Watch Chris Berman quietly lose it when ESPN's audio cuts out

Michael McCarthy

Watch Chris Berman quietly lose it when ESPN's audio cuts out image

This will likely be anchor Chris Berman's last season at the helm of ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" pregame show. 

It didn't start auspiciously, as viewers were treated to a shot of Boomer quietly losing it when ESPN's audio cut out during a field report from reporter Jeff Darlington.

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During the Verizon Film Room segment on Sunday's show, Berman threw it to Darlington for a news update on the AFC South. Darlington started talking, but you had to be a lip reader to understand his words — there was no sound.

I thought I heard somebody exclaim "Uhhhhgggg" off-camera at ESPN, as Darlington continued to mouth words. When the cameras turned back to Berman in ESPN's Bristol studios, we saw the veteran anchor making a violent "cut it" gesture.

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Like the old pro he is, Berman quickly recovered. 

There were other times on Sunday when ESPN's audio seemed to fade in and out, so the gremlins were definitely at work. Darlington gamely returned to repeat his report, this time, thankfully, with sound.

"Boomer, we'll try this again," said Darlington, who joined ESPN this year from NFL Network.

Michael McCarthy

Michael McCarthy Photo

Michael McCarthy is an award-winning journalist who covers Sports Meda, Business and Marketing for Sporting News. McCarthy’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC.com, Newsday, USA TODAY and Adweek.