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During a Minnesota high school basketball game between Prior Lake and East Ridge, announcers Lee Bernick and George Nusbaum went viral for an awkward exchange about Bernick's dog, Lucy, who had recently died after being run over by a car. As Bernick began to share the story, a Prior Lake player performed a dunk, prompting Nusbaum to interject with Oh, yes! and the now-infamous line, Was she run over like that?. The full clip reveals a more nuanced picture, with the announcers having a history of playful banter and a shared love for their pets.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Occasion | A basketball game between Prior Lake and East Ridge |
| Location | Minnesota |
| Date | 30 November 2019 |
| Announcers | Lee Bernick and George Nusbaum |
| Dog's name | Lucy |
| Dog's age | 12 years old |
| Dog's cause of death | Run over in the driveway |
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What You'll Learn
The announcers' chemistry
While some may view their exchange as inappropriate or awkward, the announcers themselves seem to embrace their viral fame and don't take themselves too seriously. In an interview, Nusbaum acknowledges that they are always trying to set each other up and that their role is to entertain. He also mentions that they try to keep it light as it's high school athletics and not Division I or beyond. This perspective sheds light on their chemistry and dynamic, where they aim to bring humour and entertainment to their broadcasts.
The announcers' ability to seamlessly transition between serious and lighthearted moments further showcases their chemistry. Despite the initial awkwardness of bringing up the death of Bernick's dog, Nusbaum offers sincere condolences and then pivots to a more lighthearted tone with his "like that?" comment. Bernick also participates in this dynamic, delivering a deadpan reply about what happened to the dog. Their back-and-forth banter and ability to read each other's cues contribute to their unique chemistry.
Their chemistry extends beyond their viral exchange, as they have been streaming Lakers games together for a few years. Their partnership and understanding of each other's humour have likely developed over this period, contributing to the ease with which they interact on air. Their shared goal of entertaining their audience and their willingness to embrace their viral moment speak to their chemistry and dynamic as announcers.
While their style may not be for everyone, Bernick and Nusbaum have carved out a unique presence in the world of high school basketball broadcasting. Their chemistry, repartee, and ability to read each other's cues have gained them attention and a level of viral fame. Their dynamic showcases a balance of humour, quick thinking, and the ability to adapt to unexpected moments during a live broadcast.
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The announcers' intentions
However, others have defended the announcers, arguing that they simply have a unique broadcasting style and a strong on-air chemistry. Nusbaum himself has stated that they are "animal lovers" and that their intention was to "entertain". He also emphasised that they try not to take themselves too seriously and that it is important to keep it light when broadcasting high school athletics. This perspective suggests that the announcers' intentions were not solely focused on making a distasteful joke, but also on providing an enjoyable and engaging broadcast for their audience.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that the full context of the exchange reveals a more complex situation. Prior to the controversial comment, the announcers had mentioned the death of a player's mother, which may have set a more sombre tone for their subsequent discussion of Lucy's passing. Additionally, Nusbaum did offer sincere condolences, and Bernick's response, "And yes, our hearts and minds are with your sweet Lucy, in dog heaven," indicates that they genuinely cared about the dog and were not merely being callous or disrespectful.
While the intentions behind the specific phrase, "Was she run over like that?" may be open to interpretation, it appears that the announcers' overall intention was to balance solemnity with levity in their broadcast, navigating between sensitive topics and light-hearted entertainment.
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The dead dog, Lucy
Lucy was a beloved 12-year-old dog who met an untimely demise when she was run over by a car in the family driveway. Her tragic death left her owners, basketball announcers Lee Bernick and George Nusbaum, devastated. During a basketball game between Prior Lake and East Ridge in Minnesota, Bernick began to share Lucy's story with the audience. He painted a picture of their dear dog and the heartbreaking manner of her passing. As Bernick recounted the sorrowful tale, a Prior Lake player intercepted a pass and executed a powerful dunk.
This dynamic play seemed to strike a chord with Nusbaum, prompting him to make an unexpected connection. Without missing a beat, he interjected with a startling question: "Was she run over like that?" The comment, at once jarring and attention-grabbing, drew a complex range of reactions. While some found it highly inappropriate, others detected a certain chemistry between the announcers, suggesting that their relationship could withstand such off-color humor.
