Major League Baseball issued a one-game suspension to New York Yankees veteran infielder Josh Donaldson on Monday for "inappropriate comments" directed at Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson that forced benches to clear on Saturday in The Bronx. Following the game, Donaldson explained to reporters that he repeatedly called Anderson "Jackie" in reference to MLB legend Jackie Robinson, and Anderson -- who's Black -- was offended by it.
Donaldson, who's white, denied any racist intent toward Anderson, and also said that his comments were linked to a 2019 Sports Illustrated interview, in which Anderson described himself as feeling like "today's Jackie Robinson." Donaldson also mentioned that he'd "joked around" with Anderson about it before, although both players have never been friendly. White Sox manager Tony La Russa called Donaldson's comments "racist," and Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said that his teammate made "a mistake."
"I don't think anyone is in their just due to call Josh Donaldson racist," JR said during Monday's edition of the JR SportBrief show. "I certainly can't call him a racist for making those comments. And I'm not even sure, as in what La Russa said, that the comments were racist. I wouldn't even go that far. But what I will say is, you should be smarter, Donaldson. And it has nothing to do with what was said in the past, or the context said in the past.
"Jackie Robinson -- what the man stands for and what he stood for, and what he represents -- to use it in an antagonizing way against Anderson, that's the part where you've got to be smarter than that. If you want to egg or edge the guy on, don't tease him by using Jackie Robinson... In the age and time that we're in, leave Jackie out of this... You've already got beef. Keep Robinson's name out of your mouth... What Donaldson said was stupid... Be better."
JR's complete thoughts on Donaldson's comments directed at Anderson can be accessed in the audio player above.
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