George Brett’s Presence Dominates TBS Broadcast During ALDS Matchup

The presence of George Brett, a legendary figure in Major League Baseball, notably overshadowed the on-field action during the American League Divisional Series game between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees. The game took place on Monday night, with coverage by TBS.

Viewers who tuned in to watch the Royals battle to avoid a 2-0 deficit against the Yankees in the best-of-five series found that much of the broadcast focused on Brett. The first mention of the iconic former player occurred during the top of the fourth inning. Bob Costas, the esteemed commentator for TBS, highlighted Brett’s celebration of Salvador Perez’s solo home run, which tied the game at 1-1. Costas commented, “George Brett and his wife Leslie, the greatest player in Royals history, now part of their front office, cheering his team on.”

Throughout the broadcast, many references were made to Brett, who watched the game from a suite at Yankee Stadium. “You know, you look at George Brett, the calendar, the bio doesn’t lie, he’s in his 70s now,” reflected Costas. “But he still has the enthusiasm of a rookie.” Analyst Ron Darling added, “He looks like he has the same energy as I remember him facing him in the 90s.”

Bob Costas’ commentary was steeped in Brett’s illustrious career stats, mentioning his .390 batting average in 1980 and his formidable postseason record of a .337 average with 10 home runs. Despite the ongoing game, Costas also took the time to speculate on the potential of current players, such as Bobby Witt Jr., possibly winning an MVP, drawing comparisons to Brett’s 1980 MVP win.

The frequent mentions of Brett’s past performances were noticeable to fans, sparking various reactions on social media. Many users humorously pointed out the excessive focus on Brett rather than the actual game, despite ongoing high-stakes moments for both teams. Some quipped about taking shots every time Brett was mentioned, while others noted the rarity of his trending status given the simultaneous broadcast of a Kansas City Chiefs game on Monday Night Football.

The TBS broadcast approach sparked discussion among fans and viewers about focusing on present-day team performances versus extensive historical context. While Brett’s presence at a Royal’s game naturally stirs nostalgia given his standing, the broadcast’s focus on this theme led to criticism from fans eager to follow real-time developments in the playoff game.