One of the most routine claims you'll always hear from sports fans is how a certain announcer is biased against their favorite team. This is usually laughable and speaks to the tribal paranoia that is so often what we most cherish about sports. Living in Columbus, I can attest to the fact that 98% of Ohio State football fans believe the national media is against their team in the rare cases it's actually real (Mark May) or imagined (everyone else).
During last night's TBS broadcast of the Braves-Dodgers NLDS game, Atlanta fans were as angry as Brian McCann when someone cut in line at Golden Corral. They thought the coverage was biased towards the big market, big personality Los Angeles Dodgers. WE'VE GOT TO BE ANGRY WITH SOMEBODY: THE STORY OF THE 2013 ATLANTA &#*%ING BRAVES.
@MLB_TBS how about hiding your LA bias a little bit better for the next game. We get it, you love Puig and want to have his babies.
— Stewart Smithwick (@StewSmithwick) October 7, 2013
@MLB_TBS I have never in my life heard a more bias commentary in baseball. Why don't y'all just go marry magic Johnson and the dodgers org.
— Whistlen' Dixie (@DixieBelleAL) October 7, 2013
Dear TBS, you should just go ahead and verbally admit you are rooting for the Dodgers, the bias we are hearing is ridiculous
— Stephen Davidson (@Offtheportbow) October 7, 2013
TBS announcers are def gonna blow all of LA's players after this game. So much for no bias towards a team.
— Pen Tompkins (@pen_tompkins) October 7, 2013
F you, @MLB_TBS and your biased effing announcers. TBS used to be the home of the @Braves. What happened?
— Zack Harlan (@zharlan48) October 7, 2013
Hey @mlb_tbs your name is TURNER broadcasting system, not puig broadcasting system #biased
— Rick Warden (@trickyyyricky) October 7, 2013
At the same time, Dodger fans were screaming from the rooftops that TBS's coverage was biased in the Braves' favor. After all, this is the network that aired Atlanta Braves games to the nation for decades. Ted Turner's name is on the station and the Braves' stadium. He used to own the team! Certainly they'd be in the tank for the home side since their studios are in Atlanta… right?
Ok now I'm pissed! ESPN and TBS haven't even given the Dodgers any positive comments. We are one win away… East coast bias sick of it
— laura (@lsor8) October 7, 2013
@MLB_TBS your announcers are terribly bias and have very little baseball knowledge. Please enlighten us on where your HQ is located. #Hacks
— Andrew Sexton (@ASexton55) October 7, 2013
Pretty damn annoying these Eastern-bias TBS announcers can't pronounce Ryu's name #Dodgers #NLDS
— #SportSpeak (@SportSpeakLA) October 7, 2013
I can't watch #TBS. Just too Atlanta biased.
— Trevor Goodwin (@trevorgoodwin) October 7, 2013
Is it me, or is the @TBS_MLB #NLDS broadcast ATL-biased? Sounds like a Braves broadcast. #Dodgers #MLB #Braves
— Steven Chean (@StevenChean) October 7, 2013
Maybe all this means TBS's baseball coverage is getting something right.