Veteran Major League Baseball umpire Joe West makes controversial coronavirus comments

The United States are in a very vulnerable time. There are over three million cases of coronavirus, over 135,000 deaths, and over 1.6 million active cases. Many Americans are not taking coronavirus seriously, and you can now add Major League Baseball umpire Joe West of Asheville, North Carolina to that list.

West’s comments have been so controversial, the Major League Baseball Umpires Association put out a statement Thursday in trying to damage control. They stated the comments are not reflective of the union. So what did West actually say that was so controversial? According to Katherine Acquavella of CBS Sports, West said the following:

“No virus is going to get me. I’ve weathered a bunch of storms in my life. I’ll weather another one. Most of these people that they’re reporting are dying, are not healthy to begin with. I’ve lost 25 pounds over the winter. I’m playing golf everyday in the heat. I’m fine. I’m not going to back down now. I don’t believe in my heart that all these deaths have been from the coronavirus. I believe it may have contributed to some other deaths. I said I’m not going to opt out. I’m going to work. And I’m going to work until you take me off the field or I get hurt, whatever. I’m working.”

Wet also told Bob Nightengale of USA Today the following according to Mike Oz of Yahoo! Sports: 

“Those statistics aren’t accurate. I don’t care who’s counting them. Our system is so messed up, they have emptied hospitals because there’s no elective surgery. The government has been giving these hospitals extra money if someone dies of coronavirus. So, everybody that dies is because of coronavirus. I don’t care if you get hit by a car, it’s coronavirus.”

West is 67 years old. He has been managing baseball since 1976 including six World Series and three All-Star Games.