Friday, August 25, 2000
Griffey and Marty are the talk of the town
But Reds announcer says the dispute is over
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Everyone was talking about the Marty Brennaman-Ken Griffey Jr. incident Thursday except Brennaman.
“It's over,” Brennaman said.
Not really. It was a topic on ESPN, Fox and radio stations from coast to coast. When you have a star of Griffey's magnitude shouting at a Hall of Fame announcer, it's a big deal.
Brennaman and Griffey did just that before Wednesday's game. The incident stemmed from the radio announcer's on-air criticism of Griffey's performance.
Brennaman had not spoken to Griffey on Thursday, but he doesn't think it will affect their long-term relationship, which had been good.
The whole thing started when Brennaman criticized Griffey for not running hard to first base in Sunday's game. Griffey was miffed because he said the reason he didn't run hard is he's playing with a sore hamstring.
Brennaman reiterated that he'll continue to call games as he sees them.
“Some things need to be said,” Brennaman said.
For those who know and follow Brennaman's work, that is no upset.
“He's the most candid local play-by-play man in history,” said Dan Hoard, the play-by-play man for University of Cincinnati football and basketball.
Hoard said it's an announcer's duty to point out things like the Griffey incident.
“Absolutely,” Hoard said. “You're a journalist first. You have to point out when things aren't going well for the team that employs you, but you have to use common sense. You can't be personal or nasty.”
Brennaman is employed by the Reds. He reports to John Allen, the team's chief operating officer. Brennaman said the only time Allen has ever asked him to back off was when Brennaman was vocal in his support for locating the new ballpark at Broadway Commons. The team supported a site on the river.
“Even though Marty is employed by the club, he feels his responsibility is to the listener,” said Chris Welsh, a former player who does television analysis for Fox Sports Net.
Brennaman takes more license than most announcers because he can. He's been calling Reds games since 1974.
“Marty criticizes the performance, not the player,” Welsh said. “He said Griffey didn't run hard to first. He didn't say he was a bad guy. He just said that play was unacceptable.”
Brennaman makes a point to be available before every game if players have a beef.
One of the worst confrontations before the Griffey incident was with Tom Browning and Tim Belcher after Tony Perez's firing in 1993. Brennaman blamed Perez's firing on the performance of players.Belcher wanted to know how I could say that,” Brennaman said. “I said, "Because it's true.' Then Browning started on me. I said, "Oh, no, if you've got something to say to me we'll go over here and discuss it.' I didn't want him to show me up in front of all of his teammates.”
That is probably why the Griffey incident was blown up as much as it was. If Griffey had pulled a Brennaman aside and explained why he didn't run hard, the whole thing never would have made the papers or been a topic for talk radio.
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Griffey and Marty are the talk of the town