Thoughts on Trump DoJ's Definition of "Religious Discrimination" re: MLB on SF Giants Pride Night

 

Very little has gone right for the San Francisco Giants this season. They are arguably MLB's most disappointing team. As of this writing, the Giants are 31-44 and 17 games back of the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Giants President Buster Posey has been taken to task for hiring Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello to manage the team without the benefit of coaching or managing at the major or minor league level.

Alas, the Giants are facing other problems which have taken on a life of their own. The team recently held a Pride Night as they have since 2021, the first MLB team to do so. During these games, the Giants sport hats with the pride rainbow incorporated into the team logo. 

However, this year, several Giants pitchers (Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker, and Ryan Walker) wrote Bible verses on their caps while one pitcher, Sam Hentges, refused to wear the cap at all. For its part, MLB issued warnings to the pitchers concerning uniform violations but did not subject them to any disciplinary action.

In response to MLB's warning, Trump's DoJ has now launched an investigation into whether MLB engaged in religious discrimination against the pitchers who scrawled the Bible verses on their caps and has referred the matter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights issued this statement:

The three players expressed their opposition to MLB's pro-Pride orthodoxy. The Civil Rights Act prohibits MLB and its franchises from unreasonably burdening the rights of players with religious objections to serving as the League's vehicle for pro-Pride messages. 

Federal law is clear: employers must modify their uniform requirements to reasonably accommodate their employees’ exercise of religion. The Trump administration is committed to combatting religious discrimination.

Dhillon is engaging in intellectual dishonesty. When Dhillon refers to MLB's so-called "pro-Pride orthodoxy", she is making an ideological statement, not a religious one. If players were to refuse to wear 42 on Jackie Robinson Day, I am sure Dhillon would blast MLB's "pro-DEI agenda." Let us remember that last year Trump's DoD removed all references to Jackie Robinson's military career on the grounds it was DEI before restoring the data following a backlash. 

Dhillon is also misrepresenting federal law on the matter. The EEOC guidelines on reasonable accommodations concerning religious garb refer specifically to clothing and items such as hijabs, turbans, and crosses. They do not cover the inscription of Bible verses onto articles of clothing.

Let me put it this way. Does anyone honestly think the Trump DoJ would launch such an investigation had the pitchers wrote verses from the Koran on their caps? 

Yet it would not surprise me if MLB were to bend the knee to the Trump Administration and make the wearing of Pride caps optional. I say this because of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's abrupt reinstatement of Pete Rose, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and the 1919 Chicago White Sox last year after meeting with President Trump. While I was pleased about the decision, I was not pleased about how it came about:

I'm sure that Trump basically told him, 'Either you reinstate Pete Rose, or all foreign-born players will be asked to leave the country.' Or perhaps he limited the edict to players from Latin American countries which comprise about 25% of all active MLB players.

Needless to say, I will not be surprised if Trump soon has another meeting with Manfred and strong arms him once more. In which case, the Trump Administration will have once again taken a bad situation and make it worse. But I suppose that is the sort of thing in which the Trump Administration takes pride in doing.

Iranian Regime Sentences Singer To Be Flogged 74 Times For Performing Without a Hijab

What I think has been lost in President Trump's foolish ineptitude in his ultimately failed military action against Iran is the barbarity and cruelty of the Iranian regime.

Prior to the joint the U.S.-Israeli military action, the Iranian regime had murdered an estimated 30,000 civilians protesting for the most basic human rights. 

And now comes word that an Iranian court has sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi and her production crew to receive 74 lashes for performing without a hijab in 2024 concert which was posted to YouTube. Ahmadi and her team have also been banned from public performance, nor can they leave the country for the next two years. 

However, even prior to the military action in Iran, the Left has ignored the brutality of the Iranian regime. Had this military action occurred with an American President with a modicum of sanity then perhaps there would have been genuine regime change. A new regime in Iran which would not subject women to bodily harm if they choose not to wear the hijab. A new regime under which women would not die in police custody because they offended the morality police as Mahsa Amini did and lost her life because of it.

One of the consequences of Trump choosing to surrender to Iran is there will be a lot more arrests and detentions of those who offend the Iranian regime. Parastoo Ahmadi is only the tip of the iceberg. With sanctions relief and reconstruction money coming into the Iranian regime's coffers will pay for more prisons and other tools of repression to ensure the subjugation of the Iranian people.

Why I Am Not "Stunned" Trump Would Fabricate a Story About Meloni

 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is not putting up with President Trump's bullshit.

When Trump claimed that Meloni had "begged" Trump to have a picture taken with her, Meloni put out a video on X to publicly rebuke him in front of the whole world:

Donald Trump's statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned. I don't know why the president of the United States behaves like this toward his own allies. After all, it is not the first time.

