Disgraceful. Absolutely disgraceful. That’s the only way to describe what’s happening in baseball right now. Matt Shaw, the Cubs’ third baseman, skipped one game out of 162 to attend the funeral of his friend Charlie Kirk. And somehow, in 2025, that’s considered a headline-worthy scandal. Really? NBA and MLB players skip games all the time for… who knows what. Headaches, sore muscles, toe boo-boos—you name it. Kawhi Leonard has missed half a season because he had a bruised caboose from sitting too long. Brandon Ingram? Missed months over a minor toe contusion.
But when Matt Shaw goes to honor a friend? Oh no. Suddenly he’s selfish. Suddenly he’s a bad person. Some doofus announcer—Gary Cohen, by the way—felt the need to take a stand and question his judgment.
Let me be clear: skipping a meaningless game to mourn a friend is not a scandal. But apparently, in today’s world, showing humanity is a political statement.
9/11 vs. “Charlie Kirk Unity”
Remember 9/11? The entire country united. Flags everywhere, first pitches thrown by President George Bush, communities coming together in shock and mourning. You know how long that unity lasted? At least a few weeks before politics ruined it.
Now contrast that with Charlie Kirk. A beloved figure passes, and instead of empathy, we get Twitter takes, broadcasts, and online mobs questioning someone’s character because he showed up to a funeral. The “woke fungus,” as I’ve been warning you, is real. It’s spreading, and it doesn’t care about basic decency.
The Madness of Modern Sports Politics
Tuesday night, Matt Shaw returned to play after attending the funeral. Gary Cohen took this moment, not to comment on baseball, not to analyze a play, but to suggest Matt Shaw was selfish. Let’s be honest: if a player missed a game because their dog died, would Cohen have said a word? Doubt it. But because it was Charlie Kirk? Suddenly it’s front-page news.
Gary Cohen has been broadcasting since 1989. He’s called hundreds of games, and yes, mistakes happen. But this wasn’t a mistake—it was a politically charged opinion disguised as sports commentary.
The Stats Don’t Lie
Matt Shaw’s numbers this season: batting .230, 13 home runs, 43 RBIs. Hardly MVP-level. So why the outrage over missing one game? Meanwhile, back in 2020, several teams just refused to play over social justice protests. No outrage from Cohen then. Rob Manfred moved the All-Star Game from Atlanta to Denver, supposedly to fight “mythical racism.” Still no problem.
But Matt Shaw? One game missed. Suddenly, it’s a crisis. Folks, let’s keep some perspective.
Sports and Politics: A Recipe for Disaster
Here’s the lesson: sports and politics rarely mix well. You can’t please everyone. Gary Cohen’s comments, no matter how respected he is as a broadcaster, only illustrate that. Sports leagues should stay the hell out of politics. Honor Charlie Kirk? Absolutely. But the commentary afterward? Purely avoidable controversy.
Fans, players, and commentators alike need to remember: humanity isn’t a political stance. It’s just being a decent person. Matt Shaw showed up for his friend. That’s it. End of story.
Sound off below. Are we losing our ability to empathize, or is it just sports politics getting out of hand?
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