TV sports announcer’s bizarre on-air ramblings about ‘botched robbery’ leaves baffled viewers fearing for his health

  • Veteran broadcaster Dave Barnett blames severe migraine for incident

The bizarre live-on-air gabbling by a baseball announcer about a ‘botched robbery’ and ‘henchmen’ midway through a game has provoked concern for his health.

Veteran broadcaster Dave Barnett began mumbling incoherently during the 8th inning of the game between the Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres on Monday night.

As the game reached a pivotal point, three players approached the centre of the field to discuss tactics.

Barnett then appears to say: ‘It’s discussion involving a two to one game with time on second a lead on single, by Chase Headly.

‘Go ahead run… is at fifth on what Adams is insisting on calling it a botched robbery. But what actually happened was his henchmen took piece literally out of…’

His microphone was cut off for a few moments. He returned to finish the game.

Speculation was rife about what might have caused the bizarre incident.

But the following day Barnett spoke to local radio station 1080KRLD to say the incident was caused by a complex migraine, according to CBSDFW.com.

He said that he now felt fine, but has been taken off air for the next two games while doctors assess his condition.

Medical experts have said that garbling and disjointed, incoherent speech could be the sign of a deeper health problem.

The blooper has caused parallels have been drawn between Barnett and hapless weather presenter Brick Tamland, played by Steve Carell in hit comedy movie Anchorman, famed for his on-air slips.

The incident had echoes of when CBS Los Angeles journalist Serene Branson garbled her words live on air, causing fears she had had a stroke.

Doctors later said she had actually suffered a complex migraine during a live Grammys broadcast, last year.

She is not the only anchor to have sparked concern with a live on-air incident.

TV reporter Annie Stensrud, a slurred and mixed up her words during an late evening broadcast.

The presenter on KEYC-TV in Mankato, Minnesota, had been anchoring weekend evening broadcasts for a year and her Sunday show had been cut down because of an over-running NFL game.

In one of the strangest segments, Ms Stensrud says: ‘Today’s event featured Christmas fo… music, food and a chance to meet the Santa dog.

‘They felt three ways for Christmas…parents and grandparents,’

Ms Stensrud adds, as she speaks over a man giving a pre-recorded interview.

‘Sunday night’s uncharacteristic newscast on KEYC Mankato can hardly be considered private,’ KEYC vice-president Dennis Wahlstrom said.

‘Nonetheless, in our judgment, the matter represents a personnel issue to be resolved internally,’ he said in a statement on the station’s website.

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