{"id":103981,"date":"2025-09-25T07:54:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T07:54:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=103981"},"modified":"2025-09-25T07:54:37","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T07:54:37","slug":"%f0%9f%98%b1%f0%9f%98%b1%f0%9f%98%b1media-shocker-gary-cohen-speaks-out-on-cubs-matt-shaw-missing-a-game-to-attend-charlie-kirks-funeral-insiders-reveal-the-comment-has-stirred-tens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=103981","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\ude31\ud83d\ude31\ud83d\ude31MEDIA SHOCKER Gary Cohen speaks out on Cubs\u2019 Matt Shaw missing a game to attend Charlie Kirk\u2019s funeral, insiders reveal the comment has stirred tension across the league, and now fans are buzzing over whether this will ignite broader controversy or fade as a brief headline frenzy."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Gary<\/p>\n

Gary Cohen stepped into controversy Tuesday night, taking aim at Cubs rookie Matt Shaw\u2019s decision to miss Sunday\u2019s matchup against the Reds in order to attend the funeral of his close friend, Charlie Kirk. The Mets broadcaster raised eyebrows by suggesting Shaw\u2019s absence was ill-timed and hard to justify in the middle of a playoff race, per Heavy.<\/p>\n

Cohen\u2019s comments came during the fourth inning of the Mets-Cubs broadcast, right as Shaw was at the plate. \u201cShaw had Cubs World in a tizzy this weekend when he was not here for the Cubs game with the Reds, and they lost 1-0, and his lack of presence was felt,\u201d Cohen said. He then added that while he wanted to avoid political commentary, skipping a game for reasons outside of family emergencies \u201creally strikes me as weird.\u201d<\/p>\n

Criticism of the critique<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Former Mets catcher Todd Zeile, filling in for Keith Hernandez in the booth, echoed Cohen\u2019s skepticism. He called the move \u201cunprecedented\u201d in his experience, pointing out that it is rare for a player to miss time in such a fashion. Both announcers also highlighted that Shaw\u2019s absence was not covered by MLB\u2019s bereavement list, a detail Cohen suggested spoke volumes about how the league and Cubs viewed the situation.<\/p>\n

But Cohen\u2019s words did not sit well with everyone. Many fans and media members found it troubling that a player\u2019s choice to grieve a murdered friend could be framed as selfish or questionable. The backlash argued that baseball should not override human compassion, especially given the circumstances.<\/p>\n

For Shaw, the decision was personal, not strategic. He and Kirk developed a friendship last offseason in Arizona while living in the same complex. Their bond extended throughout the year, grounded in their shared faith and regular conversations. Kirk, a devoted Cubs fan, was more than just an acquaintance to the rookie.<\/p>\n

Shaw addressed the situation briefly before Cohen\u2019s remarks hit the air. \u201cI felt as though it was something that was really important for me to do,\u201d he said, making clear where his priorities stood.<\/p>\n

In the end, Cohen\u2019s commentary sparked a bigger conversation than the Cubs\u2019 one-run loss itself: where should the line be drawn between professional obligation and honoring a personal bond?<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Gary Cohen sparks backlash after questioning Cubs rookie Matt Shaw for missing a game to attend Charlie Kirk\u2019s funeral.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":103985,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[1585,2024,505],"class_list":["post-103981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","tag-celebrity","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-matt-shaw"],"yoast_head":"\n\ud83d\ude31\ud83d\ude31\ud83d\ude31MEDIA SHOCKER Gary Cohen speaks out on Cubs\u2019 Matt Shaw missing a game to attend Charlie Kirk\u2019s funeral, insiders reveal the comment has stirred tension across the league, and now fans are buzzing over whether this will ignite broader controversy or fade as a brief headline frenzy. - News 365<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=103981\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\ude31\ud83d\ude31\ud83d\ude31MEDIA SHOCKER Gary Cohen speaks out on Cubs\u2019 Matt Shaw missing a game to attend Charlie Kirk\u2019s funeral, insiders reveal the comment has stirred tension across the league, and now fans are buzzing over whether this will ignite broader controversy or fade as a brief headline frenzy. - 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