![]() ![]() I haven’t personally witnessed any criminal assaults such as those while working a game. The very next year, first base umpire Laz Diaz was attacked by a fan. In 2002, Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa was attacked by a father and his teenage son. In 1995, a fan attacked reliever Randy Myers on the pitcher’s mound at Wrigley Field. There have been incidents where fans have rushed onto the field with mayhem in mind. However, Yaz said the uneasiness he had in those instances was simply about not knowing whether it was just another drunk fan on an alcohol fueled joy ride or instead a maniac intent on mayhem (this was the era in which John Lennon-while signing autographs-was killed by a madman outside the Dakota on the Upper West Side of Manhattan). Often, the drunken (?) fan just wanted to shake Yaz’ hand. Almost invariably, the intruder headed right toward Carl Yastrzemski, a legendary figure in New England. Years ago, when I broadcast Red Sox games on the radio, games would all too frequently be interrupted by a fan running onto the field. Jon Miller (SF Giants, ex-ESPN MLB announcer) Kevin’s platform on radio allows him more freedom to adlib but Jim’s quick reference even without video support was in my view appropriate. That’s not surprising in today’s overly sensitive world. Yet he was criticized by many for his “be a man” line. Jim Nantz was wise in referencing the guy’s infamous run, and Kevin’s work was epic. Platforms used to matter a lot more in our business, but times have changed. Tim Brando (Fox Sports, Football/Basketball) Here’s what some key network and local broadcasters think: So the real question is, should broadcasters ignore the ruckus and make only skeletal acknowledgements of these disruptive incidents? Or should they be transparent as Harlan was on radio? Nothing gets past social media these days. National radio, didn’t ignore the commotion. These days, given the ease with which game attendees can pull out their phones to record all sorts of shenanigans, the pink clad runner was bound to go viral. If fans didn’t hear Harlan live, social media was quick to virally spread his call. Unsurprisingly, Harlan’s detailed play-by-play of the misguided fan was an immediate hit. ![]() ‘Pull up your pants my man! Pull up those pants!’”. “Someone has run on the field, some guy with a bra,” Harlan spewed. But after the break, Jim Nantz quipped, “That might have been the best run of the game.” Many football fans and seemingly every social media addict, knew about the unruly fan who interrupted the Super Bowl prancing down the field sporting a pink onesie. CBS cut to a commercial. While having some fun with these incidents, Kevin in essence is dressing down these trespassers for their creepy behavior.Ī couple years ago, he also painted a word picture when a cat scurried onto the gridiron and rested idly inside the red,-zone. Harlan gives these intruders the business, painting graphic pictures of precisely what’s occurring. No one keeps records of fan episodes as they do wins and losses but Kevin is thought to be the first to turn these unsettling episodes into a form of entertainment. Welcome Kevin Harlan, the enthusiastic CBS, TNT and national NFL radio voice. Kevin Harlanīut in time unwritten rules change. You get it, the less attention, the better. Management understandably doesn’t want to encourage unruliness or other reckless crowd behavior. Likewise, radio announcers simply tell their audiences the bare minimum, there’s a disruption due to an unruly fan who’s on the field. The director pulls away from the scene immediately and the announcers say little, other than the obvious, a fan has run onto the field and the game is being delayed. For years, broadcasters have lived by the notion not to glorify or even acknowledge insubordinate fans who run out onto the field. ![]()
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