Mets Announcer Criticizes Cubs Rookie's Funeral Absence During Playoff Race

New York Mets announcer Gary Cohen criticized Chicago Cubs rookie Matt Shaw for missing a game during a playoff push to attend the memorial service of his murdered friend, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calling it "weird" to leave the team for anything other than a family emergency. Cohen and former Mets player Todd Zeile expressed that Shaw's absence was unprecedented and raised concerns about its timing and the lack of initial transparency about his whereabouts. However, Shaw had the full support of the Cubs organization and teammates, who allowed him to attend, recognizing the significance of his personal connection to Kirk. Shaw emphasized his strong faith and the importance of honoring his friend, who was a devoted Cubs fan and had a close relationship with him. The Cubs had already clinched a playoff berth, though they were still competing for playoff seeding, which contextualizes the controversy around Shaw's absence. While Cohen's comments sparked backlash, some argue that attending a memorial service is a personal matter and should be respected as such, especially since the Cubs approved the absence.