Prayers Answered, Let the Misery Begin

By Andy Kuhn

I remember it like it was yesterday, a cold cloudless day. The weather had unfortunately turned a bit. Just a few days earlier we were blessed with great golf weather (I even went out in shorts). I remember saying to myself that it was basically the greatest day of the year. April 2nd: sun, golf, and then college basketball in the evening. It doesn’t get much better than that. Little did I know that my world would be shaken to its core in only a few hours.

On April 4th, 2007 God shined down upon me and answered years of prayer. When flipping through the channels on my TV, I was stopped dead in my tracks as I saw Bronson Arroyo on the mound pitching for the Cincinnati Reds, on what I thought was a home shopping network channel. I nearly cried, no wait, I did cry.

I called my friends to see what was going on. Was this a sick joke? Am I being tortured? Why are the Reds on my television, and what can I do to keep this going? In a rush I called my cable company. After being put on hold for more than 10 minutes (as usual) I finally spoke with an operator. That was when I heard the news.
“Suddenlink has concluded negotiations with Fox Sports Ohio and the Cincinnati Reds allowing us to carry all of FSN Ohio’s Reds Broadcasts, roughly 145 games.”

Here’s the deal, for the majority of the day channel 19 appears to be yet another shopping network. However, 30 minutes before each game the switch gets flipped and magically the Reds pre-game show comes on. Unbelievably the channel continues to show the game and then the post game show.

This off-season the Reds spent little cash on improving the team on the field, but spent quite a bit improving the team in terms of marketing and in the radio and TV booth. Previously games were broadcast on FSN Ohio with George Grande and Chris Welsh doing the games exclusively. In January it was announced that the Reds added famed broadcaster Thom Brennaman and also ESPN analyst Jeff Brantley to the broadcast team.
The father son pairing of Marty and Thom Brennaman was long anticipated, and thus far has made for great radio. The “Cowboy” Jeff Brantley has cut his teeth this year as well, and he brings insight that few other teams can offer. Additionally, these additions make there way into the TV booth, splitting time with Welsh and Grande.

I apologize for not writing this story the minute I found out, but better late than never I say. For Cleveland Indians fans, I would like to add my condolences. It appears that since the Tribe created its own network called SportsTime Ohio, the broadcast rights were stripped from FSN Ohio. Therefore, if we are ever to get Indians games, Suddenlink must negotiate specifically with STO. I have been told there were brief negotiations, but the asking price for STO would raise all cable TV prices, and Suddenlink didn’t feel that was necessary for one channel that shows only Indians games and replays of Buckeye football games. So I’m sorry for that. I would like to see the Tribe as well. Maybe in a perfect world?

For the time being I will bask in the relative nightmare that is Reds baseball. I am ecstatic that we now get them on TV, but as I mentioned in the title, this is a blessing and a curse. The Reds can lose games like few other teams can. Epic disasters by the bullpen have earmarked Reds seasons this decade. Maybe this year will bring a different story? Thankfully if it does, I will see every pitch of it.

Here is a link to the entire schedule of broadcasts,
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/5585048