Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow Armstrong is not backing down from his comments about Los Angeles Dodgers fans.
After drawing backlash for remarks in a recent Chicago magazine profile, Crow Armstrong addressed the criticism Wednesday.
Speaking on Foul Territory, PCA made it clear he was not taking aim at the players in L.A.
He specifically mentioned Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts as players he respects, calling them “the guys who’ve given these fans the reason to be fans.”
But when it comes to the Dodgers fan experience, he doubled down:
“All fans fight and stuff, but I remember putting the Giants fan in a coma,” Crow Armstrong said, referencing a violent incident he remembered from childhood. “That stuck with me as a kid. Just little things, sitting in the stands, nasty stuff goes on that I didn’t always experience at other ballparks.”
“They [the fans] go in phases. I remember putting the Giants fan in a coma. That stuck with me as a kid. Just little things, sitting in the stands, nasty stuff goes on.”
His comments quickly sparked anger among Dodgers fans.
Crow Armstrong’s Original Dodgers Comments
The controversy began earlier this week when Crow Armstrong appeared on the cover of Chicago magazine in a profile by Wayne Drehs. While praising Cubs fans and the city of Chicago, he contrasted that atmosphere with what he perceives in Los Angeles.
“I love Chicago more and more. It’s just an incredible city. The people are great,” he said. “They give a sh*t. It’s not just baseball fans who go to the game like Dodgers fans to take pictures or whatever. People here are paying attention. They care.”
The quote sent shockwaves through Dodgers fans earlier this week, especially given that Crow Armstrong grew up in Sherman Oaks and attended Harvard Westlake School in Los Angeles.
Despite being raised in Southern California, he has long identified as a Cubs fan. His father, an Illinois native, did not allow him to root for either the Dodgers or the St. Louis Cardinals.
Crow Armstrong even wrote in The Players’ Tribune last year that those were household rules growing up.
His comments were not a spur of the moment jab. It sounded he’s been carrying resentment towards the Dodgers with him for years.
Dodgers Fans Promise a Response in April
Not surprisingly, Dodgers fans did not take kindly to the comments. Social media reaction was swift, with many pushing back on the idea that Los Angeles supporters are disengaged or casual.
Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain wrote that fans will get their chance to respond when the Cubs visit Dodger Stadium April 24 through 26.
“Dodgers fans are going to show PCA they ‘give a sh*t,’” McKain posted.
That series now carries added intrigue.
What once looked like a routine early-season matchup suddenly carries some real tension, driven by a hometown kid who never embraced the Dodgers and is not backing down now.
Crow Armstrong may respect the Dodgers’ stars. But he has made it clear he is not backing down from his view of the fan base.
Cubs Star Doubles Down Amid Growing Dodgers Backlash