Cardinals' 'Political' Home Run Celebration Sparks Outrage, Calls for Ban

The St. Louis Cardinals' recent home run celebration has ignited controversy, with some accusing the team of making a political statement in support of former President Trump. However, the Cardinals have denied the allegations, and a veteran player has explained the gesture's true meaning.

The St. Louis Cardinals have found themselves in the middle of a heated debate after their home run celebration last weekend raised eyebrows and sparked accusations of political bias.

During a game against the Atlanta Braves, designated hitter Alec Burleson hit a long home run and, as he trotted around the bases, he and his teammates in the dugout performed a peculiar gesture. They placed one hand over their right ears and raised a fist into the air.

Cardinals' 'Political' Home Run Celebration Sparks Outrage, Calls for Ban

Immediately, social media users began speculating that the celebration was a tribute to former President Trump, who was wounded in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. However, Cardinals veteran Matt Carpenter vehemently denied any political intent after the game, telling the St. Louis Post-Dispatch it was "definitely not a political statement."

Despite Carpenter's clarification, the controversy escalated when renowned sports commentator Keith Olbermann called for severe consequences. In a fiery tweet, Olbermann demanded that Major League Baseball "ban" the players involved, "confiscate" the Cardinals franchise, and "implode" their home stadium, Busch Stadium.

Cardinals' 'Political' Home Run Celebration Sparks Outrage, Calls for Ban

"Attn @mlb ban these guys from baseball for life, confiscate the @Cardinals franchise, and implode the stadium," Olbermann wrote on Twitter, equating the players to "Trump Nazis."

"America has had enough of this s---," he added.

Cardinals' 'Political' Home Run Celebration Sparks Outrage, Calls for Ban

Olbermann's comments sparked further outrage online, with many people condemning his extreme reaction.

However, Carpenter then revealed the true significance of the celebration. He explained that it was actually a callback to Burleson's college days when he was a rapper nicknamed Biscuit. The hand over the ear was allegedly supposed to represent invisible headphones.

Cardinals' 'Political' Home Run Celebration Sparks Outrage, Calls for Ban

"When I hit my first home run in college, I had music playing in my head. I thought that was a cool way to celebrate, so I started doing it," Burleson said. "I guess it's kind of caught on."

Despite Carpenter's explanation, some observers remained skeptical, including ESPN's Katie Nolan. In a tweet, she noted that the celebration had a striking resemblance to Trump's signature hand gesture.

"I find the Cardinals' home run celebration to be very reminiscent of a certain former president who is known for using that particular hand gesture," Nolan said.

The controversy has highlighted the ongoing debate about the intersection of sports and politics. Some people argue that athletes should use their platforms to speak out on social and political issues, while others believe that they should stick to their sport and avoid making political statements.

In this case, the Cardinals' celebration has been interpreted by some as a political gesture, while others have dismissed it as a harmless celebration with no political intent. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide how they view the celebration and its potential implications.