TSN reports that major league baseball team, The Washington Nationals has invited the new US president elect, Joe Biden to throw the ceremonial pitch on the opening day of their new season scheduled for April 1st 2021. This is a longstanding tradition for sitting presidents, with the exception of Donald Trump. With Biden defeating Trump, joining him in the White House will be the first female, Black and South Asian American vice president, Kamala Harris.
The sporting world thrives on the basis of tradition, such as having a sitting President throw a pitch for a monumental game. This is exhibited across many areas and levels of sport with gender inequality, and power relations. Inviting high profile individuals that fit these norms, such is Biden, to sporting events follows suit with these traditions. The results of this election brought us a rather monumental step forward for gender and racial equality as Harris enters a high-profile position as well. The most powerful people in sports are wealthy white men controlling resources behind the scenes. Social stratification controls the sport world, which is built on income, wealth, social connections and privilege, so it’s no surprise the MLB would gain a lot from having someone like Biden throw the first ball while maintaining old traditions.
Research suggests that the field of sport and sport participation still remains a ‘site of symbolic struggle’ between the social classes, positions and genders. The meaning, organization and purpose of sport is heavily influenced by economic power and hegemonic masculinity. However, again this is feeding into those same unequal trends of social stratification reigning true in sport. Would this not have been a unique opportunity for the MLB to challenge these norms by inviting Harris to be the face of their season opener?
Beaton F.
Sport, Not Games ⚽ 