By Emilee White
Over the years, sports color commentators have been recorded saying catchphrases that would end up becoming the go-to descriptor. For example, terms like “Oppo Taco” and “Grand Salami” are known phrases, words, and/or terms that are still used today to describe whatever is happening on the field. According to Urban Dictionary, Oppo Taco was coined by the Los Angeles Angels broadcaster Victor Rojas, but Grand Salami started way back in the 1960s and is still used today when a baseball player hits a grand slam walk-off. One of the most famous uses came from Dave Neuhaus:
Get out the rye bread and the mustard grandma, it's grand salami time! -Dave Neuhaus' grand slam call pic.twitter.com/gB6lcWlmem
— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) September 28, 2017
But, as we know, humans make mistakes. And that means sometimes when commentators try to say something clever, the words that come out of their mouths are less than so. Here are some moments when announcers got tripped up with their own words.
Howard Cosell
Urban Dictionary is full of information other than slang definitions, it would seem, because it explains that Howard Cosell was known for calling smaller NFL players monkeys, regardless of skin color. However, Cosell was a popular broadcaster from 1953 to 1985, and those were tumultuous times for the Black and African American communities. Even more so, Cosell’s term “monkey” was commonly used in a derogatory way towards Black and African American people. You can see where this is going…
In 1983 on Monday Night Football (MNF), the now-Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys faced off with Cosell and Don Meredith as the play-by-play announcers. Former Washington wide receiver Alvin Garrett was popping off during the game and had already caught his sixth pass reception by the first quarter. Commenting on Garrett’s performance, Cosell casually said, “Joe Gibbs wanted to get this kid and that little monkey gets loose doesn’t he?”
Oof. Big oof.
It only gets worse from here.
Troy Aikman
Unfortunately, for all of his talent on the field, Troy Aikman is known for saying some out-of-pocket things. Not bad, but obviously didn’t think this phrase back in 2016.
Good night. pic.twitter.com/PQwo92kpdF
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) November 25, 2016
Clearly, Aikman has not learned his lesson.
These announcers just gotta be saying this stuff on purpose at this point… pic.twitter.com/awONUPbTCf
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) November 12, 2021
Just going to leave this one here.
"somebody's going to get that gobbler at the end of this game too" pic.twitter.com/jJg1jJKh5G
— sports announcers with no context (@nocontxtanncr) November 25, 2021
Adam Admin
Here’s all you need to know: Adam Admin and Mark Schlereth were announcing the Rams at the Vikings game last season. Reporter Shannon Spake asked Schlereth a question, to which he replied that he was too big to do something. Adam Admin commented. And it’s safe to say banter really isn’t Admin’s forte.
Interpret that as you wish.
Oh noooo.
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