Why "Homer" Announcers Are 'OK' By Me

Without "Homer" Announcers,
Myron Cope Would Have
Been Just Another "Talking Head"

By now, most Pirates fans have heard about Reds announcer Thom Brennaman's "this guy sucks..." quotes that were caught by the on air mic and then sent throughout cyber space for all of "Buc Nation" to hear.  There has been a lot of talk about this already, and it happened just yesterday.  Pittsburgh fans don't like to hear people talking bad about their teams...regardless of which team you are speaking of.  Reds fans are backing their play by play on air personality saying that no one knows whom he was talking about.  Right...it just happened to be that he said that immediately after Jeff Locke delivered a 4 pitch walk in the baseball game.  Total coincidence I'm sure.  No one has heard from Brennaman yet, but I'm sure you will see the written apology posted about how what he said wasn't meant in a derogatory fashion...blah blah blah.  I tell people they suck all the time, and then say "Oh, well I didn't mean that you sucked...I just said that you sucked."  Okay, enough ranting. 

Now for the curveball...even as misguided as Thom Brennaman's actions were...I don't mind them at all.  In fact, I kind of like them.  Why?  Its simple.  Brennaman is a "homer" announcer.  Every team has them, and I LOVE listening to the Pittsburgh play by play guys. Whether its Mike Lange for the Pens, Greg Brown for the Bucs, or Bill Hillgrove and Tunch for the Steelers there is something about the home team flavor that every true fan loves to hear.  Its the reason why Steelers fans put the national broadcast on mute just to hear Hillgrove call the plays.  Pittsburgh has its share of "homer" announcers, they just don't get caught saying things like "this guy sucks..." on the air.  I can recall one Steelers game where Carson Palmer (then of the Bengals) dropped back and was intercepted by Lamarr Woodley.  Woodley took the INT and skated into the endzone to Bill Hillgrove saying "Mr. Palmer we let you back into the game, but like you always do...you threw your chance away!"  This line caught national attention on ESPN and ESPN Radio.  To me, if you don't want to hear Hillgrove / Brown / or Lange calls...then why are you listening to them? 

I could completely understand if someone like Jim Nantz, Joe Buck, or Doc Emerick were caught saying something like Brennaman on the air.  After all, they aren't affiliated with any one team, but are national announcers that are there to strictly call the play, not to play favorites.  Unfortunately, I don't get to watch the Pirates often.  I live outside of the viewing area, and the MLB sports package would equate to a divorce for me.  So, I have XM Radio and listen to the games on a nightly basis.  Only problem is that I only get the home team's announcers.  So, I am forced to listen to the Reds, Cardinals, Brewers, Cubs...you get the picture...announcers when the Buccos are on the road.  I never complain about their calls because I realize that I am listening to guys that aren't calling the Pirates, but their perspective teams. 

Lastly, let me just say that its a good thing that I am not an announcer for the Pirates, Penguins, or Steelers.  Why?  Because I am a passionate fan who finds it hard to control my emotions when watching a game.  I would be tempted to call Brandon Phillips a "Piece of excrement (if you know what I'm talking about)" even though I know he is a solid ball player.  I am the guy at the bar watching the Steelers that yells for Phil Simms to "Shut the hell UP!" and gets weird looks.  I wear my fanhood on my sleeve, and if I were in the booth...I would still do the same.  Its the way Greg Brown goes bonkers when the Pirates get a huge walk off win, or when Jason Grilli slams the door shut on another team.  Its the way Mike Lange has made sayings like "Slap me silly Sidney!" "Scratch my back with a hacksaw" or my personal favorite "Get in the fast lane, Grandma the BINGO Games about the roll!" common place amongst Penguins fans.  Its the way that Myron Cope became beloved to every single Steelers fan who ever heard his hoarse voice over the air waves.  Take the fans out of these guys and you know what you get?  A boring broadcast.  I am an emotional fan, and I want the game to be announced with emotion.  Was Thom Brennaman stupid for saying what he did?  Yes, but I have NO PROBLEM with what he said and for "homer" announcers.  They make the game more interesting.