As hazing and bullying continue to be significant issues in
our society, professional sports, where such activity has often flourished,
have started addressing it head on. This past offseason, Major League Baseball
created an anti-hazing
and anti-bullying policy that bans teams from "requiring, coercing or
encouraging" activities such as "dressing up as women or wearing
costumes that may be offensive to individuals based on their race, sex,
nationality, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or other
characteristic." Although such a stance is not only entirely appropriate
but long overdue, it incredibly seems to have some teams like the Chicago Cubs
struggling to figure out appropriate boundaries.
A recent ESPN
article written by Jesse Rogers detailed the reaction of the Cubs to the
new policy, because of their tradition of having rookies dress up in costumes
that would now be considered off limits. Chicago manager Joe Maddon has come to
rely on making his newer and younger players “uncomfortable” in what he
believes to be an exercise that brings them deeper into the team fold. “The
moment you get comfortable with your plight, then the threat is you’re not
going to push yourself to the point where you need to again,” Maddon cryptically
said.
Honestly, it’s really pathetic if that’s the best the Cubs
can hit on to motivate their team and build camaraderie. In particular, with
the number of children around the country subjected to bullying and hazing,
it’s stupefying that the Cubs don’t see a connection between what they have
traditionally done and the harassment and demeaning behavior suffered by so
many. Any time those in a position of power use that influence to make others
do something outside their comfort zone, that is the definition of bullying and
not a dynamic motivational tool as some might have you believe.
Pitcher Rob
Zastryzny, who was a rookie with Chicago last year and was made to dress up
like a female cheer leader by the veterans on the team explained, “The Cubs
guys did a really good job of it. I was a fan of it. It made me feel really
close to the older guys.” That’s great that one player enjoyed it but what if
some of their teammates went through the same exercise and didn’t feel the same
way? I may not be an expert but it would seem that going out as a group to
dinner, bowling or some other activity might serve a similar purpose. Just
thinking outside of the box here.
The baseball dress-up culture is also strongly chauvinistic
and homophobic, as costumes are often scanty cis-female clothing such as cheer
leader outfits, skimpy dresses and other items meant to suggest lacking
masculinity and/or heterosexuality in the wearer. For obvious reasons that
don’t need to be elaborated on that is offensive on many levels and
disappointing that the Cubs (or any other team) wouldn’t stop to think how that
is perceived by fans and outsiders alike who claim similar identifies or simply
have an ounce of respect or understanding in their bodies.
There are many out there who will lament that we live in
“too PC of a world” and that we need to “toughen up” and not get bothered by
such things. To them I ask they consider the following. Does that mean that
when you go back to work next you’ll be fine if your supervisor forces you to wear
an embarrassing costume around the workplace and out in public; knowing that if
you don’t comply you will be on the outside looking in moving forward? Does
that mean that if you have a child, friend or family member who identifies in a
way that is frequently represented through MLB dress up that you are fine
laughing at this “obvious joke” and don’t care how that child, friend or family
member may feel about it?
Star pitcher Jake Arrieta
tried to explain that what the Cubs have traditionally done is harmless. “No
one is trying to offend any person or people that identify themselves as
something else. It’s about making the younger teammates uncomfortable and
seeing how they deal with the situation. It’s a team-building thing.” If only
there were other ways to incorporate younger players into the team’s fold…
Ironically, the World Champion Cubs are also doing good
work supporting the victims of bullying. However, I contend that you can’t
condemn one form of bullying without condemning them all—especially given the
many iterations it can take.
Showing how clueless some members of the Cubs are, Rogers
reported that some alternative methods that will skirt the letter of the new
law may include having the rookies wear Speedos or wrestling tights in 2017.
One would think that a business like the Cubs that is valued at $2.2 billion
could come up with more dynamic ways to motivate and team build. Unfortunately,
that does not seem to be the case and the team is looking increasingly out of
touch and foolish.
If baseball can change their rules on
the field there’s no reason to think adjustments off the field are out of the
question. It will just take a little awareness and thoughtfulness that realizes
that professional athletes on a national stage exist on a stage that extends
far beyond their locker rooms. Hopefully the Cubs organization will see how sophomoric
and insulting the prevailing thoughts on the dress-up culture are and provide
their players and coaching staff some tools that can help them come up with
some positive alternatives.
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