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Danny Almonte on Jackie Robinson West: 'It's not those kids' fault'

Photo by Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

Photo by Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

Former Little League sensation Danny Almonte spoke out on behalf of Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West team, which had to vacate its Little League World Series U.S. title after being accused of using geographically ineligible players.

Almonte, who was involved in a Little League scandal over his age 14 years ago, said that “everybody do the same thing” and believes that race may have placed a part in this scandal.

From DNAinfo Chicago:

“Those African-American kids did good, and they want to take that away from them. I don’t think that’s fair,” said Almonte, who said he heard the news that JRW lost its title while watching ESPN.

“I don’t want to sound racist, but it’s always something against Latin or African-American teams.”

Almonte’s Bronx team finished third in the 2001 Little League World Series, but it was later discovered that Almonte was 14 years old at the time of the tournament, two years older than the age limit.

“And it’s not those kids’ fault either,” Almonte also told DNAinfo. “That’s not fair to them. That’s not fair for the whole Chicago city. I know you are proud of that team.”

(Thanks to DNAinfo Chicago for sharing.)

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