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New York Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen criticized Chicago Cubs participant Matt Shaw for lacking one of many crew’s video games this previous weekend to attend Charlie Kirk’s funeral.
Cohen’s feedback got here throughout SNY’s broadcast of the Mets’ sport towards the Cubs on Tuesday evening, whereas Shaw was as much as bat in fourth inning, calling the choice “bizarre.”
“I do not need to speak about any of the politics of it, however the considered leaving your crew in the course of a race for any cause aside from a household emergency, actually strikes me as bizarre,” Cohen mentioned.
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Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw (6) is interviewed after a sport towards the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on July 26, 2025. (Patrick Gorski/Imagn Images)
Fellow Mets broadcaster Todd Zeile known as Shaw’s absence “unprecedented.”
“It’s uncommon, I feel it is unprecedented at the least from my expertise as a participant, and I feel it made it a little bit extra uncommon that it was not revealed till after it got here to problem as a result of he was regarded as within the dugout and possibly out there, and was not, and that is the way it was revealed,” Zeile mentioned.
Cohen and Zeile have been criticized on social media for his or her feedback about Shaw’s absence.
Shaw missed the Cubs’ 1-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday to attend the memorial service in Glendale, although supervisor Craig Counsell talked about to the media that Shaw wasn’t out there for the sport as a result of he was at a funeral for a good friend.
Shaw defined why he made it a degree to attend the memorial regardless of his crew’s schedule.
“My reference to Charlie was by way of our [Christian] religion,” Shaw mentioned earlier than the Cubs opened a brand new sequence with the New York Mets on Tuesday, per the Chicago Sun-Times. “And that’s one thing that drives me daily, the explanation why I’m in a position to do what I do daily, and that’s one thing I’m extraordinarily grateful for.
“I do know with out my religion and with out the numerous blessings I’ve been given in my life, that I wouldn’t be right here, be capable of speak to you guys, in a position to assist this crew ultimately go and win championships.
CUBS’ MATT SHAW LEAVES TEAM TO ATTEND CHARLIE KIRK MEMORIAL SERVICE
Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw (6) excessive fives teammates after hitting a two-run house run within the fourth inning towards the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Sept. 19, 2025. (Katie Stratman/Imagn Images)
“That’s one thing I really feel actually, actually blessed about, so no matter backlash comes is OK. I really feel sturdy about my religion and that what was meant to be occurred.”
Shaw added that he and Kirk turned mates final offseason as they lived in the identical residence complicated in Arizona. The two stayed involved all through the MLB season, Shaw mentioned.
Shaw mentioned he was emotional when he came upon Kirk was assassinated whereas at a talking occasion at Utah Valley University Sept. 10.
“When that occurred, a number of feelings came visiting me,” he defined. “I didn’t foresee that taking place. I don’t know the best way to describe every little thing that occurred, how I used to be feeling, But I’ll say I used to be tearing up fairly good. I had a number of [teammates] supporting me, and that can be one thing I’ll bear in mind for my complete life.”
Shaw had been scratched from the Cubs’ lineup that evening earlier than a sport towards the Atlanta Braves.
Kirk, a local of Arlington Heights, a northern suburb of Chicago, was “one of many largest Cubs followers I ever Met,” based on Shaw. In reality, Shaw mentioned it was Erika Kirk, his widow, who requested him to attend the memorial. After a dialog with Counsell and a few teammates, Shaw felt his determination to attend was accepted.
“The cause Charlie and I linked so shut was due to our religion,” Shaw added. “That’s one thing that drives me each single day, one thing that I take into consideration on a regular basis. So, if individuals are questioning who I’m and what I stand for, I’d say that my religion and the numerous blessings I’ve been given are why I’m in a position to be right here, and I simply need to ensure that I may give that again to individuals, that I can help individuals round me, that I can love individuals round me the identical method that I’ve been blessed.”
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Matt Shaw of the Chicago Cubs in motion towards the Tampa Bay Rays at Wrigley Field on Sept. 12, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Cubs have been among the many MLB groups to pay tribute to Kirk, calling for an finish to “all political violence.”
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