Why MLB is Better Than The NFL...
April 15th is Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball. As you should be well aware, this is the day in 1947 that Mr. Robinson broke the "color barrier" with the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first African-American to play in the majors.
To celebrate, each member of the Los Angeles Dodgers (formerly of Brooklyn), and one member of every other team will wear the number 42 on their jersey to bring awareness to the history of this day.
Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Cincinnati Reds asked Commissioner Bud Selig permission to wear the number; he agreed, and Gary Sheffield of the Detroit Tigers will represent his team with the very same tribute.
The number 42 was retired throughout Major League Baseball in 1997, but each player wearing that number was allowed to continue, in which Mariano Rivera is the last still playing.
Commissioner Selig deserves his occassional criticism, but he seems to understand baseball's place in shaping society, and he certainly got this one right.
Think the NFL would have made the same decision?
