Page 8 ~ THE VILLAGER/May 22, 2020 THE DISPATCH www.theaustinvillager.com Bob Watson Was A NFL owners to review Baseball Trailblazer incentives to encourage nonwhite and GM hires By Wilson Wong | NBC NEWS

By John Harris Jr. VILLAGER Sports Columnist

(VILLAGER) - Bob Watson is recognized as the first black general manager to win a , and rightfully so. However, he was also a tremendous baseball player who made the All- Star team twice, hit over .300 four times and Bob Watson drove in at least 100 runs Photo: Mark Humphrey, AP twice while playing for From there, and and FILE - In this June 4, 2019, file photo, Miami Dolphins general manager Chris the Astros, Bos- Watson became the sec- teamed with Torre to Grier, left, talks with head coach Brian Flores at the team’s NFL football training ton Red Sox, New York ond black general man- construct a World Series facility, in Davie, Fla. Grier says this year’s roster dismantling has been more Yankees and Atlanta ager in major league his- winner in 1996. drastic than he expected, but a turnaround can come quickly because the team Braves. Watson, who tory (following Atlanta’s “I’m proud of the will be aggressive in free agency in 2020. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) died last week in Hous- ) when he was fact that I’m sitting here ton from kidney disease hired by the Astros. Ad- right now as the only (NBC) - NFL owners both positions were There are currently at the age of 74, was a vancing from assistant minority vice president this week will review in- filled with people of four nonwhite head -threat - on the general manager to gen- of baseball operations,” centives to boost racial color, that club could coaches and two black baseball diamond and eral manager, Watson Watson said after the diversity in front offices jump even further at 16 general managers in a off. proposed in 1992 that Yankees defeated the including rewarding spots. league composed of Watson finished every major-league to be- teams with higher draft Accompanying the about 70 percent African with a .295 career bat- team should establish come World Champions. slots if they hire a person resolution will be an- American players. Only ting average with 184 baseball academies in “With the 50th anniver- of color as a head coach other proposal that re- one minority was hired home runs, 989 RBIs and their home towns to sary of Jackie Robinson or general manager. moves the league’s anti- as a head coach this 1,826 runs scored help develop minority coming next year, I’m If a team hires a tampering rule. If year, Ron Rivera of the mostly playing left field players with funding proud that I am the prin- minority head coach, passed, assistant Washington Redskins. and first base. A clutch coming from Major cipal architect of a cham- they will move up six coaches will be allowed At least 24 of the 32 postseason performer, League Baseball, players pionship club.” spots in the draft before to interview for coordi- NFL owners must ap- Watson batted .371 in 17 and private corpora- Watson resigned the coach’s second sea- nator positions with prove of the measures career playoff games. He tions. Watson correctly his post the following son. If the position was other clubs, which is for them to pass. They was the first player to hit warned that baseball year as working for a general manager, the typically the most signifi- are expected to vote on for the cycle (recording would face problems if it Steinbrenner took its team could potentially cant step to becoming a the resolutions during a a single, double, failed to do a better job toll. Watson moved on move up 10 spots. If head coach. virtual meeting Tuesday. and home ) in the of attracting minority to organize the 2000 U.S. same game in both the players and fans, a seri- Olympic Baseball Team, Texas schools can hold summer National and American ous problem which re- which won the gold leagues (with Houston in mains to this day. medal in Australia. He classes, but students can’t be 1977 and Boston two Watson did such a later served as Major years later). A model of good job in the Astros’ League Baseball’s vice required to attend in person consistency with the front-office that he was president in charge of Astros, for whom he hired as Yankees’ gen- discipline and vice presi- BY ALIYYA SWABY | TEXAS TRIBUNE played his first 14 sea- eral manager in 1995. dent of rules and opera- sons, Watson never hit Scrutinized as a black tions and worked in the ? ? under .288 from 1971 man working in the me- league offices until until 1978. dia capital of the world 2010. After retiring as a under meddling owner In March 2020, ? ? player, Watson began his George Steinbrenner, Watson and his wife second career as hitting Watson made a bold and Carol attended the dedi- coach and bench coach. controversial move cation of the Bob when he hired Watson Education Cen- He helped the Oakland (TXT) - Texas public up online instruction in groups larger than 11. as his