Based on MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s latest comments, the “tomahawk chop” — an in-game chant Braves fans use and that some Native Americans find offensive — is here to stay.
“It’s important to understand that we have 30 markets around the country. They’re not all the same,” Manfred said. “The Braves have done a phenomenal job with the Native American community. The Native American community in that region is wholly supportive of the Braves’ program, including the chop. For me, that’s kind of the end of the story. In that market, taking into account the Native American community, it works.”
The debate around the questionable chant is back in the national conversation with the Braves in the World Series and the series heading to Atlanta on Friday. Manfred’s argument that it only matters what Native Americans in the Atlanta region think about “the chop” has been roundly criticized by national Native American groups, including the National Congress of American Indians.
Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow joined Murph & Mac on Thursday morning and roundly criticized both the chant, and Rob Manfred’s hypocrisy when it comes to policing social issues.
“I think it’s insulting, and I think it needs to go away and there’s no reason for it,” Krukow said on KNBR of “the chop”. “If it upsets people, take it away. Go find something else. I think it’s time to move on.”
“I do get mixed emotions from Rob Manfred considering the Braves and the city of Atlanta lost the All-Star Game. I think that they were the butt of a problem that they didn’t originate. And that they were lost something that they worked so hard on, and I really felt bad for the Braves front office because they worked so hard to get that All-Star Game to be such a wonderful celebration of baseball in Atlanta and history in Atlanta.”
On April 2, MLB moved the 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta in response to a new Georgia law that has civil rights groups concerned about its potential to restrict voting access for people of color.
“Now all of the sudden in regards to “the chop” you see Manfred come out and say ‘The chop’s fine. Everything is good. All the local tribes are signing off on it.’ That’s BS! So I’m not buying into it. It’s just another thing that kind of upsets me about our commissioner.”
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Listen to the full interview below.
