ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit walks his dog Ben before the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Huskies at NRG Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
ESPNBy Sean Keeley on

Wherever Kirk Herbstreit goes, golden retriever Ben is by his side.

That was literally the case on Sunday night when Ben made a surprise appearance in the ABC broadcasting booth, wandering in between Herbstreit and Rece Davis while they did their intros before the USC-LSU game.

“Oh Ben’s down here, sorry about that,” said Herbstreit as his 10-year-old pup appeared.

“Ben’s making sure we get it all right,” Davis joked.

It’s not the first time Ben wandered into the broadcasting booth to join his buddy. He joined Herbstreit and Al Michaels in the Prime Video booth during a Thursday Night Football game last season.

Herbstreit and Ben even have a podcast together now, Walks with Ben, where Herbstreit interviews notable sports figures while taking the golden retriever for a walk.

While a lot of people loved to see Ben in the booth because he’s such a good boy, there was a bit of a backlash in some corners of this cesspool we call the internet. Some of those anti-Ben folks decided to directly message Herbstreit on X with their soulless complaints.

Herbstreit, who has become a bit more outspoken recently, wasn’t having it.

Kirk also received an outpouring of positive messages and curious questions about his best bud, who is dealing with leukemia, as well.

If seeing a golden retriever appear on your television screen sometimes during a football game makes you angry, go touch grass. And hopefully, it’s a spot where Ben peed.

[Kirk Herbstreit]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director 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.

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