Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman suspended for on-air homophobic epithet

MuzzyField

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Fun fact... Thom was anchoring weekend sports at one of the Cincinnati affiliates DURING his senior year at OU. Not interning, anchoring.

Thom called both of Florida's NC wins during the Urban era and sucked at both of them. It was like he just showed, and other than game eve interviews, had done absolutely no preparation. He was lost identifying stars making plays and had trouble keeping track of what down it was.
 

mauf

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It is such a weird, bull shitty, hypocritical exercise in dumb-fuckery.

Here is what I think is supposed to be encoded in that claim, "I'm a man of faith":

I'm an asshole who has shit all over himself by saying something that clarifies that that I am a bigoted piece of garbage, but let me trot this out to say, "hey, I'm a Christian, I stand before the judgement of Christ and only ask for forgiveness in my weakness, and oh, BTW, I'm totally cool with all that shit in the Sermon on the Mount about judgement, but, what can I say, I'm a weak little prick, so, please see point #1."

But what a dick like Brenneman is also coding is something like this:

"Well, it couldn't be helped, I'm a man of faith which also means I'm really pretty hot on all that cherry picked shit in Leviticus, so, you know, I am what I am."
Honestly, I wish it was that well thought out. As far too many Christians do, TB was using “I’m a man of faith” as shorthand for “I’m a good person,” when in reality the Christian faith should lead one to confess that one is a sinner in need of grace. Which might actually have been the best thing he could’ve said at that moment.
 

jtn46

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Might be why his mic was "accidentally" turned on early. Someone in the truck was tired of his shit.
Typically they are always left on during breaks but there’s technology in many sports production trucks that mutes everything, so it’s possible the truck brought it up early on purpose. I suspect Fox is cheap and didn’t buy this.
 

FL4WL3SS

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Typically they are always left on during breaks but there’s technology in many sports production trucks that mutes everything, so it’s possible the truck brought it up early on purpose. I suspect Fox is cheap and didn’t buy this.
Couldn't they have started the broadcast early or come back from commercial a few seconds early?

It probably wasn't a nefarious truck employee, but it's fun to think about.
 

jtn46

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Couldn't they have started the broadcast early or come back from commercial a few seconds early?
Yes and Brennaman is absurdly stupid to put his entire career on the line so he can say homophobic shit into a hot mic until his AD completely counts down to zero, especially given that the operator running the breaks is in another state (for Fox RSN’s it was Texas but I think they’ve moved).
 

ColdSoxPack

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Where was he referring to with that repugnant comment? Couldn't make it out on the clip. And as already alluded to , the BS, man of faith crap just adds gallons of insult to the injury. Who gives a shit about your alleged "faith"? A bigot's a bigot. And what a shock G38 comes to his defense. He really is every fucking idiot, middle aged white MAGA asshole epitomized. And, bye Thom.
I have the same question. What was he talking about? Seemed a weird thing to blurt out.
 

joe dokes

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"I'm a man of faith" is the kind of thing people say to try to excuse awful behavior, in much the same way that many men will say "I have daughters!" as a way to excuse sexism and misogyny. It's a useless phrase in this context.
And "cancel culture sucks" as a reason they shouldn't be called on it.
 

Bergs

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I went to Ohio with Thom. Let's just say, once a tool always a tool.

More good news for the Scripps College of Communication... Roger Ailes, Matt Lauer, and now Thom. What a list!
O-H!!!
I-O!!!

Did you have any exposure to Russ Baird?
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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I have the same question. What was he talking about? Seemed a weird thing to blurt out.
At first I thought he was talking about some sort of upcoming trip to SF but they're not traveling to SF this year. I don't have any idea what he was referring to, but honestly it doesn't matter. The remark was clearly made from casual, common, everyday use by him, to someone he thought wouldn't mind his bigotry.
 

SumnerH

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Not sure, but Charles C. Alexander sure did.

The drop rate for his annual history of baseball course each spring was epic.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-04-06-8904010697-story.html
I think the answer to #2 is wrong. The question is:
Moses Fleetwood Walker was (1) the last black player in 19th Century professional baseball, (2) Charles Radbourne`s batterymate on the 1884 Providence National League champions, (3) one of two black players in the major leagues before 1900, (4) Albert G. Spalding`s batterymate on the National Association Boston team.
The answer they give is:
(3) one of two black players in the major leagues before 1900
.

