Column: New York Yankees Ally With Student to End Bullying
Tom Brady has lost three Super Bowls, LeBron James has lost four NBA Finals, Kendrick Lamar’s “Good Kid, m.A.A.d City” album lost out the 2014 best rap album Grammy to Macklemore, even Air Bud lost the 1998 Kids Choice Award for Favorite Animal Star to Salem the Cat from Sabrina the Teenage Witch. What I’m getting at is that all the “greats” are subject to getting dethroned. Well friends, even I was dethroned from my reign as the Champion of the office March Madness bracket. Because of my loss, I have forfeited my column for the week to a very worthy Champion. She’s my colleague, my copyeditor, my friend, my crown succesor and she’s the next feature editor for the Champion – ladies and gentleman, without further ado, I present Sarah Jackson:
As the newly-crowned Champion of the Champions (thanks, Villanova), it is my privilege to gloat over my entirely unprecedented win with a little sports coverage. I bring to you the Uplifting Sports Story of the Week.
While the New York Yankees might be on the mediocre side of the 2018 baseball season thus far, they have certainly stepped up their social media game – and their fight against bullying.
Cassidy Warner, a 10-year-old elementary school student, has been bullied for years but finally took a stand. She released a video detailing some of the bullying she has experienced and ended it with a plea to end bullying. The video went viral, according to an article in the Washington Post, and caught the attention of an unexpected ally: the New York Yankees.
A post Wednesday, April 18, on the Yankees official Facebook page showed the team’s heartfelt response to the young girl’s video. Twenty-four Yankees players, along with manager Aaron Boone, shared their support on social media for Warner, according to an article from ABC News. The players held up signs with encouraging sentiments, validation for her experience, and the video finished with multiple players holding signs stating, “Got your back.”
The Yankees might be known as the team everyone loves to hate, but I think their likability points just spiked. Their support for a young girl struggling with being bullied has shown the humanity of the team – and the desperate need for anti-bullying campaigns driven by powerful people.
Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center states that one in five students report being bullied, yet less than half of those bullied report their experiences to someone who can help. One brave girl stood up for herself, but so many more are too afraid to speak. Sometimes, it takes a village — or a baseball team — to start real change.
Players of various sports have always quietly supported the causes they hold dear: Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine ministry and David Beckham’s UNICEF support are just a few examples. Now, the Yankees have the opportunity, as a team, to take on bullying together.
They have the money and the platform. Now, it seems the Yankees also have the drive to stand up for those less fortunate.
Celebrities possess the ability to make an enormous impact on the lives of their fans; this includes sports celebrities. Despite the many stories of famous athletes who abuse their power, acts of kindness are still found among the rich and famous. Even among the (possibly) most-hated baseball team, the Yankees.
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for: sports predictions from your resident (non) expert and predictor of the Office March Madness Championship Winner.
NFL: Eagles
Thanks to a restructuring contract, Nick Foles will once again be joining the Eagles. Get ready, Eagles fans, Super Bowl round two is coming your way.
MLB: Phillies
Though they only have two World Series wins to their name, the Philadelphia Phillies are No. 2 in their division. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another 28 years for the next Commissioner’s Trophy.
NHL: Flyers
Despite a few recent humiliating losses to the Penguins, the Flyers still have a chance for the Stanley Cup. I hope.
Is my Philadelphia bias showing?