Orel Hershieser "neutrally rooting for the Cubs"

[RyDogg66]

I thought this quote was interesting during the Cubs/Reds game tonight. Phillips and Hershieser are pretty open and honest about wanting Chicago to win. Reds were threatening in the 7th, Lily tosses a fast ball to start off Alex Gonzalez, the play-by-play announcer asks Orel if he is surprised by the FB, and Orel says he was "hoping it would be a curve ball" because Gonzalez is a first pitch fast ball hitter, and Hershieser continued that he was "neutrally rooting for the Cubs."

 

No big deal, no surprise really, just interesting that their being so open about it.

[And That]

I mean, that's fine. They have the national media complex on their side, we have LaRussa and Cox on our side.

[logan82]

"neutrally rooting for the Cubs."

 

If he was really neutral then he wouldn't be rooting for either team so it is a rather less than intelligent statement.

[hawing]

It's contradictory, at least. Rooting can't be neutral.

[SeriesFinale]

Because the team with the massive payroll, huge market, and more successful recent history are the underdogs, don't you know?

[RyDogg66]

well, the reason that it is contradictory is kind of the reason I made the thread. It's just funny that they are so blatant when it comes to who they pull for, but yet pretend to be neutral.

[TooLiveBrew]

yet pretend to be neutral

 

And that they know what they're talking about

[Brian the Automator]

Yeah, I heard that as well. Neutral commentators rooting for the Cubs. I somehow don't expect less from ESPN. Ah well, it doesn't affect anything on the field. If the Brewers end up edging out the Cubs, I'll have the satisfaction of knowing that Orel Hershiser is sad.

[pitchleague]

it comes down to the mighty dollar. ESPN, despite not broadcasting any playoff baseball, still wants to get viewers to watch BBTN and Sportscenter so they obviously would want Chicago and their legion of fans to win the division rather than small-market Milwaukee who must have only a few hundred fans that would want to watch their show.

 

Same with FOX and TBS, I'm sure, also. Even though baseball playoff television ratings stink and have been going down every year.

[logan82]

it comes down to the mighty dollar. ESPN, despite not broadcasting any playoff baseball, still wants to get viewers to watch BBTN and Sportscenter so they obviously would want Chicago and their legion of fans to win the division rather than small-market Milwaukee who must have only a few hundred fans that would want to watch their show.

I think that is a generous estimate.

[pitchleague]

yeah, on this site, it's very generous. But the majority of other Brewer fans that are not members here probably watch it all the time.

[Invader3K]

Wasn't Hershieser calling the Brewers "America's Team" earlier this year, though?

[Marleyboo]

There must have been a commercial during the brewer game cause I heard the statement also. I don't fault him for saying it. At least he's honest.

[bjkrautk]

I guess he's still bitter about Geoff Jenkins taking him yard.

 

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[bbrauch2000]

I took it as him getting caught up in the emotion of the game. It was a pretty big moment and the crowd was going crazy. I'm as big a cub hater as anyone but i didnt take offense to it

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

The media would love the Cubs to be in it...the ratings will be better. Look at how all of the Cubs fans hopped on the White Sox bandwagon 2 years ago...the ratings were great. Now they are all back watching the Cubs.

[falling off]

I watched that whole game and there was nothing neutral about it. He was flat out estatic everytime the Cubs hit a home run or turned a double play. He used an entirely different tone everytime the Reds did anything. I was so disgusted after the game that I immediately emailed ESPN, to no avail I am sure.

[ccbrew]

I know that it's been said already, but here's another take on it: Isn't Hershieser saying that he's 'neutrally rooting for the Cubs' just as absurd as someone saying that they are 'fervently indifferent about having the division finish in a tie"?