But in fact:

There were at least 3 black players played in the MLB before 1900. Moses Fleetwood Walker, his brother Welday (or Weldy) Walker, and William Edward White—the latter of whom is, according to SABR, the first black player in MLB history and the only former slave to play in the majors (albeit for just 4 at bats).
 

MuzzyField

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O-H!!!
I-O!!!

Did you have any exposure to Russ Baird?
He retired a few years before I arrived. I think he was still around.

As a telecom (R/TV) major I did venture over to the J-School to take a graphics and design class, but it was with Tom Hodges. I still have my pica ruler if anyone ever needs to borrow one. I keep it with my typewriter and graph paper.
 

jezza1918

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Without looking, I'll bet this is the prevailing sentiment at chiefsplanet.com as well. God, that's a contemptible place.
This prompted me to head to that website for the first time ever...1. you are correct 2. I need to take a shower. Some of the commentary literally took my breath away (not in the positive way).
 
If Brennaman were actually a good commentator - you know, someone who prepared properly for every game and sounded informed and gave good takes and gave you reasons to actually want to listen to him - he might be an interesting test case for Trumpism in sports. He could turn full heel, find a team based in a red state to employ him, and become the sports equivalent of someone like Tucker Carlson. But he is not a good commentator. I don't know anyone who has ever said, "Hey, Thom Brennaman is calling the game today - I'd definitely better watch and turn the sound up." So, um, yeah.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Without looking, I'll bet this is the prevailing sentiment at chiefsplanet.com as well. God, that's a contemptible place.
Yup... most of the deplorables at chiefsplanet fall into one of these categories:

1.). Cancel culture will lay waste to Brennaman, and that's a shame:
I like him as an announcer.

And honestly I don't understand why he has to be fired. In a reasonable world he would be suspended for a few weeks/months and that would be the end of it. But we live in this snowflake hugely over-twitterpated universe that just waits to be triggered by things like this, so he's almost assuredly gone.
2.). He should've known better as a professional than to be caught saying that on a hot mic
Even if he believes himself to not be homophobic and wanted to pass it off as a lame joke, why would you say that within shouting distance of ANY on-air microphone?
He got comfortable and forgot that the fake outrage PC police are ALWAYS listening.

3.). Was he saying that about Kansas City? [The Reds were playing the Royals.]. Well fuck him! Cincinnati is way gayer than Kansas City!
Even if statistically it was true, Cincinnati talking shit on us? On anyone? Know your place mother ****ers and get back to being the secondary sports city in a college football state.
And... when Inside Edition reporter Lisa Guerrero tweeted she wasn't surprised to hear that from Brennaman as she'd heard him spew like that a lot before.
Who gives a shit what Tits McGee has to say. Over/under on how many players she blew in the locker room?
Or this one, I'm not quite sure how to categorize:
It seems that Brennaman used it as a direct slur toward gays, which I guess ups the ante, but still, I don't care. Although IMO anybody named Tom who spells it with an "h" must be a pillowbiter, so he probably should keep his mouth shut.
 

joe dokes

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He was the absolute worst at turning a mental error or a failure of one of "the little things" into a morality tale worthy of Davey & Goliath.

And that Manny clip had the added benefit of sing-songy, moralizing high-waister Rick Sutcliffe.
 

joe dokes

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Is there any doubt that Brennamen, who receives (ed?) a paycheck from Fox, will be visiting a Fox prime time show soon? If he declines those offers (which I am certain will be coming) than I may actually believe he is sorry.
 

jtn46

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Is there any doubt that Brennamen, who receives (ed?) a paycheck from Fox, will be visiting a Fox prime time show soon? If he declines those offers (which I am certain will be coming) than I may actually believe he is sorry.
If he were to do that he'd probably position himself out of sportscasting forever. If he has friends with sports radio shows he should do a somber round of apologies and then lay low for a year or two. There is likely eventually work out there for him depending on how humble he is and how big a paycut he's willing to take. Also while he does get a "Fox" check for NFL work, "Fox Sports Ohio" was actually acquired by Disney and then sold to Sinclair so it's not actually under the "Fox" umbrella that owns Fox News.
 

fiskful of dollars

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I may regret this:


Brennaman is a non-entity to me. I've heard of him (and heard him) of course but don't really think of him as a top flight broadcaster or someone I "know" enough to formulate an opinion.

