When a team competes for a championship, its fan base tends to dislike a player or coach from the opposing team. But sometimes, the villain isn't actually competing on the field or court.
After feeling slighted by former MLB on Fox broadcaster Joe Buck's call of the 2011 World Series, Texas Rangers fans found themselves in familiar territory during the club's run to their first-ever World Series title last season.
Hall of Fame pitcher and MLB on Fox color analyst John Smoltz became Rangers fans' biggest adversary, as the broadcaster appeared to be biased against the club throughout the postseason.
Fans, hosts of 105.3 The Fan, and other local media members were puzzled by the way Smoltz was calling the games, criticizing him on X, formally Twitter, for calling the game as if he were a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks broadcast team.
You can listen to some examples of his unusual takes from Games 3 and 4 of the World Series here.
Smoltz addressed criticism from Rangers fans for the first time when he joined 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday.
"It's the most ridiculous claim in the history of baseball," Smoltz said on 'Shan, RJ and Bobby.' "But it's all right. I was told that it was going to happen when I got into this job. People are so used to their local broadcasts that they have no conceptual idea that we come in neutral. And our play-by-play guy Joe Davis is going to call a home run as excited for [your team as he is the other team]. Joe Buck told me, 'Listen, when you get into this, don't pay attention to everybody thinking you're rooting for somebody else. Just do your job.' And that's all I've done. It really is ridiculous.
"In the [2021] World Series against [the Houston Astros], I got more criticism from the Atlanta fans that I wasn't a homer and I wasn't rooting for the Atlanta Braves. So if that doesn't tell you all you need to know..."
And was Smoltz aware of the criticism from the Rangers fan base during the World Series?
"No. I don't pay attention and I could[n't] care less. It has no relevancy whatsoever. I don't have any social media. My job is to call a game neutral."
Smoltz did give the Rangers their flowers for their incredible postseason run that saw them go 11-0 on the road. But he couldn't help but throw a subtle jab at the fan base.
"This World Series and this playoffs was unbelievable. Nothing made sense. And that's what made it so unique and so great. And that's why it's one of the best championships I've seen in a long time from the route that the Rangers took. They have something special. And I said it throughout the entire broadcast, even though it seemed like none of your fans listened. I said that they have a special sauce in their locker room. The analytics [didn't explain they success they were having]. And it's because the manager and management were so connected. They did things in ways, made moves, and just hung in there. It's just a credit [to them]. No way ever will a team go undefeated on the road again [in the postseason]. Ever. I still shake my head. Having gone through this and done it my whole life. This is not what you're supposed to be able to do and they did it."