Ariel Helwani, host of The Ariel Helwani Show, is a very prominent journalist with a background primarily in MMA and UFC.
However, he’s also an avid sports fan — most specifically of the Buffalo Bills, New York Knicks, and Toronto Blue Jays. Helwani was born and raised in Montreal, and attended college at Syracuse.
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On a recent episode of his show, his beloved Blue Jays were invariably brought up. Clearly still in his feels about Toronto’s gutting Game 7 loss, Helwani decided to conjure up some commentary on the World Series parade the Dodgers enjoyed Monday.
The player specifically caught in Helwani’s crosshairs was none other than Kiké Hernandez. He was talking about the second portion of the parade celebration inside of Dodger Stadium where members of the team addressed a sold-out crowd during the championship rally.
“I thought the Dodgers looked like jack——. I thought they embarrassed themselves. Did you guys see the Kiké Hernandez thing? He quoted the famous Conor McGregor UFC interview where he ‘apologized to no one.’ The setup was…he fumbled his way through it if we’re being honest. Calling himself the triple champ. You got an A on the group project, Kiké. Let’s be honest.
“If [Andy] Pages doesn’t catch that ball, you’re remembered for the guy that missed Ernie Clement’s fly ball. The main thing for me was that I was an even bigger Blue Jays fan because they are classy, they are professional, they are respectful. They would never conduct themselves the way in which the Dodgers did [on Monday].”
Helwani also took offense to a clip from one of the double-decker busses when Justin Dean was being interviewed. Blake Snell jokingly came from behind and asked “Where’s the ball?” in reference to the controversial Game 6 ground rule double that Dean did not touch much to the chagrin of those in Canada.
Helwani thought the two were “mocking the play” that was controversial.
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It’s understandable for Helwani to operate with the “sour grapes” mindset here. The Blue Jays haven’t won a World Series since he was an 11-year-old boy.
Not only that, but despite the Blue Jays playing as well as they possibly could, and the Dodgers not playing up to their usual standards, it still wasn’t good enough to usurp the title away from the now back-to-back champions.
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Photo Credit: JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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12 Responses
If, if, if. If my aunt had nuts she’d be my uncle. Shut up, Ariel.
Well said, Steve!
Except for 1 small matter look at the replay in slo motion. Kike was gonna catch that ball. Now depending on how hard he hit the wall I’m not positive he would have been able to hang on to it. But his glove was under the ball for sure
Well, Pages DID Catch the ball, so it is a moot point now. We won the Series, Toronto gave it a good try BUT THE BETTER TEAM ACTUALLY WON as is ALWAYS the case. Good teams lose and underperforming teams sometimes win but talent often trumps effort. In this Series the Dodgers just had a little more when it counted. Its hard lesson to learn but the Blue Jays hoopefully learned it and know that their time will come and this experience will make them a better team.
Kiké is a great fielder and a mediocre hitter. And off the field, he acts like a juvenile. And yes, the Blue Jays are a classy team who gave the Dodgers a mighty challenge.
Or the other classic if it’s and ands were pots and pans this world would be a big kitchen but it’s not so forget about the ifs and ands. Or as my mother used to say “Balls balls said the Queen if I had balls then I would be King”
I’ll just say sour grapes and also saying the sooo classy Blue Jays would never do such things, I say garbage you can’t say they wouldn’t or even would fact is they didn’t get the chance because they lost period.
Even the Giants pitcher (who might be hurt the most in MLB this coming year because of the new pitch called challenge available because he’s been graded as the pitcher whom umpires have give more calls in his favor) expressed Yamamoto praise calling him the “Dawg” along with padre Yu Darvish giving Yamamoto praise too.
This guy seems incapable of the same from the Dodgers own real rivals.
sour grapes Ariel… maybe go back to rooting on Toronto Maple Leafs instead… see how far that gets you..
And by the way… Kike acts out, because he is passionate about playing baseball..
Both defenses were Brilliant. Players are but Kids in a Grown up Professional League Dominated to Being Perfect at the right time or Reasonably Lucky. World Series was Mind bending at times. Toronto can only Blame themselves for Losing not the Dodgers as a Scape GOAT! We got to see how a Game can come down to inches. Will Smith, whom I now admire a lot, reminded me of my time in Baseball. I played left field and moved to Catcher in order to up my chances of being Seen. In a Semi Pro league one Hot CA Summer I Caught a Double Header. No one to replace me on bench. 18 innings and squatting, batting, running the bases etc. took its toll. I rode with another player and Needed help getting out of his car when We arrived home. Think about this, Will Smith Caught 18 innings and proceeded to play the next two days. One days rest and two more games 6-7 of the Ultimate Venue the World Series. Not only that he’s Catching 11 innings game 7 and proceeded to hit the Winning Homer. That impressed me so much I will never Forget his accomplishments in the World Series and all those playoff games he endured as a Professional Catcher, the Toughest Position Player on the Field hands down!
Will Smith you deserve all the Accolades Baseball Fans who Root for their Teams every Heart Felt Year can give. I Personally know some of the difficulties and Duties behind that Plate. Humble and Direct when speaking, Will is my MVP!
That was well put Larry, Will Smith is a beast.As for the World Series it was awsome, both teams fought their azzizzzz off but could only have one winner,it’s sad to see all the haters and jealousy going on specially from this guy speaking on Kiki, talk about being unprofessional and embarrassing he should be embarrassed, this game could of been won by either sides so all you fans blaming this and that stop , there’s always next year,
Who cares? Never heard of this clown anyway.
Who the heck is Ariel Helwani?