manager. Watson ter at the Astros Urban Athletics win the Ameri- school districts may of- quickly once the pan- School districts are en- was vindicated when he Youth Academy. It was a can League pennant in fer summer school in demic hit. couraged to stagger added players such as fitting tribute to Watson 1988 with a roster fea- their classrooms as early School districts school start and end , Charlie only months prior to his turing Mark McGuire as June 1, but they can- must use their best judg- times to reduce the num- Hayes, Mariano Duncan death. and . not require any students ment, based on the local ber of students walking to attend in person. spread of the new close together in the hall- WEAR YOUR MASKS! In April, Gov. Greg coronavirus, to decide ways, and parents are en- doesn’t believe the science like a sore thumb. Trump Abbott ordered all whether to offer sum- couraged to stay outside but he believes the sci- said he has been taking school buildings closed mer school on campus, to pick up and drop off ence? Trump swears hydroxychloroquine, through the end of the according to guidance their children. COVID-19 is fake news and a zinc supplement academic year, but he from the Texas Educa- Students cannot at- while believing (and pitch- daily “for about a week announced Monday that tion Agency issued Mon- tend assemblies, go on ing) pharmaceuticals and a half now.” districts could offer in- day. And they cannot field trips or gather in person summer school. make in-person atten- groups outside of indi- by Thomas Wyatt meant to prevent other dis- Why is that impor- The decision came as dance mandatory, even vidual classes unless 30 VILLAGER Co-Editor eases as the champion to tant? Well, because conquer a disease he hydroxychloroquine needs part of his second wave for students who need feet can be kept be- (VILLAGER) – You doesn’t believe in. There- to be taken two weeks be- of the economic to attend summer tween groups. A positive know what’s so stupid, it’s fore, the new question fore entering a malaria in- jumpstart during the school to move to the COVID-19 case in a funny? Donald Trump not from all of us should be, fected area. Again, why is coronavirus pandemic, next grade. school will require a believing in ANYTHING sci- “Why take the drug at all?” this important? It’s impor- with parents struggling Staff members or two-week closure of the ence or fact-based regard- With this single admission, tant because Trump is a to figure out how to students who go back to classes that were ex- ing COVID-19…but…he Trump has destroyed his brass individual. When work and take care of school buildings this posed to the sick person. claims to be taking a ma- entire argument from day Trump wants to do some- their children. summer will experience School gyms, weight laria prophylaxis – to, in one. Day one being January thing, he wants everybody The state is encour- a marked change from rooms and indoor work- turn, – prevent him from 22, 2020, when Trump in- to know it. In other words, aging school districts to the typical summer out facilities cannot re- catching the coronavirus. famously said, “We have it he would’ve made a decla- prioritize making on- school. Teachers will open, but students can Let us all get this totally under control. It’s go- ration over a week ago campus summer school have to take students’ participate in some out- straight, shall we? The Presi- ing to be just fine.” about what he’s doing ver- available for their most temperatures every day, door sports as long as dent refuses to wear a Now, only one sus answering a random vulnerable students, in- students will be super- they follow Department mask and fights any sort of thing would make this question from press. cluding students with vised while washing of State Health Services social distancing recom- admission even worse There’s another angle disabilities who cannot their hands for 20 sec- guidance. mendations, but will ac- than it already is. That here. Whether Trump is learn virtually, homeless onds twice a day, and School districts tively engage in taking a would be if Trump is ly- taking the drug or not isn’t students and students dividers will separate have been writing up drug that is known by ing about taking nearly important as to why with significant aca- student desks. back-up plans for their world-renown scientists to hydroxychloroquine. he said what he said in the demic gaps. Many of Any students and back-up plans as they have severe side effects; in- The most impor- first place. those students were left staff members who at- wait to see how and cluding death. tant part of Trump’s Keep your eyes and behind during the aca- tend summer school in whether the coronavirus What’s wrong with Tuesday, May 18, 2020, ears open. But above all, demic year as school dis- person must stay 6 feet continues to spread this this picture? Donald Trump statement stands out follow the money. tricts struggled to ramp apart and cannot meet summer and spring.