Please Come to Boston------NOT!!!!

Please Come to Boston-----NOT!

It’s often said that professional sports mirrors society and this week we got an up-close view of just how ugly we look in that mirror’s reflection.

Monday night in Boston Massachusetts’ Fenway Park, Baltimore Orioles centerfielder Adam Jones was the victim of racial epithets and thrown objects by some “fans” in the centerfield bleachers. The activity has revived controversies about the New England city and its documented issues of racism. EDITORS NOTE-It should be noted that Jones received a standing ovation from Red Sox fans his first time up the next night after this incident but at press time the offender has not be identified or punished

This event reminded me of some of my many adventures to the Boston on business trips that required me to fly there and spend numerous days and nights in New England. Can I say that my life was ever threatened on my trips there? No I can’t but I can tell you that on many times I found myself innocently located in areas where I did not feel comfortable. One such instance was at a place called Buff’s Pub which is located right across the street from the Sheraton Tara Hotel I stayed on right above the Mass Pike. I had been told by my boss that this was a great place for some hot wings. One Monday Night the football Giants were about to play so I walked across the street for some football and wings. After getting seated and placing my order I felt every eye in the place giving me the once over. As I glanced around I saw many young college preppy folks and eureka! None of them were minorities. Being multicultural I am used to being in places where not everyone looks like me but I’ve also been in places sad to say where my attendance wasn’t ummm appreciated. I proceeded to have my order changed “to go” and walked back across the street to my waiting hotel room

Did I have a right to be at Buffs Pub? Absolutely. Could I have stayed there? Probably. Sometimes it seems the we as a people of color have an extra sense sometimes, and that sense is one of safety over confrontation.

The sadness I feel about racism in general and Boston in particular was compounded by the thoughts of CC Sabathia who pitches for the Yankees. Yesterday he was quoted as saying other African American baseball players have had bad experiences in Boston, worse than any other place they play. What a sad commentary that all these years later not much has changed. During one of my trips there in days gone by a woman locked her kids in a car and rolled it into a river and then told place some black guy stole her children……I kid you not

Makes you think doesn’t it? I hope so