Heinz Field Sound Operator Displays Bad Taste During Injury Timeout

Willis McGahee and Ryan Clark were both injured last night; obviously McGahee's injury was worse, as he spent significantly more time on the carpet than Clark and subsequently had to leave on a stretcher. Because he was on the ground so long, the sound operators at Heinz Field chose to fill time with some music, including, oddly, "Down on the Corner" by Creedence Clearwater Revival and "Smooth" by Santana and Rob Thomas. And, according to a "league source" that emailed PFT last night, people aren't too thrilled about it.

"There is a player on the field who may have suffered a life changing injury and the Steelers are playing party music. There are about five teams in the league that would engage in such horrific behavior. All others would cease all entertainment.

"'Down on the corner' . . . uh, there's a man down on the field. About twenty-five to twenty-seven teams would cease all entertainment. Oh, now it's a Santana song. This is beyond offensive. . . . Most teams would fire them on the spot. It's disgusting."

Yeah, I couldn't agree more. Really, the only way that the music could have been more offensive (in message; you can't possibly get more offensive in sound than Rob Thomas) would have been blaring LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out" as McGahee was strapped onto a stretcher and carted off the field.

Look, it's a tough situation to be in for whoever is running the tunes -- you don't want to let the crowd become completely passive and ruin the celebration of the home team headed to Super Bowl, but at the same time, there's a guy lying on the field and no one's sure if he can even talk or move his fingers. So, for future reference music guys: just do the Paul Simon thing and let silence be the sound.

AFC Championship Images

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes (R) dives for a touchdown past Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed in the second quarter in the NFL's AFC Championship football game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 18, 2009. REUTERS/Matt Sullivan (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree219166) [Photo via Newscom]

Matt Sullivan, Reuters

Baltimore Ravens' Ray Lewis pauses on the field as a teammate lies injured during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL's AFC Championship football game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 18, 2009. REUTERS/Matt Sullivan (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree219372) [Photo via Newscom]

Matt Sullivan, Reuters

PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 18: Safety Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates his touchdown with defensive end Brett Keisel #99, safety Tyrone Carter #23 and linebacker LaMarr Woodley #56 against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game on January 18, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Troy Polamalu;Brett Keisel;Tyrone Carter;LaMarr Woodley

Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 18: Running back Willis McGahee #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs in a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC championship game on January 18, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willis McGahee

Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 18: Wide receiver Hines Ward#86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball against Haruki Nakamura of the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC championship game on January 18, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Haruki Nakamura;Hines Ward

Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee (23) fumbles as he is hit by Pittsburgh Steelers' Ryan Clark after a pass catch in the fourth quarter of the NFL AFC championship football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009. McGahee was injured on the play and left the game. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Julie Jacobson, AP

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is stopped on fourth down by the Pittsburgh Steelers defense during the first quarter in the NFL's AFC Championship football game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 18, 2009. REUTERS/Pam Panchak (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree219164) [Photo via Newscom]

Pam Panchak, Reuters

PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 18: Nate Washington #85 of the Pittsburgh Steelers attempts to make a reception against Frank Walker #41, Jim Leonhard #36 and Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC championship game on January 18, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nate Washington;Frank Walker;Jim Leonhard;Ed Reed

Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

1-19-2009 @ 2:38PM

abelmanart said...

I agree that it was inappropriate. But to infer that the Steelers organization, or even those in charge of the music played it out of celebration for the injury is ludicrous.

1-19-2009 @ 2:56PM

Brandon said...

It's not ludicrous at all, it happens all the time in sports when something happens to the opposing team (fouled out of a game, pitcher replaced, etc...) what makes you think that the person running the music at the game was any different. He prob queued it up right when McGahee got hit.

1-20-2009 @ 11:51AM

Rick said...

As a former Clevelander and lifelong Browns fan, I give a "thumbs up" too the Steelers fans. There was no celebrating the injury in the stands, there was silence and respect (aside from the PA guy who obviously just didn't know what too do, it was not on purpose), there was generous applause when the took him off the field and there were people (the broadcast audio captured it very clearly) wishing Willis good luck and offering him wellness as they took him into the tunnel. That is just a healthy respect for the game and its players. Nice job Pittsburgh! Good luck in the Superbowl and hopefully my Browns can get better and make our rivalry great again.

1-19-2009 @ 2:46PM

ryanmelby said...

