LeBron James Calls Out Commissioner Rob Manfred Over Astros Cheating Scandal in Brutal Set of Tweets
By Brendan Balsamo
It's no secret that those across the sports world are completely dissatisfied with the way MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has handled the Houston Astros' sign-stealing saga. No players were effectively banned in what we understand to be a player-headed scheme, the owner got a small fine, four draft picks were taken, and the team has kept their 2017 World Series title.
MLB players and fans have stepped in to give their opinion, and as an ambassador not only for basketball, but for all of sports, LeBron James made his voice loud and clear on Twitter Tuesday about how he felt about how Manfred has mishandled the situation.
Listen I know I don’t play baseball but I am in Sports and I know if someone cheated me out of winning the title and I found out about it I would be F*^king irate! I mean like uncontrollable about what I would/could do! Listen here baseball commissioner listen to your.....
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 18, 2020
He continued, adding a particularly primitive hashtag.
players speaking today about how disgusted, mad, hurt, broken, etc etc about this. Literally the ball(⚾️) is in your court(or should I say field) and you need to fix this for the sake of Sports! #JustMyThoughtsComingFromASportsJunkieRegardlessMyOwnSportIPlay
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 18, 2020
James deciding to step in and say something is no small action. He is a leader in sports, and maybe someone from another sport, especially a figure as big as him, could be what's needed to inspire change.
LeBron James calling for an uprising from the players in MLB against the tyrant known as Rob Manfred.
— ⭑??????? the Yankee⭑ (@FrankiesTooLoud) February 18, 2020
What Lebron is saying is a very big deal, this could change a lot of things around baseball.
It’s just the beginning. https://t.co/Sv2bCl9rqV
MLB stars including Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, and Jon Lester have all been vocal about how they feel about the commissioner's actions, specifically when he called the World Series trophy, a trophy with his name on it that represents the goals of every single player to ever play in the MLB, "a piece of metal."
Turner on Manfred referring to World Series trophy as a piece of metal: "For him to devalue it the way he did yesterday just tells me how out of touch he is with the players in this game. At this point the only thing devaluing that trophy is that it says 'commissioner' on it."
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) February 17, 2020
James is truly echoing the thoughts of not only baseball players, but sports fans everywhere. Manfred is bringing shame to the sport of baseball, and is proving his lack of mettle day in and day out ever since the punishment for the Astros' sign-stealing came out. It was time for LeBron to step in.