Bartolo Colon announces he will not stand for the national anthem because it’s very tiring to stand SportsPickle Follow Aug 28, 2016 · 2 min read

NEW YORK — New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon told the MLB Network today that he has decided that he will no longer stand while the United States anthem is played before baseball games.

The 43-year old native of the Dominican Republic stressed that he does not intend to be disrespectful to the United States, its flag, anthem, people or military, but that he simply finds it “exhausting” to stand up for “extended periods of time.”

“Look at me. Look at this,” Colon said, grabbing the girth around his midsection and shaking it. “It takes every bit of my energy just to go out on the mound every five days. I’m 43 and trying to play in the majors. If I stood up every time a song came on, you’d have to take me to the hospital.”

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The Mets issued a statement saying that while the organization “would prefer that Bartolo Colon stand for the anthem, we understand that he has certain physical concerns that most players do not. We’re amazed every single time he goes out on the mound and can make it through a game. And, beyond all that, this is a nation that values free speech.”

Colon said he appreciates the support of his team, but added that “while a free peach would be nice, I’d rather have some pizza.”