Hot mics in empty MLB stadiums: Profanity ensues

Tom Gatto

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Hot mics in empty MLB stadiums: Profanity ensues image

Let's start by saying this up front: If you don't want to hear bad words, then don't click the videos below. As for the rest of you, here's an entertraining listen into how managers and umpires talk to each other when things get heated on the field.

We get to hear it because there is one unintentionally fun bypdroduct of the COVID-19 pandemic: unfiltered hot-mic moments. Top-of-the-line audio equipment can pick up everything that's said in an empty stadium. Viewers got a double dose of it Sunday in Detroit and Miami.

The Motown sound was courtesy of umpire Tim Timmons, who was offended that Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire would dare to question one of his calls.

MORE: Nats' Strasburg ejected from stands for arguing with umpire

In South Florida, Marlins skipper Don Mattingly conjugated the F-word for James Hoye after his ejection, using it as a verb and an adjective.

Announcers are quick to acknowledge the salty language, and often apologize to viewers, because of longstanding FCC rules that prohibit obscenity, indecency and profanity on the air, even on cable and satellite TV. One longtime broadcaster wasn't bothered by any of it, though.

Hockey people might be wondering what the f—ing problem is. Swearing is as much of a skill in that sport as skating and shooting.

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.