Jason Kelce mocks Blue Jays, World Series in viral rant

Article content

NFL great Jason Kelce has thrown some shade at the Toronto Blue Jays in a rant about the World Series that has gone viral and drawn the ire of critics.

Article content

In the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, which he hosts with brother Travis Kelce, the Super Bowl winners chatted about the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 5-4 Game 7 victory over the Blue Jays.

Article content

Article content

Travis was quick to praise the series as an “awesome seven games of baseball;” however, Jason had other thoughts on the series that wrapped up less than a week ago at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

“You’re telling me I’m supposed to get excited about a Canadian baseball team?” the 38-year-old said.

The World Series marked Toronto’s first return to the Fall Classic since winning back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993.

Huge ratings in North America, Japan

The series finale was a ratings winner, setting a global MLB viewership record. Game 7 drew a combined 51 million viewers across the United States, Canada and Japan, including 11.6 million in Canada on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

Article content

Article content

It was the most-watched English-language broadcast in Canada since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Travis, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end who is engaged to Taylor Swift, praised both teams for the entertaining, hard-fought series.

“That was the awesome seven games of baseball, man. It was back and forth. Both teams had their shining moments,” he said. “(The Dodgers) spend more money than everybody. That’s baseball.”

But Jason, who retired after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, was having none of what his brother was selling, saying “that’s why baseball sucks.

“It’s exciting that the team that spent the most money and everybody knew was going to win the World Series won the World Series?” he said. “Everybody knew this was going to happen before the season. We just had a bunch of meaningless s— happen before it and then it happened. So, yeah, no baseball’s not getting my stamp.”

Article content

Reaction was predictably swift with Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae quick to express her displeasure over Jason’s stance.

“Wow. What a disappointing comment,” the Toronto-based sideline reporter said in response to a New Heights video clip shared on social media.

Others were not as diplomatic.

“Lame,” said one commentor, while another said it was “the first time Jason Kelce has ever disappointed me.”

“Jason with the HUGE L take here. He tried to form an argument, somewhere in that incoherent mess, but it fell apart. Good try tho,” another commentor said.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

World Series was ‘compelling’ viewing

Jason’s comments won’t sit well with the Toronto fan base, which was whipped into a frenzy throughout the team’s magical post-season run in October. As Major League Baseball’s lone Canadian team, the fan base stretches well beyond the Greater Toronto Area and perhaps never was that more evident than in recent weeks.

Article content

“No one expected them to do what they did,” Jays president Mark Shapiro said Thursday during his season-ending media availability.

“We created new baseball fans everywhere. It was compelling and hard not to watch.”

Evidently, just don’t count Jason as a converted Jays fan.

Of course, the Kelce brothers are at least familiar with what goes into winning a championship. Between them, they’ve made seven Super Bowl appearances. Travis has three Super Bowl rings, while Jason has one.

Article content