I don’t really want to keep weighing in on the vaccine discourse, which seems to be dominating sports discussions in the aftermath of NBA media day and reports that unvaccinated players in certain cities may not be able to play in their teams’ home games. Like a lot of people, I am frustrated by the slow uptake of the vaccine, but I think some are being overly simplistic about this. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has become particularly vocal on the issue. He was quoted in a Rolling Stone story saying that unvaccinated players should be removed from teams and sent out a newsletter of his own this morning, suggesting that you cannot support Black Lives Matter while also refusing the vaccine.
While I understand the appeal of such sentiments, I would simply urge people to be more nuanced than that. Being unvaccinated does not make someone evil, or unworthy of support. Their decision may be frustrating, but solidarity means looking out even for people you find frustrating.
Anyway, here’s a rundown of everything on the Substack this month:
“College Football Preview”: The Lefty Specialists had a socialist football season preview, starting with some college football takes that were almost instantly proven wrong.
How The Other Teams Integrated, Part Two: Most of what I wrote this month was part of this series on the desegregation of baseball (a series which is still ongoing!). Part Two covered the New York Giants and Boston Braves.
“The Socialist NFL Preview”: This time the Lefty Specialists stuck with the NFL, telling you who leftists should be rooting for in each division.
Let’s Talk About Gary Sanchez: A look at the career of Gary Sanchez, inspired by one of the worst plays you’ll see a catcher make. Sanchez’s career is an interesting case for a pro-labor fan, because he’s so infuriating to watch.
How The Other Teams Integrated, Part Three: The Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Solidarity Is Good For You: After a New York Times story on the mental health of tennis players, or lack thereof, I suggested that working with others, while frustrating, can prevent some of the mental distress that plagues solo athletes.
How The Other Teams Integrated, Part Four: The Philadelphia Athletics and the Chicago Cubs.
Bad Rules Get Broken: Another post about rules, which is becoming a real hobbyhorse of mine. It’s just that the pandemic has seen a wave of new rules and precautions, which can be a useful way of looking at the ups and downs of imposing rules.
How The Other Teams Integrated, Part Five: The St. Louis Cardinals, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Washington Senators.
The Gambling Business: My attempt to explain the growing anxiety about the future of gambling in sports.
How The Other Teams Integrated, Part Six: The New York Yankees. Obviously the Yankees get their own installment, in part because they are my favorite team but mostly because their integration story is one of the most complicated, showing all the ways that racism can operate within different institutions.