TBS/MLB
During the winner-take-all Game 5 against the Cleveland Guardians, record-setting New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge busted out a kiss-the-badge celebration, which he says was inspired by watching the English Premier League.
Aaron Judge says his kissing-the-badge celebration following ALDS home run was inspired by players in the Premier League
“I’ve been watching a lot of Premier League soccer games. I see those guys doing it. It was in the moment,” Judge said when asked about his celebration, which is known in England as ‘kissing the badge.’
Aaron Judge said he was inspired by Premier League soccer games when he kissed the Yankees logo on his jersey in the dugout after his home run pic.twitter.com/4W0HjCUeBb
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) October 18, 2022
The reason that I love it when elite American athletes make comments like this is that it’s the greatest antidote to the sporting caveman who looks down upon the sport, whether it be because they believe it’s too low-scoring (and then will simultaneously watch the Denver Broncos when they’re in a primetime slot) or because they foolishly believe it’s played by “foot fairies.”
I’ve been watching the Premier League for about five years now and the fact is that in that half-decade alone, its growth has been rampant. And with beloved American sporting icons like Aaron Judge, Aaron Rodgers, LeBron James, and more bigging-up the league and the game, the more it will continue to grow in the States.
Following their Game 5 ALDS victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night, Judge and the Yankees will turn right around and fly down to Texas to take on the Houston Astros for Game 1 of the ALCS on Wednesday night.
Over in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies took a 1-0 lead over the San Diego Padres in the NLCS following their 2-0 victory in Game 1.