Sunday (June 1) was the San Francisco Giants' 10th "Find A Cure" observance. The Giants are among the first major league baseball team to dedicate a day to recognize the fight against AIDS, and indirectly, the gay community in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I just thought it was interesting watching the game afterwards that several prominent Giants did not wear the red ribbon patch that other players did. Was it something overlooked by the uniform people or did these players ask that the red ribbon NOT be placed on their uniforms? In fact, of the players in Sunday's lineup, there were actually more Colorado Rockies players sporting the red ribbon than the those in the lineup for the Giants.

Here are those who did not have a red ribbon on their uniform:

Starting pitcher Kirk Rueter
Barry Bonds
J.T. Snow
Jose Cruz Jr.
Ray Durham

I want to applaud the Giants players who did wear the ribbon:

Rich Aurilia (a nice guy and hottie!)
Marquis Grissom (his sister died of AIDS)
catcher for the game Yorvit Torrealba
Eduardo Alfonso

And there were Giants on the bench who wore the red ribbon, including nice guy Jim Brower (and major hunk, see that chiseled chin!) as well as rookie pitcher Jesse Foppert.

And on the Rockies side, gay favorite Gabe Kapler played the whole game and sported a red ribbon too!

I think it's great that the Giants organization has this day, but I wish more of the position players would support the cause and not be afraid to wear a red ribbon on their uniforms.

I remember that day when the Giants had their first "Until there's a Cure" day ten years ago. It caused quite a commotion because I think they were the first sports team ever to acknowledge the disease. I remember it well because some players (I forgot whom) were publicly against it for religious reasons or whatever. Later, when the other Bay Area teams began to have similiar events, they stressed the "innocent" victims of AIDS such as children. As if everyone else who had it was guilty. Still, it's a nice gesture. Hopefully, we'll all see a day when such a gesture won't be necessary anymore.

I only saw bits & pieces of the game, but I find it hard to believe the players you mentioned (Bonds, for example, is surly but not stupid) would not wear the ribbons -- it's a big deal here, and the Giants play "Until... Day" for all it's worth, PR-wise. A player some years ago caused a stir by turning the ribbon sideways to make the Christian "fish" symbol as his way of protest -- I don't think anybody has refused to wear it since.

Hey RGMike, this may be a shocker but I'm admitting that I watch baseball to check out the players. So, with that said, I was pretty careful about checking out all the players looking for the red ribbon. I even waited until the players turned to see if they placed it on the side or on their shoulders or somewhere else on their bodies. And yes, Bonds' uniform was totally clear of any red ribbon. And it's not like it's that hard to see the ribbon, I mean, I noticed it on all the other players I mentioned.

Like I said, I recognize that the entire SFGiants organization is making this a big deal, so I applaud them. I'm just raising the question about why not all the players were wearing the red ribbon. Any insiders with the Giants' organization have an answer? Maybe it was just a simple mistake, but it was a pretty glaring one at that.

Another explanation I was given is that the ribbons are stick-ons -- they're meant to be temporary -- and they do fall off in the course of a game. I also note that Todd whatzisname, the Rockies pitcher who made the anti-gay remarks, took part in the "human ribbon" on the field before the game.

BTW, this year's Giants "Until... day" was originally scheduled for the same Sunday as Pride -- someone in the front office forgot to check the calendar -- and it was hastily moved to June 1st after "the community" complained.

[ June 05, 2003, 03:06 PM: Message edited by: RGMike ]