The eagle has landed – literally, and on an unsuspecting baseball player.
A bald eagle set its sights – and talons – on Seattle Mariners pitcher James Paxton during the pre-game national anthem on Thursday.
The Canadian native somehow maintained his composure as the powerful bird, and symbol of American patriotism, landed on him in the outfield.
Uh… pic.twitter.com/7pZN5kaC7B
— Tyler Mason (@tylermason21) April 5, 2018
We don’t think that’s how they drew it up in rehearsals…????? pic.twitter.com/aW8IGaNCVy
— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) April 5, 2018
Challenger the eagle was part of a pre-game fly-in ceremony at the game between the Seattle Mariners and host Minnesota Twins.
The bird, a member of the American Eagle Foundation, is “the first Bald Eagle in U.S. history trained to free-fly into major sports stadiums, arenas, and ballrooms during the National Anthem,” according to the Foundation website.
THIS! pic.twitter.com/2FJCQzPTUv
— Jen Mueller (@JenTalksSports) April 5, 2018
Paxton’s reaction and poise during the unscheduled landing earned him much praise and reminded others about a quite different reaction to a bald eagle from President Trump.
Holy wow. Little braver than Trump and an eagle. pic.twitter.com/YVaWL9ZWRP
— waitthereisaNMBrewersfan (@jshwelbaum) April 5, 2018
Challenger the Bald Eagle just attacked #Mariners LHP James Paxton after the national anthem.
Well-trained, that bird.
— Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) April 5, 2018
Oh, just an ? landing in a Big ?.@James_Paxton, totally fearless. pic.twitter.com/8xHYBTwNhC
— Mariners (@Mariners) April 5, 2018
Here is the Bald Eagle landing on #BigMaple James Paxton during pregame today on @ROOTSPORTS_NW as described by @AngieMentink @hyphen18 Paxton stayed calm. #Nesting pic.twitter.com/BxA2WagtzC
— Pike Parker (@PikeParker) April 5, 2018
I think the eagle sensed that Paxton was a Canadian…
— THESASQUATCH (@9BlueJays5) April 5, 2018
That is scary and cool at the same time
— Charlie Zeller (@chuckz213) April 5, 2018
When America wants to land on your shoulder you let America land on your shoulder
— Don Murphy (@tool32386) April 6, 2018
I look at this and instantly want an eagle to land on me
— Heather C. (@lawsome30) April 5, 2018
That is terrifying, but he took it well enough.
— Bag O’Fingers (@Bagofingers) April 5, 2018
He handled that better than 99% of the population would have!
— David Vrieze Daniels (@DVDaniels79) April 5, 2018
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Frieda@bizpacreview.com
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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