Major League Baseball concluded that Justin Turner will not be punished for coming onto the field to celebrate the World Series title after testing positive for COVID-19. On October 27^th, Turner was removed from the field after seven innings during Game 6, when the MLB informed the Dodgers of his positive COVID-19 test results. Shortly after being removed and directed to isolate, Turner returned to the field to celebrate the win with his teammates. Not only did he return to the field, but he also took off his mask and posed for photos. 

With the extensive media coverage on the Coronavirus, there is no excuse as to why Turner would believe it was acceptable to be diagnosed with the virus, then proceed to place himself in a populated space, especially with no mask on. He knowingly put others’ lives at risk.  

The choices made by Turner showcase a sense of entitlement and disregard for both the standardized rules and the people who could be affected by his actions. Many athletes participating in commercialized sports develop senses of entitlement due to public admiration for their heroic athleticism (Mordecai, 2017). This entitlement can be a catalyst for ill actions and reinforced when little to no consequences follow. If an everyday person acted in the same way Turner had, they would most likely face serious discipline. Standards should be made and kept for all individuals, but often they are not (Zellmer, 2016).  

McLellan L.  

Featured image: Turner in a team picture with no mask on after testing positive for COVID-19 (Source: Eric Gay/AP/Shutterstock)