It's humorless & comical at once.

The Dodgers have accepted the invitation to the White House to celebrate their 2024 World Series Championship. They accepted the invitation in the name of tradition and respecting the office of the President. Dave Roberts referred to the invitation as an honor.

The President, whose pick for the Secretary of Defense oversaw a purge of articles highlighting the military service of minorities. Jackie Robinson, the most important person to ever wear a Dodgers uniform, was not exempt from this purge. In their first statement to Jeff Passan, they gloated about removing the article:

“As Secretary Hegseth has said, DEl is dead at the Defense Department.

Discriminatory Equity Ideology is a form of Woke cultural Marxism that has no place in our military. It Divides the force, Erodes unit cohesion and Interferes with the services' core warfighting mission. We are pleased by the rapid compliance across the Department with the directive removing DEl content from all platforms. In the rare cases that content is removed -- either deliberately or by mistake - that is out of the clearly outlined scope of the directive, we instruct the components and they correct the content accordingly.”

Hours later, they attempted to backtrack, but still defend their decision:

“Everyone at the Defense Department loves Jackie Robinson, as well as the Navajo Code Talkers, the Tuskegee airmen, the Marines at Iwo Jima and so many others - we salute them for their strong and in many cases heroic service to our country, full stop. We do not view or highlight them through the prism of immutable characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, or sex. We do so only by recognizing their patriotism and dedication to the warfighting mission like ever other American who has worn the uniform.

DEI - Discriminatory Equity Ideology does the opposite. It Divides the force, Erodes unit cohesion and Interferes with the services' core warfighting mission.

We are pleased by the rapid compliance across the Department with the directive removing DEl content from all platforms. In the rare cases that content is removed - either deliberately or by mistake -- that is out of the clearly outlined scope of the directive, we instruct the components and they correct the content so it recognizes our heroes for their dedicated service alongside their fellow Americans, period.”

What respect does the Dodgers organization owe to an administration that treats their most important player like this? Where is the honor?

After seven years, Brusdar Graterol’s mother finally had her visa approved to watch her son pitch in person at Dodger Stadium in 2023. Seven years for the Venezuelan mother to watch her son. Where is the honor in visiting an administration that has gleefully sent Graterol’s countrymen to torture camps? What respect does the Dodgers organization owe to an office that campaigned on immediate mass deportations?

What respect does the team owe to a president who has insisted for a decade upon building a wall at the southern border and treating our neighbor Mexico like an enemy? In the wake of Fernando Valenzuela’s early death, after the sense of pride and belonging his life and career instilled in Mexican Dodgers fans?