Let's dive into the latest buzz from Major League Baseball, where some intriguing celebrations and a bit of controversy took center stage over the weekend. It all started with Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls and his unique homage to former President Donald Trump's recent ordeal and his memorable reaction.
During Sunday's 6-4 win over the Yankees in the Bronx, Walls mimicked Trump’s arm-pumping ‘Fight! Fight! Fight!’ chant after making a rare appearance at second base. This little act caught the attention of many, but it didn’t stop there. The St. Louis Cardinals also got in on the action, with designated hitter Alec Burleson delivering a more elaborate performance.
Burleson, after hitting his 18th home run of the season, appeared to pay tribute to Trump’s response to the attempted shooting on July 15. He covered the side of his face with one hand and fist-pumped with the other as he rounded third base. This gesture was initially thought to be a nod to Trump’s ear injury from the incident. However, it turns out, there was a different story behind it.
NEW: MLB players are doing Trump-inspired celebrations after Trump was nearly assas*inated at his Pennsylvania rally last week.
Tampa Bay Rays player Taylor Walls was seen going "Fight, Fight" with his fist in the air.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ dugout was seen holding their ears… pic.twitter.com/ZKfjjZALpf
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 21, 2024
At least three Cardinals players were seen doing similar gestures during their 6-2 victory over the Braves in Atlanta. Veteran Matt Carpenter later clarified to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the celebration was misunderstood. “Definitely not a political statement,” Carpenter said. “That is off base.”
According to Derrick Goold of the Dispatch, the pantomime was actually a playful reference to Burleson’s college rap persona, ‘Biscuit,’ from his days at East Carolina. By covering his ear, Burleson was pretending to be wearing headphones, a classic move for his 'Biscuit' character. Carpenter emphasized that it was just an inside joke among teammates and had nothing to do with politics.
BREAKING: Players on the St. Louis Cardinals celebrated a home run by doing Trump's Fight! Fight! Fight! salute. They had their right hand on their ear, and the other riased in a fist
I think I know who my new favorite baseball team is 🔥
pic.twitter.com/i3lXXj4tMi— George (@BehizyTweets) July 21, 2024
This misunderstanding highlights the fine line between sports and political commentary, especially in today's highly charged environment. It also underscores how easily actions can be misconstrued, especially when they involve high-profile figures like Trump, who survived an assassination attempt just last week in Butler, Pennsylvania. Tragically, a bystander named Corey D. Comperatore and the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, both lost their lives in the incident.
Trump, a lifelong Yankees fan and a friend of the late George Steinbrenner, has always been vocal about his love for sports. In a 2010 interview with MTV, he reminisced about his high school days, claiming he was quite the athlete, playing football, baseball, soccer, and wrestling. He even boasted about his skills on the baseball field, stating he could have gone pro but chose real estate instead.
Interestingly, Slate's Leander Schaerlaeckens dug up some old box scores from Trump’s high school games, revealing he went 4 for 29 at the plate. Trump also recounted a tryout encounter with Willie McCovey, though this claim seems dubious given the age difference between them.