MLB All-Stars Mike Trout, Cole Hamels embrace role as positive distractions

SAN DIEGO — The last month in America has been filled with tragic news, from the Pulse nightclub shooting that left 49 dead to last week’s shooting in Dallas that left five police officers dead.

It is a time of great divide in the United States, as the police-involved shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota have led to Black Lives Matter protests all over the nation.

Set in the context of a trying time in American history, the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday gave fans across the nation a reason to celebrate as the sport’s top players took to the field at Petco Park in beautiful San Diego.

Many players expressed pride that their platforms as baseball stars allowed them to make a positive impact on fans’ lives, especially in times of great stress. Angels superstar Mike Trout, arguably the best player, hoped the game would provide a distraction from the constant stream of negative news.

“Obviously, the things that have happened across the United States ... it’s disappointing,” Trout said Monday before the Home Run Derby. “These next couple of days, it’s time to have some fun and smile. It’s a distraction from what’s been going on.”

“It makes people smile and have fun with it,” Trout said. “People enjoy it, I know a lot of people watch it.”

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt expressed a similar sentiment.

“Definitely, being a fan, guys come to the game to get a little distraction,” Goldschmidt said. “It’s like going to the movie theater, it’s entertainment. It gives them a reason to check their teams, and fantasy, and do all that different type of stuff. ...

“Our job is definitely to go out there and provide some entertainment, and the best kind of entertainment is for us to win. That’s why you have specific teams, or with fantasy guys, they’re cheering for specific guys. Hopefully we go out there and do our job, and help distract people for a little bit.”

Retired soccer star Landon Donovan, in town for the Legends and Celebrity Softball Game on Sunday, said that realizing the pivotal role that sports plays in American culture was an important part of his career.

“It’s always that way,” Donovan said. “As I got older in my career, I realized people are coming to the games because they want to escape from all that. They want a few hours where they can just let go, whether it’s work or whatever is going on in the world. When you realize that as an athlete as you get older, it actually made me perform better because I thought to myself that people are paying money and spending time here to do this. We need to entertain them and give them what they want.”

Donovan, the all-time leading scorer in U.S. men’s national team history, takes even greater pride in being a distraction due to the fact he was a national sports figure. He recalled a powerful moment after the September 11 attacks that changed the way he though about his profession.

“After 9/11, we played a qualifier in Boston,” Donovan said. “As we were walking out onto the field, our coach told us that we had just bombed Iraq and we were going to war. It made you think for a second that soccer doesn’t really matter. But then you realize, you know what, it does. It gives people a chance to get away from it and forget about that stuff. So absolutely, it can be helpful.”

Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels, whose baseball home in Arlington is about 20 miles outside of Dallas, said Tuesday that he feels a special responsibility to serve as a positive force for fans who are still reeling from last week’s tragedy.

“We play the game for the fans,” Hamels said. “They’re the ones that want to see us play. We’re fortunate enough to be able to do it at such a high level. What happened and transpired in Dallas is obviously the most unfortunate thing you could ever have. What people had to witness and what people are still going to go through emotionally ... there’s not enough words to really describe the impact because it’s not a very positive impact on people.”

“If we’re able to, in the sports world, give someone some motivation and a good distraction to help push through those emotions, then I’m all for it,” Hamels said. “I’ll do everything I can.”