June 03, 2019
Bill Streicher/USA Today Sports, File
"If you want to play in front of great fans who want to win in beautiful ballpark, as long as you can deal with humidity," Chase Utley said of playing in Philadelphia.
Now that Chase Utley is retired, it's fair to ask whether the California native has more of a rooting interest in his most recent team, the Dodgers, or in the Phillies, where he won his only championship.
One way to answer this question would be to see Utley at a Phillies-Dodgers game and observe where his allegiances appear to stand. Does he sit there expressionless? Does he wear a team's colors? Does he compartmentalize and support both teams in a way that this article assumes is impossible for the sake of its own existence?
Well, this past weekend was the perfect time to figure it all out. The Phillies were in Los Angeles for a three-game series between two competitive first place teams.
Sadly, old friend Chase could not make it to Saturday's game. He had to instead take one of his kids to a Kidz Bop concert — and Jennifer, his wife, rubbed it in with delight.
Poor Chase Utley is stuck going to Kidz Bop instead of the Phillies v Dodgers #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/4OgPvxCioa
— Did the Phillies lose? (@DidthePhilslose) June 2, 2019
A Philadelphia hero, living the dad life and attending to its priorities.
At the show, Utley's son evidently tried to work on his floss dance, which still needs some work.
Here is Chase Utley’s son attempting to floss. Way better than I could do TBH. pic.twitter.com/W9wymaivSU
— Did the Phillies lose? (@DidthePhilslose) June 2, 2019
The Phillies got swept by the Dodgers, in the end. It isn't clear whether Utley was at either of the other two games. He was very much at a Kidz Bop concert, though. And you know what? That's not really such a bad thing. Their version of "7 Years," for example, is way better than the original. The sentimentality and wholesome dorkiness of the music genuinely becomes its appeal if only you just let it.
