In the most wonderfully fourth wall-breaking moment since Charlie married the waitress IRL, Mac from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia just got to live his wildest dream through the guy who plays him on screen.
That’s right. Rob McElhenney just got the once-in-a-lifetime (or twice had the episode’s plot gone a bit better) opportunity to ‘have a catch’ with Chase Utley.
On the very special evening marking Utley’s retirement after a 15-year career as a second baseman, the beloved former Philadelphia Phillies star paid homage to his biggest fan: Ronald ‘Mac’ McDonald.
Just take a look:
Fans may remember this very moment was made legendary by the writers of It’s Always Sunny in an episode titled ‘The World Series Defense’, in which the gang chronicles what they did when the Phillies won the World Series back in 2008.
In case you missed it, Mac recalled how he had planned to deliver a very special handwritten note to his sporting idol and – let’s be honest – the object of a childhood crush.
Luckily, Sweet Dee is on hand – or stupid bird wing, should I say – to mock Mac by reading his words aloud for us eager viewers at home, amid recalling her own plan to run onto the field.
In case you need your memory jogging, here’s what the letter said, in full:
Dear Chase I feel like I can call you chase because you and me are so alike.
I’d like to meet you one day, it would be great to have a catch. I know I can’t throw as fast as you but I think you’d be impressed with my speed.
I love your hair, you run fast.
Things get deep when Mac continues:
Did you have a good relationship with your father? Me neither. These are all things we can talk about and more.
I know you have no been getting my letters because I know you would write back if you did. I hope you write back this time, and we can become good friends.
I am sure our relationship would be a real home run!
Turns out, he was right. Isn’t it great when your favourite fictional characters get to live out their make believe dreams vicariously through their creators?
I just can’t wait to see how Glenn Howerton is going to top this – fingers crossed the Philadelphia police department is on hand.
If you have a Sunny sports story you want to tell, share it with UNILAD via story@unilad.com.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.