Name-calling is a lousy way to make a point in the sports media.
Denver 9 News sports anchor Scotty Gange could have described Kris Bryant as overrated or overpaid. That would have been fair criticism. Instead, he insulted him. Last week, Gange accused Bryant of being a ‘bank robber’ and ‘stealing’ from the Rockies after his latest injury.
For context, Gange said: “I tell ya, Kris Bryant is one of the greatest bank robbers of all time. You see, the Rockies’ first baseman is heading back on the injury list, will miss at least another week and a half. In two and a half seasons, he has missed 239 games. That’s about two out of every three. And with his guaranteed contract, Bryant has earned 25 million dollars in those games which he has not played.
“That is stealing. For those wondering, $25 million bucks would be the sixth-greatest heist in world history.”
If Gange intended to go viral, he accomplished his mission. He caught the attention of the national sports media, including the New York Post, Sports Illustrated, OutKick, and this website. Perhaps he also wanted to voice the frustration and disappointment of Rockies fans whose team owns the National League West’s worst record. Whatever his motives, Gange’s disparaging remarks about Bryant were uncalled for.
https://twitter.com/Scotty_G6/status/1798865963733127628
It’s one thing for baseball fans to grouse and engage in hyperbole in a bar. It’s quite another for a sports anchor to use incendiary words on air like “bank robber” and “stealing.” Gange wasn’t on First Take. He was on a local broadcast delivering news while adding objectionable commentary. While ranting, Gange appears to be smiling but nothing is amusing here. It’s just a cheap shot.
The FBI website defines robbery as “the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear.” Bryant signed a 7-year, $182 million contract in 2022. In hindsight, it looks like the worst deal in franchise history. That is money poorly spent. But it’s important to recognize that Major League Baseball does not have a salary cap. It’s even more important to point out that a contract both sides agree to isn’t robbery.
While Bryant might have regrets, Gange’s commentary feeds into a false narrative that professional athletes don’t take pride in their work. Many people constantly underestimate how difficult it is to be a pro athlete. Reaching the top of sports and staying there takes a level of dedication that most of us will never know.
From 2015-19, Bryant played at least 147 games in all but one season for the Chicago Cubs, where he won the 2016 World Series and was named the 2016 NL MVP. Since joining Colorado, he has never played more than 80 games in a season. Bryant has missed a lot of time because his body has broken down. He has been hurt. For Gange to suggest that Bryant has been wrongfully taking money from Colorado is irresponsible.
Gange is well within his journalistic right to criticize the Bryant signing. But calling him a “bank robber” is unwarranted, unnecessary, and unprofessional.
Last year, Bally Sports Southwest analyst Brian Dameris’ went on a famous rant about James Harden. He punctuated the two-minute monologue in which he criticized Harden’s multiple trade requests throughout his career by saying: “Because James, you’re not the beard, you’re not the system, you’re the problem.”
Agree or disagree, Dameris’ point had merit because you could cite clear-cut examples of Harden acting unprofessional. Whether it was being out of shape or calling Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey “a liar.” Plus, Dameris did not resort to name-calling.
Bryant has battled injuries. Based on what we know, that’s not his fault. Baseball is a daily grind. Sometimes the body pays the price.
Fairness should always be a guiding principle. According to Gange’s 9 News bio, he’s a Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications graduate. But for whatever reason, he ignored fairness and went for a low blow that got him national attention.
Attention has tremendous value in today’s climate. Gange’s comments boosted his profile and might lead to a better job. But there is nothing noble about sideswiping a player whose career has been derailed by chronic injuries.
Gange should apologize to Bryant for an unfair take.