Some might say there are better times to talk about Oasis’ grand reunion than during the ninth inning of a one-run ballgame. But not Baltimore Orioles play-by-play broadcaster Kevin Brown.
Brown, like the rest of the world, waited 16 years for this improbable day to come. And he wasn’t about to let a few pitches get in the way of talking about it. So during the top of the ninth inning, with the O’s up 3-2 on the Atlanta Braves, Brown took over two minutes to explain the day’s significance to his partner Ben McDonald. It did not disappoint.
“Can I just take one moment to say something before we’re done today?” Brown asked McDonald.
“Sure!” the analyst replied.
“This is a very special day for me and for a lot of friends of mine, and a lot of friends of ours across the pond. Yes, it’s a special day here in America, it’s July 4th. But it’s a special day in the United Kingdom because of the reunion after 16 years of Oasis. They are back today. First show in 16 years, Liam and Noel Gallagher, they’re back. They played Cardiff. Oasis are BACK BABY! They’re so back! And I’m seeing them in two months, I’m so excited. Happy Fourth of July, America, and to the U.K., we did it! Oasis back. We did it. Take that and put it in your five-gallon bucket.”
“Is this a movie or is this a band? I’m confused,” McDonald cheekily asked.
“You know it’s a band. Fly ball to center,” Brown replied, reminding everyone there was still a game going on. “You gotta know it’s a band, I’ve talked about Oasis before.”
“So why’d they break up, what was the reason? They get bored?” McDonald wondered.
“Liam threw a lot of stuff at Noel’s head, basically,” Brown answered, giving the heavily abridged version of the legendary brothers’ fraught history.
“Gosh, this sounds like a soap opera,” McDonald said, scratching his head.
“You have no idea, my friend, you have no idea.”
Kevin Brown hasn’t shied away from sharing his music preferences during past broadcasts. He somewhat famously sang Blink-182’s “All The Small Things” on-air a couple of seasons ago. And while the Gallagher brothers would likely call that song “shite,” perhaps his short performance of Oasis’ “Slide Away” on Friday night made up for it.
To put the Oasis reunion in context for our dedicated sports media audience, this is akin to Mike and the Mad Dog putting aside their differences to co-host a radio show together again. Or if Stephen A. Smith brought Skip Bayless back into the First Take fold. Or if Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic decided to reprise their roles as drive-time hosts on ESPN radio.
Liam and Noel Gallagher were never supposed to share a stage with each other again. There were too many insults. Too much acrimony. Too many plums were thrown.
But age and time are powerful things. Maybe not powerful enough to bring Mike and the Mad Dog back, but at least powerful enough to allow Liam and Noel to harmonize again for all the world to hear. Kevin Brown is listening up with fans all around the world.
Are you madferit? Because he sure is.
About Drew Lerner
Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.