Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri mixed politics and pennants in an exchange with TMZ outside the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, teasing the Los Angeles Dodgers over spending and championships.
The setup
TMZ reported that its D.C. staffer Jacob and colleague Charlie Cotton asked Burlison how he relaxes. Burlison replied, “I follow TMZ, and I watch the Cardinals destroy the Dodgers.”
Payroll vs. pennants
Turning to money, Burlison said, “Our payroll is [$92 million]. What’s your payroll?” According to TMZ’s account of the back-and-forth, the Dodgers’ figure offered in the moment was “a whopping 336.5 million.”
Jacob pushed back by invoking championships: “Payroll? It’s not about the payroll, okay? It’s about getting that W. World Series champs!”
Burlison countered, “I think we have more than you. So I’m just, like, you could do a little bit of research. We actually have a lot more World Series wins.” TMZ added that the St. Louis Cardinals have 11 World Series titles to the Dodgers’ 9.
The parting shot
Burlison closed with: “The Dodgers have the best team money can buy.”
TMZ captured the exchange outside the Capitol and published the quotes and figures cited above.
