Cubs' Matt Shaw Attends Charlie Kirk Memorial Amid Backlash

Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw skipped a game against the Cincinnati Reds to attend the memorial service of his friend Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who was assassinated. Shaw explained that his connection with Kirk was rooted in their shared Christian faith, which he said drives him every day and for which he is deeply thankful. He received the invitation from Kirk's widow, Erika, and had the support and permission of the Cubs organization and teammates before attending the memorial in Arizona. Despite some backlash from sports media and fans, Shaw expressed no regrets, stating he was not concerned about the criticism and felt attending the service was important for his faith. Shaw and Kirk had developed a friendship the previous offseason while living in the same apartment complex in Arizona and stayed in contact throughout the MLB season. The Cubs lost the game Shaw missed, but he was back in the lineup for the following match against the New York Mets.