It's hardly news that sportscasting, MSM-style, offers no respite from liberal politics. Particularly so when it comes to the ABC/Disney owned ESPN, the sports network that pressured Rush Limbaugh to resign from its Sunday NFL Countdown pregame show for saying what was on his mind about media treatment of Eagles QB Donovan McNabb.
Even so, it came as something of a shock to observe that one ESPN personality is turning his on-screen appearances into an opportunity to promote the candidacy of a Dem presidential contender. Many sportscasters have their signature calls. From Stuart Scott's "boo-yah!" to Chris Berman's "back-back-back gone!," several of the ESPN announcers utter idiosyncratic phrases to underline signal athletic accomplishments. Fair enough. But watching ESPN's Kenny Mayne over the course of the last few days, I was surprised to notice that he has coined a new call. Home run at a crucial moment? Three-pointer to take the lead in a basketball game? "Obama!", exclaims Mayne.
This is the second sign that Mayne leans left. He is also a celebrity endorser for "Progressive" Insurance, owned by Peter Lewis, a billlionaire who has donated millions to Moveon.org and other far-left organizations.
I like Mayne. In a world of screamers and rah-rah types, he's a refreshingly quirky change-of-pace. But does he need to inject his personal politics into his sports work? For that matter, would ESPN let a Republican host [if there are any at the network] shout "Ch-Ch-Ch-Cheney!" to mark an outstanding feat?
Come on, Kenny. How about ditching the "Obama!" and going back to wryly observing that a baseball was slugged "over some fencing they set up in the outfield"?
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.




















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Rush
April 23, 2007 - 10:05 ET by ecnirPIt's a good thing ESPN got rid of Rush Limbaugh for interjecting politics into sports. Now, ESPN can focus on getting the correct (as in not-right) politics into sports.
Mark - you are the best. T
April 23, 2007 - 10:43 ET by Dee BunkMark - you are the best. This is hysterical, especially the way you write it. I was in the crummiest mood this morning and now I'm cracking up. Thanks! I think the next time I'm at a Cubs game and the other team scores I'm going to yell - Obama yo mama!
You've made my day!
April 23, 2007 - 10:51 ET by Mark FinkelsteinYou've made my day!
Is he endorsing Obama, or is
April 23, 2007 - 10:47 ET by Hero SquadIs he endorsing Obama, or is he inferring that the name sounds like something that would make a loud noise?
If he interjects "Kucenich!" as an exlamation, then I will be converted.
Perhaps for equal time, "Mitt Romney!" should be used every time a catcher throws someone out at second base in a highlight.
*****
"Was it a millionaire who said 'Imagine no possessions?'" - Elvis Costello
If he said Kucenich - I'd s
April 23, 2007 - 10:53 ET by Dee BunkIf he said Kucenich - I'd say bless you! Jewel yee an ee! Now that's a cheer for something good.
Dee,And if there's a shrill h
April 23, 2007 - 10:55 ET by Chris NormanDee,
And if there's a shrill harpy on the field, he could yell, "Hillary!". :)
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Good one Chris! and I gues
April 23, 2007 - 10:58 ET by Dee BunkGood one Chris! and I gues Obama! should be saved for when a streaker runs out on the field.
Or when Dumbo flies out onto
April 23, 2007 - 11:00 ET by dmntd1Or when Dumbo flies out onto the field.... oops, sorry about the ears joke!
Please make sure your train of thought carries freight.
Obumbo!
April 23, 2007 - 11:03 ET by Dee BunkObumbo!
I think the call for a streak
April 23, 2007 - 11:14 ET by Chris NormanI think the call for a streaker on the field would be, "Bubba!". :)
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
You say tomato I say to ma
April 23, 2007 - 11:24 ET by Dee BunkYou say tomato I say to ma to - O"bumbo, O'bubba, O'bama it's all the same. (I know you mean Bubba as in Clinton - but I liked the sound with the O). : )
"The O"? Geez, I'm
April 23, 2007 - 11:30 ET by Chris Norman"The O"? Geez, I'm not gonna touch that with a ten foot joke... :)
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Another call
April 23, 2007 - 13:49 ET by nkviking75If the ref calls "over and back" at a basketball game, he can yell, "Kerry!"
But seriously folks, I wonder if he cleared "Obama!" with Disney's lawyers. That might be construed as a free campaign commercial, albeit a very brief one.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Kenny is the only SC anchor
April 23, 2007 - 19:33 ET by Night WatchmanKenny is the only SC anchor to play in the NFL that I can think of.
ESPN airs him out of hibernation every two years or so. You have to
listen to him closely, besides "Obama" he'll use 100 different humorous
Mayneisms per broadcast. I doubt he gave "Obama" much thought.
He spends 90% of his time covering thoroughbred horse racing.
Enjoy him now, he'll surely go back to the ranch for the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown.
Hmmm.....any relation to Nata
April 23, 2007 - 10:54 ET by bigtimerHmmm.....any relation to Natalie Mayne's or is the spelling differently, their leftist leanings sure aren't.
(By the way, I am pretty sure it is spelled differently, just joking to make a point...lol)
What hypocrisy the media has...if this was the other way around, we all know what we would be hearing and reading until that person was let go...even after that person had apologized five hundred times at least.
He could yell, "McCain!&
April 23, 2007 - 11:27 ET by Agnostic frontHe could yell, "McCain!" when someone gets beaned in the head. Or he could yell, "Newt!" when someone falls down on their way to first.
caught stealing "Gore!
April 23, 2007 - 11:41 ET by Dee Bunkcaught stealing "Gore!" Strike out looking "Kerry!"