I can only say it's a shame he doesn't show the same resolve toward with the enemies of the West and toward the enemies of the United States - towards leaders with whom he, on the other hand, is much more accommodating. But there is one thing he should remember. Italy and I do not beg.

While I am pleased to see a world leader publicly take Trump to task for his boorish behavior, I am not at all stunned that he would fabricate a story.

Indeed, fabricating stories is Trump's stock and trade. Given his propensity towards lying, it is fair to presume that when Trump claims something it is invariably untrue.

When I learned about Meloni's rebuke of Trump, it made me think of when the Boy Scouts of America back in August 2017 publicly denied that their leadership had called Trump to thank him for "the greatest speech ever made to them". Indeed, Boy Scouts officials apologized to parents for Trump's speech because of its "political rhetoric."

If Donald Trump is willing to lie about the Boy Scouts, then why wouldn't he lie about the Italian Prime Minister?

What is stunning, however, is that Meloni would be the one to speak out against Trump with such force. After all, Meloni was arguably Trump's closest ally in Europe. However, Trump and Meloni have parted company in recent months over Iran and public criticism of Pope Leo. The pair appeared to have an amicable conversation during the G-7 Summit in France earlier this week but appearances, much like Trump's claims, are deceiving.

While Meloni's public admonition of Trump will put her high on his shit list, it will certainly help her standing with Italian voters who are scheduled to go to the polls next year.

Vance Gives Israel The Zelensky Treatment

 

In defending in the so-called Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Iranian regime, Vice-President Vance castigated Israel in harsh, patronizing terms:

You have seen people within Bibi’s cabinet, who have come out and attacked the deal, and in some ways very personally attacked the president of the United States.

Number one, Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time. And he happens to be the head of state of the world’s superpower.

If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.

The other thing that I would say is that over the last three months, two thirds of the defensive weapons that have protected your homeland, have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars.

The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump. And anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in.

For all intents and purposes, Vance basically gave the Israeli government the Zelensky treatment. He all but asked, "Have you said thank you once?" 

But why would the Israeli government thank the Trump Administration for having sold it down the river? Iran is no more committed to giving up its nuclear program than it did with President Obama a decade ago. But the Trump Administration is lifting sanctions, will provide a reconstruction fund of at least $300 billion and protection for Iranian proxies in Lebanon namely Hezbollah. They have resuscitated the Iranian regime, the world's largest sponsor of terrorism. 

Yet according to Vance, President Trump is above criticism. With friends like Trump and Vance who needs enemies? Unfortunately, Israel is surrounded by enemies, and the Trump Administration is handing them the ammunition necessary to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth.

While it is true that Israel has few friends, Vance is simply lying when he says that Trump is his only friend. Israel has support from the likes of Indian PM Narendra Modi and Argentinian President Javier Milei.

It is also rich when Vance claims, "You can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have.”

Last I checked, it was U.S. forces that killed over 100 schoolgirls. I don't think it was intentional. Yet Vance's commentary would strongly imply that Israel deliberately seeks to kill civilians. Aside from being defamatory, Vance is throwing rocks in a glass house.

Nothing Vance said today was helpful to anyone but the Iranian regime. Shame on him!!!

The Noteworthy Career of Al Worthington

 

Former MLB pitcher and coach Al Worthington has passed away at the age of 97. 

At the time of his death, Worthington was the fourth oldest former living player. Only Bill Greason, Bobby Shantz and Bob Ross (not the one you're thinking of) who are 101, 100 and 97, respectively, ranked higher in longevity.

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, he pitched at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. After a stint pitching with Nashville in the Southern Association, he would be signed by the New York Giants in 1953. 

Later that year, he made a spectacular debut with the Giants throwing back-to-back complete game shutouts against the Philadelphia Phillies and the Brooklyn Dodgers, respectively. But then Worthington came back down to Earth losing eight consecutive decisions before earning back-to-back wins in consecutive starts against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Worthington spent most of the 1954 season in the minors with their Triple-AAA affiliate in Minneapolis but did make 10 appearances for a Giants club that would win its first World Series title since 1933. Alas, Worthington would spend all of 1955 pitching in Minneapolis before returning to the starting rotation in 1956. 

In 1957, Worthington transitioned into a relief pitcher although he would toss his third and final big-league shutout against the Phillies. Worthington would follow the Giants from the Polo Grounds to Candlestick Park. However, Worthington would have a falling out with the Giants over stealing signs. Worthington would pitch for both the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox in 1960 leaving the Chisox over issues concerning sign stealing once more. He objected to sign stealing on religious grounds and briefly walked away from baseball.

