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Kruk's Surprise: Queen Latifah Played for Him!
30 Sep
Summary
- Broadcasters wore suits and ties for the national game.
- John Kruk shared a story about Queen Latifah playing softball.
- Announcers' comments seemed to reverse-jinx Phillies players.
The Phillies' playoff opener on Tuesday featured a notable broadcast crew, including analyst John Kruk, C.J. Nitkowski, and Matt Vasgersian. Kruk, adhering to NBC's formal attire rules for national games, appeared in a suit and tie. He shared an unexpected anecdote about Queen Latifah, stating she played second base for him one day during a '90s MTV Rock n' Jock softball event, praising her defensive skills.
Intriguingly, the broadcast booth exhibited what seemed to be a reverse announcer's jinx. Comments made by Kruk about J.T. Realmuto working on hitting to the opposite field preceded Realmuto hitting a go-ahead double. Similarly, Nitkowski's mention of Austin Riley's past success against pitcher Jhoan Duran was followed by Riley hitting a game-winning home run on the first pitch he saw.
Despite the competitive nature of the game between the Phillies and Braves, the opposing analysts demonstrated strong chemistry. Both Kruk and Nitkowski offered complimentary analysis when appropriate, even for the opposing team, while also addressing shortcomings of their own teams. Kruk, for instance, lauded Chris Sale's pitching performance throughout his outing.
