Red Right 88

Cleveland sports fan and sports writer

Name:
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, United States

quit my job decided to drive west

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Are ESPN baseball announcers required to lie?

First ESPN announcer Joe Morgan completely made up a story during the network's telecast of the Phillies 1,000 loss as a franchise. As reported first by New York Post's Phil Mushnick and then reported all over the net, Morgan simply lied when he told an charming story about how he affected the Phillies' great collapse in 1964.

Mushnick wrote:

"The year, Morgan told us, was 1964, that calamitous season when the Phillies blew a 6 1/2-game lead with 12 games left by losing 10 straight. Morgan said he made his major-league debut late in '64, against the Phillies. And it was in that game that his RBI single beat the Phillies, extending their infamous losing streak to eight or nine. Morgan added that Phillies manager Gene Mauch was so upset he threw over the buffet table in the clubhouse, hollering that his club had just been beaten by "a Little Leaguer!"

Great story. But unless Morgan was confusing himself with Reds rookie infielder Chico Ruiz, it never happened. As several readers were moved to write, the Phillies played the Reds, Braves and Cardinals during that losing streak; Houston wasn't in the mix. Furthermore, Morgan, though called up in 1964, did not have an RBI that season for Houston."

Morgan amazingly was not fired. Encouraged that Morgan was allowed to make things about ESPN's other great blowhard Chris Berman during the Giants/Dodgers game tonight or last night by the time this is read. Told a story about how Babe Ruth told the Boston Braves to stick it. He played one last game, hit three homers and then quit to drink beer. I paraphrased. Berman and Morgan laughed at that delightful tale about how the Babe homered in his last at bat. Except of course it isn't true.

Compliments of Wikipedia:

"On May 25, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Ruth went 4-for-4, drove in 6 runs and hit 3 home runs in an 11-7 loss to the Pirates. These were the last three home runs of his career. His last home run cleared the roof at the old Forbes Field—he became the first player to accomplish that feat. Five days later, in Philadelphia, Ruth played in his last major league game. He struck out in the first inning and, while playing the field in the same inning, hurt his knee and left the game."


ESPN is always hammering athletes about the truth. Wish it would hold its "talent" to the same standards.

Monday, July 30, 2007

The sky is falling or so they say

So much happening in the world of sports and I have so little to say about them. I have found it hard to write columns. I am so bored with most of what the national media will have you thinking is life and death stuff. As for the Indians, I live and die too much with each game to write about it. Trying to stay even keeled like Wedge and view one game as one game. But damn do I hate days off after a loss.

Michael Vick: I just wish people who get this upset when an athlete is accused of beating a woman. Many athletes have been charged with many crimes and played in big games. Yet Vick is banned from camp before a trial because of public pressure. I own dogs. I love dogs but we do have a justice system in place. By saying that I had people want to fight me because they want Vick shot on the spot and I am evil for suggesting mob mentality justice isn't right.

Barry Bonds: One of the best players ever. Maybe he cheated...so what get over it. Hallowed records are a thing of the past. If no one has noticed this is a different game since Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. Barely registers as the same. Different stadiums, different equipment, different training. different interpretation of the rules and a whole lot of money. If a man wants to risk his health and his balls to be better. Let him. Just make laws of life in prison for anyone convicted of giving steroids to minors. Hell if Casey Blake had the clear and the cream-- he would be Jim Thome. The fans just want to see the long ball. The media and the radio callers should just get over it.

The dirty ref: Can we cut out the hyperbole please. Man the national media would have you thought the NBA was going the way of the USFL. And now apparently Danny Ainge is saving the game because he acquired Kevin Garnett. Please, if Ainge is the game's savior- the sport is really in trouble.

The Browns: Wake me up just before kickoff of week one.

Bruce Drennan: Personally I don't care for the guy. I just don't like his style or his substance. But he isn't dumb. How inspired having those two idiots fill in for his show on Fridays. By comparison does he look like a genius. How unprepared can two people be? I don't even know the white guy's name but it is never good when my mother knows more about sports than a guy on TV. And she once asked me if the Lakers were from Cleveland since they are talked about on TV so much. I have seen him twice and I had to turn it off within five minutes both times.

The Indians: One day at a time. One day at time. But why was Nixon still even in the outfield in a 1-0 game in the 8th inning. One day at a time.