After a rough travel day back from Canada, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts landed in a media mess he didn’t see coming. Delays at the border left him frustrated, and a quick remark about possible “intent” behind the holdup sparked a flurry of online chatter.
People started speculating—was Roberts blaming Canada for the whole thing? He moved quickly to clear things up, reminding everyone that travel headaches just come with the territory sometimes.
Dodgers’ Divided Travel Plans Lead to Trouble
The Dodgers usually try to make travel as smooth as possible so their players can rest up for games. After their series in Canada, they chartered two planes:
Roberts traveled with the second group. While crossing the U.S.–Canada border, their plane got stuck waiting during routine passport checks and the usual international travel rules. Larger groups just mean longer waits, and that’s what happened here.
Why Roberts Spoke Out
At his press conference Sunday night, Roberts looked tired and let slip a comment about possible “intent” behind the delay. Maybe he didn’t mean much by it, but that word lit up media outlets and fans, who quickly wondered if he thought Canadian authorities slowed the Dodgers down on purpose.
Clarification and Context
Talking to The Athletic, Roberts admitted he “could have omitted ‘intent’” from his statement. He made it clear that he didn’t actually believe Canadian officials or Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had anything to do with it.
Honestly, the issue was pretty simple: when you travel with a big group, border checks just take longer. There’s no conspiracy here.
International Travel Realities
For teams like the Dodgers, these cross-border trips are just part of the grind. International security means detailed screening, passport control, and sometimes a little paperwork drama. It’s not just Canada—it happens everywhere.
Roberts admitted that long delays like this don’t happen often for pro teams, but it’s just part of the deal when you’re operating on a global level.
Dodgers Looking Ahead
With the dust settled, the Dodgers got back to Los Angeles and started prepping for three straight home games at Dodger Stadium. They’re hoping to steer clear of distractions and keep their momentum in the National League race.
Key Takeaways From the Incident
This whole Roberts travel saga says a lot about life in pro sports and being on the road:
Final Thoughts
This episode just goes to show—professional sports teams deal with the same travel headaches as everyone else. Border delays, paperwork checks, and all those logistical hiccups come with the territory, even for big-name organizations.
Now, Roberts and the Dodgers can finally turn their attention back to the diamond. After all, the only “intent” anyone cares about now is winning baseball games.
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers’ Dave Roberts backtracks on viral comments calling out Canada
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