Memphis Hosting Inaugural MLB Civil Rights Game

I'm proud to say that my hometown Memphis Redbirds will play host to the inaugural MLB Civil Rights Game Saturday in a game that will be televised on ESPN at 5:30 ET. The game will culminate a two-day celebration of both Memphis's and baseball's part in the civil rights movement.

Here's an excellent article from the Memphis Commerical Appeal about how Memphis Redbirds president Dave Chase came up with a promoted the idea.

Unfortunately, the National Congress of American Indians, while commending MLB for implementing the Civil Rights Game has said that it is irresponsible to include the Cleveland Indians, "whose buck-toothed Indian mascot promotes blatant racism, mockery and negative stereotypes of Native Americans." I can't say I disagree with them. However, overall kudos to Memphis and MLB for putting this together. Hopefully next year they will use another team besides the Indians; or, better yet, hopefully Cleveland will have changed its mascot by then.