Most of time, sports and politics don’t mix. This was one of those times.
About a week ago, the St. Louis Cardinals’ mascot, Fredbird, made headlines when he posed for a picture while holding a “Police Lives Matter” sign.
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While well-intentioned, the phrase “Police Lives Matter” has generated controversy by functioning as a response to the slogan “Black Lives Matter,” which resurfaced after a grand jury in Ferguson — a St. Louis suburb — found police officer Darren Wilson not guilty in the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown.
As an official “spokesman” for the Cardinals, Fredbird opened the team up to heavy criticism to those who thought the club was mocking its city’s continued racial tensions.
The St. Louis Police Officers Association posted the photo to its Facebook page, but took it down at the Cardinals’ request.
The team since has apologized for Fredbird’s photo, saying its mascot should not be involved with political or social commentary. Cardinals vice president of communications Ron Watermon also went on record to explain the context of the picture.
“A man and a woman stopped Fredbird to request a quick photograph,” Watermon said, via FoxNews.com. “While the man was taking the picture, the woman standing next to Fredbird asked him to hold up the sign. Fredbird was unaware of the content of the sign.”
Thumbnail photo via Jason Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports Images