I was watching the Steelers-Browns game in Week 17 when Ben Roethlisberger went down and was carted off and the sound operator was playing the exact same songs. That appears to be their "injury mix."

violetdks said...

Better than listening to things fans who have no manners might have been yelling, and I really don't think it was done purposely to be in bad taste, those music recordings are generally already on a track for an event

1-19-2009 @ 3:03PM

jaunvivamexico said...

WHO SUCKS MORE? BOSTON AND CARL YAZ OR BALTIMORE AND CAL RIPEN ?

1-19-2009 @ 3:41PM

chrscrashn said...

boston and its spelled ripken u idiot

1-19-2009 @ 3:45PM

jodyrose said...

Who sucks more? How about people who TYPE IN ALL CAPS and can't spell Cal Ripken's name correctly.

1-19-2009 @ 3:26PM

furrsher said...

What idiot came up with changing games to "meetings"? Dumbest thing I ever heard!!!

1-19-2009 @ 3:44PM

pjchilds said...

It's not just tasteless because they were playing the music. It's what they were playing was offensive and mocking, aimed directly at Willis McGahee as he lay injured on the field. Think I am wrong? Here is the Chorus for "Down on the Corner" by Creedence Clearwater Revival:
Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the poorboys are playin';
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.

1-19-2009 @ 4:36PM

Mr. Squirrel said...

Does it bother you so badly that you can't handle it?

I mean, who cares what music is being played. Their is a guy on the field that is injured and you're concerned with the music being played.

I could care less what is being played. Inappropriate or not.

This is why I hate news like this. The media takes the little things and turn them into big things. Then they end up being controversial and then a new law is made affecting people who should NOT be affected by it.

1-19-2009 @ 3:48PM

SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY FROM BALTIMORE GOT SOME FEELING HURT.IF I SAY IM SORRY WILL THAT MAKE YOU A BETTER PERSON? CHRISCRASHIN SOUNDS GAY.BALTIMORE IS THE CALCUTTA OF THE USA!

1-19-2009 @ 4:04PM

derrick said...

you obviously haven't seen the ravages of hell in Pittsburgh then you idiot.

1-19-2009 @ 3:49PM

Stoney said...

Hey "jaunvivamexico" or is it Ron Mexico?. What the hell does that mean or have to do with "Real Football" injuries? Not the game with little black and white solar panels on the ball. You're a "twit". That means "A-hole" in English.

1-19-2009 @ 3:52PM

Don't think for a minute that the sound man's choice for music was an unfortunate accident. It was in poor taste and mean spirited.

Creedence Clearwater Revival
Album: Willy and the Poor Boys, 1969

Lyrics for Down on the Corner:
Early in the evenin' just about supper time,
Over by the courthouse they're starting to unwind.
Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up.
Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp.

Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the poorboys are playin';
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.

Rooster hits the washboard and people just got to smile,
Blinky, thumps the gut bass and solos for a while.
Poorboy twangs the rhythm out on his kalamazoo.
Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo.

Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the poorboys are playin';
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.

Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the poorboys are playin';
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.

You don't need a penny just to hang around,
But if you've got a nickel, won't you lay your money down?
Over on the corner there's a happy noise.
People come from all around to watch the magic boy.

Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the poorboys are playin';
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.

Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the poorboys are playin';
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.

1-19-2009 @ 3:53PM

J.P. Perkins said...

Why would you expect anything else from a classless
organization like the Steelers?

SORRY FOR SPELLING ENGLISH MY 2ND LAN.

1-19-2009 @ 3:55PM

STONEY YOU SPEND TO MUCH TIME WITH THE SHEEP!

1-19-2009 @ 4:55PM

misse said...

Jaun, ...you're a disgrace to anyone who is latin American. And anyone who is an ethnic minority. On behalf of the Cherokee Nation...shut your ever lovin pie hole if you can't say anything remotely intelligent in any language whether you can spell it properly or not.

1-19-2009 @ 4:59PM

t said...

This is totally ridiculous and unfounded. The music in the background was noticeably lower than usual, and everybody in the stands, Steelers fans mind you, was wishing McGahee the best on his way out.

NO ONE said an unkind to word to the guy.

And sometimes music is just music, people. Is even the free, unpaid blogging media sinking to new lows of sh*t-stirring, or is Brinson just another dirtball teary-eyed and angry BawlMore fan?