I've always been troubled by the mob rush to judgment when someone says something stupid and it gets recorded. We are all prone to saying stupid things occasionally. In the ER, the doc-doc conversations are full of inappropriate gallows humor. It's a coping mechanism. The nurses are just as bad. If anyone were ever to secretly record what is ACTUALLY said in those hospital "safe" spaces, it would be a national scandal! There are a lot of lawyers on here. Doesn't this happen with especially awful or incompetent clients? You NEVER trash them, even if you're completely professional to their faces? No one has ever shouted something regrettable in traffic? Teachers? Never privately trashed a student? Anyone who works in public? Never labelled someone? No one grew up using F%^^&* or F$# of R@#$^% on the ball field (and I mean as a term of endearment!)? I have been a part of a team since I was 6. I've been called the R-word, the P-word, the B-word, the F-word and many other colorful terms a million times. It was part of my generation (not saying it was a good thing but it was definitely a part of it - and these things persist in our consciouscness). I have used those same terms in anger - not recently, and not in a professional setting. I have never been recorded but patients now record doctors all the time, so I can see how it happens in a moment of frustration.

I was a clothing buyer before medical school. I was the only straight male in my office. The homophobic terms used in that office were tossed around as casually as the sex (it seemed to me, anyway). It was the 80's. Lots of sex. I digress.

I agree that cancel culture is a misplaced dog whistle in a lot of cases - but like most things, there is some truth to the concept. Maybe a guy's life shouldn't be weighed and measured over a brief verbal loss of control? Maybe we as a society can understand that we all have weak moments. Rather than ostracizing people for these all too human outbursts, maybe we could learn to forgive, learn to educate and learn to use these as teaching moments? I think it's wrong to take these things out of context and try to build a persona based on that alone. A person's lifelong body of work should be taken into account rather than a 10s sound byte. I don't know Brennaman well enough - he may be awful, some of you think so but I'm not prepared to judge him solely on this issue. If he shows genuine contrition and makes the appropriate amends, I'm willing to give him (and anyone else) a second chance. We're all human.
 

RG33

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I agree that cancel culture is a misplaced dog whistle in a lot of cases - but like most things, there is some truth to the concept. Maybe a guy's life shouldn't be weighed and measured over a brief verbal loss of control? Maybe we as a society can understand that we all have weak moments. Rather than ostracizing people for these all too human outbursts, maybe we could learn to forgive, learn to educate and learn to use these as teaching moments? I think it's wrong to take these things out of context and try to build a persona based on that alone. A person's lifelong body of work should be taken into account rather than a 10s sound byte. I don't know Brennaman well enough - he may be awful, some of you think so but I'm not prepared to judge him solely on this issue. If he shows genuine contrition and makes the appropriate amends, I'm willing to give him (and anyone else) a second chance. We're all human.
I think the flip side of this paragraph is, "maybe he has been a horrible, homophobic, (likely) racist guy forever and gotten away with it up until now because he is a white male in America, and now he has finally been held accountable because people like him are finally being held accountable. He should probably be grateful that he was able to get away with it for 33 years and earn such a great living despite being a piece of homophobic shit, and now he has the rest of his days to make amends for it. Perhaps he could even work towards getting educated and learning about not being a homophobic piece of shit, could open his mind, join the 21st century, and reach out to the LGBTQ+ community from here to see how he can actually be someone that helps heal instead of one that inflames."

Or something like that.

And to be clear, I see where you are coming from and am not directing this at your personally, but your point can just as easily be flipped just as reasonably.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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I may regret this:


Brennaman is a non-entity to me. I've heard of him (and heard him) of course but don't really think of him as a top flight broadcaster or someone I "know" enough to formulate an opinion.

I've always been troubled by the mob rush to judgment when someone says something stupid and it gets recorded. We are all prone to saying stupid things occasionally. In the ER, the doc-doc conversations are full of inappropriate gallows humor. It's a coping mechanism. The nurses are just as bad. If anyone were ever to secretly record what is ACTUALLY said in those hospital "safe" spaces, it would be a national scandal! There are a lot of lawyers on here. Doesn't this happen with especially awful or incompetent clients? You NEVER trash them, even if you're completely professional to their faces? No one has ever shouted something regrettable in traffic? Teachers? Never privately trashed a student? Anyone who works in public? Never labelled someone? No one grew up using F%^^&* or F$# of R@#$^% on the ball field (and I mean as a term of endearment!)? I have been a part of a team since I was 6. I've been called the R-word, the P-word, the B-word, the F-word and many other colorful terms a million times. It was part of my generation (not saying it was a good thing but it was definitely a part of it - and these things persist in our consciouscness). I have used those same terms in anger - not recently, and not in a professional setting. I have never been recorded but patients now record doctors all the time, so I can see how it happens in a moment of frustration.

