Fake crowd noise has helped liven up empty stadiums at least a little bit during sporting events, but another reason television networks are in favor of the noise is because it’s much easier to hear what athletes, coaches, and officials are saying when there’s silence in empty stadiums (and with hot mics).
And, newsflash: there’s plenty of profanity used by athletes, coaches, and officials during sporting events. That may not matter to you and a large percentage of viewers, but it matters to the league and networks (especially when none of these networks are HBO). So, their hope is that crowd noise, stadium sounds, and announcers chattering can block out at least some of the swearing.
Well, during Sunday’s Major League Baseball action, there were F-bombs heard on television broadcasts across the league.
Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly was ejected after directing plenty of F-bombs at the umpires during Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. Via the Fox Sports South Braves broadcast:
https://twitter.com/handlit33/status/1295065744481320960
In Baltimore, the Washington Nationals were quite upset with home plate umpire Will Little during a game against the Orioles. Washington manager Davey Martinez came out to argue with Little, and hitting coach Kevin Long was ejected after saying, “You’re fuckin’ horseshit! Horse. Fuckin’. Shit.” Via the MASN Nationals broadcast:
https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1295059002657845248
Davey Martinez and Kevin Long: NOT thrilled with Will Little’s strike zone during that Soto AB. And we could hear allllll of it. One of the only benefits of not having real crowd noise.
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) August 16, 2020
During the Detroit Tigers game against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park, Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected. Umpire Tim Timmons told Gardenhire to “get the fuck outta here!” Via the Fox Sports Ohio and Fox Sports Detroit broadcasts:
Ever wonder what it actually sounds like when an ump ejects someone? Glad you asked!
Umpire Tim Timmons got caught on a hot mic when ejecting Ron Gardenhire and it is priceless. (Audio up!)#Indians #Tigers pic.twitter.com/wXcV427cUX
— Roberto Shenanigans (@Rob_Shenanigans) August 16, 2020
"Get the f*** out of here!" – Oh how I've missed Gardy ejections… pic.twitter.com/ZlvwwZW1BK
— Superdrunkmark69 (@cjzer0) August 16, 2020
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson voiced his displeasure after a groundout vs the Los Angeles Angels. Dodgers play-by-play man Joe Davis of Spectrum SportsNet said, “Pederson’s, uh, frustrations continue to be loud.”
"Pederson's … uh, frustrations, continue to be loud." pic.twitter.com/cd6rNMsdgc
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 16, 2020
And that’s all just from one day of baseball!
So, this is the new normal on MLB broadcasts. Don’t be surprised if the artificial crowd noise gets a bit louder as the season goes on.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.