Yankees broadcaster takes issue with fervent patriotism in World Baseball Classic
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New York Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay seemed to have a problem with “wrapping the sport in the flag” while Team USA stars preached patriotism at this month’s World Baseball Classic.
Paul Skenes, Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge were among the players who discussed what it means to wear the USA on their chest. Team USA manager Mark DeRosa even brought Robert J. O’Neill, credited with killing terrorist Osama bin Laden, into the locker room to talk to the players before their quarterfinal match against Canada.
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Michael Kay during New York Yankees Oldtimers Day at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York on August 24, 2024. (Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Kay said such things make him “a little uneasy.”
“What makes me a little uneasy… I don’t like wrapping sports in the flag, preaching patriotism and bringing in SEAL Team 6 guys. The only uniform that matters to me is the uniform worn by the men and women of our military,” he said Wednesday. ESPN New York radio. “They decide the wins and losses. You don’t represent me because you have the USA on your chest. I don’t believe it.”
Sports columnist Mike Lupica, who was with Kay, said bringing in a member of SEAL Team 6 was “a little bit dangerous” for him, adding that bringing politics into sports opened “a rabbit hole we don’t want to go down head down.”
DeRosa explained why he brought O’Neill in earlier in the week.
Bryce Harper of the United States celebrates hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning of the championship game against Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
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“It was my decision to bring him in,” DeRosa said. through defector. “He was actually brought to Houston for a few days. It wasn’t before the Canada game. I think for me… you never want to lose sight of why you’re doing this. Whatever that ‘why’ is, and a lot of people say, as Paul Skenes told me when he signed up for this, ‘I want to do this for every serviceman and woman who protects our freedom. That’s why we wear the USA on our chest.’
“Even though it’s an incredible event and you get a chance to share the locker room with the best in the game, there’s a reason you do it and there’s a reason why people protect our freedom at night. I just wanted to honor that.”
Kay made similar comments about the hype around players who go above and beyond to represent their country with fervent patriotism. He said he did not believe “international competition is a referendum for my country.”
U.S. pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the Dominican Republic during the 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinal game at CreditDepot Park on March 15, 2026. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
“There are people who represent the United States of America and who truly represent the United States of America, and you know who those people are? The men and women of the military,” he said. Terrible Announcement. “It all comes down to this. They decide the greatness of this country. Their sheer courage, how they fight for freedom and risk their lives is important to me. The United States of America winning the gold medal against Canada? Great. I’m excited for them. It’s not a referendum in my country, just not.”
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“But somehow we got it to be like, my country is better than your country, stop it. Come on. Aren’t we being a little ridiculous with this chauvinistic stuff? … I’m glad everyone came. Mark DeRosa brought one of the Navy SEAL guys who was in the group that killed Osama bin Laden. OK, whatever motivates people … but if we equate a baseball game to that, I don’t know.”
