Chipper Jones responds to criticism of champagne celebration after winning playoff spot-MLB Update
Atlanta Braves celebrated the victory which ensured their spot in the playoffs in an extravagant fashion. They doused players with champagne and had fun by demonstrating what clinching the Wild Card berth actually meant for them.
However, the criticism has emerged stating that those celebrations were over the top and somewhat uncalled for. On this, Chipper Jones has responded vehemently and hinted that the criticism is baseless.
Braves collapsed last year after reaching such a position in the season from where they could easily be considered as contender for winning the top glory. Such a thumping failure was demoralising for the whole club. Pain and misery which resulted from this
is still alive.
Players like Brian McCann and Freddie Freeman can never forget what happened with the fate of the team during the September collapse in the last season.
Against this backdrop, the way players reacted as soon as the spot in the playoffs was earned was hardly surprising. For most of the players it was like the payoff of all the hard work they put in throughout the year.
Jones is extremely critical of the contention that their celebrations were inappropriate. He recalls the time when the Braves were denounced for being a team which lacks enthusiasm and is least motivated for having celebrations. In light of this, the grounds
on which the recent criticism is based are hollow and confusing.
“We finally let our hair down and we still get bad-mouthed, so what’s it going to be?” Jones said. “Make up your mind.”
Champagne was poured on the face of Jones during moments of jubilance the Braves enjoyed after securing a place in the post-season.
“If our season ends on October 5, we got to celebrate and that’s something these guys haven’t gotten to do,” Jones said. “Why take it away from us? Every time we advance, you know what? We’re going to celebrate whether you like it or not, whether it’s apropos
or not, we’ve earned it.”
Jones believes whatever the players did during their celebration was right and was demanded by the situation. Jones likes to see his team performing well in the post-season and experiencing more celebrations.
Chipper will be looking to make sure his own performance does not decline in the matches ahead.
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