Dodgers’ Dave Roberts reverses course on Atlanta All-Star Sport after boycott ideas

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The MLB All-Star Game was relocated from Atlanta to Denver in 2021 in response to voting legal guidelines within the state of Georgia that then-President Joe Biden described as "Jim Crow on steroids."

On the time, Los Angeles Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts, who was honored with managing the Nationwide League crew on account of his crew taking part in within the earlier 12 months's World Collection, stated he would have needed to contemplate declining to handle the sport if the Midsummer Basic had not been moved.

MLB made the change, saying that "one of the simplest ways to reveal" the league's values of "[supporting] voting rights for all People and [opposing] restrictions to the poll field" was to maneuver the sport. So, Roberts was within the dugout that summer time, however the sport was introduced again to Atlanta this 12 months, despite the fact that the legal guidelines stay in place.

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Nationwide League supervisor Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers throughout exercises earlier than the 2025 MLB All-Star Sport at Truist Park. (Brett Davis-Imagn Photographs)

Throughout a information convention, a reporter requested Roberts about his earlier feedback made in 2021 about being "relentless with our voices" and why the sport is in Atlanta "when that is on the books."

"I feel it is simply being relentless with our voices," the Dodgers' supervisor said at the time . "This isn't simply one thing that is an remoted second in time that we're speaking about. It is one thing that must be talked about [on an] ongoing [basis], and be relentless with it."

Pat McAfee emceed the information convention and stated he didn't really feel that anybody on the stage (Roberts, Paul Skenes, Aaron Boone and Tarik Skubal) "ought to be giving solutions on that."

"I'd assume that there was a cause or some dialog that was had by the MLB and the state that every one events thought that this could be a beautiful host metropolis for the All-Star Sport. I feel all people is all very excited to be again within the stunning metropolis of Atlanta, I feel. I don’t wish to converse out of pocket for anyone, however I do consider," McAfee continued .

From left to proper, Los Angeles Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts, #30, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, #30, and Pat McAfee look on throughout the All-Star Press Convention at Coca-Cola Roxy on Monday, July 14, 2025 in Atlanta. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Images by way of Getty Photographs)

2025 MLB ALL-STAR GAME TO TAKE PLACE AT BRAVES' HOME PARK AFTER IT WAS TAKEN AWAY OVER VOTING LAW CONTROVERSY

"I feel Pat answered it good and actually," Roberts chimed in. "I recognize the query. I recognize your ideas. I do really feel that I’m excited to be right here. I feel that it’s an important metropolis. I feel baseball followers are excited to be right here and have a good time these nice athletes.

"I’m not a politician. I do really feel that everybody has their proper to voice ideas, however proper now I actually select to only concentrate on the gamers within the sport and be excited to be right here. For me, to have the ability to handle these guys and to handle in opposition to these guys, I’m honored."

The Election Integrity Act of 2021 positioned new restrictions on voting by mail, added voter ID necessities and restricted poll drop containers. Biden criticized the regulation as "Jim Crow on steroids."

On Monday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp praised MLB for returning the sport to Atlanta and creating financial alternatives for companies within the metropolis.

"We're excited concerning the sport lastly being right here. It ought to have been right here a number of years in the past. They by no means ought to have pulled it to start out with, however fortunately the sport's coming again," Kemp stated in an look on "Fox & Friends."

Los Angeles Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts walks again to the dugout after making a pitching change throughout the seventh inning in Sport 2 of the NL Division Collection in opposition to the San Diego Padres on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 in Los Angeles. (AP Photograph/Ashley Landis)

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"It is good for the Braves group. It is good for all of the distributors and small enterprise individuals in and across the ballpark and within the metropolis of Atlanta up in Cobb County and actually for our complete state."