Who’s mic’d up? I’m mic’d up
Having pro athletes wearing a microphone during their games isn’t new, but the trend is coming of age as the popularity of hearing athletes “in their natural habitat” skyrockets.
Last year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game featured a couple of players who were actually commenting and answering questions as the game was being played. It added a great deal of insight and entertainment to the watching experience.
This broadcasting coup was extended into this year’s now-concluded spring training season, again with rave reviews.
The upstart XFL went even farther in its rebirth season, providing viewers with hot mics of coaches calling plays, players talking amongst themselves and officials corroborating over penalties and replay rulings.
With all of these, there seems to be an unwritten protocol that appears to be universal.
The player, coach or official typically warns whomever they are talking to that they “are mic’d up,” as demonstrated here:
- Anthony Rizzo to Albert Pujols
- Matt Patricia to Bill Belichick
- Torey Lovullo to Paul Goldshcmidt
- Chris Snyder to Trevor Snyder
Not only is this a common courtesy, but it should alleviate any words not fit for broadcast – although that doesn’t always work.
As Robert Burns wrote: “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”
