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

New York Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay appeared to return rumor pinch "wrapping sports successful nan flag" arsenic Team USA stars preached patriotism during nan World Baseball Classic this month.

Paul Skenes, Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge were among nan players who discussed what it meant to deterioration nan USA connected their chest. Team USA head Mark DeRosa moreover brought successful Robert J. O’Neill, nan man credited pinch sidesplitting violent Osama bin Laden, into nan locker room to speak to nan players earlier their crippled against Canada successful nan quarterfinal.

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

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

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

Sports columnist Mike Lupica, who was connected pinch Kay, said bringing successful a personnel 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 want to caput down."

DeRosa explained earlier successful nan week why he brought successful O’Neill.

United States Bryce Harper celebrates aft hitting a two-run location tally during nan eighth inning successful nan title crippled of nan 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 nan Canada game. I deliberation for maine location has to beryllium … you ne'er want it to get mislaid why you’re doing this. Whatever that ‘why’ is and a batch of people, for illustration Paul Skenes said to maine erstwhile he signed up for this, ‘I want to do this for each work man and female that protects our freedom. That’s why we deterioration USA crossed our chest.’

"I conscionable thought it would beryllium for illustration a clip to benignant of redirect and get those guys to understand that, though this is an unbelievable arena and you get a chance to stock a locker room pinch nan game’s greats, there’s a logic why you’re doing it and a logic why group protect our state astatine night. I conscionable wanted to grant that."

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

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

"There are group that correspond nan United States that really correspond nan United States, and you cognize who those group are? The men and women of nan military," he said, via Awful Announcing. "That’s what it each comes down to. They determine nan greatness of this country. Their sheer bravery, really they conflict for state and propulsion their lives connected nan statement – that is important to me. The United States winning nan golden badge 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 – extremity it. Come on. Aren’t we getting a small spot nonsensical pinch this jingoistic stuff? … I’m gladsome that everybody’s brought in. Mark DeRosa brought successful 1 of nan Navy SEAL guys that was portion of nan group that killed Osama Bin Laden. OK, immoderate gets nan group motivated … but to equate a shot crippled to that, I don’t know."