LITTLE ROCK — Reds get broadcaster to go bald
The Cincinnati Reds’ recent 10-game winning streak has forced their broadcaster to kiss his hair goodbye.
Marty Brennaman told Reds bench coach Chris Speier a couple of weeks ago that he would shave his head if Cincinnati won 10 consecutive games.
The Reds extended their streak Sunday with a 7-2 victory at Colorado.
Cincinnati (61-41) leads the NL Central by three games over the Pittsburgh Pirates after having their winning streak end Monday night.
“And this one belongs to the Reds! Cincinnati has won 10 in a row and I’m gonna shave my head absolutely bald,” Brennaman said after Sunday’s victory.
“That’s a good thing,” Reds Manager Dusty Baker said. “He’s proud of his hair.”
Reds pitcher Homer Bailey volunteered to cut Brennaman’s hair, but backed off.
“I don’t need to cut his hair,” Bailey told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “You probably will need wire cutters. I’m not qualified to use heavy machinery. He can still talk bad on the radio, but now he can do it bald.”
Speier reminded Brennaman of his promise when he arrived at Coors Field in Denver on Sunday.
“I’m a man of my word,” Brennaman said. “I’ll do it.”
“Our broadcaster is going to be rooting against us today,” Speier said.
“No, I ain’t,” Brennaman said. “I might like it.”
Brennaman, 70, said that he will lose his hair Friday in the Reds clubhouse at Great American Ball Park.
“I’ve got TV commercials to do [Monday], then I’m off,” Brennaman said.
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips is looking forward to seeing Brennaman lose his hair.
“I can’t wait to see it,” Phillips said of Brennaman’s bald head. “I might kiss it.” Shut out
Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III held his first news conference Wednesday as all of the Washington television stations were planning on carrying it live.
Washington radio station WJFK-FM planned to air it live as well and was set to broadcast.
Three minutes before the news conference started, Redskins public relations director Tony Wyllie told the station to not broadcast it or their credentials would be revoked.
Wyllie told Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post that the Redskins were “protecting our radio partners” - namely, WTEM-AM, which is owned by team owner Dan Snyder. (WTEM is a part of Snyder’s Red Zebra Broadcasting company.)
“A day that was supposed to be 100 percent positive for the Redskins - the introduction of a telegenic, popular, highly touted star who never says the wrong thing - was marred by bad feelings and disappointment, at least in some circles,” Steinberg wrote. “Why would you want to do anything to sully what should have been a perfectly happy day?” They said it
From the satirical sports website sportspickle.com:
“Jets fans rudely heckle punt team upback.”
“Stephen Strasburg set to selfdestruct in 17 days.”
“Dolphins to skip preseason practicing again this year: ‘Someone could get hurt.’ ”
Quote of the day
“We’re not out of the woods yet, but we can hear some cars out there. We know we’re near the road we need to be on.” Mississippi safety Charles Sawyer, on the Rebels’ progress after last season’s 2-10 finish
Sports, Pages 16 on 07/31/2012