Welcome back to Awkward Moments with
@whitesox
announcer,
@jasonbenetti
! This time, he goes to a museum and security makes a quick judgment about him and his ability. Has someone ever assumed you couldn't do something just by taking a quick glance at you?
#AwkwardMoments
Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
I have cerebral palsy.
Often, people with disabilities are silently judged.
Ignored.
Underestimated.
Forgotten as a group, even in an era which embraces diversity.
We have talents. And hearts. And value.
Today is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day.
I have CP.
I also am a TV announcer for the
@whitesox
and
@espn
who just called the NCAA Tournament for
@westwood1sports
.
I could write one of those 1/? threads, but I'll leave it at this:
Everyone with CP can do more than you think.
You sent me an email in 2020 that said:
————-
PUT THE MUSIC ON,
as soon as it doesn’t seem right,
change the music/station,
but don’t turn it off
—————
I promise, the music will always be on.
I’ll miss you dearly, you marvelous, vivid, wonderful
Dear
@whitesox
fans,
You’ve spent 8 years making me feel welcome and loved and appreciated. And I love you dearly.
I will always cherish you and your passion and joy. You mean more than you know to me.
Thank you for filling my heart.
#IsItRaining
Yes, as I type this.
Every person who's hired me or believed in my career, as a TV person with cerebral palsy, has had the warmth, foresight, empathy and intelligence to look beyond the way I walk and the way my eyes are positioned to hire me to do what I do.
Thoughtful leadership changes lives.
Kevin Brown is one of the most talented, thoughtful, curious, positive people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, working with and calling a friend.
He’s truly one of the best play-by-play announcers in the country.
If the Orioles don’t want him, another team’ll be elated.
Here's the clip of Kevin Brown's pregame comments on the Orioles' recent record against the Rays ahead of a series finale on July 23. Sources tell AA these comments led to Brown's current indefinite suspension from Orioles' broadcasts.
As I start 5 games in 5 days, I’m reminded it’s Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month.
I have CP.
No matter what makes you different, you have value.
Even if:
*Kids make fun of you
*People think you’re incapable
*You look “weird”
Be you. It’s the most powerful tool you’ve got.
The
#WhiteSox
have picked up the multiyear option for Jason Benetti, who is entering his 8th season as a member of the Sox broadcast team. Sox also announced a multiyear extension with Steve Stone, who is entering his 16th season in the White Sox broadcast booth.
Just a quick note of thanks to all the
@tigers
fans for such a warm welcome these first few weeks.
I’m extraordinarily grateful you’ve opened your city, state, team and hearts to me.
NEWS: NBC's Olympic play by play broadcasters will include broadcasters from other networks such as
@jasonbenetti
(calling baseball),
@bethmowins
(calling softball) and
@MattWinerTV
(calling handball). Here's the story at
@TheAthletic
:
1) I’m mildly symptomatic and plan to be back soon.
2 Luis Robert for Benetti is a pretty great trade post-deadline.
3)
@MikeMonaco_
is one of the best young play-by-play announcers in the nation.
4) I can still harmonize.
Today is
#WorldCerebralPalsyDay
. Rather than try to fix the world in one tweet or something, I'll say this:
Give people a chance to surprise you. The results are usually awesome.
This is a hell of a call.
Dave Sims sought out my phone number in August when I had COVID, called me and spent about an hour on the phone with me, out of the blue.
This is a hell of a person.
To everyone who watched
@whitesox
baseball this year:
Thank you for cheering, laughing, crying, yelling and caring along with us.
It's a true honor to live it with you.
I will never forget Lucas Giolito’s no-hitter in 2020.
A night that made so many people feel together for a little while in such an awful year of being separated from life.
Two things:
1) The
@whitesox
are here to stay.
2) My partner,
@stevestone
, must win the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award one day soon, like Hawk. Steve’s analysis is incomparable.
Happy to report I'm back tonight for
@whitesox
baseball. 6:10 CT on
@NBCSChicago
against the Rays.
@gordonbeckham
is in for Steve.
Sincerely, thank you all for your kind and thoughtful messages. I'm grateful that you cared enough to write. You brought a smile to my face.
Hard to believe it's almost been 10 years since I started with all of these fine people. Thanks for sharing this,
@ESPNFrontRow
.
