ESPN analyst risks wrath of his bosses by slamming sport his network paid $1.2BN to show: 'Zero chance I'll be watching'

An MLB commentator drew the ire of hockey fans - and potentially his own bosses - by slating ESPN's upcoming broadcast of the start of the upcoming NHL season.

During the second game of the National League Wild Card series between the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres, ESPN play-by-play man Kevin Brown read off a promo for the network's first hockey broadcasts for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

The network plans to air a triple-header of games next Tuesday - beginning with the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers hosting the Chicago Blackhawks.

Brown then turned to his commentary partner, Ben McDonald. The duo have worked together for seven years on MASN calling Baltimore Orioles games.

Brown then began to needle McDonald, asking his thoughts on a possible Panthers three-peat. McDonald replied somewhat dismissively.

'Are you asking if I'm going to be watching,' McDonald said. Brown replied, 'You'll be watching, of course, because you work for ESPN.'

McDonald then retorted, 'There is zero chance I'll be watching, I'm just gonna be honest with you... I'll be somewhere, but there's zero chance I'll be watching.'

While there was light laughter in the booth, on social media, hockey fans were none too pleased with McDonald's comments.

That included some of his co-workers at ESPN who cover the sport.

John Buccigross took to X and posted, 'Zero is also how many postseason innings Ben McDonald pitched in his MLB career.'

Blake Warye, who does broadcast statistics for both ESPN and TNT's coverage of the league posted, 'How about you just don't say anything at all. We're all a team on the network and this just doesn't help anyone involved.' 

Speaking to The Athletic, both Brown and McDonald separately told the outlet they had been talking about their offseason plans.

McDonald especially was planning to take some time in nature - considering the Louisiana native counts hunting among his pastimes.

'This was a joke,' McDonald told the outlet. 'I respect the hockey players, I love them.' 

He added that his comment, 'was not a bang on hockey at all. It was following up on a conversation we had before the game about what we are doing after this? I said I’m disappearing off the grid to hunt.” 

Brown said, 'I know when hunting season comes, Ben won't be watching any sport or TV. He will be up in a deer stand anywhere.' 

ESPN and Turner Sports - which broadcasts the NHL through TNT - spent a combined $4.5billion to air the sport, according to reports.

The two networks are currently in year five of a seven-year deal.