When it comes to sideline reporting, the on-field reporter for an MLB team is among the most coveted jobs in baseball media. Reporters work incredibly hard to get into that role, and nearly everyone approaches the job with professionalism.
Braves reporter Wiley Ballard completely failed in that regard on Monday.
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Ballard — who works with the Braves’ broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network — was interviewing two women in the crowd during Atlanta’s win over the Blue Jays in Toronto. Ballard took a flirtatious approach throughout the entire interview, and with the encouragement of announcers Brandon Gaudin and C.J. Nitkowski, Ballard reached for his phone and asked for the fan’s phone number.
How did he think this was an appropriate place for that? Ballard was theoretically there to do a job, but he opted to use his position as a reporter to put a stranger on the spot — with the pressure of it unfolding on live television.
Yet, the entire broadcast applauded Ballard’s efforts while seemingly ignoring how this exchange would have played out had a female reporter asked for a man’s number on the air.
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Understandably, Ballard faced plenty of criticism from his peers in sports media. It wasn’t fun TV. It was unprofessional and weird.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
Such a bad look.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Braves reporter Wiley Ballard deservedly criticized after his inappropriate on-air exchange with a fan
DJ Kamal Mustafa
I’m DJ Kamal Mustafa, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of EMEA Tribune, a digital news platform that focuses on critical stories from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Pakistan. With a deep passion for investigative journalism, I’ve built a reputation for delivering exclusive, thought-provoking reports that highlight the region’s most pressing issues.
I’ve been a journalist for over 10 years, and I’m currently associated with EMEA Tribune, ARY News, Daily Times, Samaa TV, Minute Mirror, and many other media outlets. Throughout my career, I’ve remained committed to uncovering the truth and providing valuable insights that inform and engage the public.