I was a clothing buyer before medical school. I was the only straight male in my office. The homophobic terms used in that office were tossed around as casually as the sex (it seemed to me, anyway). It was the 80's. Lots of sex. I digress.

I agree that cancel culture is a misplaced dog whistle in a lot of cases - but like most things, there is some truth to the concept. Maybe a guy's life shouldn't be weighed and measured over a brief verbal loss of control? Maybe we as a society can understand that we all have weak moments. Rather than ostracizing people for these all too human outbursts, maybe we could learn to forgive, learn to educate and learn to use these as teaching moments? I think it's wrong to take these things out of context and try to build a persona based on that alone. A person's lifelong body of work should be taken into account rather than a 10s sound byte. I don't know Brennaman well enough - he may be awful, some of you think so but I'm not prepared to judge him solely on this issue. If he shows genuine contrition and makes the appropriate amends, I'm willing to give him (and anyone else) a second chance. We're all human.
This wasn't an accidental outburst. This wasn't accidentally saying "fuck" on the air because he spilled his coffee on his scorebook. This was casually, and some would say derisively, saying a word that in no uncertain terms is viewed as a slur. He deserves to be raked over the coals for it.

Should he never work again? I don't think that's necessary, particularly if he shows genuine contrition like you say (his apologies so far ain't that, though). But sitting down for the remainder of the season is a start. He can use the time off to make amends and folks can re-evaluate in the future.
 

Wingack

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I may regret this:


Brennaman is a non-entity to me. I've heard of him (and heard him) of course but don't really think of him as a top flight broadcaster or someone I "know" enough to formulate an opinion.

I've always been troubled by the mob rush to judgment when someone says something stupid and it gets recorded. We are all prone to saying stupid things occasionally. In the ER, the doc-doc conversations are full of inappropriate gallows humor. It's a coping mechanism. The nurses are just as bad. If anyone were ever to secretly record what is ACTUALLY said in those hospital "safe" spaces, it would be a national scandal! There are a lot of lawyers on here. Doesn't this happen with especially awful or incompetent clients? You NEVER trash them, even if you're completely professional to their faces? No one has ever shouted something regrettable in traffic? Teachers? Never privately trashed a student? Anyone who works in public? Never labelled someone? No one grew up using F%^^&* or F$# of R@#$^% on the ball field (and I mean as a term of endearment!)? I have been a part of a team since I was 6. I've been called the R-word, the P-word, the B-word, the F-word and many other colorful terms a million times. It was part of my generation (not saying it was a good thing but it was definitely a part of it - and these things persist in our consciouscness). I have used those same terms in anger - not recently, and not in a professional setting. I have never been recorded but patients now record doctors all the time, so I can see how it happens in a moment of frustration.

I was a clothing buyer before medical school. I was the only straight male in my office. The homophobic terms used in that office were tossed around as casually as the sex (it seemed to me, anyway). It was the 80's. Lots of sex. I digress.

I agree that cancel culture is a misplaced dog whistle in a lot of cases - but like most things, there is some truth to the concept. Maybe a guy's life shouldn't be weighed and measured over a brief verbal loss of control? Maybe we as a society can understand that we all have weak moments. Rather than ostracizing people for these all too human outbursts, maybe we could learn to forgive, learn to educate and learn to use these as teaching moments? I think it's wrong to take these things out of context and try to build a persona based on that alone. A person's lifelong body of work should be taken into account rather than a 10s sound byte. I don't know Brennaman well enough - he may be awful, some of you think so but I'm not prepared to judge him solely on this issue. If he shows genuine contrition and makes the appropriate amends, I'm willing to give him (and anyone else) a second chance. We're all human.
Still waiting on that.
 

PC Drunken Friar

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I may regret this:

No one has ever shouted something regrettable in traffic? Teachers? Never privately trashed a student?

We're all human.
I am a teacher and yes, privately I have talked shit about a student's behavior but never used any of the words you were called as a kid. If I were in a private conversation with another teacher (s) and one of them called a student a f@$, you bet your ass I would go right to admin and want that teacher gone.

