PHILADELPHIA — Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts mentioned Friday he’ll be part of his teammates on the White Home throughout the staff’s Monday go to to have fun their 2024 World Collection championship, emphasizing his resolution was not political.
“It’s not a political stance that I’m taking,” Betts mentioned. “I do know it doesn’t matter what I say, what I do, individuals are going to take it as political, however that’s positively not what it’s. This about an accomplishment that the Dodgers had been in a position to accomplish final yr.”
Betts was not in attendance in 2019 when the Boston Red Sox visited during Donald Trump’s first term as President to have fun their 2018 championship. It’s a choice Betts mentioned Friday he regrets in hindsight — not due to a change of stance, however as a result of his resolution took the eye away from his teammates.
“I made it about me,” Betts mentioned of not getting into 2019. “This isn’t about me. That is in regards to the Dodgers…Me not being there for them at the moment, it was very egocentric.”
His newest resolution got here after intensive discussions along with his spouse, Brianna. Earlier than accepting the invitation, Dodgers officers polled completely different members on the staff. Throughout that polling, Betts mentioned he would wish time to sit down with the choice.
“It comes with the territory,” Betts mentioned. “Being Black in America in a state of affairs like this, it’s a tricky spot to be in. It doesn’t matter what I select, anyone’s going to be pissed. Any person’s going to have an opinion.
“I informed them I wanted to consider it. No person else on this clubhouse has to undergo a choice like this, besides me.”
Finally, Betts mentioned he would go to assist the teammates who supported him, alluding to the general public assist he acquired throughout his offensive struggles early in final yr’s postseason.
“These boys rallied round me to assist me a lot by way of the playoffs final yr,” Betts mentioned. “Simply as an individual, my well-being as an individual. So for me to have the ability to look within the mirror at night time and be proud of the particular person I’m , I should be there with my boys and have fun this accomplishment.”
Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts has already mentioned he’ll attend after earlier feedback in 2019 steered he wouldn’t if Trump was in workplace. The Dodgers are anticipating one hundred pc attendance among the many touring social gathering.
“We’ve a number of completely different individuals which might be a part of this group,” Roberts mentioned this week. “Completely different backgrounds, completely different cultures, race, gender. So everybody had a special story. Financial conditions. So we’re all going as a company. I do know that we’re all aligned, and everybody’s going to have their opinions.
“This isn’t a political factor, and I’m not going to sit down up right here and make it political. I’m excited to, once more, acknowledge the 2024 World Collection champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers.”
(Picture: Ronald Martinez / Getty Pictures)
