Over the past few weeks a Los Angeles Dodgers Zoom party has not only featured broadcasters Joe Davis and Alanna Rizzo as hosts, along with several players rotating to make appearances, but also celebrity guests.
Last Monday the Dodgers were joined by part-owner Billie Jean King and actor Ken Jeong. There were plenty of laughs once Jeong joined the call, as he positioned himself as Justin Turner’s personal doctor and volunteered to sing players’ walk-up songs this season.
Then Jeong, a philanthropist and passionate Dodgers fan, recalled the opportunities he had to wave a flag at Dodger Stadium before first pitch during the 2017 World Series. Jong and fellow actor Rob Lowe each carried a large Dodgers flag as they raced back and forth atop the dugout.
“That might be my favorite memory,” Jeong said during the hour-long Zoom party. “I’ve done a lot of stuff with the Dodgers, but that might be my favorite memory ever.”
Although being tabbed to excite the crowd before a game in the Dodgers’ first trip to the World Series in 29 years is memorable enough, it stood out to Jeong because of the reaction it drew from Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa.
“Me and Rob were carrying flags, crossing each other back and forth, and Carlos Correa threw a cup of water at me. Just to do it. It was like gamesmanship. I didn’t provoke. It just showed you the height of the game.
“No beef. It’s just part of what sports is all about. They’re passionate about their fans, I’m passionate about the Dodgers. He doesn’t have to apologize and neither do I.”
Later in the call the Dodgers’ social media group showed the chat an image of the scene Jeong depicted. “That was crazy. That was crazy. I feel like I took one for the team,” he said.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts referred to it as an “iconic shot,” and also quipped that the team should have positioned Jeong inside the tunnel by the Astros’ dugout. It of course was a reference to Houston’s sign-stealing scandal that has since come to light and tarnished what initially was considered a historic World Series matchup.
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