Posts tagged MartyBrennaman at FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

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Reds Radio Booth Continues Making Friends

Monday marked the first time that the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds met since Reds radio announcer Marty Brennaman called Cubs fans "the most obnoxious in baseball" after they threw a bunch of baseballs on the field. Marty then followed that comment up by calling Cubs fans "brain dead" a few days later.

Needless to say, those comments didn't make Brennaman very popular amongst Cubs fans (though White Sox fans no doubt loved it). Well, Brennaman's partner in the radio booth, former Red Jeff Brantley, decided to one up his colleague on Sunday. After the Reds lost their fifth straight game, Brantley said "I'm not including everybody but there are some guys on this team ... if they win, great. If they lose, they could care less."

Current Reds reliever David Weathers was listening on the radio at the time, and he was not amused.
"Maybe he knows more about the game than we do," Weathers told TV reporters before the Reds played the Cubs on Monday. "If he does, congratulations, maybe he should come out with a uniform on."
Though after the Reds ended their losing streak by beating the Cubs on Monday night, Weathers had calmed down, and was pretty shocked by the attention his comments were receiving.

Marty Brennaman Continues to Make Fans in Chicago, Calls Cubs Fans 'Brain Dead'

There's been quite an uproar amongst Cubs fans in Chicago the last few days over the comments that Reds announcer Marty Brennaman made about Cubs fans being "the most obnoxious in baseball." As should be expected, Cubs fans have cursed Brennaman's name between sips of Old Style and not paying attention to the game they're watching.

Well, calling Cubs fans obnoxious just wasn't enough for Marty, because he felt the need to go on local radio in Chicago on Friday and talk about them some more. (Last item)
After Cincinnati Reds announcer Marty Brennaman suggested that frustrated Chicago Cubs fans throwing baseballs on their home field "makes you want to see the Cubs lose," he expanded on those thoughts Friday on Chicago's ESPN Radio 1000: "I understand all these fans are all upset. Half of them are probably brain-dead to begin with."
Considering that the Reds have to come back to Wrigley two more times for serieseses in July and August, I'm not sure this is the smartest thing he could do. I mean, who is to say that those drunken, obnoxious, brain dead Cubs fans won't break into the Reds broadcasting booth and throw him to the seats below?

Marty's comments also force me to do something that, as a White Sox fan, I should never be forced to do: defend Cubs fans. Listen, Marty. I know there are a lot of dumb Cubs fans. I'm friends with a few, but get the hell over it already. There are a lot of dumb sports fans in every city in this country. Hell, there are just a lot of dumb people in this country period.

The reason the Cubs never win has nothing to do with their fans. Everybody knows it's that billy goat's fault..and that damn black cat's fault....and Steve Bartman...and the fact they just suck. Throwing baseballs on a field never cost them a game, let alone a World Series.

On Deck: Those Obnoxious 1st Place Cubs



On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing matchups

Chicago Cubs (12-6) vs. New York Mets (10-7) - 6:00PM Est. ESPN

If you think Cubs fans are obnoxious to begin with (as a White Sox fan I kind of agree with Marty Brennaman's assessment of Cubdom, but at the same time, I don't place the blame on all Cubs fans as much as the morons who frequent the bleachers. And Eamonn.), you should hang around them when they're in first place.

I mean, after beating the Pirates yesterday, the first question Aramis Ramirez had for the media after the game was "Did the Cardinals win?" Hey, Aramis? It's April 21st. Let's hold off on the scoreboard watching for now, okay? It's a little early to worry about blowing division leads, and besides, even if the Cubs do win the division and get to the World Series, they'll probably just throw it.

Marty Brennaman: Cubs Fans Are the Most Obnoxious in Major League Baseball

Everyone hates their rivals. It's understandable. It's a natural byproduct of cheering for your own team; if you stand in the way of my team's success, and you do so on a regular basis, I'm probably going to hate you. Fine.

But who knew Marty Brennaman had these sorts of issues with Chicago Cubs fans? After a weird, impromptu throwback fest last night (HT to my buddy Josh) -- which was funny until about the 10th ball made its way back on to the field -- Brennaman absolutely snapped. The Chicago Tribune has the audio, or you can jump for a transcript. Go on, listen. It's really choice stuff.

Back? Cool. In case you're still reeling, Brennaman just said what you thought he did: Cubs fans are the most obnoxious fans in Major League Baseball. They deserve to be rooted against. The actions of a few fans are in fact "typical" of the entire fan base, and, the clincher: The Cubs won't win the division this year because they're the Cubs, and they'll find a way to screw things up.

There are a variety of problems here, which I'll try to elucidate rationally even though am I a Cubs fan.

If Dusty Was White, Would Fans Be Happy?

Now that Dusty Baker will be returning to the dugout as manager of the Cincinnati Reds, he's already got some problems to deal with. He's replaced his old feud with Steve Stone and Chip Caray for a new one with Marty Brennaman, but that's not the only feud Baker already has in the Queen City.

No, apparently he's already hated by Reds fans.
No love for Dusty Baker. Nothing but bile for a man with more than 1,100 career wins, whose teams have finished either first or second in eight of his 14 seasons as a manager. A guy who has been NL Manager of the Year three times, who took the Chicago Cubs closer to the World Series altar than any manager in almost 50 years?

He stinks, you say. Terrible pick. You won't go to the games, you won't renew your season tickets. You're done with the Reds.
Those are the words of The Cincinnati Enquirer's Paul Daugherty. According to the emails he's received, and the phone calls he's gotten on his radio show, Cincinnati is not happy with the hiring of Baker.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly a fan of Baker either. I got a front row seat for his tenure in Chicago, so I know how bad a manager he can be at times. He favors the veterans too much, and he's too loyal to his players. He kills pitchers. Though, to be fair, I think Kerry Wood's arm would have blown up with or without Baker around.

Adam Dunn Is Still a Red ... for Now

Adam DunnDespite rampant rumors that Adam Dunn might be traded, the clock struck 4pm EST yesterday, signaling the deadline for baseball's non-waiver trade deadline and he was still a member of the Cincinnati Reds. But from the sound of things, he still thinks there's a chance he might he might be dealt, which at the very least would make his mom happy. From the Dayton Daily News:
Reds left fielder Adam Dunn, the subject of trade rumors, said he wasn't concerned at all about the trading deadline.

"Yeah, I'm happy I'm here," Dunn said. "But ask me on Sept. 1." ...

"It bothers my mom more than me," Dunn said. "My family hates the Brennamans (broadcasters Marty and Thom) and Jeff Brantley. If George Grande and Chris Welsh aren't doing the television games, they won't watch. That's sad."

Even though he wasn't traded Tuesday, Dunn threw out a word of caution.

"I've heard a lot of things happen in August," he said.
Zing! It's not quite "Kent Mercker vs. Steve Stone," but "Dunn's mom vs. Marty and Thom" does have a ring to it. As the guys at Baseball Think Factory point out, Dunn doesn't exactly come across as someone who wants to stay in Cincinnati. I don't see how the Reds could get Dunn past waivers to make a deal happen this year, but at worst bank on the team taking offers this winter.

Previously on FanHouse:
Nationals Going After Adam Dunn?
The Angels Are Done Talking About Dunn
Report: Adam Dunn Is Already on the Trade Market
Padres Are Interested in Adam Dunn
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