The full context of the exchange reveals a more nuanced story. Prior to the comment, Nusbaum had offered sincere condolences for the loss of Lucy. Additionally, both men considered themselves animal lovers, underscoring the complexity of their on-air behavior. In the aftermath of the viral clip, Nusbaum provided insight into their dynamic, suggesting that they often played off each other for entertainment value. He emphasized the lighthearted nature of their broadcasts, stating, "I just think you got to keep it light. It's high school athletics. It's not D-I or beyond."
The announcers' viral fame brought them both attention and scrutiny. While some viewers were unsure how to interpret the comment, others embraced the duo's unconventional style. Nusbaum and Bernick, far from shying away from the spotlight, embraced their newfound popularity. They continued to broadcast games, their eyes set on the goal of calling college games in the future. The story of Lucy's unfortunate demise, intertwined with the energetic basketball game, became a memorable part of their journey as announcers.
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The viral clip
A short clip from a Minnesota high school basketball game has gone viral, showing an awkward exchange between two announcers, Lee Bernick and George Nusbaum. The clip, posted to Twitter by user @Ross_homan1, has gained over 2 million views. In the video, Bernick begins to talk about the death of his family dog, Lucy, who was run over in his driveway. As he is speaking, a Prior Lake player intercepts a pass and dunks the ball. Nusbaum then interjects with the comment, "Oh, yes! Like that? Was she run over like that?".
The full video of the broadcast shows that Nusbaum did offer sincere condolences before making the comment. Bernick also does not appear to be too affected by the comment, as he delivers a deadpan reply, "Oh, do you wanna know what happened? Sabrina ran her over". The two announcers seem to have a playful dynamic, with Nusbaum stating that they are "always trying to set each other up" for jokes like this. Despite the seemingly insensitive nature of the comment, the two announcers do not appear to have any ill intentions, and no feelings were hurt.
The clip gained attention due to its shock value, with many people unsure how to feel about Nusbaum's comment. It also sparked a discussion about the role of announcers in sports entertainment, with some arguing that Nusbaum's comment was inappropriate, while others found it amusing. The two announcers have embraced their viral fame and continue to stream basketball games, with aspirations to broadcast college games in the future.
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The basketball game
Bernick's voice cracked as he spoke of Lucy's tragic end, and the audience fell into a solemn silence. However, just as Bernick was about to reveal the cause of Lucy's death, a player from the Prior Lake team intercepted a pass and performed an impressive dunk. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, and Nusbaum, seizing the opportunity for a bit of dark humour, blurted out, "Oh, yes! Was she run over like that?"
The announcers' chemistry was evident as they played off each other's words. Nusbaum's comment, though unexpected and controversial, somehow fit perfectly in the context of the game. The crowd's initial shock turned into a mixture of laughter and disbelief. Some found the comment highly inappropriate, while others understood it as a playful jab between friends.
As the game continued, Nusbaum offered a more sincere response, expressing his condolences for Bernick's loss. He acknowledged the presence of Craig Johnson, a player whose mother had recently passed away, showing that the announcers were aware of the sensitivity of the topic. Despite the light-hearted nature of their comments, they navigated the game with a balance of humour and empathy.
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Frequently asked questions
During a high school basketball game in Minnesota, one of the announcers, Lee Bernick, began talking about his dog, Lucy, who had recently died after being run over by a car. As Bernick was telling this story, a player on the court made a dunk, prompting the other announcer, George Nusbaum, to interject with the phrase, "Oh, yes! Like that? Was she run over like that?"
Lee Bernick and George Nusbaum are a duo of announcers who were calling a high school basketball game between Prior Lake and East Ridge in Minnesota on November 30, 2019.
Nusbaum's comment appears to have been an attempt at humour, connecting the story of Bernick's dog being run over with the dunk that had just occurred on the court. The two announcers are known for their lighthearted and entertaining commentary style.
The comment sparked a range of reactions, with some finding it highly inappropriate, while others appreciated the announcers' chemistry and humour. The clip of the exchange went viral, receiving over 2 million views on Twitter, and the announcers embraced their newfound viral fame.
