- Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora missed a game to attend his daughter’s college graduation, prioritizing family over baseball.
- Local media criticized his choice, saying he could have attended both events.
- Fans supported Cora, praising him for putting family first and sharing a joyful family celebration.
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora chose to miss one of his team’s games to be at his daughter’s college graduation. Many people criticized him for skipping the game. The game took place on May 19 against the New York Mets at Fenway Park in Boston. It started at 6:45 p.m., but Cora did not show up. Instead, he went to support his daughter Camila during her graduation ceremony at Boston College, which happened earlier that day. Cora felt attending this important family event was the right choice. He stood by his decision despite the negative comments from some fans and media.
Alex Cora Explains Why Family Comes First and Won’t Change His Mind
The day after the game, Cora addressed reporters to explain his choice. He said clearly, “I made the best decision for my daughter.” He added, “For those who don’t understand, I’m not going to try to convince them.” Cora wanted to make sure people knew that he prioritized his family above everything else. When asked about the criticism, he said he understands that people have opinions. But, he believes family moments like his daughter’s graduation happen only once. He said he was not going to miss that day no matter what. For him, being a father and supporting his daughter mattered most.
Local Media Question Cora’s Decision and Timing of Absence
Some local sports media disagreed with Cora’s choice. Mike Felger, a popular radio host on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, criticized the manager. Felger pointed out that the graduation ceremony ended around noon, many hours before the evening game. He argued that Cora could have attended the ceremony and then gone to manage the team. Felger said, “They were done by noon, which means you can have a nice big party in the middle of the day.” He added that Cora could have simply “cabbied down the street” to Fenway Park to manage the game. Felger called the situation a leadership issue and a matter of optics, suggesting Cora should have shown that nothing was more important than the game.
Cora Firmly Rejects Criticism and Highlights the Importance of Family Support
At a follow-up press conference, a reporter suggested Cora could have quickly left the graduation to attend the game. Cora strongly disagreed. He said his daughter wanted him to be fully present on her special day. He explained, “This is secondary.” Cora emphasized his role as a father and said, “We’re in this world for a purpose. For me, it’s to raise her and do the best we can.” He admitted his decision was not perfect but felt it was the right one at that moment. Cora said clearly, “I wasn’t going to miss it.” His words showed that family matters more to him than anything else, even during a busy baseball season.
Fans Rally Behind Cora, Praising His Choice to Prioritize Family Over Baseball
Many fans showed support for Cora on social media. On NBC Sports Boston’s TikTok video of the press conference, fans left positive comments. One wrote, “There are 162 games in the baseball season for some reason. His daughter graduates once.” Another fan said simply, “He’s a father first.” Others asked, “Who in their right mind is arguing against this?” These comments show that many people respect Cora for putting family first. They understand that no game can replace important family moments like a graduation.
Cora Shares Joyful Family Photo Celebrating Daughter’s Graduation
Cora posted a photo on Instagram after the graduation. The picture showed more than a dozen family members celebrating together. Everyone smiled happily around Camila. In the caption, Cora wrote, #FamiliaEsFamilia, which means #FamilyIsFamily. He added, “No need to elaborate.” This simple message made it clear how much family means to him. The photo captured the joy and love they shared on this special day.
