Sunday’s 16-1 shellacking of the Boston Red Sox by the New York Yankees was ugly, but it was a Boston radio play-by-play announcer who truly put a stain on the game with his outrageous comments. WEEI’s Will Flemming went way over the line in his criticism of Yankees second baseman, Jazz Chisholm Jr., sparking immediate outrage from a well-known NBA star.
“Bush League” Talk for Playing Hard?
Flemming’s tirade started after two-time All-Star Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole second and then third base. Now, for context, the Yankees were already up 7-1, so yeah, maybe it felt like adding insult to injury to Boston fans. But Chisholm Jr. is just playing ball, right? That’s when Flemming, on air, decided to label Chisholm Jr. a “bush league player.” It’s one thing to be frustrated by a blowout loss, but calling a player “bush league” for being aggressive on the base paths? That’s a pretty hot take, especially when your team is getting absolutely hammered.
A Call For Violence: The “Drill Him” Suggestion
But Flemming wasn’t done there. He then took his commentary to a truly shocking level, suggesting that Red Sox left-handed reliever Jovani Moran should actually “drill” one of Chisholm’s teammates. Let that sink in. A broadcaster, on the radio, openly advocating for a pitcher to intentionally hit another player. That’s not just “crossing the line”; that’s blowing the bridge up. The kind of comment that gets noticed by the whole league. And it certainly caught the attention of New York Knicks star Josh Hart, a known Yankees fan, who didn’t hold back with his “critical words” for Flemming after hearing that gem.
The Aftermath: Where Do We Go From Here?
This kind of rhetoric from a broadcaster, especially calling for players to be intentionally drilled, isn’t just a bad look for WEEI or the Red Sox; it’s a black eye for the game itself. When the Yankees are running up the score in a 16-1 rout, you expect frustration, but suggesting violence on the field? That’s a whole different ballgame, and the conversation around sportsmanship and media professionalism just got a lot louder.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply