Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1952-05-24
TRAlCHT
Ahead"

New York, -(Global) - They
jumped on Jackie Robinson again
last week! But the probability is,
they won't get away with this one.
The Dodgers second baseman is a
peculiar guy. When this reporter
was covering sports, he had an ex-
perience with Robbie that was not
pleasant, ana he concluded that the
star was a little too thin-skinned.
However, when someone UPS and
tries To make a charge stick that
Jackie Robinson is a bigpt and
would slar mans nationality, he
rs going to have a hard time get
ting takers. The only way | would
believe Jackie Robinson referred
to Dascoli, the umpire, as "Wop'
or "DagO", would he fer me to
hear it myself. Then, | would de-
mand that the doors Of Central
Islip be opened at once, because ]
would know Robbie was not ration
al. Or, | would look for the ventri-
loquist
There IS no questioning the fact
that Robinson is a fierce comneti-
tor, or even that he is rambunc-
tious. He was that way in college
and he was that way when he was
earning his fish and chips with the
Kansas City Monarchs. He is even
shat wav SHOOTING pool 1T tho YMC
A in Harlem whore ho works on
the staff in the Bows Department.
But Jackie is no bigct.
This column has said before it
will say again, that Robinson has
cotton into rhubalbs that he could
better have avoided Frankly, that
is true of many other players. Per
haps if Robinson hadn't been kept
pcnt UP 50 long after he first got
into the Majors, he might not have
popped off so much once the pres
sure was off. Just the same, no
body is going to impress me with
Ehe bigotry charge.
Mr.. Warren Giles, the National
I League President. understandable
must try to get himself off the hot
spot he created for himself when
he publicly rebuked Scotty Robb.
So, he picks on Jackie Robinson. He
certainly didn't have to do that;
Ias matter of fact, he should have
stuck to his guns. There are many
Deople who didn't think he was too
far wrong III filming and chastisi1g
Robb.
With all due respect to the deli
catcness Of the umpire's job and the
need for clothing him with the
authority and impun'ty that will de
mand respect, no honest person
would deny that the men in blue
times abuse their authority. Not
ven a judge of our courts can
hope to be dictator. 1t is not nee
esSary to press the point that Scot.
ty Robb should have or should not
have been rebuked, but it was in
eVitable that some one of the un,-
pires would be called down some
day. 1t just happened to ne Robb.
1t seems that Giles censure Of
Robb served to achieve one thing
at least, and that is all to the good.
1t recognized that an umpire can
be wrong. Heretofore, the way the
game has been has been plaved,
the assumption has been that an
umpire never made bad call. Such
an assumption contradicts the basic
theory that to err is human. un-
less we are to believe umpires are
not human or are super human
beings.
The sports writer's, almost to
man, rushed to the defense of RoLh
and sharply criticized Giles. That
is understandable! Sports writer's
have not always been the most
courageous reporters. There are
exceptions. There were very few
who were willing to take a stand
for Jackie Robinson when he first
entered tie Major Leagues. Few OF
the umpires did much to take the
pressure off him. AS a matter os
tact, several of them either HELM
ed pour 1T on by their attitude. or
didn't hear or turned their backs
when other players berated Jackie
Jackie came through without too
many scars and went on to prove
himself to be great athlete. Sun
pose the guy does raise sand once
IN a while, isn't that baseball That
IS what they said when he was be-
ing mercilessly ridden in his earlv
days. So, what are they squawking
about? If Jackie Robinson over
should call man a name such as
that someone called or is alleged
to have called Scottv Robb. am
iconylnced he would have been
bounced out of baseball, because
he would be swinging his fists
meanwhile.