I refer you back to the question I posed in my first two responses in this thread, which you ignored both times: even if they were actually friends, how often do other ball players get to miss games to go to their friend’s funeral?

Turns out they met during the offseason (less than a year ago) and it was a political rally, not a funeral. The primary point always was, and still is, it’s absurd that he went to this. If thinking a corp like the cubs would want to massage the details here makes me a conspiracy theorist, so be it

LOL man for someone who never thought about this until you stumbled upon a thread you’re clearly giving it a lot of thought now

K 👍

Oof dude I don’t know what to tell ya. Never said I have “evidence”. I don’t think the “evidence” you have is convincing. Everyone reporting on this is probably getting their info from the same place, and that place is motivated to construe this a particular way. That’s all. Media literacy.

Lastly, how would they have become friends? Maybe Matt was an active member of a TP chapter. Maybe they exchanged DMs. But it seems much more likely that the Cubs are trying to cover their ass. You’re giving an awful lot of credit to a corporation, and one run by the Ricketts family, no less.

I think it’s pretty odd that you are assuming it is true. The Cubs understand the optics of this. There’s a reason they tried to bury that photo and sources only spoke to the Athletic on the condition of anonymity.

Uh how about some evidence that it is true? It would be completely unacceptable for the Cubs to say, “he went to attend the memorial for a political activist he was a fan of and met a few times.” Why should I take them at their word? Because the cubs always tell the full truth to the media?

Reported more extensively than counsell who just said that? I have no reason to believe the official word that they were friends is anywhere near the truth. And even if they were — do other guys get to go to their friend’s funerals?

Feels like a bit of a non sequitur but ok?

How do you know they were actually friends? Asking genuinely. Regardless, how often do you think other ball players have had to miss a friend’s funeral to play? I don’t know for sure, I’d bet a lot

Ah I wouldn’t, there are so few vocally progressive players that sometimes I forget we have any. Speaking of, has PCA said some stuff that I’ve missed? I tend to assume he’s at least not MAGA based on where he’s from but I’ve never known for sure. I also assume good things about Happ

Nico has spoken out in support of progressive issues in the past

I became a dedicated BN reader largely because it felt so special to find a sports blog that was thoughtful about these issues. I’m sure the new owners are hoping to expand the audience, but they risk losing the readers who built the audience in the first place

I wish him nothing but failure as he wishes nothing but pain for me

Couldn’t have done that with the bases loaded huh

Was, uh, Kyle Tucker not a big trade? Sending the core out? He whiffed big this time but it hurts even more because he *does* have the guts for big moves

Really appreciate you calling this out

Really don’t think most teammates are looking at or thinking about each others genitals when they’re showering after a game, because it has absolutely nothing to do with anything. Penises aren’t inherently threatening, having one doesn’t inherently make a person threatening.