Justin Bieber wore a baseball jersey to remind the world he does not pitch for the Cleveland Indians
Justin Bieber is one of the most famous people on the planet. He is a world-renowned singer and cultural icon beloved by millions of people everywhere.
He is not a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.
On Tuesday, Bieber went riding around Beverly Hills on a slick motorcycle, because you can do whatever you want when you're as famous as he is. During his joyride, Biebs wore a baseball jersey with the phrase "Not Shane Bieber" on the back. TMZ has a nice video up of Bieber and his pal cruising around obnoxious Los Angeles traffic as proof.
He's right -- he isn't Shane Bieber, pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. They are two separate individuals, and it's important to remind people of this.
This jersey happens to be a riff on the actual Players' Weekend jersey worn by the real Shane Bieber, pitcher for the Indians, who has donned a simple "Not Justin" look for two seasons now.
It's a good look, and it's entirely truthful. He is not Justin.
Upon further investigation, it appears that Justin and Shane are now friends. Did they bond over their shared surname? I really hope so, because this is great. Justin posted a thank-you to Shane on Instagram for the jersey, further fueling rumors that the pair are now best buds.
And from the back:
. @ShaneBieber19 pic.twitter.com/SaYj589Cbp
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) August 28, 2019
If you're reading this thinking it's completely preposterous that anybody might confuse the two, you're wrong. In fact, the two Biebers may have drawn even closer after a misprint on Shane's baseball card called him "Justin":
Nice 🙂 @Topps pic.twitter.com/FW8R1Ckzri
— Shane Bieber (@ShaneBieber19) August 3, 2019
... which piqued Justin's interest, and, as far as I'm concerned, set the two on their path to lifelong friendship.
I feel like we have a special connection https://t.co/fv80Lf8ABu
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) August 5, 2019
MLB.com's Mandy Bell caught up with Shane Bieber for a bit of insight into what's becoming an ongoing story: "We haven't met. We'll see what's coming with it. it was kind of fun, just yesterday, getting tagged with that and gaining a couple followers and got some messages from some Beliebers, some original Beliebers. We'll see what's to come of it."
He was pretty surprised to see Justin rock his Players' Weekend jersey, too:
"Really stoked about it. Hopefully we'll make a connection here pretty soon and see what's to come of it. I was definitely shocked."
Justin wearing this "Not Shane Bieber" jersey is the logical next phase of their budding "bromance," so to speak. The next step? I suggest Shane take the mound to the tune of Justin's "Baby" or another of his hits, if he hasn't already.
And I also have to point out, as a tireless purveyor of online truths, that if you're a Justin Bieber fan who supports a baseball team that isn't the Indians, fear not -- his Cleveland jersey does not indicate an allegiance to the Indians. He has a tendency to represent nearly all baseball teams every now and then. It's part of his #brand:
I support all sports I'll put ANY jersey from ANY pro team if I'm whack for wearing jerseys they give me out of love then I'm Whack
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) June 5, 2017
Even with this, though, there's no breaking the bonds of a shared last name. I feel a connection to Vlad Guerrero Jr. (and Sr.), having had my last name pronounced like theirs all throughout my school years.
So Shane and Justin, you're friends for life. That's just how this works.
Adrian Garro joined MLB.com in 2016. Throughout his travels, both Bartolo Colon and Vin Scully have placed their hands on his shoulders. Not at the same time, though. That'd be amazing.
