Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has publicly challenged U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting that the former is ‘afraid’ to place a bet on the upcoming World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Carney’s remarks, which were made during a press briefing with The Associated Press, were lighthearted yet pointed, as he remarked, ‘I think he’s afraid to make a bet. He doesn’t like to lose. He hasn’t called. He hasn’t returned my call yet on the bet, so I’m ready. We’re ready to make a bet with the U.S.’
The Blue Jays, under pressure to deliver their first World Series title since 1993, are facing a formidable Dodgers team that has already claimed back-to-back championships. Carney expressed confidence in his team’s ability to prevail, predicting the Blue Jays would win the series in six games. ‘The country is so pumped. I think the world is pumped for this series,’ Carney said. ‘It’s going to go deep. It’s going to be a great series. But we’ve got depth, we’ve got fire. You see the performance.’
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, was asked about Trump’s sports betting habits, especially in light of the FBI’s ongoing investigation into illegal gambling involving three NBA figures. Leavitt responded, ‘I’m not sure. I don’t think he does. I’ve been with him quite some time, and I’ve not seen him gamble before. I don’t think he’s a big gambler.’
For fans, the World Series between the Blue Jays and the Dodgers presents a tantalizing opportunity to watch two of North America’s most competitive baseball teams clash. The Dodgers, with a -220 line, appear heavily favored to win the championship, but the Blue Jays are poised to make a strong run. Game 1 will be played at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, with the Dodgers’ star pitcher Blake Snell on the mound against the Blue Jays’ rookie Trey Yesavage. The game is expected to have a total of 7.5 runs, with the Blue Jays as +125 underdogs at home.
As the series begins, anticipation is high, and the political undercurrents have brought an unexpected dimension to the sports event, with Carney’s comments adding an element of both humor and diplomatic flair to the proceedings.