MLB Moves All-Star Game from Atlanta Amid New Senate Bill: Right or Wrong Decision?

This past Friday the MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred decided, alongside the Players Association and Players Alliance, to move the 2021 All-Star Game and upcoming draft out of Atlanta, GA. This decision has outraged many fans, including myself, on the knee-jerk reaction of the MLB and all others involved. The Atlanta Braves organization released a statement outlining their disappointment with Major League Baseball to move the game and stated that it was "neither our decision, nor recommendation".

I have looked through the bill itself and I do not see anywhere where it makes it harder for people of color to vote nor does it "disenfranchise" them as the voting rights groups and Democrats have stated it does. The new bill simply puts in place new rules regarding absentee ballots, among other things, and how requesting/returning a ballot will require a form of ID that proves the person is a citizen of the United States and Georgia. These new forms of ID include a state-issued driver's license number, state ID number, or a copy of an acceptable voter ID. All three of these are reasonable ways of proving that someone is a legitimate citizen for the process of voting. I understand that it may be hard for people to afford a driver's license or a voter ID because they can be costly, especially for those in poverty in the city of Atlanta, but to drag the sports world into it is uncalled for.

Another aspect of this situation is the death of Hank Aaron that happened in January, his legacy in and for the city of Atlanta, and the subsequent events that the Braves organization had planned around the All-Star Game. Hank Aaron's death this past January shocked the sports world and more importantly, the city of Atlanta. Atlanta had not only lost one of the greats in sports, but also a great man who did many things for African Americans in the community. Rob Manfred stated that the celebration and events that were planned in his honor will still commence as planned, just without the All-Star Game. As a die-hard Atlanta Braves fan for life, this is disgraceful in my eyes. Aaron was/is one of the most influential characters to come out of Atlanta and being an African American he gave kids of color hope to achieve their dreams of possibly one day playing for a professional baseball team. His legacy affects the city of Atlanta greatly and for the MLB to move the All-Star Game out of the city, simply because people will have to show a valid form of ID to vote, is horrendous.

Overall, this decision by the MLB and all other organizations associated with moving the 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta is a shame. The year that the city of Atlanta loses one of the most influential people for the community and the game, they decide to move it because of politics. If the Atlanta Braves organization was not on board for the relocation and had expressed their disappointment on the matter, that should have counted for something. Sports today are starting to turn into a political game and not a game of fun and competition, and I believe that this decision by Manfred highlights that.