Adam Jones: "This isn't a cry that's acceptable, but this is their cry"

Center fielder Adam Jones had something he needed to say this morning and the Orioles were happy to accomodate him.

Jones has been deeply moved by the rioting and protests in the city. He's watched the footage on television, he's tried to reach out to people.

Today, he spoke up.

"The last 72 hours I think in this city have been tumultuous, to say the least," Jones said. "We've seen good, we've seen bad, we've seen ugly. We've seen our games canceled, postponed, relocated, a lot of families relocated.

"It's a city that's hurting, a city that needs its heads of the city to stand up, step up and help the ones that are hurting. It's not an easy time right now for anybody. It doesn't matter what race you are. My prayers have been out for all the families, all the kids out there. They're hurting.

"The big message is: Stay strong Baltimore, stay safe. Continue to be the great city that I've known to love over the last eight years I've been here. Continue to be who you are. I know there's been a lot of damage in the city. There's also been a lot of good protesting, a lot of people standing up for the rights that they have in the Constitution, in the Bill of Rights, and I'm just trying to make sure we're on the same page.

"Obviously, you can see everybody's not on the same page. The youth are hurting and as the older guys, the older community, we owe it to the youth to continue to educate them, continue to strengthen them, continue to be by their sides. That's what they need. I don't think they need more antagonizing. They need a shoulder to cry on. I think the city leaders can be that for these kids and for the community."

What comfort can Jones offer?

"The comfort I can give them is someone has your back," he said. "When you look at the picture and no one is fighting for you. There's people like myself. I can't just name all the athletes because there are so many city leaders that are actually doing things in Baltimore that are affecting change. I say to the youth, your frustration is warranted. The actions I don't think are acceptable. If you come from where they come from, you understand, but ruining the community that you have to live in is never the answer due to the fact that you're going to have to wake up in three or four days and go back to those convenience stores, go back to all these stores.

"This is their cry. This isn't a cry that is acceptable, but this is their cry, and therefore we have to understand it. Like I said, they need hugs, they need love, they need support. As much as I can give, as much as I know people on the opposition can give, I'm going to try and give as much as I can because the city needs it.

"I would say it's uneasy, but I feel the pain of these kids. Let's not forget I grew in similar tracks as them.

"It's just not easy, seeing a community that you're trying to affect change in, seeing these kind of things. These kids are hurting. These kids have seen the pain in their parent's eyes, the pain in their grandparent's eyes over decades. This is their way of speaking on behalf of their parents and behalf of their grandparents and people who have been hurt."

Jones hasn't had an opportunity to speak with Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

"Her agenda, it would be really hard to get to her," Jones said. "At the same time, I have a family I have to protect. I have to make sure my family is obviously, my No. 1 priority. I have to make sure they are protected. I have been in contact with the public on the front line, they're out there marching. There has been a lot of positive feedback. Obviously what we see on TV is the negative things, but there have been a lot of positive change for the city."

Jones said playing a game today with no fans will feel "like a showcase game."

"There's going to be no one here, literally nobody in the stands," Jones said. "It's shocking because these are things that unite communities in dark times. It's not just baseball, it's whatever sport is going on at the time. I understand the safety issues. I drove around the city and see the National Guard here.

"Sports unites communities. To have fans, it would be awesome because it can give them three hours of distractions and that's what sports brings. It's a small distraction from the real world. I think the people of Baltimore need that, but at the same time the safety of those people are very important to those people, the Orioles, Major League Baseball and to the city of Baltimore. Therefore, it's understandable why they're not allowing any fans. It's going to be weird, but it's understandable.

"Listen, I wish that we had fans to help with the healing process. The other part of deciding to play the game, that's up to the commissioners and owners. That's way out of my hands, but sports bring people together, black white or indifferent. They bring us together, and for those three hours, they can have beers, can have hot dogs, nachos, some Boogs and forget about our daily lives. But today, we just have to play a Major League Baseball game without any fans. I think it's the first time in history. Hopefully some people in the warehouse are looking so we can have some onlookers, because I don't think Eutaw Street will be open."

Should the city and Orioles have beefed up security and played the game under normal circumstances?

"That part's not up to me," Jones replied. "I can't answer that because I'm not in that position. I play center field, not manage security for Camden Yards. I love fans. Sports are generated, they derive from the fans. They're the passion behind us, but for their personal security. It doesn't matter how many you have out there. For individual security, it makes sense to not have any people here today.

"It's not easy. This whole process is not easy. We need this game to be played, but we need this city to be healed first. That's important to me, that the city is healed, because this is an ongoing issue. I just hope that the community of Baltimore heads the message of the city leaders."

Jones was asked about the lack of facilities for kids in the city.

"I've built two centers and helped maintain two centers in Baltimore. I'm working on my third right now," he said. "I haven't been around the city enough to really see how many places are affected, but I do know one thing - inner city projects, communities, the funding is definitely being stripped. I know that part, that's from San Diego. That's been happening anyway.

"It's good that you have guys like myself that are going out there and putting their own time. It's not about the money, it's about the time. These kids want to see face. When they just see something nice, they're like, "cool." They don't care. When they see a face behind it and someone actually caring about it, they tend to take care of it a little better. Myself, Torrey Smith, (Ray) Lewis, tons of people in Baltimore and all over other cities and communities have affected change in their communities because inner city funding have gone down.

"I don't know what the reason of it is. I'm not a politician, I just play sports. But I know that I'm in a unique situation to where I can affect a lot of those and try and bring back some of the things, some of the memories I had as a kid.

"It's not the easiest, but I understand. I understand the situation that these kids are in. Not too long ago I was one of those teenagers using city transpotirtion, meeting up at the mall with my friends after school. Doing all of the same things. Baseball was an outlet, something that pushed me in different directions. But I'm not far from these kids, so I understand all the things they are going through. It's important to me to reach out to them. That's why my biggest thing is I like to reach out to 12-17. Those are the ones that need the most help, the ones you are trying to affect their minds, get in their heads. Get them ready for the real world, as opposed to the false realities we see on TV."

Jones was reminded that he needs to be careful what he says today in an empty ballpark and the sound of his voice traveling.

"I don't think that's going to change the game in any bit," he said. "It's going to be the game. The umpires might be able to hear us a little more candidly when they let us hear about it. But, it's going to be different playing the game with no fans. It's a first in Major League Baseball. I've played with 40 fans, but zero is a difference maker.

"We owe it to ourselves when we put the jersey on to have that concentration. At the end of the day we still have to go and get a win. We have to win. That's our goal as a team. Same things go for the White Sox. They are facing the same problems we are now. On both sides, it's going to be difficult. The White Sox flew in here, they didn't anticipate this happening. They are in awe, they are in shock. Just as the whole nation is right now."