Thrill of World Series victory overshadowed by ‘lack of leadership’ on positive COVID-19 case

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A severe lack of leadership and personal accountability allowed a Los Angeles Dodgers player who tested positive for COVID-19 to return to the field to celebrate the team’s World Series victory Tuesday night, says Sportsnet 650 host Scott Rintoul.

Justin Turner, the Dodgers’ 35-year-old third-baseman who found out he tested positive for COVID-19 during Game 6 of the World Series, was removed in the eighth inning, then returned to the field to celebrate with his teammates, first with a mask, then in a team photo without.

“This is human nature,” Rintoul said, “and it’s easy to rationalize something in the moment. And if we leave it up to the individual, individuals are going to make those choices at times because they will feel the reward outweighs the risk. And Justin Turner is no different. Should we hold him to a higher standard because he’s an athlete? Probably not.”


Other images surfaced on Twitter of Turner, a pending free agent, holding the championship trophy and kissing his wife.

In the team photo, Turner is sitting on the field next to team manager Dave Roberts, who was diagnosed in 2010 with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer that develops within the body’s immune system.

One of Turner’s teammates, relief pitcher Kenley Jensen, underwent corrective heart surgery in 2018 after suffering an atrial fibrillation episode. The condition left him vulnerable to an irregular heartbeat at high altitude.

READ ALSO: LA Dodgers’ Justin Turner returns to field to celebrate World Series win despite COVID-19 diagnosis

“He’s sitting beside a manager who’s a cancer survivor last night, and he’s in a demographic that that is more adversely affected than the one Justin Turner finds himself in. I hope nothing terrible comes of this, but it probably depends on what the results are as opposed to the process that led to this,” Rintoul said.

Whether anyone affiliated with the Dodgers or their opponent, the Tampa Bay Rays, contracts COVID-19 as a result of Turner’s actions is overshadowing the victory.

“Obviously, it would have been preferable if he had a mask on,” Rintoul added. “But, again, this comes back to protocol and this comes back to, where’s the leadership? Who’s going to be the adult in the room? Who’s going to enforce the rules that are in place, or are you going to let people make their own decisions in that kind of moment?”

Turner wrote in a tweet after the game he was feeling great and had no symptoms.

“Just experienced every emotion you can possibly imagine. Can’t believe I couldn’t be out there to celebrate with my guys! So proud of this team and unbelievably happy for the city of L.A.,” he says.

The MLB commissioner’s office announced Wednesday it is beginning a full investigation after Turner disregarded protocol Tuesday night following his positive COVID-19 test to join the on-field celebrations.

Game 6, which L.A won 3-1, had more than 23 million TV viewers.

It was the Dodgers first World Series win since 1988, after losing in the MLB championship twice in the previous three years.

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