Freudian Slip? St. Louis Cardinals Announcer Fumbles a Pride Flag Promo

The appropriately named media watchdog site Awful Announcing reported on June 21 that during the top of the 4th inning of Saturday's game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds, Cardinals announcer Chip Caray had the worst kind of slip of the tongue any announcer could have.

Caray was reading a promo for the Cardinals' upcoming Disability Pride Night, which takes place Thursday, July 10, the report reads. Those who attend the event will receive a a Cardinals cap featuring the Disability Pride flag and the braille lettering of "Cardinals," but he stumbled over the word "flag" and instead used the common gay epithet that rhymes with the word.

"Disability Pride Night is Thursday, July 10. With a themed ticket, fans take home a Cardinals cap featuring the disability pride fa**, flag, and Cardinals in braille," said Caray.

He promptly corrected himself and finished reading the promo. What followed, though, was a long, awkward silence that lasted 31-seconds (but seems an eternity when watching the video clip above). It ended when broadcasting partner Brad Thompson finally broke it to comment on a pitch that was called for a ball.

There was speculation that Caray would receive some sort of reprimand for his error, but that came to an end when the website Front Office Sports reported on Saturday that "Chip Caray will not be suspended or punished for now despite uttering a homophobic slur during a Cardinals game telecast Saturday."

"FanDuel Sports Network Midwest declined to comment when FOS reached out on Saturday afternoon," adds Front Office Sports. "But sources said the network is not disciplining Caray, the son of the late sportscaster Skip Caray and grandson of the late legendary announcer Harry Caray. Instead, the network is chalking it up to an 'honest' mistake during a live read by an announcer who meant no insult to any viewers."

Front Office Sports goes on to remind readers of a similar incident years earlier that led to a different outcome for the broadcaster. "On social media channels, Caray's Freudian slip immediately drew comparison to announcer Thom Brennaman dropping a homophobic slur during a Reds telecast in 2020 when he didn't realize he was live. The announcer was exiled from broadcasting for nearly four years before landing a job with the CW to call college football games."