Game Day Inspiration

Robert J. O’Neill, a former Navy SEAL known for his role in the mission that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011, addressed Team USA players on Friday before their quarterfinal match against Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

After his motivating words, the USA team secured a 5-3 victory over Canada, moving on to the semifinals. However, not everyone welcomed O’Neill’s speech. Critics, particularly from left-leaning circles on social media—both in the U.S. and beyond—were quick to express their disapproval, especially regarding the speech’s pro-war undertones and its link to American values.

Yet, many others appreciated the speech and supported O’Neill’s perspective. One user on X, formerly Twitter, voiced disbelief at the backlash, saying, “I can’t believe there are people outraged that an American hero shared a heroic story. We’ve shifted from a patriotic nation to one with sympathies toward terrorists since 9/11.” Another chimed in, “Great! Well played. An American hero and legend in the clubhouse.”

Manager’s Reaction

Team USA’s manager, Mark DeRosa, also responded to the criticism swirling around the speech. Meanwhile, the USA is set to face the Dominican Republic in the semifinals this Sunday.

Interestingly, the win over Canada was part of a recent trend of victories for the American military sports teams. Just last month, Japan celebrated a dramatic win against Canada in the Olympic hockey finals, which has fueled some national pride.

O’Neill wasn’t the only motivational figure for Team USA. U.S. hockey star Jack Hughes, who scored the gold medal-winning goal in the Olympics against Canada, reached out to the baseball team before their game. DeRosa noted, “Jack Hughes sent a nice message to give them a little boost, which we passed on to their group chat.” There’s even talk of distributing hockey jerseys for the baseball players to wear during practice and in the clubhouse.