God willing, the Phillies will eliminate the Braves on Thursday night and we’ll be done with stuff like this forever, or at least until next season:

There’s been a lot said about the tomahawk chop, but this is a new one. I’ve never heard this take before. “It’s okay when we do it it, but not when you do it.” That’s about as effective as Ozzy Osbourne spearheading your kid’s D.A.R.E. program. “Do as I say, but not as I did in the 70s and 80s,“ or else you’re a racist mother fucker. Today I was 39 years old when I learned that Braves fans are doing the chop “with honor and respect” while outsiders are “disrespecting the tribes” with their white privilege.

Just so everyone’s on the same page here, Phillies fans were disrespecting one entity alone – the Atlanta Braves. It was a sardonic ribbing of a division rival during a comprehensive postseason plastering at Citizens Bank Park. Nothing more, nothing less. I did see commentary from Phillies fans who thought it was a bad look, saying that a “racist gesture” is still racist even if it’s performed in a satirical or mordant kind of way. Fair enough, if you want to have that opinion, but I’m pretty sure Bobby in 144 was just trying to rattle the opposing team.

For what it’s worth, the Braves issued a statement on their name, and the chop, during the height of the BLM movement in 2020 that saw other teams, like the Redskins, change their monikers. In a letter to season ticker holders, they wrote this, in part:

“Through our conversations, changing the name of the Braves is not under consideration or deemed necessary. We have great respect and reverence for our name and the Native American communities that have held meaningful relationships with us do as well. We will always be the Atlanta Braves.

As it relates to the fan experience, including the chop, it is one of the many issues that we are working through with the advisory group. The chop was popularized by our fans when Deion Sanders joined our team and it continues to inspire our players on the field. With that in mind, we are continuing to listen to the Native American community, as well as our fans, players, and alumni to ensure we are making an informed decision on this part of our fan experience.”

Everybody has an opinion on the chop, but it doesn’t really matter because it’s up to the Braves and Major League Baseball to determine what, if anything, should be done.