St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Matt Carpenter addressed online speculation regarding his team’s recent celebration, stating multiple times that the gestures were in no way a political statement.

The team celebration came into question Sunday afternoon after an online outlet compared it to images that emerged shortly after an assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump on July 13.

Snippets of Alec Burleson’s home run trot and the subsequent dugout celebration appeared to show Burleson and many of his teammates cupping their ears with one hand while raising their opposite fists in the air.  Lars Nootbaar also made the gesture as he rounded the bases after his own home run one inning later.

Carpenter denied any political motivation and explained the celebration was meant to be a team joke with Burleson.

“Burleson is a former college rapper,” Carpenter said. “He’s been carrying us at the plate. (The celebration) is the furthest thing from a political statement.”

Is this a Trump home run celebration by the Cardinals? pic.twitter.com/f2XrQr0q3u

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 21, 2024

“It’s an inside joke with (Burleson),” Carpenter said. “This isn’t a political statement by any means. I don’t know where that came from.”

Carpenter said the gestures are intended to mimic a DJ as a reference to Burleson, who shares the team lead in home runs. Burleson was a rapper in college, and his teammates consistently refer to him by his rap name, “Biscuit” in the clubhouse.

Though the celebration came into question publicly on Sunday afternoon, Carpenter said the team had been doing it dating to the end of the first half of the season.

“It’s slowly catching on,” Carpenter said. “I don’t know who, or the first official guy to do it on the field, but it was for sure in the first half. It picked up steam in this series, for sure.

“Definitely not a political statement. I think that’s a little off-base here.” 

The Cardinals weren’t the only ones leaving viewers wondering about their celebrations. After stroking a double at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, Rays infielder Taylor Walls raised a fist and mouthed “fight, fight,” similar to Trump’s gesture just moments after his assassination attempt.

Taylor Walls did the Trump “Fight! Fight!” after this double pic.twitter.com/8K5ovTEIQh

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 21, 2024

(Photo of Lars Nootbaar: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)

LeBron James is set to compete in his fourth Olympics.

Like the previous three times, the Lakers superstar will participate in the opening ceremony.

But for the official start of the Paris Games on Friday night, James will have a role that neither he nor anyone else who has played for the U.S. men’s basketball team has held before.

James was selected by his fellow American athletes as one of two U.S. flagbearers for the opening ceremony, which will take place in boats along the Seine toward the Eiffel Tower. A woman from Team USA will be announced as the second American flagbearer Tuesday.

“It’s an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together,” James said in a statement Monday from London before the U.S. plays its final pre-Olympics exhibition game against Germany.

“For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything to not only myself, but to my family, all the kids in my hometown, my teammates, fellow Olympians and so many people across the country with big aspirations. Sports have the power to bring us all together, and I’m proud to be a part of this important moment.”

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer, James joins Dawn Staley (2004) and Sue Bird (2021) as the only U.S. basketball players to serve as flagbearers. He was nominated for the honor by Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry on behalf of the U.S. men’s team.

“He has represented what it means to be excellent both on and off the court in his commitment to service and to uplifting the community in all ways that he knows how has been a lifelong passion,” Curry said in a video supporting James’ nomination. “And the work speaks for itself.”

On any other day, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls’ double against the New York Yankees would not have gotten any attention.

On Sunday, Walls drew the eyes of a lot of Americans in the fifth inning of the game when he appeared to pay homage to former President Trump, who survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania only eight days prior.

Walls waltzed onto second base, turned to his dugout and held up a fist. He was seen mouthing the words, “Fight, fight.”

He was 1-for-3 in the game as Tampa Bay won 6-4. He did not post anything about the action on his Instagram immediately afterward. His wife, Hallie, shared the highlight on her Instagram Stories with three first emojis.

Walls entered the game batting well below the Mendoza Line through 29 games. Before Sunday’s game against the Yankees, he was hitting .154 with a .477 OPS and four RBI. He had one double, and Sunday’s hit was his second.

TRUMP PITCHES YANKEES GAME OUTING WITH KIM JONG UN AT MICHIGAN RALLY

Taylor Walls, #6 of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Richie Palacios, #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays, celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 21, 2024 in New York City. (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

He was in his fourth season with the Rays. Tampa Bay selected the Georgia native in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft.

Elsewhere, St. Louis Cardinals players initially appeared to do something similar when designated hitter Alec Burleson hit a home run against the Atlanta Braves.

However, veteran player Matt Carpenter told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that was not the case.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls reacts after turning a double play during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, July 21, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

“Definitely not a political statement, that is off base,” Carpenter said.

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