If a player tries an impossib
April 23, 2007 - 13:55 ET by Hero SquadIf a player tries an impossible shot and it falls miserably short, he could scream "Franken!"
*****
"Was it a millionaire who said 'Imagine no possessions?'" - Elvis Costello
Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory!
April 23, 2007 - 11:44 ET by whodatSnatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory!
If democrats nominate either a woman or the mixed race son of a muslim man that is exactly what they will do!
Huh?
April 23, 2007 - 11:47 ET by Dee BunkHuh?
If DNC nominates a woman: Hil
April 23, 2007 - 12:05 ET by whodatIf DNC nominates a woman: Hilliary, they will be defeated by Republicans
If the DNC nominates a mixed race son of a muslim man: Obama, they will be defeated by Republicans.
And if the Republicans did this they would be defeated by democrats!
Whodat - that is goofy - I
April 23, 2007 - 13:22 ET by Dee BunkWhodat - that is goofy - I don't agree. I think people would vote against Obama and Clinton because of their politics not because of their race or gender. Although there are some liberals who are pretty racist and sexist so who knows. Are you one of those liberals?
I heard Mayne has also been s
April 23, 2007 - 12:44 ET byI heard Mayne has also been seen out and about sporting a Palestinian support scarf!
I hope this post is facetious and you don't actually belief Mayne's use of Obama is his pushing of personal politics. If you do I'm not sure what to tell you.
Could it be possible he simply says Obama b/c it sounds funny and Obama is widely recognized public figure?
Maybe he should replace the '
April 23, 2007 - 12:53 ET by bigtimerMaybe he should replace the 'b' with an 's'...eh Syg, he's nationally known too.
Him saying Obama has NOTHING
April 23, 2007 - 13:25 ET by florida_chadHim saying Obama has NOTHING to do with politics. Yeah, right. Keep believing that.
It doesn't. Mayne is trying t
April 23, 2007 - 14:44 ET by balboaIt doesn't. Mayne is trying to be funny. Obama is a funny word/name. That's it. Period.
Exactly. I'm not sure why p
April 23, 2007 - 14:46 ET byExactly. I'm not sure why people are having trouble seeing this.
And the NBs call Liberals paranod. Sheesh.
balboa and syg - it's not p
April 23, 2007 - 14:56 ET by Dee Bunkbalboa and syg - it's not paranoia like liberals have. We recognize this for what it is - blind hero worship. None of us are screaming and angry and trying to get him thrown off the air. We just find it amusing how these liberals are so enamored with him that they can't contain themselves.
and balboa is the new term
April 23, 2007 - 15:00 ET by Dee Bunkand balboa is the new term for arguing with the ref. It is a funny name too. : )
You just can't contain your
April 23, 2007 - 15:03 ET by balboaYou just can't contain your idolatry for me! :-)
Yes so true from now on whe
April 23, 2007 - 15:09 ET by Dee BunkYes so true from now on when I miss par I'm going to call it a balboagie! I'll be thinking of you a lot that way ; )
And I'm saying that's not wha
April 23, 2007 - 15:01 ET by balboaAnd I'm saying that's not what Mayne is doing. He's not idolizing Obama. He's trying to say something different, quirky, hopefully funny.
balboa - You really think h
April 23, 2007 - 15:21 ET by Dee Bunkbalboa - You really think he thought that much about it? Wow - if so that is pretty lame and even worse than I thought. I was thinking it was a reflex reaction from being caught up in Obama mania - which is lame too but at least it's a trend. A msm liberal trend. You wouldn't hear a conservative yelling it unless it were with a negative connotation
No, I'm saying he spent less
April 23, 2007 - 15:27 ET by balboaNo, I'm saying he spent less time thinking about it than everyone here. It probably just suddenly came to him "Hey, a homerun...OBAMA!"
Okay so O'bama mania it is.
April 23, 2007 - 15:33 ET by Dee BunkOkay so O'bama mania it is. That's what I thought too. Hero worship
A sidenote:Now, if only the
April 23, 2007 - 12:48 ET by kevcadA sidenote:
Now, if only the channel could devolve itself from being the "Eastern Sports-teams Preferred Network". I swear (living in Orange County, California as I do) has ESPN become the almost exclusive New York-Boston, Boston-New York baseball network?
Whenever I'm watching a Dodgers or Angels game, and something momentous happens while Baseball Tonight is on live, I'll flip over the channel to see if they will do an update about it. Invariably, they won't, until late in show. The talking heads are prattling on about something Yankees this, or Red Sox that.
Anybody else notice this?
Go Yanks! F the Sox!
April 23, 2007 - 13:13 ET by connmanGo Yanks! F the Sox!
Go Sox
April 23, 2007 - 13:18 ET by RJPoor baby. In case you haven't noticed, the Red Sox have already "F'd" the Yanks. ;^>
That's true with a lot of thi
April 23, 2007 - 13:16 ET by Chris NormanThat's true with a lot of things. With the MSM, everything stops at the Ohio River - unless it's some freak curiosity...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Sanjaya
April 23, 2007 - 13:26 ET by mtm105He'd probably have better luck yelling Sanjaya. if he were old enough, I could see him replacing Obama in a heart beat.
Um, Kenny mane is a goofball.
April 23, 2007 - 19:06 ET by ferrarimanf355Um, Kenny mane is a goofball. Have you seen any of his "Mayne Event" segments on NFL Live? This is par for the course for him. Much ado about nothing.
Uzumaki/Ayanami '08. Because a ninja and an Eva pilot can govern the nation better that what we have now...