The Rev. Jesse Jackson weighed in on the stripping of the Chicago-area Jackie Robinson West’s Little League championship title, suggesting that the charges of cheating that ultimately doomed the team may have been based more on race than reality.
The 2014 U.S. championship organization was hailed as the first black Little League team to get that far in the playoff series, ultimately winning an invite to the White House to meet President Obama. But their star fell this week after an investigation confirmed that team officials broke rules by recruiting players outside the allowable geographical boundaries, and their title was stripped.
Little League officials also suspended Darold Butler, the team manager, and Michael Kelly, the league’s district administrator.
But Mr. Jackson suggested during a press conference after the decision was announced that it was based on race.
“This decision is untimely and inappropriate at this time. It should not take six months after a team has played a championship game to determine eligibility to play the game in the first place,” he said, The Daily Caller reported. “Is this about [geographical] boundaries or race?”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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