Come on, that’s just guys being dudes.
The number one rule in broadcasting is to treat every mic like it’s hot. Time and time again we’ve seen announcers have their careers derailed – or ruined – because of things they’ve been caught saying when they didn’t realize they were on the air.
Now, sometimes the punishment is clearly deserved. There are some things you just can’t come back from after broadcasting it to the world. But sometimes it’s just a funny or embarrassing comment that you wish you could take back.
Well a Philadelphia Flyers radio broadcaster is getting a little unplanned vacation after his latest hot mic moment, which came last night during a game against the Buffalo Sabres.
Tim Saunders, the play-by-play announcer for the Flyers on 97.5 The Fanatic, unfortunately forgot about the hot mic rule during a break in the action. When the game went to a TV timeout, but the radio broadcast was still on the air, Saunders could be heard joking around with a coworker:
“While you’re down there, would you mind blowing me?”
His co-host, Todd “Fridge” Fedoruk quickly tried to warn Saunders that they were still live:
“I think we’re still on the air, Tim.”
And it sounds like it took a second for it to set in before Saunders awkwardly laughed while trying to confirm whether or not he had messed up.
“No we’re not. Are we?”
Honestly, the whole thing was pretty funny. But of course, it quickly got posted to social media and began going viral:
And this morning, the NHL team announced that Saunders would be suspended for two games for the comments:
“We are aware of the inappropriate comment made during last night’s radio broadcast in the TV timeout of the Flyers–Sabres game.
These remarks do not reflect the standards of conduct or values we expect from anyone associated with our organization.
Effective immediately, the Flyers, along with our radio partners, 97.5 The Fanatic, have issued a two-game suspension while we address this matter with all parties involved.
We take this matter very seriously, and sincerely apologize to our listeners, fans and all those affected by these comments.”
I mean, in the pantheon of hot mic moments, this one is pretty tame (and pretty hilarious). It’s not like Thom Brennaman dropping a homophobic slur during a broadcast, or NBC Sports broadcaster for the Oakland A’s Glen Kuiper inadvertently using a racial slur during a broadcast.
This was just Saunders joking around with his co-host, making an off-color joke, sure, but probably along the lines of things they say to each other all the time – but this time, it was unfortunately broadcast to thousands of people. (There aren’t more than thousands of people listening to Flyers games on the radio, right?)
It sounds like Saunders is going to get a slap on the wrist but will be back on the air soon, which is probably the right outcome here. But I guarantee you next time he puts the headset on he’ll be much more careful what he says, whether he thinks they’re on the air or not.
Remember folks, treat every mic like it’s hot.
