{"id":535979,"date":"2026-03-21T03:29:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T03:29:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/535979\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T03:29:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T03:29:13","slug":"aaron-judge-responds-to-criticism-of-usas-no-fun-attitude-in-wbc-everybodys-different","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/535979\/","title":{"rendered":"Aaron Judge Responds to Criticism of USA’s No-Fun Attitude in WBC: ‘Everybody’s Different’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aaron Judge has heard your opinions about Team USA’s seemingly all-work, no-play attitude <\/a>during the World Baseball Classic. And he is here to assure you that he and his patriotic squad did, indeed, have a lot of fun.<\/p>\n

“Everybody\u2019s different. Every culture is different,” Judge said Friday. <\/a>“I loved everything that Mexico was doing, what Great Britain was doing, the [Dominican Republic], with how they celebrate the game and how their fans celebrate the game. That was amazing.”<\/p>\n

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The Yankees slugger made clear that even some of his family and friends thought Team USA looked a little … lackluster, though he conceded that he probably can’t do anything<\/a> to change that opinion. <\/p>\n

“If they\u2019re going to say we don\u2019t have the passion\u2014my passion is grinding in this cage when nobody\u2019s watching, grinding as a 6-year-old in the backyard with my dad,” Judge went on. “That\u2019s where our passion came from as kids. If I don\u2019t show it really like that, it doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t love the game. I can\u2019t really talk on somebody else\u2019s opinion about it. Everybody in that clubhouse, every single one of those guys, that\u2019s probably the most fun they\u2019ve ever had playing the game the past two or three weeks, myself included.”<\/p>\n

For as serious as the World Baseball Classic is, it’s also quite playful,<\/a> as evidenced by, say, Team Italy’s espresso celebration<\/a> and Team D.R.’s plantain dumbbell<\/a>. The U.S., however, appeared a touch too locked in for such playful tributes; even one of Judge’s pregame pump-up speeches was ridiculed<\/a> for (what looked to be) a lack of passion.<\/p>\n

But the feelings, he says, were there.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a lot of fun. We had some passion,” the three-time MVP insisted. “You saw some emotion from guys you usually don\u2019t see showing emotion. We had a blast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although it made for a fun fan environment, Judge also (understandably) thinks it might be hard for players to recreate the chutzpah of the other teams while back in MLB.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s just tough to do for 162 games,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a lot of energy. I love how the game is, but I definitely would love more energy and more flair. I think it\u2019s great for the fans. It\u2019s great for the game. It\u2019s great for all the young kids watching the game that love seeing their favorite players. It was cool for that, but I don\u2019t know.”<\/p>\n

The seven-time All-Star, who returned to Yankees camp on Thursday, addressed the topic of moving the WBC<\/a> from March and into the regular season, as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy thoughts are, if we\u2019re able to knock it out during the season, I think that\u2019d be great because there\u2019s so many restrictions, even with us,\u201d Judge said. \u201cThere are certain guys that couldn\u2019t pitch because of this or had to pitch on these days. If you get into it where everyone\u2019s built up, there\u2019s no restrictions, you get to go out there and just play, I think it\u2019ll just be better for the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

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