“There was no team policy in Toronto regarding the issue of standing for ‘God Bless America,’ ” Delgado’s agent, David Sloane, said in an e-mail interview Friday. “Therefore Carlos felt it was permissible for him to express his displeasure with the politicalization of baseball.
“He has told every team we have spoken to that he will not do anything other than what the team policy is. If the team policy is that every player is supposed to be on the top step of the dugout for ‘God Bless America,’ Carlos will be on the top step. He will not do anything to put himself above his teammates.”
The Mets play “God Bless America” only on special occasions, unlike the Yankees, who have played it during every game since 9/11 before the bottom of the seventh inning. Generally, players on the field stand where they are and those in the dugout rise to the top step.
The real question, however, is whether or not Delgado is willing to rise and show respect for Nikolai Volkoff’s singing of the Russian National Anthem.
(Neither the King Of Men, Classy Freddie Blassie or Nikolai Volkoff care much for “team policy” )
If the Iron Sheik could stand at attention for the Russian National Anthem, then Carlos Delgado can. If not, then Mike Piazza just might have to perform a camel clutch on that no good malcontent.
all Piazza-and-men double entendres are off-limits to anyone besides your editor and publisher. thank you.