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After an ESPN broadcast caught a Davenport, Iowa baseball team placing a cotton-like substance in a black player's hair at the Little League Classic, social media erupted with the assumption that this act was racially motivated.
It turns out that the black team member was not the only player to get this material in his hair; a white teammate did too. Reportedly, the boys were trying to emulate other NBL players and a fellow Hawaii Little League star pitcher, Jaron Lancaster, who was present at the tournament, wearing a blonde mohawk.
(Hawaii's star player Jaron Lancaster pictured above/photo via ESPN)
The dyed mohawk appears to be a trend among some baseball players. Francisco Lindor with the New York Mets (pictured in main photo above) also wears a curly-dyed mohawk. Davenport's Southeast Little League team made the following statement via social media regarding the concern:
"During the recent broadcast of the MLB Little League Classic, ESPN showed several kids from our team putting stuffing (from a stuffed animal given away at the game) on our second baseman Jeremiah Grise's head. The kids were doing this in an attempt to emulate the white mohawk of the Hawaii team's star player, who they think is a great baseball player with a very cool hairstyle.
"Unfortunately, the cameras did not show the boys putting stuffing on the heads of multiple players and of Jeremiah laughing and loving his new "look." We have also posted a picture and video showing this.
"There was absolutely no ill-intent or racial motivations, as everyone on the team, including Jeremiah, was simply trying to emulate a fellow player they look up to. We are in no way trying to minimize the racial insensitivity of the boys' actions and apologize for any harm this video has caused. We have spoken to the boys to help educate them on why it was inappropriate – which none of them had realized or understood at the time. They understand it now, providing them a life lesson they will carry forward.
"The Little League World Series has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our boys and we hope everyone's focus can return to their great play, teamwork and sportsmanship on the field. We ask everyone, including the media and online provocateurs, to please let these 12-year-olds be 12-year-olds.
"We hope this statement has provided the additional context necessary to understand the whole story. We at Davenport Southeast strive to welcome kids of all races and backgrounds and take pride in the diversity of our organization. Go Davenport Southeast Little League!"
Photo Credits: Google Images & ESPN