Midwest
Announcer caught making vulgar comments about players, 'soccer moms' in hot-mic video during girls soccer game
A high school announcer in Kansas has been fired after he was caught on a hot mic making unprofessional and inappropriate comments about players, coaches and parents during a broadcast of a third-place high school girls soccer matchup in the Kansas Class 4A-1A state championship tournament over the weekend.
During halftime of a game between Rose Hill and McPherson, the announcer, who has been identified as Toby Moore, was heard making remarks to an unidentified person believed to be the PA announcer.
Video of Moore’s commentary was uploaded to Vimeo, but it was later removed “as a result of a third-party notification by PlayOn Sports,” which claimed it was copyright infringement. PlayOn Sports is part of NFHS Network, which the game was broadcast on.
A soccer goalmouth (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
However, Awful Announcing posted the video on X with the permission of a concerned parent, and Moore’s comments can be clearly heard throughout the four-plus minutes.
“Ah, f—,” Moore says. “Oh my goodness. God, was that first half as ugly as I thought it was? That game … that had no flow whatsoever. What in the hell was that?”
The suspected PA announcer was heard encouraging Moore to speak about the bad play during the broadcast, though Moore replied by saying it was against “my dignity” to do so.
“No, college games, I might,” he added. “But high school games I won’t. Actions have consequences. It is my policy. … I’m gonna try and subtly do it, but I’m not just gonna say this game blows.”
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Things got worse.
“My mind kind of flicked the ‘kill-me-now switch’ at about 30 minutes in,” he said. “If they are just gonna keep kicking the damn ball out of bounds and missing passes all day, I may as well just go home. I just want to do a header off the top of the press box. Unfortunately, it’s too low; it wouldn’t kill me. It’s like they aren’t even trying to pass. They are just chucking the ball downfield. A little technique will be nice. What the hell are they teaching these kids in practice? It’s unbelievable.”
The suspected PA announcer then began the inappropriate portion of the conversation when he said “soccer moms” in the stands were a “bonus” despite the play on the field.
“F— yeah, baby. Up top, baby. The one that’s facing us? See if she can tear it the f— off. I can’t see the legs, but I can feel the a– from here,” Moore was heard saying.
“This conversation never happened, by the way. We’d get in trouble. I would have never had this conversation if [inaudible name] was sitting in that chair. We’ve been around long enough. We know what we’re doing.”
Moore concluded by saying he got it “out of his system” and refocused on the game.
A soccer goal post (Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
Moore’s actions did have consequences, as 810 Varsity, a high school sports media and event entity in Kansas City that serves as the production company for the NFHS Network for KSHSAA state postseason broadcasts, told Fox News Digital Moore will no longer be considered for potential work in the future.
“Toby Moore was an announcer contracted for NFHS Network broadcasts,” the statement from 810 Varsity said. “The NFHS Network assured KSHSAA on Tuesday that the individuals and other press box personnel involved in the conversation will no longer be affiliated with any Kansas postseason games for the NFHS Network.”
Chad Rader, president of 810 Varsity, added, “The comments certainly do not reflect any opinions or values besides Mr. Moore’s. Both Rose Hill and McPherson represented Kansas soccer at the highest level and enjoyed great seasons, which should be celebrated.”
NFHS Network also gave a statement to Fox News Digital, saying they’ve taken down the halftime audio from its on-demand broadcast of the game.
“The NFHS Network sincerely apologizes for the inappropriate comments made by an announcer contracted by our local production affiliate during halftime of the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) 4-1A Girls Soccer Consolation game on Saturday, May 25th. These comments do not reflect the values or standards of the NFHS Network.
“We immediately removed the audio containing these comments from the on-demand broadcast. Additionally, our production affiliate has terminated its relationship with the announcer.
“We regret that this incident detracted from the incredible achievement of the players, coaches, and fans involved in the championship. The NFHS Network is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of student-athletes and high schools across the country and we do not tolerate any behavior that undermines this mission.”
Moore gave Awful Announcing a statement, apologizing for his actions.
