Josh Hader, the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitcher that got blindsided at the All-Star Game with racist and homophobic tweets he posted as a teenager, was ordered Wednesday by Major League Baseball to undergo sensitivity training. Hader’s ego is hit, but his pockets and ability to work is straight.
The Office of the Commissioner will require sensitivity training for Mr. Hader and participation in MLBs diversity and inclusion initiatives, MLB announced.
Bleacher Report on Twitter
Brewers pitcher Josh Hader required to go through sensitivity training after his racist and homophobic tweets were uncovered last night https://t.co/6n4OLUWy0X
Wednesday nights All-Star Game should have been the greatest moment of Haders brief career, but instead, he got caught in a firestorm that exposed his racist past and totally conflicts with MLB’s message of diversity, inclusion, and tolerance.
The tweets dated to 2011 when Hader was 17, so of course, he wanted a pass for being young and dumb. The same one, NFL QB Josh Allen got for racist comments made a few years before being drafted No. 7 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Hader said he was deeply sorry when he spoke with reporters after the game.
Our own Rob Parker called for swift action to be taken by MLB against Hader. The 24-year-old was the center of a social media firestorm and publicity nightmare that scarred a magnificent All-Star game featuring a multiplicity of ethnicities and nationalities who came together to produce 10 homers.
Modern day baseball at its best.
Modern-day race relations at its worst.
By the time the tweets surfaced no one cared that he gave up a three-run homer in National Leagues 8-6, extra-inning loss to American League. Hader bombed on the big stage and in the racial sensitivity department.
Oddly enough, he got the same pass from Black Knight and teammate Lorenzo Cain, that he got from MLB.
Ryan Fagan on Twitter
Lorenzo Cain, who said he spoke briefly to Josh Hader before talking with the media. https://t.co/UJKi1QBII7
Cain, who has a white wife and mixed kids, basically said it was all good when he addressed reporters. He supported Hader getting a second chance.
In a statement, the league called Haders tweets unacceptable social media comments but credited him for apologizing. He does not face suspension.
Mr. Hader took the necessary step of expressing remorse for his highly offensive and hurtful language, which fails to represent the values of our game and our expectations for all those who are a part of it, the league statement said.
So Hader s punishment is basically a slap on the wrist and we keep it moving. That is probably not the punishment Parker and millions of baseball fans and Americans of color had in mind. They wanted Hader to be suspended or fined. Made an example of, so that such egregious Tweets will never be unearthed again.
Andrea on Twitter
Hader should be suspended #racist #mlb https://t.co/RUsiCjWLTe
Hader’s saving grace is that he was in high school. On this one, we just have to give him the benefit of the doubt that he’s sorry and baseballs decision to send him to sensitivity training for something said seven years ago at the age of 17 is probably the proper course of action. Some people believe that you are who you are. Others believe that a person can mature and change.
MLB’ solution actually addresses the problem and offers some rehabilitation for Hader and also enlightens people on why racism is a disease in some communities and households. It’s also another classic example of how what you say on social media can come back to haunt you. Nothing will be tougher for Hader than having to square things with the two black guys from his team that were at the All-Star game with him. Hader will continue to pitch, but his peers will be looking at him sideways for some time to come.
