Shaw explains decision to skip game, attend Kirk memorial

Matt Shaw stood in front of his locker and calmly explained why he chose to skip Sunday's Cubs game in Cincinnati to attend a memorial service for slain podcaster Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Arizona.

Shaw said he met Kirk, a Northwest Suburban native, this past offseason because they live in the same apartment complex in Arizona. He said Kirk was the biggest Cubs fan he knew and would text after every game.

“His wife Erika had texted me asking me if I would come to the funeral,” Shaw said. “And I felt as though it was something that was really important for me to do.”

Kirk was no doubt a controversial figure. And Sunday's memorial service often seemed more like a political rally. But Shaw kept steering the conversation to faith and religion, which he said was the main reason he and Kirk found common ground. And said he's willing to accept any criticism he might receive for his friendship with Kirk or decision to leave the Cubs.

“Absolutely, I'm not concerned at all,” Shaw said. “My connection with Charlie was through our faith. That's something that drives me every day. That's the reason why I'm able to do what I do every day, and that's something I'm extremely thankful for.”

Shaw said he first brought the idea of skipping Sunday's game to manager Craig Counsell, then sought the advice of several veteran teammates, and informed other players of his plans. With left-hander Andrew Abbott on the mound for the Reds, the Cubs lost 1-0 and are still trying to clinch home-field advantage in the wild card playoff series.

Shaw also confirmed the reason he left the starting lineup on Sept. 10 in Atlanta was because he was distraught about Kirk's shooting death.

“I kind of had turmoil of what I should do,” Shaw said. “So I asked (teammates) for their input on what they thought I should do, and they gave me a lot of support, a lot of really good advice in those moments.

“Obviously, Couns was talking to Jed (Hoyer) in the front office and they were communicating on that end. But I made sure that everybody I talked to, I had their support. They knew why I was going, that I wasn't leaving just to leave, that it was something that was really important to my faith.”

Shaw stressed that he doesn't have social media, so he did not follow Kirk and does not see any comments from others.

“Of course Danielle, my wife, will get things sent to her and that's something we understand, that people have difference of opinions,” Shaw said. “All we can do is continue to try to bring kindness into the world and continue to be a good person for my teammates, for my friends, for my family.”

Shaw dodged questions about some of the politically-charged content offered at Sunday's event, though he was asked directly about President Donald Trump's claim that Kirk asked him to “save Chicago” from “horrible crimes.”

“I am comfortable living here, yeah, yeah,” Shaw said. “That part of it, there was a lot of other people that spoke about their faith. And that was the most powerful part for me, were the people who spoke about their faith and about how important their faith was to them.”