O's Broadcaster Says to Blame His Boss

Playing hookey wasn't Joe Angel's idea

Don't blame Joe Angel.  His boss made him do it.

That's his story now that the news that he and his Orioles broadcast partner, Fred Manfra, skipped town during a rain delayed spring training game that eventually resumed. 

Won't someone think of the tens of tens of children who might've been listening to that broadcast?

"Fred And I had nothing to do with the decision to discontinue the broadcast on Sunday March 29th. It was completely out of our hands.  We normally fill during a rain delay for about 15 minutes....and then return the broadcast to the network which enables affiliates to continue with local programming.  We then WAIT OUT THE RAIN DELAY...until the game resumes. On Sunday,....we filled for about 40 minutes and then we were told to discontinue the broadcast and simply sign off."

Seems reasonable enough.  Especially when his boss chipped in and confirmed -- according to the Sun.  A VP for CBS Radio in Baltimore said, "The impression by the station was that the game would not be resuming, so the decision was made."

Gotta love that passive voice -- aiding corporate weasels from responsibility since the dawn of time.  Made by whom, Mr. VP?  Made by whom?

The Suit apparently thought that getting back to the Steve Winwood marathon would draw more ears than a meaningless Birdtown matinee.  What if he's right?

Well, Joe tried unruffling some feathers with the rest of his statement.

"Fred Manfra and I would much rather have preferred to stay and finish the broadcast after the rain delay. That's why we were here ... to keep you informed and entertained... There's a lot to look forward to with Orioles baseball."

We were with you, Joe, 'til you started lying there at the end!

So don't blame Joe and Fred.  They're pros.

It does make you wonder, though.  If your boss gave you the day off, would you rat him out to the press?

Chris Needham used to write Capitol Punishment.  He got through college thanks to the Orioles ticket re-selling zone.

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