Orioles play-by-play announcer Kevin Brown has made a triumphant return to the airwaves after a controversial suspension that left the baseball world furious with Baltimore ownership.
Brown’s absence was deeply felt, and he wasted no time in reminding everyone why they missed him.
Earlier this week, Brown struck up an amusing conversation with color commentator Ben McDonald, centering around the iconic band Blink 182.
The conversation took an unexpected twist when McDonald confessed to having never heard of Blink 182, prompting Brown to take matters into his own hands.
With an uncanny vocal imitation of Tom DeLonge, Brown serenaded the airwaves with snippets from hits like “All The Small Things” and “I Miss You.” His spot-on rendition of “Where are you? And I’m so sorry” seemed to jog McDonald’s memory.
Kevin Brown explains Blink 182 to Ben McDonald, complete with a Tom DeLonge impression. pic.twitter.com/ZQtmYjsIti
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 16, 2023
There was speculation that McDonald might have been pulling a clever prank on Brown by coaxing him into an impromptu on-air performance. The lighthearted exchange soon went viral on social media.
The incident comes on the heels of Brown’s suspension, which stirred controversy among fans and ignited a vocal outcry directed at the Angelos family, who owns the Orioles.
The suspension had been triggered by what were termed “innocuous comments” made by Brown about the team’s historical struggles on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Orioles supporters chanted “Free Kevin Brown” in unison at Camden Yards, underscoring the depth of their support for the beloved broadcaster.
The passionate response from the Orioles community did not go unnoticed. In a gesture that showcased the power of fan loyalty, Brown was reinstated for his first broadcast since the suspension on August 11th.
Getting back to the point at hand – who hasn’t heard of Blink 182???
Hopefully McDonald was indeed just kidding.