Soccer balls in the second half of a soccer match between Nigeria and the United States Sept. 3, 2022, at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I would like to apologize to the Rose Hill and McPherson schools, players, coaches, families and communities for my remarks last Saturday,” the statement from Moore said. “They were tasteless, stupid and inexcusable. Those comments did not reflect the tremendous season and hard work both sides had during the year. Thank you to KSHSAA and NFHS for allowing me the privilege to call games on their network. I sincerely and deeply apologize for my tasteless and hurtful remarks and ask forgiveness from those that were hurt by my words.”
Awful Announcing reports Moore had been with NFHS Network since 2019, calling five KSHSAA soccer finals. He also has experience calling Tulsa Athletic Soccer and Rogers State University soccer games in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
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A.J. Hinch on Tigers win vs Yankees: ‘Gutsy’ game by Keider Montero
Manager A.J. Hinch on Detroit Tigers win vs Yankees in New York on Wednesday, July 1: ‘Gutsy’ game by Keider Montero
ARLINGTON, TX – The Texas Rangers pounded Detroit Tigers starter Framber Valdez and then kept the onslaught going against the Tigers bullpen in a 10-4 victory at Globe Life Field on Thursday, July 2.
The Rangers scored five runs off Valdez in five innings – and it would have been far worse but the Tigers played some great defense behind him.
Meanwhile, Texas starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi looked like he was going to have a no-hitter, retiring the first nine Tigers and not giving up a hit until the fifth.
Then, everything switched. Colt Keith, who broke up the no-no, and Hao-Yu Lee homered off Eovaldi, as the Tigers tried to come back. The Tigers (37-50) had several chances late against the bullpen of the Rangers (45-43), but they couldn’t get the big hit at the big moment, stranding five runners in the sixth and seventh innings.
At the plate: Cold start in Texas heat for Tigers
Eovaldi came into the game with wins in his last three starts.
Make it four.
Eovaldi baffled the Tigers early, striking seven of the first nine Tigers. It was a masterful start of the game for someone who came into the game with a season-high of nine strikeouts. Eovaldi’s no-hitter lasted into the fifth inning until Keith hammered an 0-2 cutter for his sixth homer of the year.
That seemed to loosen things up for the Tigers. Zach McKinstry slapped a single. Then, Lee blasted a ball to left field. Alejandro Osuna, the Rangers left fielder, jumped up at the wall and appeared to rob it. But he couldn’t hold onto it, as Lee had a two-run homer.
Suddenly, the Tigers cut the Rangers lead to 5-3.
The Tigers loaded the bases in the sixth, but right-handed reliever Peyton Gray struck out Lee.
The Tigers threatened again in the seventh, putting two on but couldn’t score.
On the mound: Defense helps out Framber Valdez
The Rangers came out swinging against Valdez. And they didn’t miss many. Only three in fact.
Valdez gave up five hits in the first two innings, not to mention a walk with the bases loaded, a sacrifice fly and a homer by Elias Díaz.
It would have been far worse, but Kerry Carpenter came to the rescue with his defense. In the first inning, the Rangers had runners on first and second when catcher Kyle Higashioka drilled a ball into the right-center gap – 102.2 mph off the bat. It looked like two runs. Easy.
But Carpenter played it perfectly. He broke on the ball, sprinting full speed toward the wall, covered a country mile (OK, maybe it just looked that way), reached out at the last second with his backhand and snagged the ball, just as he reached the warning track.
It was a fantastic play, stranding two runners and saving two runs.
Then, the Rangers stranded two more in the second inning.
So, even though Texas had a 3-0 second-inning lead, it could have been far worse.
Then, Carpenter made another fine play in the third inning. He ran up on a blooper, fielded the ball and threw out a runner at second, preventing another big inning.
In fact, the Tigers’ defense was great all around. There was McKinstry, diving for a line shot followed by Lee making a great play at second. And Kevin McGonigle had a fantastic play at third.
Right-hander Beau Brieske, who was called up on Wednesday when Will Vest was placed on the injured list, pitched the sixth. He gave up a monster homer to Josh Smith, who pounced on a first-pitch fastball.
