July 2008
Brennaman given security in Chicago, Public enemy #1
This is a really funny story about a great Reds radio personaltiy showing his personality, and his attitude towards Cubs fans.
Marty Brennaman, Chicago public enemy #1
CHICAGO — Chicago’s public enemy No. 1 arrived without fanfare at Wrigley Field on Tuesday afternoon, expecting less than fair treatment later from the Cubs’ faithful.
We’re not talking about Reds manager, and former Cubs skipper, Dusty Baker or any of his players. It was Reds radio broadcaster Marty Brennaman, who drew the ire of Cubs fans by insulting them on the air during the Reds’ previous visit in April.
“Nice knowing you,” right fielder Ken Griffey Jr. jokingly told Brennaman in the clubhouse. “It’s been good.”
After Adam Dunn hit a home run onto Sheffield Avenue during an April 16 matchup, fans in the bleachers threw more than a dozen baseballs on the field. It prompted a harsh rebuke from Brennaman, who said: “This is what makes you want to see this Chicago Cubs team lose.” He also said, “The most obnoxious fans in baseball, in this [National] league, are those who follow this team right here.”
Brennaman, a Reds broadcaster since 1974, received threatening mail following the incident, and was fodder for talk radio rants. While at the ballpark for the series that runs from Tuesday-Thursday, he will have a security detail to protect him — just in case.
“I wanted to sing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame,’ and they wouldn’t let me,” Brennaman joked Tuesday.
If there are issues with locals, Brennaman expected them to be confined to the “Friendly Confines” — or maybe “Not So Friendly Confines” in his case. He’s been in Chicago since Sunday, and has not encountered any trouble.
“I walked around for two days, and no one bothered me,” said Brennaman, who was the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford Frick Award winner in 2000.
At Navy Pier with his family, a ride worker told Brennaman’s daughter he had a bone to pick with “Thom Brennaman,” who is Marty’s son and broadcast partner.
“That would be me you’re talking about,” Marty told the gentleman. He said that they chatted pleasantly for 15 minutes, and all was good.
Brennaman refused to do radio interviews with Chicago stations, but wasn’t afraid of any potential dust-ups with Cubs fans. He even wore a bright red shirt to work Tuesday.
“Why don’t you just paint a target on yourself?” Griffey joked.
“If they want a piece of me, they know where they can find me,” Brennaman said.
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
My First Entry
Well fellow bloggers this is my first entry so I thought a good way to get it started is with my most recent game attended. On July 3rd I went to Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. The Reds were matching up against the Washington Nationals, on this most beautiful day for baseball, my day started by waking up at 7:30 A.M. to get a head start up to Cincy, I woke up and just what I wanted to see it was sunny(yes), so I checked the weather for the day and it was not looking so good a 60% chance of rain, but the good news is that it was mostly for the afternoon. So we got packed up and hit the road starting on I-64 towards Huntington,WV(remember I live in West Virginia), and then to Grayson,KY. After that we hit the AA highway straight in to Cincy. As we crossed the Big Mac bridge it started to rain(ahhh).
We arrived around 1:30 and checked into our hotel,by the way it had a great view but the lumpiest beds on Earth. After that we headed out to the city, went and grabbed a bite to eat at Cadillac Ranch(good chili fries). So after eating we decide to head down to the Great American Ballpark, and guess what? It started to pour the rain so first we went into the Majestic team store and browsed around my last jersey was to small so I shopped around for a new one and ended up getting one of the new BP jerseys. So after that me and my dad felt like checking out the Cincinnati Reds HOF, we grabbed my mom and brother and went in, if you are a fan of baseball you will love this so if your in the area check it out. After that time for BP we heade to the gates and no one was there hmmm, it is 4:45 and we are still first in line, so I asked the security guard if they were taking BP, his response NO I just abut cried, but nothing was going to stop my prestigous consecutive ball streak of 5 NO SIR!
Me and my brother race throught the gates to see a nearly empty stadium and the Nationals on the field throwing, we went down and there was only one other pereson in sight, he didn’t seem like much competition, as soon as we walked down there Nats hitting coach Lenny Harris saw my glove and tossed me the ball, streak now to six, then as Steve Shell came out and started throwing my brother the only Nats fan in the park asked me his first name I said Steve and my brother shouted out and what do ya know my mellow snagging brother gets a ball too. We continued to stand by the Nats, I was standing behind Luis Ayayla and the bullpen catcher I theink and as I turned around form talking to my brother I saw a ball flying at my head Ayayla overthrew his partner into the stands into my glove, crazy huh, well I thought so then as he finished throwing he yelled nice catch(wow thanks, I guess thats the least you could say after nearly taking my head off) then he gave me and my brother an autograph.
After that we saw Jon Rauch coming out we said his name and didn’t even ask for a ball just a high five he doesn’t even turn his head, after he finished throwing I asked for another high five nope so then I yelled “what afraid your hurt your hand it probably doesn’t matter since you’ve sucked so much lateley( he hasn’t but thats all I could think of even then no reply what a jerk. Too bad fellow snagger Zack Hample wasn’t there to put the Hample jinx on him. Then over to the Reds side Gary Majewski and Bill Bray were throwing and when they were done I requested the ball from Gary and he turned around and tossed it into my glove,Majewski is the only one to wear stirr-ups and his pants three-fourths down,that is my third ball of the day. My brother was down the line and I looked and saw him looking at something he ahad spooted an easter egg on the moon deck and ran over there and got it his second. Not a bad pregame considering no bp, the rain cleared and the game began the Nats took and early 3-0 lead, pushed by a Reds passed ball and Elijah Dukes solo shot which landed about 1-1/2 of a section over but it was too crowded, and then the Red’s took the game after being tied at 3 in the bottom of the 7th on a Brandon Phillips 2 RBI single and then COCO Cordero closed it out in a rain filled ninth. But the Reds won and the 23,435 stayed for the fireworks which was a great show.
This was my first entry and a special thanks to donnieanks who helped me start it, I am still trying to get my pics on here so be patient and I will figure it out, I will also try to post my other games from this season soon as well.
Hope you enjoy and comeback for everthing in baseball
mlblogsdhbball
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