The traffic thing is weird. Again, I have used unflattering language in my car while alone. Again, never the words you used, but words I would never say at work...because you know, I am not at work! He was and used a word very comfortably that is simply not acceptable.

He may deserve a second chance, but no one is going to be forced to give him one. Me, personally? If I ever hear that he is doing another sporting event, I will not watch. And I am sure there are plenty more people like me and these organizations know this. He will be fired because of what he said, but also, by keeping him (or hiring him) will cause damage to that team/network/brand. Actions have consequences.
 

joe dokes

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This wasn't an accidental outburst. This wasn't accidentally saying "fuck" on the air because he spilled his coffee on his scorebook. This was casually, and some would say derisively, saying a word that in no uncertain terms is viewed as a slur. He deserves to be raked over the coals for it.

Should he never work again? I don't think that's necessary, particularly if he shows genuine contrition like you say (his apologies so far ain't that, though). But sitting down for the remainder of the season is a start. He can use the time off to make amends and folks can re-evaluate in the future.
I think this is about right.
 

terrynever

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I am a teacher and yes, privately I have talked shit about a student's behavior but never used any of the words you were called as a kid. If I were in a private conversation with another teacher (s) and one of them called a student a f@$, you bet your ass I would go right to admin and want that teacher gone.

The traffic thing is weird. Again, I have used unflattering language in my car while alone. Again, never the words you used, but words I would never say at work...because you know, I am not at work! He was and used a word very comfortably that is simply not acceptable.

He may deserve a second chance, but no one is going to be forced to give him one. Me, personally? If I ever hear that he is doing another sporting event, I will not watch. And I am sure there are plenty more people like me and these organizations know this. He will be fired because of what he said, but also, by keeping him (or hiring him) will cause damage to that team/network/brand. Actions have consequences.
You can always just mute him and watch the game on your own. Most announcers are window dressing anyway.
 

fiskful of dollars

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I am a teacher and yes, privately I have talked shit about a student's behavior but never used any of the words you were called as a kid. If I were in a private conversation with another teacher (s) and one of them called a student a f@$, you bet your ass I would go right to admin and want that teacher gone.

The traffic thing is weird. Again, I have used unflattering language in my car while alone. Again, never the words you used, but words I would never say at work...because you know, I am not at work! He was and used a word very comfortably that is simply not acceptable.

He may deserve a second chance, but no one is going to be forced to give him one. Me, personally? If I ever hear that he is doing another sporting event, I will not watch. And I am sure there are plenty more people like me and these organizations know this. He will be fired because of what he said, but also, by keeping him (or hiring him) will cause damage to that team/network/brand. Actions have consequences.
That's fair. Appreciate the response and your engagement. Also, respect.

Let me ask you though: What if that "private" conversation was recorded and played publicly? You've "talked shit" about a student. Would that sound byte accurately sum up your years of dedication and teaching experience? Would it represent your TRUE feelings toward the student and your undoubted dedication towards your profession? I'm guessing you would be mortified to hear that recording being played for the public. I know I would if some of my more colorful phrases were ever used out of context. It's a fascinating concept. I appreciate the opportunity to have an adult/rational discussion about the nuances of these issues. Thanks!
 

PC Drunken Friar

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That's fair. Appreciate the response and your engagement. Also, respect.

Let me ask you though: What if that "private" conversation was recorded and played publicly? You've "talked shit" about a student. Would that sound byte accurately sum up your years of dedication and teaching experience? Would it represent your TRUE feelings toward the student and your undoubted dedication towards your profession? I'm guessing you would be mortified to hear that recording being played for the public. I know I would if some of my more colorful phrases were ever used out of context. It's a fascinating concept. I appreciate the opportunity to have an adult/rational discussion about the nuances of these issues. Thanks!
Well, yeah, it would be embarrassing and probably difficult to navigate with respect to the particular student and their family (but he did not necessarily call a particular person that word). If my words about a certain class were broadcast, that is a little different.

And yes, it would represent my true feeling about the profession. Some kids/classes can suck. Days can be rough. Venting and talking shit are things teachers do (as in most professions) to help get thru the day.

Maybe I should expand on what I mean by"talking shit"...

An example- I was ready to murder my D-Block today.They wouldn't shut the fuck up!

Steve was an ass today. He wouldn't stop tapping his own on his desk and did it just to annoy Samantha.

