Yankees broadcaster takes issue with 'wrapping sports in the flag and preaching patriotism'

New York Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay appeared to instrumentality contented with "wrapping sports successful the flag" arsenic Team USA stars preached patriotism during the World Baseball Classic this month.

Paul Skenes, Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge were among the players who discussed what it meant to deterioration the USA connected their chest. Team USA manager Mark DeRosa adjacent brought successful Robert J. O’Neill, the antheral credited with sidesplitting violent Osama bin Laden, into the locker country to talk to the players earlier their crippled against Canada successful the quarterfinal.

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Michael Kay during the New York Yankees Old Timers Day connected Aug. 24, 2024 astatine Yankee Stadium successful the Bronx, New York. (Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Kay said those types of things made him a "little uneasy."

"The happening that makes maine a small uneasy … I don’t similar wrapping sports successful the emblem and preaching patriotism and bringing successful SEAL Team 6 people. The lone azygous that counts to maine is the 1 that’s worn by the men and women of our military," helium said Wednesday connected ESPN New York radio. "They determine wins and losses. You don’t correspond maine due to the fact that you person USA connected the chest. I don’t judge it."

Sports columnist Mike Lupica, who was connected with Kay, said bringing successful a subordinate of SEAL Team 6 was a "little dodgy" to him and added that anytime authorities is brought successful sports it opens up a "rabbit spread we don’t privation to caput down."

DeRosa explained earlier successful the week wherefore helium brought successful O’Neill.

United States Bryce Harper celebrates aft hitting a two-run location tally during the eighth inning successful the title crippled of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, successful Miami.  (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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"That was my determination to bring him in," DeRosa said, via Defector. "He was brought in, actually, a mates of days successful Houston. It wasn’t earlier the Canada game. I deliberation for maine determination has to beryllium … you ne'er privation it to get mislaid wherefore you’re doing this. Whatever that ‘why’ is and a batch of people, similar Paul Skenes said to maine erstwhile helium signed up for this, ‘I privation to bash this for each work antheral and pistillate that protects our freedom. That’s wherefore we deterioration USA crossed our chest.’

"I conscionable thought it would beryllium similar a clip to benignant of redirect and get those guys to recognize that, though this is an unbelievable lawsuit and you get a accidental to stock a locker country with the game’s greats, there’s a crushed wherefore you’re doing it and a crushed wherefore radical support our state astatine night. I conscionable wanted to grant that."

Kay made akin comments astir the hype of players representing their state with fervent patriotism and making it much than it is. He said that helium didn’t judge that "international contention is simply a referendum connected my country."

United States pitcher Paul Skenes (30) delivers a transportation against the Dominican Republic during a semifinal crippled of the 2026 World Baseball Classic astatine loanDepot Park connected March 15, 2026. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

"There are radical that correspond the United States that truly correspond the United States, and you cognize who those radical are? The men and women of the military," helium said, via Awful Announcing. "That’s what it each comes down to. They determine the greatness of this country. Their sheer bravery, however they combat for state and propulsion their lives connected the enactment – that is important to me. The United States winning the golden medal against Canada? Wonderful. Thrilled for them. Not a referendum connected my country, it’s conscionable not.

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"But somehow, we’ve turned this into, my state is amended than your state – halt it. Come on. Aren’t we getting a small spot nonsensical with this jingoistic stuff? … I’m gladsome that everybody’s brought in. Mark DeRosa brought successful 1 of the Navy SEAL guys that was portion of the radical that killed Osama Bin Laden. OK, immoderate gets the radical motivated … but to equate a shot crippled to that, I don’t know."