The knives have been out for Bob Costas during the ALDS, and Michael Kay thinks the hostility toward him has been over the top.
Costas has been on the call alongside Ron Darling for TBS’ coverage of the Yankees-Royals series, and the commentary on the iconic broadcaster has been vicious on social media.
Speaking on Thursday to co-hosts Peter Rosenberg and Don La Greca on his eponymous show on ESPN New York and YES Network, Kay, the longtime Yankees play-by-play broadcaster, came to Costas’ defense.
“I’ve never seen such vitriolic hatred toward a guy,” Kay said of Costas, as covered by Awful Announcing.
“I’m not being hyperbolic, and you guys could both correct me if I’m wrong. Bob Costas is one of the greatest sports broadcasters that has ever lived. Alright? Now, if you listen to Bob Costas call a baseball game, cause he used to be the backup to [Vin] Scully, and then he took over the number one job [on NBC].
“If you listen to him call those games then, he called them the same way then as he calls them now. Understated. Kinda teaching you as he goes along. All of that. I think that the industry has changed. But to see these young people on social media eviscerating a broadcasting god. … You can say, ‘Hey, I don’t like the cut of his jib, but he stinks.’ You’re out of your minds!”
La Greca responded that Costas is a broadcasting legend, but is more known as a studio anchor than for play-by-play.
“Let’s be fair. Listen, I love Bob Costas, and I get along with Bob, and I love when he’s on. But his legend is not for play-by-play,” La Greca said.
“They think of him as a host. And he’s provocative… He called games in the NFL, but NFL fans know him. Olympics. You put a camera in front of him, give him a microphone, he is going to entertain you with his stories, the behind-the-scenes, and the history. I don’t think he’s a legend for his play-by-play. I think he does fine. I’m cool with him. But, Michael, you talk about he’s a broadcast legend, not for play-by-play. He’s done it, but that’s not why he’s a legend.
“And a lot of the fans that are watching this, Michael, don’t know Bob Costas the way we know Bob Costas. Bob Costas has been working at the MLB Network for the last 20 years. Outside of the Olympics… and a little bit of football. He’s not in the [collective consciousness] the way he was for us when we were growing up. So I protect Bob. I think of him as an institution. But if you’re in your 20s, you’re going to judge him just as a play-by-play guy, and that’s not what made him a legend.”
Elsewhere, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo was not impressed with Costas’ performance in Game 3 on Wednesday night.
Russo joined Nick Kostos on “You Better You Bet” on Audacy’s BetQL Network on Thursday and skewered TBS for its coverage of the game.
“I watched a George Brett documentary last night and a baseball game broke out — the old Rodney Dangerfield line. I mean, what are they doing? And I love George, but jeez, six questions in the middle of a playoff game? You know, Bob had a tough night,” Russo said.
“He blew the call in left, the home run that he thought Judge hit, obviously, the bottom of the eighth on the single and he thought it was a single and it was an out. He loves telling you the stories. We learned a lot about ballpark construction with the foul territory last night too, he brought that up.
“You know, he’s brought up, we know enough about the 76-77 Yankees and Royals. Yeah, he’s gotten pounded here. He’s gotten pounded. I don’t read the social media that much but I’m aware of what has been said. I feel bad for Bob because he’s a legend, he’s an all-timer, probably it bothers him. Darling has to figure out where he fits in… but Bob I think maybe got to let the game breathe a little bit.”
