In a predominantly left-wing sports media industry that thrives on controversial hot takes, it should come as no surprise to see Florida and Gov. Ron DeSantis as the target of Washington Post columnist and ESPN personality Kevin Blackistone.
In his recent column, Blackistone argues that the 15 teams making up the Grapefruit League, a spring training club in Florida, should leave the state as long as DeSantis is governor and move to the politically obedient Arizona. His arguments diverted from the facts and leaned on the political talking points frequently used to attack DeSantis.
The column begins by referencing Florida’s history of racial challenges, including Jim Crow laws, around the time Cleveland’s baseball team moved the organization’s spring training operations to Arizona in 1947.
Blackistone’s column ignores Cleveland’s nickname at the time — the Indians — despite including nicknames for the Nationals, Brooklyn Dodgers, and every single other team he mentions.
He cites Florida as having three of the deadliest counties in the South in per capita lynchings at the time Cleveland made the move. Fortunately, Florida has rectified that type of crime against black players, players of any race, or even regular citizens. Under the leadership of DeSantis, Florida is experiencing a 50-year record-low crime rate.
Next, Blackistone criticizes DeSantis for taking issue with an Advanced Placement course in African American studies, which he called “indoctrination.”
But for anyone who cares to understand the issue beyond a headline or quick soundbite, DeSantis does not object to these courses being
