What you need to know
Jason Kelce is speaking out after receiving backlash for his recent comments regarding the World Series.
The 38-year-old former NFL player questioned why he was “excited” for the World Series on the New Heights podcast and posted a comment on X suggesting it was a known fact that the Los Angeles Dodgers would beat the Toronto Blue Jays.
In an excerpt of the podcast episode posted on X, Jason and his brother Travis Kelce chat about the World Series, with the former Philadelphia Eagles center asking, “Are you saying I’m supposed to be excited about a Canadian baseball team and a team that spends more money than anyone else?”
“Who does he care about?” Jason continued. “That’s why baseball sucks. All you do is buy a World Series championship. It’s the stupidest thing in the world.”
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“We all knew this was going to happen before the season,” he continued. “There were a few things that didn’t make sense, but this happened before.”
Jason ended his rant by saying, “So, yeah, no, baseball isn’t my cup of tea.”
Some baseball fans, especially those who support the Blue Jays, were upset by Jason’s comments. One fan wrote in the comments section of X’s New Heights clip: “Awesome. 🇨🇦Team comment? One player (one on each team by the way) is Canadian.”
“I hate that idea and it actually makes me sick,” the fan continued. “Our Blue Jays have definitely been great this season and they are Canada’s team so they don’t deserve to be fired. Absolutely, Jason.”
Another said, “Hey! There’s nothing wrong with the Canadian baseball team. They have the 4th or 5th highest salary, not even close to the Dodgers. And last year they were in last place. They play with grit and heart every game. You’d think an athlete would appreciate that.”
Jason later addressed the feedback in a post on his X account on Friday, Nov. 7, writing, “Guys, I love Canada. I was fooled by a social team that didn’t give the full story.”
“How could you not like poutine, maple syrup, and Beaver?! In fact, I was rooting for the Blue Jays in the World Series, but I didn’t care. Seriously, Canada is the best. I was just saying that I personally don’t care that the team that spent the most money building a super team won the World Series. That’s it. I’m known as a Canadian advocate and hockey fan,” he added.
Jason isn’t the only player to recently issue an apology related to the World Series. Prince Harry also drew some criticism for wearing a Dodgers hat to Game 4 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, without showing his support for the Toronto Blue Jays.
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Speaking in Toronto for a Memorial Day event, Harry, 41, addressed criticism that he should have supported a team in a Commonwealth country rather than his new home in California.
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“Oh, that’s the Los Angeles Dodgers hat, Hatgate. First of all, I’d like to apologize to Canada for wearing that,” he said.
“Secondly, I was under pressure,” Harry continued, recalling the experience of watching Game 4 at Dodger Stadium. “I didn’t really have much of a choice. The owner himself invited me into the Los Angeles Dodgers’ box or dugout, so I did what I thought was the polite thing to do.”
