I don't know that there was ever an initial feud between Ken Griffey, Jr., and Jeff Brantley, but it just seems like a sequel kind of Monday here, so I'm rolling with it. And apparently, Brantley doesn't think there was an initial feud either, as he is denying the comments that led to Griffey making the dreaded throat slashing gesture towards the announcing booth.
And for those who can (or those who can't) read lips, yes, that was an epithet Griffey uttered as he make a cut gesture across his throat at home plate.Now personally, I think Brantley is bit . And I thought that before he told the world Edwin Encarnacion wasn't clutch right before he hit a walk off home run.
It was aimed at radio broadcaster Jeff Brantley.
"Oh, you saw that?" said Griffey. Yes, and so did the television world.
Griffey said he was upset that Brantley said Griffey was pouting because the Reds haven't picked up his $16 million option for next year.
Of course, I also think that the old finger/thumb across throat is a bit overrated in terms of the danger it actually connotes from one individual to another on an athletic playing field. However, I would imagine that Griffey is gonna see some sort of fine for this -- turning and making what is construed off the field of play as a death threat to an announcer doesn't bode well for his wallet or reputation.
And just to put it in perspective, if this was Milton Bradley that made the move, we would be having a full fledged media freak out right now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-28-2008 @ 9:35PM
Michael said...
Let me just say this. I agree with Junior, Brantley is not and will never be part of the Reds family. ever since he has become a so called announcer, he has done nothing but belittle one or many of the player on the Reds. He seems to have some sort or agenda.
Brantley has never proved to be much of a player, or anouncer. he falied as a player, and as an anouncer. For example, he is now a so called anouncer for the Reds, because of his of color comments on ESPN as a color guy, if you think thats what he was. If he was so good at it why isn't he still doing it.
Most of his comments have be off color about players and their abilities, or in his eye inabilities. Brantley never seems to find any good in any player he is discussing at the time.
As a lifelong fan of the Reds since I can remember. I feel insulted by his remarks, and wish he was removed from the booth.
As for the so called throat slash, hell if it were left up to me, every fan in Cincinnati should stand in unison and do it to him.
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7-30-2008 @ 8:51PM
Kevin said...
Jeff Brantley IS a part of the Reds family. Griffey is still acting like a spoiled CHILD with this. Woohoo, you hit another home run Jr, when you cant run down fly balls and hit better than .240.
Michael, are you blind??? This team has underachieved and played like garbage all year. Should Brantley be praising them every night?? When you see a fly ball to the outfield and the player lazily jogs over and watches it drop at his feet, you SHOULD call him out for it. This team has absolutely no EFFORT and its all JR and Dunn's fault as they are the "leaders" of the team. They need to go.
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7-30-2008 @ 11:18PM
scot said...
While junior has been hitting better lately and he is one of my all time favorite players its just time to let him go.Trade him to Seattle for whatever your not goin to get any prospects and your not goin to resign him for next year and I know we dont exactly have a star in waiting in the minors but we are out of it and we milked the 600 homer thing for attendance all we could so we might as well look at what our options are.Give someone a chance and move on.
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7-31-2008 @ 12:16AM
George B Vieto said...
If Major League Baseball fines Ken Griffey Junior for his throat slashing gesture at Jeff Brantley it would be a raw deal. Freedom of speech by Jeff Brantley and freedom of expression by Ken Griffey Junior would be violated. The reason that Milton Bradley would be headlne news if he blew his stack is because Milton has a bad guy image and Junior has the pedigree of being a good guy.
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