(And a special thanks to
@dandakich
and Sean McDonough for their messages)
In a world....
....where the
@whitesox
are in first place....
....one man returns to the booth....
....just in time for the Twins....
....
@stevestone
...
....is back on
@NBCSChicago
.
In September '08, the last time the
@whitesox
made the playoffs, I:
*Finished my second year as the voice of the Salem Avalanche
*Was in my first month at
@WFULawSchool
*Looked like this
By the way, to all of you who’ve tweeted during the season and since the season ended:
Thank you for all of the kind things you’ve said to me and
@stevestone
on here. We love bringing you
@whitesox
baseball together.
Here’s to October.
The
@whitesox
:
1) Have the best winning percentage in the AL.
2) Have the largest division lead in baseball.
3) Have four All-Stars.
4) Start a homestand tomorrow.
Can't wait to see you there.
Last year during a Sox road game, we were given a bag of jelly beans.
I ate mine.
@stevestone
kept his. He planned to eat them today. The bag broke.
And now....
37 years ago today the Benetti Family welcomed their little bundle of joy into the world. His was a difficult birth because he came out with superior intelligence, a rapier-like wit, an inquisitive nature and of course his signature glasses. Happy Birthday Partner. Enjoy the day
Thanks to the
@DetroitRedWings
for having me. So fun.
Also, thanks to the
@tigers
fans who said hi at the game last night. I really appreciate your kindness and warmth.
Oh, and I strongly recommend the goal horn as a holiday gift for your loved ones. Some assembly required.
As I said yesterday on the air, I greatly appreciate the
@whitesox
for giving me the week to do baseball at
@NBCOlympics
.
Excited to watch Len and Steve.
See you in a week.
To those who know him well,
@stevestone
is a fiercely loyal friend. Steve also cares deeply for the game of baseball.
I’m glad he said what he said in this clip. All of this below is why I love having him as a partner and friend.
Thanks, Steve. Get your rest.
When I was in elementary school, I did a Hawk impersonation.
His enthusiasm for baseball was one of the first reasons I wanted to call games.
Hawk and Wimpy were my
@whitesox
childhood.
Farewell, Hawk Harrelson. Thank you.
As we board the plane for Detroit tomorrow, I write to say it's a sincere joy to call
@whitesox
games with
@stevestone
and our crew.
The last few years have been strange in everybody's lives. Thank you all for sharing our corner of the world on
@NBCSChicago
.
Here we go.
Thanks to all of you who stopped by the
@whitesox
, ESPN and sometimes the
@chicagobulls
this stormy year.
I hope my friends and I provided a thin ray of light and maybe a fleeting smile.
Talking with you during games did so for me.
Here’s to chance meetings one day soon.
1) Did not realize nobody else used a headset.
2) It is truly a sincere honor to be associated with these five amazing people.
3) I hope Joe finally tracked down Jack Bauer the day that picture was taken.
The Big Lead’s 2023 Sports Media Awards will be released on Wednesday, December 6.
Here are our nominees for Best Play-by-Play Announcer.
Full list of nominees:
Tonight is going to be just beautiful.
For anyone who grew up appreciating the endless curiosity baseball brings to a human mind and spirit, this game feels like a hidden glen we all just found together.
The
@whitesox
radio booth was always filled to the brim with guests.
Ed Farmer was such a loyal, welcoming friend. Scores of people have lost a piece of their heart, including me.
Left ballpark. Parked. Got into parking garage elevator.
Lady inside says:
“I was just about to ask my phone if the
@whitesox
won tonight, but I guess I don’t have to anymore.”
I’ve never been a Siri substitute before.
This month on separate planes, I’ve seen:
*A lady collapse in an aisle & a doctor on board rush to help
*A pilot navigate severe turbulence on landing to get us down
*A computer battery catch fire, filling the cabin w/smoke
Each flight crew was super.
Also, never fly with me.
Congrats to
@whitesox
and
@espn
announcer,
@jasonbenetti
for being awarded the Corbett Ryan Pioneer award, which honors individuals with a physical challenge who demonstrate excellence in achieving quality of life! ️Info:
#DreamBig
Before the Internet, some of us sports fans assumed that each town had someone behind the mic just like the guy we knew who did our team’s games.
There is no other Pat Foley. An absolute legend.