The way he bullies kids, Shawn will get an ass kicking one day. He ain't that tough.

Stuff like that. I don't think I have ever said a "fireable" comment about a student, because the they are kids and kids say and do stupid shit

If I were to ever use the R, P, C or F word or used a racial slur...yea, I shouldn't have a job.
 
I'm willing to believe that an insecure person, calling a game alongside an ex-sportsman in the color commentator's chair, might make off-color comments that he didn't personally believe in a horribly misguided attempt to impress his partner.

That's the very small extent to which I'm willing to give Brennaman any benefit of the doubt here.
 

EnochRoot

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Feb 7, 2020
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I think this is about right.
Eh. You risk offending the people who have been punched-down upon their whole lives if you let him back in after the 'anger has died down.' Screw Thom Brennaman. He likely tied that knot a thousand times before and somebody probably hot mic'd him to slip it around his neck.

Good riddance.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Edit -- Crap, we're on the main board, not the members areas. Nevermind.
 
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Soxy

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I think the flip side of this paragraph is, "maybe he has been a horrible, homophobic, (likely) racist guy forever and gotten away with it up until now because he is a white male in America, and now he has finally been held accountable because people like him are finally being held accountable. He should probably be grateful that he was able to get away with it for 33 years and earn such a great living despite being a piece of homophobic shit, and now he has the rest of his days to make amends for it. Perhaps he could even work towards getting educated and learning about not being a homophobic piece of shit, could open his mind, join the 21st century, and reach out to the LGBTQ+ community from here to see how he can actually be someone that helps heal instead of one that inflames."

Or something like that.

And to be clear, I see where you are coming from and am not directing this at your personally, but your point can just as easily be flipped just as reasonably.
This is always the obvious counter to the "why should we rush to judgement?" argument.

Why should Brennaman get the benefit of the doubt? It would seem highly unusual for somebody to casually throw around a slur like that unless it's a regular part of their repertoire, or they're just too ignorant to really know what they're saying. And we can throw out option B, because he's an adult and not a child who doesn't know what words mean.

There is no acceptable excuse for what Brennaman said and did. Zero.
 

Light-Tower-Power

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I may regret this:


Brennaman is a non-entity to me. I've heard of him (and heard him) of course but don't really think of him as a top flight broadcaster or someone I "know" enough to formulate an opinion.

I've always been troubled by the mob rush to judgment when someone says something stupid and it gets recorded. We are all prone to saying stupid things occasionally. In the ER, the doc-doc conversations are full of inappropriate gallows humor. It's a coping mechanism. The nurses are just as bad. If anyone were ever to secretly record what is ACTUALLY said in those hospital "safe" spaces, it would be a national scandal! There are a lot of lawyers on here. Doesn't this happen with especially awful or incompetent clients? You NEVER trash them, even if you're completely professional to their faces? No one has ever shouted something regrettable in traffic? Teachers? Never privately trashed a student? Anyone who works in public? Never labelled someone? No one grew up using F%^^&* or F$# of R@#$^% on the ball field (and I mean as a term of endearment!)? I have been a part of a team since I was 6. I've been called the R-word, the P-word, the B-word, the F-word and many other colorful terms a million times. It was part of my generation (not saying it was a good thing but it was definitely a part of it - and these things persist in our consciouscness). I have used those same terms in anger - not recently, and not in a professional setting. I have never been recorded but patients now record doctors all the time, so I can see how it happens in a moment of frustration.

I was a clothing buyer before medical school. I was the only straight male in my office. The homophobic terms used in that office were tossed around as casually as the sex (it seemed to me, anyway). It was the 80's. Lots of sex. I digress.

I agree that cancel culture is a misplaced dog whistle in a lot of cases - but like most things, there is some truth to the concept. Maybe a guy's life shouldn't be weighed and measured over a brief verbal loss of control? Maybe we as a society can understand that we all have weak moments. Rather than ostracizing people for these all too human outbursts, maybe we could learn to forgive, learn to educate and learn to use these as teaching moments? I think it's wrong to take these things out of context and try to build a persona based on that alone. A person's lifelong body of work should be taken into account rather than a 10s sound byte. I don't know Brennaman well enough - he may be awful, some of you think so but I'm not prepared to judge him solely on this issue. If he shows genuine contrition and makes the appropriate amends, I'm willing to give him (and anyone else) a second chance. We're all human.
I think this is a great post and I agree with all of it. I went to Catholic school in NH from kindergarten through high school. As you can imagine, school wasn't a bastion of diversity and inclusion. We said all kinds of awful things and used the F, Q, R, etc. words all the time. Ten years later, I'm still trying to be better. I've come a long way with erasing those words from my vocabulary but every once in a while around friends things do slip, and I own it as not being something I'm proud of. Like you, I would never use those words in a professional setting. I agree that Brennaman shouldn't be forever blacklisted from broadcast work solely because of this incident, as long he shows genuine contrition like you said. The "I'm a man of faith" stuff is such a bullshit way to handwave it away though and I'd be surprised if he ever shows legitimate remorse.
 

