Thom Brennaman may have cost himself his career Wednesday night by unknowingly saying a homophobic slur on the air.
The 56-year-old Brennaman was fired by the Reds after he said, “One of the fg capitals of the world” on Fox TV in the opening of a doubleheader between the Reds and Royals in Kansas City. He was later stopped by the team.
His father, Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman, felt for him.
“As a father, I hurt him,” Marty told Cincinnati.com. ‘What he said is not a reflection of who Thom Brennaman is. I know he is not. But I also feel terrible for the people that the comment hurts. ”
Thom did not know he was alive, which of course does not excuse what he said. The Reds issued a statement saying the team was “devastated by the horrific, homophobic remark.” Marty has previously experienced a hot-mic error. In 1988, he joked, “Kentucky fans can kiss my ass” during a broadcast of a Kentucky-Austin Peay basketball game.
“An open mic is the biggest enemy you have. You should always be aware that the microphone could be open, ”said Marty. “The worst feeling in the world, when you’re not on the air, is that you say something, and that you put it back in your headset.”
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