Hot mics have broadcast plenty of announcers’ comments over the years not meant for air over the years, with some of those caught including Tony Dungy, Jim Nantz Keith Hernandez, and Tommy Tuberville. Famed soccer announcer Ray Hudson is the latest to let some profanity out on a hot mic, doing so just before beIN’s broadcast of the Real Madrid – Leganés Copa del Rey quarterfinal went to halftime.
Play-by-play man Phil Schoen gave the score after 45 minutes in a seeming throw to commercial, but the broadcast then replayed first-half highlights instead with silence from the commentators, and then partway through, Hudson’s voice comes in with “What? Now? Fucking hell.”
"You there, with your fancy-schmancy machines. Go back and HAVE A LOOOOK at this MAGISTERIAL F-Bomb." #RayHudson pic.twitter.com/PyIAc9zF9p
— Q_cumber (@Q_cumber) January 24, 2018
Here’s a better clip of the moment in question:
@MenInBlazers HOT MIC HOT MIC!!!! Gotta love @RayHudson pic.twitter.com/lUYYPGQLOM
— Ribs (@JoeyRibs32) January 24, 2018
That seems like a miscommunication between the announcers and their producers, and it’s an understandable one. But still, probably not something you want to just casually drop on the air. It gave a lot of soccer fans a good laugh, though.
Ray Hudson just summed up this Real Madrid season in two words.
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) January 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/Mr_SheaButter/status/956275725404864513
https://twitter.com/sa_nelson/status/956275845265424389
And hey, his work in this game overall drew plenty of praise:
GOOOAAAL: A mistake at the back, and @CDLeganes are level with @realmadriden on aggregate! #CopadelRey #RealMadridLeganes pic.twitter.com/M1hFi1DBdW
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) January 24, 2018
@RayHudson is the best commentator in the history of sports https://t.co/caq0QwoDM8
— E.W™️ (@ewise01) January 24, 2018
Real Madrid would go on to lose the match 2-1, throwing away their 1-0 lead from the first leg and crashing out of the Copa del Rey in the process. And that’s produced headlines like Yahoo’s “Real Madrid upset in Copa Del Rey quarters as season from hell continues,” so Hudson wasn’t necessarily wrong.
[Joe Ribelli on Twitter; photo from BeIN via SI]
About Andrew Bucholtz
Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media for Awful Announcing since 2012. He is also a staff writer for The Comeback. His previous work includes time at Yahoo! Sports Canada and Black Press.