Matt Shaw ‘Not Concerned at All’ About Potential Backlash Over Attending Charlie Kirk’s Funeral
Matt Shaw was absent from the team for Sunday’s series finale in Cincinnati to attend what Craig Counsell explained at the time was the funeral of a friend. It was later clarified that Shaw had flown to Arizona to attend the memorial service for prominent conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated at a rally at Utah Valley University on September 10. Shaw met with reporters in the clubhouse prior to Tuesday’s game against the Mets to explain his friendship with Kirk.
“Charlie, he was someone that I met at the apartments in Arizona where I lived, and then someone who was one of the biggest Cubs fans I ever met,” Shaw said. “He texted me after every game, ‘Great win for the Cubbies.’ And he was super, super supportive of us, and obviously someone who’s really faithful. So, we connected on that front as well.
“But yeah, his wife, Erika, had texted me asking me if I would come to the funeral. And I felt as though it was something that was really important for me to do.”
Shaw also clarified that being scratched from the lineup on September 10 in Atlanta was a result of his emotional state in the wake of Kirk’s death.
“I will say that I was tearing up pretty good, and I had a lot of guys come in on this team that were supporting me,” Shaw explained. “That will be something I remember for my entire life, is how everyone responded to what I was going through. Those are friends and moments that you have with people that create a bond for a long time. And I’m really thankful for the way that my teammates were able to be there for me.”
The third baseman shrugged off the idea of backlash over the political implications of his attendance at Sunday’s event, particularly when it took him out of a late-season game with the Cubs still battling for playoff position.
“I’m not concerned at all, no,” Shaw said. “My connection with Charlie was through our faith, and that’s something that drives me every day. That’s the reason why I’m able to do what I do every day, and that’s something I’m extremely thankful for.”
You’re all big boys and girls, so I’m not going to tell you how I think you should feel about this situation. What I will say is that, while I don’t necessarily agree with Shaw’s decision, I applaud him for addressing the matter directly rather than pleading the fifth or just hemming and hawing his way through it. This is obviously quite a flashpoint topic, so I thought the 23-year-old handled it well regardless of where you fall on the ideological spectrum.
