On the air: F-Bombs for the D-Backs

[dhett]

Gracie has stepped in it this time.  Mark Grace, well-known for his potty mouth in the clubhouse, dropped a couple of f-bombs during tonight's D-Backs broadcast on FSN AZ.  He claims that he thought he was just talking to the guys in the trailer, but his words got on the air.  Oops.  According to the 12 News staff, who reported this story tonight, rule #1 of broadcast journalism is that you always assume that the mic is hot.

I wonder what sanctions, if any, will Gracie be facing?

[TAWT]

> Gracie has stepped in it this time.  Mark Grace, well-known
> for his potty mouth in the clubhouse, dropped a couple of
> f-bombs during tonight's D-Backs broadcast on FSN AZ.  He
> claims that he thought he was just talking to the guys in
> the trailer, but his words got on the air.  Oops.  According
> to the 12 News staff, who reported this story tonight, rule
> #1 of broadcast journalism is that you always assume that
> the mic is hot.

Agreed, but I find it interesting that people living in glass houses are throwing stones.

Channel 15's morning team, Tracy Kornet and Steve Irwin, both chided Grace for using that language in any setting, and followed the same line that "you never use it with a headset on or microphone close". Okay, great, we got the message.

Now, everyone in Phoenix TV who has never used profanity off the air, please stand on your head. If you don't, hey, good for you, but you're in a small minority. And, since you work around people who do drop such words every 30 seconds, do us a favor and stop passing judgement on someone who made a mistake.
>
> I wonder what sanctions, if any, will Gracie be facing?
>

[KeithE]

> Gracie has stepped in it this time.  Mark Grace, well-known
> for his potty mouth in the clubhouse, dropped a couple of
> f-bombs during tonight's D-Backs broadcast on FSN AZ.  He
> claims that he thought he was just talking to the guys in
> the trailer, but his words got on the air.  Oops.  According
> to the 12 News staff, who reported this story tonight, rule
> #1 of broadcast journalism is that you always assume that
> the mic is hot.
>
> I wonder what sanctions, if any, will Gracie be facing?

None.  The D'backs have already said so.  

First of all, it was on cable, not over the air.  If the gaffe had occured during a game carried on Channel 3, he might be facing a suspension.  He and Thom Brennaman have already apologized on-air.

But I'm willing to bet that communications between the broadcast booth at the BOB and the TV truck will be tested before the D'backs return home.  This incident occured in Miami, with unfamiliar (and apparently faulty) equipment at whatever-Joe Robbie Stadium-is-called-now.

[dhett]

> Agreed, but I find it interesting that people living in
> glass houses are throwing stones.
>
> Channel 15's morning team, Tracy Kornet and Steve Irwin,
> both chided Grace for using that language in any setting,
> and followed the same line that "you never use it with a
> headset on or microphone close". Okay, great, we got the
> message.
>
> Now, everyone in Phoenix TV who has never used profanity off
> the air, please stand on your head. If you don't, hey, good
> for you, but you're in a small minority. And, since you work
> around people who do drop such words every 30 seconds, do us
> a favor and stop passing judgement on someone who made a
> mistake.

So you're the one watching channel 15?  I always wondered who that was...

I didn't sense any judgmental overtones in channel 12's report.  Bruce Cooper is too classy for that.  Instead, their response was more understanding that it was a slip-up and they feel bad for his embarrassment, but Gracie's a great guy and his apology was sincere.

It should also be said that Grace wasn't a journalist by trade; he was a baseball player, and yes, he's used to hearing and using such language.  He and Barkley could go toe-to-toe, I'm sure.  His job is to use his baseball past to provide color commentary, and he certainly provided colorful commentary.  I'd really be surprised if it happens again.