Then, the Rangers put up three more runs against lefty Drew Sommers, who didn’t record an out.
Next up: Taking a break for soccer
The Tigers are off on Friday because of a World Cup game across the way at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with Australia –.which had a vocal contingent of fans in the Globe Life stands Thursday – facing Egypt in the Round of 32 in the afternoon.
The Tigers’ series vs. the Rangers resumes Saturday (4:05 p.m., Detroit SportsNet) with right-hander Jack Flaherty (1-8, 4.97) on the mound for the Tigers, while right-hander Kumar Rocker (2-6, 3.83) will start for the Rangers.
The game will be played indoors, much to the chagrin of Hinch.
“I think our players should have to play outside in Texas one time in their career, so they know what it was like,” Hinch said before the game. “There’s nothing like coming here in the middle of the summer. Now we have a nice little push roof to keep everybody cool.”
The Rangers played outdoors in Arlington from 1972 (when they moved to Texas from Washington) to 2019, when Globe Life Field opened.
Contact Jeff Seidel at jseidel@freepress.com or follow him @seideljeff.
Video circulating this week shows masked federal agents in Milwaukee arresting people. City leaders say the face coverings violate a city ordinance — but whether federal agents are required to follow local ordinances is a legal question that may ultimately be decided by a federal judge.
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Local attorney Russell Jones said the answer depends on the specific ordinance and what federal authorities are doing.
“The issue becomes whether or not the local ordinances interfere with the operations of the federal officers acting under federal law. If it does, federal law will supersede it. Right, it’s the supremacy clause of the Constitution. If it doesn’t interfere with their operations, then typically they will follow those ordinances. So that’s really the question: do the ordinances interfere with the legitimate operations of the federal agency?” Jones explained.
For the past week, masked federal agents have been seen in Wisconsin arresting people they say are in the country illegally.
Watch: Do federal agents have to follow Milwaukee’s face covering and park ordinances?
Do federal agents have to follow Milwaukee’s face covering and park ordinances?
Galo Suarez described one encounter.
“They broke our side window, and they told us that if we didn’t comply, we would face several heavy consequences,” Suarez said.
Images have also surfaced of what appear to be federal agents in Milwaukee County parks.
Federal agents wearing masks and being in county parks, according to city and county leaders, are against local ordinances.
Milwaukee’s city ordinance prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings. A Milwaukee County ordinance prohibits any law enforcement agency from using a park as a staging area without a permit.
When asked whether a resolution to the legal question was possible now, Jones said it likely falls to the courts.
“That’s a question that eventually probably some federal judge will answer,” Jones said.
Before the city’s face covering ordinance was passed, City Attorney Evan Goyke wrote in a memo that “it is legal and enforceable.”
Enforcement of the ordinance would fall to Milwaukee Police, who earlier this week said they have “requested a formal written legal opinion from the city attorney’s office regarding the ordinance’s applicability and enforceability.” TMJ4 News reached out to Goyke on this and is waiting to hear back.
ICE has already stated it “will not abide by unconstitutional bans,” noting that “ICE officers wear face coverings for one reason: to protect themselves and their families from real-world threats including agitators.”
Jones said the practical challenge of enforcing a local ordinance against federal officers adds another layer of complexity.
“Enforcing a local ordinance right is typically done with an arrest or issuing a ticket, and certainly arresting ICE officers would interfere with their operations,” Jones added. “Ultimately, a federal judge will decide if these ordinances interfere with federal operations, and if they do, they will be superseded by federal law, and if they don’t, then ICE would likely have to follow them.”
This story was reported on-air by Jenna Rae and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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As we approach America’s 250th birthday, patriotism is running high. Minnesota has a long history with a deep sense of patriotism. In the 1860s as the county was divided over slavery, young Minnesota men stepped up and volunteered to defend and fight for the principles the United States was established on. Local author and historian Hampton Smith tells the stories of patriotism through letters written by soldiers. FOX 9’s Randy Meier has more.
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