Tony La Russa Disagrees With Gabe Kapler’s National Anthem Decision

Count veteran MLB manager Tony La Russa among the many who are a bit skeptical with Giants skipper Gabe Kapler’s decision regarding the National Anthem.

After the latest school shooting this past week, Kapler released a long statement on why he would be staying in the dugout for the foreseeable future.

We’re not the land of the free nor the home of the brave right now. https://t.co/XilHsz4s0W

— gabe kapler (@gabekapler) May 27, 2022

As managers around the MLB were giving support to Gabe Kapler to tip-toeing around the subject, Tony La Russa maintained that he respects Kapler, but would prefer another way of protest.

“I think he’s exactly right to be — which a lot of us, who isn’t? — concerned about what’s happening in our country. In every direction we go there’s a lot of concern. He’s right there,” Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa said of Kapler.

“Where I disagree is that the flag and the anthem are not appropriate places to try to voice your objections. I think you go directly to the causes that really bothers you about the direction of the country.”

Tony La Russa would go on to explain his stance about Gabe Kapler stems from his belief that the National Anthem tradition is a way to honor our service men and women.

“If you talk to any serviceman that put their life on the line, when they’re out and around … some of their courage comes from what the flag means to them and when they hear the anthem,” La Russa said. “So to me, it isn’t the flag and the anthem. But you want to point out and say ‘I’m not going to … I  won’t draw attention, but I’m not …’ I think it’s a mistake. I think Gabe, it’s easier to … I think it makes more sense to figure out which of those issues and speak about the ones he didn’t like and what he’ll do about it. But I’ll say it, I have great respect for the person. I like him, and I think he’s right. But it’s not the flag and it’s not the anthem.”

I’m sure Gabe Kapler knew he was going to have many critics when he made his National Anthem decision, and Tony La Russa is the first to come of of the woodworks.

For now, Kapler maintains that he won’t be partaking in the anthem any time soon.

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