the wrecking ball. Larry has been a guest on hundreds of public affairs talk shows, and hosted his own program, “Chicago In Sight,” on WIND radio. An award-winning debater, his insightful and sometimes controversial commentaries have appeared on the editorial pages of newspapers across the nation. He is praised by audiences for his style, substance and sense of humor. Larry retired from his consulting business to devote his time to writing. His books include a humorous look at collecting, “The Acrapulators’ Guide”, and a more serious history of the Democratic Party’s role in de facto institutional racism, “Who Put Blacks in That PLACE? -- The Long Sad History of the Democratic Party’s Oppression of Black Americans ... to This Day”. Larry currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

8 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    And FYI, the percentage of Black residents in Atlanta is 54%. Denver: Less than 9%. Bad call, MLB.

    • Dan Tyree

      The crime rate is much lower in Denver

  2. Linc

    Like pro. Football I’ve lost internet most of the players make thousands if not tens of thousands to dollars more than the average person so, play ball and leave your political views at the gate. One other thing, I am 70plus years for at least 60 years I was a Pepsi drinker!

  3. Robert Oziomek

    People like LeBron have no idea what the small businesses have gone through. He acts like an expert. Stick to basketball LeBron nobody cares what you think.

  4. porterv

    No more MLB for my extended family. We are unanimous on this. Could Atlanta businessmen who prepared for this event now sue MLB for non-compliance?

  5. Harry Foulds

    Another Sport I am Not going to Watch!!

  6. Ben

    Seems like just yesterday(2016) that conservatives were boycotting Pepsi. Now they are flocking to the ultra left leaning company. It’s almost comical.

    “Corporations are people too my friends” I can agree with McConnell in that businesses should stay out of politics. Unfortunately, it seems insincere coming from the most corporate funded Senator. Let’s over turn Citizens United and really keep business out of politics. Or maybe he just meant they shouldn’t flex their considerable power when McConnell doesn’t agree with them.
    Sooner or later you guys are going to realize that the old white man demographic does not have the consumer ( or political) power that you think you do. Businesses are ALWAYS going to do what’s right for their bottom line and catering to a dying demographic isn’t good for business.
    Your boycotts don’t seem to be very impactful. Nike stock is at an all time high. WAP is platinum. Rap is the most listened to music. I think you may have gotten rid of Teletubbies.. not positive though. Dixie chicks are still making music ( albeit under a new name, but still)… you get the point.

    • Dan Tyree

      That’s how they stay in business you fool