Bill Walton joined his frequent college basketball broadcast partner Jason Benetti to call Friday night’s White Sox-Angels game in Anaheim. Benetti is Chicago’s play-by-play man for NBC Sports Chicago, and usual color commentator Steve Stone is taking the four-game series off, so NBC Sports Chicago is going with guest broadcasters for each game of the four-game series (Michael Schur will join Benetti in the booth on Saturday).
And through the first four innings of Friday’s game, the Walton baseball commentary has been as interesting as you’d imagine.
The Walton wackiness actually began pregame, with the basketball legend talking through the go-to-commercial music and having fun with Ozzie Guillén.
https://twitter.com/NBCSChicago/status/1162540263014916096
Then the game started, and on the second pitch, Walton celebrated a Leury García foul ball that was hit straight back.
This is the most lit broadcast ever. We're screaming after foul balls. pic.twitter.com/YOnZgHd2Jl
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) August 17, 2019
Walton also went wild at routine flyballs.
https://twitter.com/Cut4/status/1162559658462273536
He hoped for a triple play when the White Sox had one out in the bottom of the first. When Benetti informed him that’s not possible, Walton asked, “Well you can carry it over (to the next inning), can’t ya?”
What do you say, @MLB? pic.twitter.com/Fj3NSW5eK1
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 17, 2019
The 1978 NBA MVP called very slow White Sox catcher Welington Castillo “the epitome of Usain Bolt,” after Castillo scored on a bunt single in the fourth inning.
Bill Walton just compared Welington Castillo's speed to Usain Bolt. We'll have what he's having.
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) August 17, 2019
He worked in a Viagra reference:
Walton: "The US Navy… the second greatest marketing slogan ever. A global force for good."
Benetti: "What's… the greatest marketing slogan ever?
Walton: "The Viagra commercial.
If this lasts for more than four hours.."
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) August 17, 2019
And of course a reference to “getting high”:
Bill Walton: “I’m not a very good catcher. I’m much better at getting high than getting lower." pic.twitter.com/Pp33wIBqmt
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 17, 2019
[NBC Sports Chicago]
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.