Atlanta Hawks play-by-play announcer Bob Rathbun provided yet more proof Monday night that Iowa star Caitlin Clark has transcended women’s college basketball to become a cultural phenomenon.
The Bally Sports South announcer was calling the Hawks’ win over the Boston Celtics when, late in the fourth quarter, Boston star Jayson Tatum went for a steal but got called for a foul.
Tatum promptly complained to the official, and Rathbun quickly pounced.
“Boy, Jayson Tatum does a lot of complaining. Who does he think he is, Caitlin Clark?” Rathbun quipped.
"Boy, Jayson Tatum does a lot of complaining. Who does he think he is, Caitlin Clark?" – Bob Rathbun pic.twitter.com/gHZ0CUaVYQ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 26, 2024
Bally Sports South color analyst Dominique Wilkins laughed heartily at Rathbun’s quip.
“Oh man, that’s good,” Wilkins said.
“Caitlin Clark was complaining so much, her dad got on her, in the tournament in the stands,” Rathbun continued. The veteran broadcaster referenced Saturday’s NCAA Tournament game between Iowa and Holy Cross, where Clark’s father, Brent, was caught on camera in the stands yelling for her to stop complaining.
By the way, Clark scored 32 points Monday night to key No. 1 seed Iowa to a win over West Virginia.
Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes "survive a scare…and advance to the Sweet 16."
ESPN executives can finally breathe again… pic.twitter.com/vgSrBhR2Nb
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 26, 2024
It’s almost unheard of for an announcer to compare an NBA star to a women’s college basketball player, but Rathbun went there, and fans loved it.
Timely. Great moments in sports broadcasting. https://t.co/WK2VE1YbOc
— Shawn Fluharty (@WVUFLU) March 26, 2024
The legend @BobRathbunTV https://t.co/ABolfNfx26
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) March 26, 2024
clark catching wild strays https://t.co/fvWmYsa8nH
— CFB Royalty (@CFB_Royalty) March 26, 2024
Bob Rathbun is my hero tbh https://t.co/W4wxyRJpCo
— DBrags (@DBSportsYT) March 26, 2024
Nique chuckling is easily the best part of this. https://t.co/bL3j3Z8qOr
— Fox&Ox&Co. (@21ShadesOfKG) March 26, 2024
Bob’s a funny guy. 😝 https://t.co/hn93NJXVSe
— Hank Hanson (@HankDHanson2) March 26, 2024
[@awful announcing]