Phillies

The Mets

By Kyle Scott

Published: Jul 10th, 2013 · 10:28 AM EDT

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From The New York Times:

When the Mets approached theAmerican Indian Community House, a New York-based nonprofit organization, in March about helping to organize a Native American Heritage Day, the proposal struck members of the group as a good opportunity to celebrate their involvement in the community. A date was selected — July 25 — and they began to plan pregame festivities that would include traditional dancing and singing outside Citi Field.

But there was a glitch, as far as the Mets were concerned: they were scheduled to host the Atlanta Braves that day. So in the past week, concerned that such activities might be interpreted by the Braves organization as a form of protest over its nickname, the Mets drastically reduced the day’s activities: no singing, no dancing. And now there won’t be any American Indians, either.

On Monday, the A.I.C.H. pulled out of the event, citing frustration with the Mets for thwarting months of planning. The team has removed the event from its online schedule of activities.

“We’re not trying to be overly sensitive,” Chavolla said, “but it seems like we fall into this type of thing a lot. We’re led to get enthusiastic about something, and then it’s like, ‘Oh, never mind.’ It’s disappointing, but it sort of amplifies a pattern of what we’ve been dealing with for hundreds of years.”

If you’re keeping score at home (I am), the Mets have now pulled out of activities and partnerships with both cougars and Indians thus far in 2013. The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association of America might want to solidify the date for their group outing before their options dry up.