Opinion: Pfleger, Emanuel Should Be Ashamed In Wake Of JRW Scandal
By John Dodge
CHICAGO (CBS) -- There is nothing more depressing, more revolting than adults selfishly acting like martyrs and using children as symbolic human shields.
In the case of the betrayal of the children who played for Jackie Robinson West, this behavior extends beyond the heretofore unknown coaches and administrators.
It extends to two of the most influential and public figures in Chicago: Father Michael Pfleger and Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Pfleger filled up his racial flame thrower and came out with both barrels blazing at a news conference with Rev. Jesse Jackson.
"I can't help but wonder and question if the same thing would have been done with another team, another place, another race," he said.
Mr. Pfleger need not wonder any longer.
It did happen to another team, at another place and another race.
A team in Georgia was stripped of its state Little League championship this past season and banned from moving on to the regional tournament.
The mostly white, 14-person roster of 11 and 12 year olds was composed of 12 players who were 12 years old, violating the age restriction that limits a team to only eight older players.
Jackie Robinson West was found to have conspired to change team boundaries so that it could draw in star players from the south suburbs.
Little League officials noted Jackie Robinson West was not the first team stripped of a national title, either.
Pfleger called the investigation into JRW at "witch hunt" perpetrated by an "obsessed" man from the nearby suburb of Evergreen Park.
In nearly the same breath, he said Little League International officials should investigate all of the other teams, too.
Launching unfounded investigations without credible accusations or evidence is precisely that: a witch hunt.
Then, just like a grade school bully, Pfleger logged into Facebook and told the man who first raised the concerns to GET A LIFE.
He called the man a racist and that he was "disgusted by his obsession" to "take away the championship from the Jackie Robinson West Team."
That is not to say that race relations is not part of this story. It is, but it is more nuanced and complex than Pfleger's dangerous and nasty rhetoric.
Venisa Green, the mother of JRW catcher, Brandon, said this: "It is amazing to me that whenever African-Americans exceed the expectations, that there is always going to be fault."
Taken literally that, of course, is not true.
Taken symbolically, it certainly is true.
Venisa Green's anger is valid. She is emotionally wounded, her family under attack.
Good for her to stand up and say what she believes.
Adults who she trusted to nurture and protect her son have betrayed her. It is clear the children did nothing wrong, but the reality is that there are many people who will mercilessly connect the children to this tragedy.
There is a meanness in this world and the kids have been exposed because of the failure of grown men and women.
Let us not forget about Mr. Emanuel's behavior.
Just two days ago, the mayor arrived for a debate at the DuSable Museum to discuss issues important to the African-American community.
For whatever reason, the mayor was in a foul mood, and it showed in his performance. Some of his operatives moved behind the scenes to say that the other candidates were allowed to pile on. A charge, that if one reviews the tape, is baseless.
Incidentally, we are talking about a man who has served under two presidents, in Congress and a full term as mayor. He can certainly handle some attacks from a cast of politicians who would be considered lightweights by comparison. What else would he expect in the final debate before an election.
The JRW decision provided an opportunity for the mayor.
So, he called the CEO of Little League International to express his anger and pushed to get the decision reversed.
Powerful politicians make calls like this all the time. However, here is where one can't help but be a little cynical about the motives, just days before the election.
Details about the call were whispered to key members of the city's media elite. The details of the call duly reported.
Then Emanuel appeared at a forum sponsored by the National Association of Black Journalists.
"You want to teach these kids or hold people accountable? Hold the adults that did this accountable. Your actions are holding the kids accountable. This is exactly the wrong lesson of where accountability lies."
Here is the right lesson: When adults methodically break the rules and betray the trust of children, everybody pays. Simply holding the adults accountable by telling them to go away is hardly a consequence. Nor is it a proper cautionary tale to prevent the behavior in the future.
Now lawyers have been hired, notably Victor Henderson.
This is just the beginning.