In the biggest cinematic twist since the end of “The Departed,” veteran ESPN baseball announcer Karl Ravech was back on the network for Thursday night’s Nationals-Braves game.
Now, that usually wouldn’t be shocking, given Ravech has been with the network for 33 years and it’s MLB season. Hearing him call a midweek game ain’t news.
Here’s what makes it news: Ravech was reportedly laid off, along with dozens of other ESPN employees, earlier this month. That’s right.
PAT MCAFEE FORCED TO ADDRESS ESPN LAYOFFS ON AIR DURING AWKWARD SEGMENT, BUT THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE
And he was back in the ESPN booth last night, with NO mention of it. None. Zero.
The internet, naturally, was stunned:
Karl Ravech is a pro’s pro
Stunning. Imagine my surprise when I turned the game on and heard Ravech in the booth. I thought I clicked the wrong button. I was floored.
Now, a couple things …
- Sources tell OutKick that, in addition to last night’s assignment, Ravech will do a few remaining assignments in the coming weeks, including another MLB game and his usual Little League World Series work.
- What we don’t know is why. I would assume this is Ravech’s choice. Duh. He was laid off, along with Ryan Clark, Cam Newton, and others. The only way he’d essentially finish out his duties would be if he decided to come back.
ESPN network personality Karl Ravech stands on the set of the Sunday Night Baseball pregame show as the Pittsburgh Pirates host the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on May 11, 2014. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
ESPN laying off Karl Ravech leaves fans fuming, but the writing has been on the wall for years
If that’s the case, it’s a noble thing to do. Could you return to a job that just fired you and tell them you want to essentially be a lame-duck worker for the next few months? All for the love of the game?
No shot. I certainly wouldn’t. If OutKick came to me this morning and told me AI had officially replaced me — probably not a huge hypothetical, by the way — then I’d log off so fast, heads would spin. I think most of us would.
But Karl Ravech is a 33-year vet, and he loves the game of baseball. He wants to see this season through, apparently.
Or, he’s deathly terrified of being bored back at home. I get that, too.
Justin Verlander talks with ESPN Baseball Tonight host Karl Ravech during a spring training workout day at the TigerTown complex in Lakeland, Fla., on Feb. 18, 2014. (Getty Images)
Either way, it’s a stark difference from how Ryan Clark handled the news — by hopping on his podcast, crying, and blaming it all on race.
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Choose your fighter(s), America.
Long live Karl!