glennhoffmania

meat puppet
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 25, 2005
8,411,588
NY
I may regret this:


Brennaman is a non-entity to me. I've heard of him (and heard him) of course but don't really think of him as a top flight broadcaster or someone I "know" enough to formulate an opinion.

I've always been troubled by the mob rush to judgment when someone says something stupid and it gets recorded. We are all prone to saying stupid things occasionally. In the ER, the doc-doc conversations are full of inappropriate gallows humor. It's a coping mechanism. The nurses are just as bad. If anyone were ever to secretly record what is ACTUALLY said in those hospital "safe" spaces, it would be a national scandal! There are a lot of lawyers on here. Doesn't this happen with especially awful or incompetent clients? You NEVER trash them, even if you're completely professional to their faces? No one has ever shouted something regrettable in traffic? Teachers? Never privately trashed a student? Anyone who works in public? Never labelled someone? No one grew up using F%^^&* or F$# of R@#$^% on the ball field (and I mean as a term of endearment!)? I have been a part of a team since I was 6. I've been called the R-word, the P-word, the B-word, the F-word and many other colorful terms a million times. It was part of my generation (not saying it was a good thing but it was definitely a part of it - and these things persist in our consciouscness). I have used those same terms in anger - not recently, and not in a professional setting. I have never been recorded but patients now record doctors all the time, so I can see how it happens in a moment of frustration.

I was a clothing buyer before medical school. I was the only straight male in my office. The homophobic terms used in that office were tossed around as casually as the sex (it seemed to me, anyway). It was the 80's. Lots of sex. I digress.

I agree that cancel culture is a misplaced dog whistle in a lot of cases - but like most things, there is some truth to the concept. Maybe a guy's life shouldn't be weighed and measured over a brief verbal loss of control? Maybe we as a society can understand that we all have weak moments. Rather than ostracizing people for these all too human outbursts, maybe we could learn to forgive, learn to educate and learn to use these as teaching moments? I think it's wrong to take these things out of context and try to build a persona based on that alone. A person's lifelong body of work should be taken into account rather than a 10s sound byte. I don't know Brennaman well enough - he may be awful, some of you think so but I'm not prepared to judge him solely on this issue. If he shows genuine contrition and makes the appropriate amends, I'm willing to give him (and anyone else) a second chance. We're all human.
Is there a way someone could tell me what R@#$^ is without typing what I assume is a bad word?

As for the content of your post, I get what you're saying. But I think there are limits and the time period matters. Today, with everything going on, and the progress we've made, a national broadcaster who says that into a mic has no business being on the air.
 

Light-Tower-Power

ask me about My Pillow
SoSH Member
Jun 14, 2013
15,947
Nashua, NH
Is there a way someone could tell me what R@#$^ is without typing what I assume is a bad word?

As for the content of your post, I get what you're saying. But I think there are limits and the time period matters. Today, with everything going on, and the progress we've made, a national broadcaster who says that into a mic has no business being on the air.
R*tard.
 

EnochRoot

New Member
Feb 7, 2020
90
Baltimore, MD
Is there a way someone could tell me what R@#$^ is without typing what I assume is a bad word?

As for the content of your post, I get what you're saying. But I think there are limits and the time period matters. Today, with everything going on, and the progress we've made, a national broadcaster who says that into a mic has no business being on the air.
Maybe if he had said something along the lines of "Man, I am so sorry for having said that. I know it's offensive to many people and I should feel like crap for saying it. But I don't. What's worse is the joking that has gone on with me and my friends my entire life. I need help."

THEN he's come clean, and can begin to redeem himself, and perhaps more importantly be part of a larger narrative for what is and what is not tolerable at any level when freakin broadcasting sporting events.

Otherwise toss him aside and give somebody better a shot.