Suddenly, The Atlanta Braves Don’t Have Issues With Joe Biden Anymore

To hear the Atlanta Braves tell it last year, they were robbed of the 2021 Baseball All-Star Game, which meant they couldn’t use everything involved with the Mid-Summer Classic (like the Home Run Derby, for instance) to generate more revenue for themselves and for others around north Georgia.

But all is forgiven.

Just one trip to the White House Monday morning, and the Braves aren’t upset anymore. If you didn’t know better, you would say they have temporary amnesia regarding President Joe Biden, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and anybody else who helped to yank last year’s Baseball All-Star Game out of The Battery, the Braves’ $1.1 billion complex in a northern suburb that houses Truist Park as well as restaurants, shops and a bunch of other money-making things.

This all goes back to a set of restrictive state voting laws by Georgia legislators that Biden called in late March 2021 “Jim Crow in the 20th Century.” Two days later, Manfred switched the Baseball All-Star Game from Atlanta to Denver.

Now about Monday’s trip to the White House: “Wow.” Those were the opening words of Braves CEO Terry McGuirk during a ceremony in the East Room, where Biden honored the Braves for their 2021 World Series victory after they turned a miserable start into an improbable run to a title.

Soon after the East Room ceremony, Braves manager Brian Snitker was wide eyed and almost giggly outside of the West Wing. “Really, the whole experience was something,” Snitker said. “You know, watching the president come through the door.”

Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies said, “Just getting inside the White House and meeting the president. I didn’t expect him to be that funny, but he was funny.”

How funny was Biden?

Snitker laughed, recalling the preliminary White House session the Braves had with Biden before the official one in the East Room. “He was kind of in there just BS-ing with the guys and telling stories, and then he got on Dylan Lee, because he wasn’t smiling,” Snitker said of the Braves’ left-handed relief pitcher. “Then he said to Dylan, ‘What are you? A hard-ass Republican?’ That’s what he said.”

Snitker laughed some more. So did Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves’ general manager who elaborated on his manager’s thoughts on The Commander In Chief, saying, “President Biden is really funny and charming and charismatic. He impressed the group. His wit. His humor. It’s obvious, and it’s amazing. I’ve never been to the White House before, and it’s pretty incredible to be here.

“As Terry (McGuirk) said, ‘Wow.” The whole event was top notch. Just incredible, and getting to shake (Biden’s) hand. Pretty exciting.”

Wow, indeed.

Here was “Wow” Part I: The Joe Biden Comedy Show. It occurred in the packed East Room comprised of family members, those involved with the Braves’ support staff and other invited guests. After Biden discussed how the 2021 Braves went from playing below .500 before August to grabbing their first world championship since 1995, he said, “None of it came easy, people counting you out. Heck, I know something about being counted out.”

Laughter was everywhere.

Then came a round of applause when McGuirk mentioned Hank Aaron, the Braves legend and all-time baseball great who died a few months before the 2021 season. McGuirk said Aaron was the Braves’ “special angel,” and he added, “He’d have been there every step of the way with us if he was here.”

Aaron prospered as a player and as an executive in Major League Baseball while battling racism throughout his life.

As I mention in “The Real Hank Aaron: An Intimate Look at the Life and Legacy of the Home Run King,” Aaron’s battles went beyond the early 1970s when he chased and passed Babe Ruth’s career home run record of 714 despite death threats and hateful comments. “This team is defined by the courage of Hank Aaron,” Biden said, followed by an explosion of applause.

Here was “Wow” Part II: Controversy? Controversy?

What All-Star Game controversy?

Those involved with this White House event sounded nothing like those who unleashed the following statement last year after Manfred said Georgia’s voting laws doomed an Atlanta All-Star Game that July: “The Atlanta Braves are deeply disappointed by the decision of Major League Baseball to move its 2021 All Star game. This was neither our decisions, nor our recommendation and we are saddened that fans will not be able to see this event in our city. The Braves organization will continue to stress the importance of equal voting opportunities and we had hoped our city could use this event as a platform to enhance the discussion. Our city has always been known as a uniter in divided times and we will miss the opportunity to address issues that are important to our community.”

According to estimates, the 2021 All-Star Game would have brought $100 million to The Battery and other spots around Atlanta.

The Braves didn’t wish to discuss any of that Monday.

They were too busy laughing.