However, his retirement was short-lived and Worthington would remain with the White Sox organization but pitched in Triple-AAA in both 1961 and 1962. He would return to the big leagues in 1963 when the Cincinnati Reds purchased his contract via the Rule 5 Draft. Worthington would post 10 saves with the Reds in 1963 but struggled early in the 1964 season with the Reds sold him to the Minnesota Twins.

When Worthington put on a Twins uniform, he was 35 years old. But Worthington would embark upon his most successful period as a major league pitcher. In 1965, Worthington went 10-7 with a 2.13 ERA recording a career high 21 saves for a Twins team that would win the AL pennant. Worthington would make appearances in Game 4 and in Game 7 as the Twins fell short against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

His tenure with the Twins would last the rest of the decade as he would lead the AL in saves with 18 in 1968 and would pitch on the 1969 Twins team that was the inaugural winner of the AL West Division. Worthington would pitch in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles but would be knocked out of the game on a RBI single by future Hall of Famer Frank Robinson as the O's swept the Twins to win the AL pennant. 

As it turned out, it was the last pitch Worthington would throw in the big leagues. Over 14 seasons, Worthington made 602 appearances (533 out of the bullpen) and had a record of 75-82 with a 3.39 ERA along with 111 career saves. Of those 111 career saves. 88 of them came in a Twins uniform.

Worthington would return to the Twins in 1972 as the team's pitching coach serving in that role for two seasons first under Bill Rigney (for whom he had pitched under while with the Giants) and later Frank Quilici. Following the 1973 season, Worthington would leave the Twins to become the baseball coach at Liberty University (then known as Lynchburg Baptist College), a role he would serve in for the next 12 seasons before being succeeded by another former big leaguer, Bobby Richardson. Worthington also served as the school's athletic director for several years before retiring in 1989.

In 2011, Worthington was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Worthington practiced what he preached. R.I.P.

World Cup 2026: Palestinian Flags Allowed While Israeli Flag Confiscated

 

During a World Cup matchup today between Iran and New Zealand in Los Angeles, security personnel confiscated an Israeli flag while allowing Palestinian flags to be flown.

FIFA rules do indicate the only flags which can be flown at matches are the two countries playing each other on the field.

So why were Palestinian flags allowed to be flown?

Does FIFA consider Gaza to be part of Iran?

Given Hamas deep ties to the Iranian regime perhaps they are perceived as one in the same. 

After all, the raison d'etre of the Iranian regime and Hamas is to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth while killing as many Jews as possible.

The man with the Israeli flag made the understatement of the century when he said, "It seems like a little anti-Semitism is playing a part here."

Trump's Stupid Suggestion That Israel Stand Down & Let Syria Take On Hezbollah

President Trump says a great many stupid things.

I'm sure you can name a few off the top of your head. Injecting bleach, deploying nuclear weapons against hurricanes and raking forests to stop the wildfires in California.

But perhaps his idea that Israel should stand down and let Syria take on Hezbollah has to be amongst the stupidest ideas he has uttered in quite a while.

While meeting with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamada Al Thani during the G-7 Summit in France, Trump stated:

Israel's fighting Hezbollah for too long, and too many people are being killed. You don't have to knock down an apartment house every time you're looking for somebody because there's a lot of people in those apartment houses and they're not all Hezbollah, that I can tell you.

I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah, because to be honest with you, I think they'd do a better job of doing it.

On what basis does Trump believe that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa would do a better job than Israel of fighting Hezbollah?

For his part, Trump says that al-Sharaa "has pulled that country together very quickly, he's very capable, and he's very good for me."

Ah, so that's it. Trump thinks al-Sharaa is more capable of handling Hezbollah than Israel because "he's been very good for me." In other words, al-Sharaa knows how to flatter Trump. 

And, at the moment, Trump is upset with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and frozen Israel out of the ceasefire agreement and proposed peace negotiations with Iran.

In other words, Trump is being guided by his temper rather than reality. What makes Trump think that al-Sharaa has any interest in fighting Hezbollah? He has no desire to engage in any activity which might benefit Israel even if indirectly. There is also the practical argument that Syria's new government is in a rebuilding stage and stands little to gain by partaking in a military action in Lebanon. I also cannot imagine that Lebanon, whatever antipathy they have for Hezbollah, would welcome Syrian involvement given their virtual occupation during the Assad years. 

But let's says that Syria does embark on a military mission to rid Lebanon of Hezbollah. What reason is there to believe that it wouldn't result in the same level if not more civilian casualties than have arisen as a result of Israeli military operations?

Now it would be one thing if Trump were to covertly encourage Syria to fight Hezbollah. But to utter it as a verbal excretion out of anger towards Israel is not only stupid but it is reckless, irresponsible and unhelpful. Defeating Hezbollah requires careful and meticulous planning while being able to adapt to changing conditions on the ground not by throwing shit at the wall during an international summit to see what sticks.