Group sneaks phrase into anthem
SAN DIEGO In a bold and potentially controversial decision that went largely unnoticed by the All-Star Game crowd, Canadian vocal quartet The Tenors altered the lyrics to O Canada to include the phrase “all lives matter.”
From the sounds of videos posted online, the group substituted the line, “We’re all brothers and sisters, all lives matter to the great,” for, “With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the True North strong and free” before switching to French for the next line of the anthem. One member of the group held up a handwritten “All Lives Matter” sign during the performance.
The phrase “all lives matter” gained popularity as a response to the Black Lives Matter movement, but critics of the term have said it undermines the Black Lives Matter group’s efforts to reverse the longstanding history of mistreatment of African Americans in the USA.
Batting titles:
Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the National League batting title would be named in honor of the late Tony Gwynn. The American League champ will receive the Rod Carew Award.
The surprise announcement by Padres broadcaster Dick Enberg drew a thunderous ovation from the crowd with chants of “Tony! Tony!” to regale the Hall of Famer and Padres legend who died in 2014 of salivary gland cancer.
Gwynn’s wife, Alicia, and children accepted a replica of the award on his behalf. Gwynn spent 20 seasons with the Padres, winning eight batting titles and recording 3,141 hits and a career .338 average.
Carew, who attended Tuesday’s ceremony, played 19 seasons for the Minnesota Twins and California Angels. He won seven AL batting titles and compiled a career average of .328.
Night off:
For the first time in five years, Clayton Kershaw did not pitch in the All-Star Game.
That doesn’t mean the Los Angeles Dodgers ace wasn’t in action Tuesday at Petco Park.
Kershaw, on track for a potentially historic season, is gearing up for a second-half return from a partially herniated disk that has sidelined him since a June 26 start at the Pittsburgh Pirates. Before Tuesday’s game, Kershaw was signing baseballs and jerseys with his NL teammates after working up a good sweat as he completed an afternoon workout.
He already has pitched a bullpen session in his rehab.
“It actually worked out good,” said Kershaw, who was treated by a member of the Dodgers training staff that was with the NL squad. “I could do all the stuff I needed to rehab-wise, because Dodger Stadium is closed down.”