For many fans of the Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier Musketeers, the notion that the Crosstown Shootout was being broadcast on ESPN+ was incredibly frustrating.
ESPN+ announcer John Schriffen certainly didn’t help matters on Saturday.
Schriffen, who is also the TV voice of the Chicago White Sox, referred to Cincinnati great and Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson as “Oscar Robinson” three separate times during the first half, which did not go unnoticed on social media.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Dave Clark, Schriffen’s third mention of “Oscar Robinson” came while talking about Cincinnati students who spent all week protecting his statue from getting an Xavier jersey placed on it.
You’d think the ESPN+ announcers would know it’s Oscar Robertson not Robinson. Dear lord
— Trenton (@gossmata58) December 14, 2024
I think the Bearcats won it for Oscar “Robinson” today! Oh yeah, #12 was actually Oscar “Robertson.”
— Tim Adams (@timpadams1) December 14, 2024
Did I just hear the @espn announcer say “Oscar Robinson”? As in “protect the Oscar Robinson statue”? #crosstown
— Steve Depoe (@stevedepo) December 14, 2024
Plus whoever the announcers are have gone with the Oscar “Robinson” stuff at least 3 times in the first half.
— Raylan (@Raylan71) December 14, 2024
In the grand scheme of things, an announcer mispronouncing a name isn’t the worst thing to ever happen. However, for many Bearcats fans, the lack of care when referring to the most iconic basketball player in school history speaks to their perceived concerns that ESPN lacked any care or thought for this heated rivalry showdown, dumping it on their streaming service instead of giving it a spot on one of their linear networks.
It also didn’t help that the ESPN+ feed was choppy for some, apparently including former Xavier coach Chris Mack.
ESPN + 🤮🤮🤮🤮
— Chris Mack (@CoachChrisMack) December 14, 2024
[Enquirer]
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.