Wiley Ballard of Fanduel Sports Network Braves Reporter received a backlash to ask a woman for her phone number during an on-air report at the game Monday night.
But not everyone, including veteran sideline reporter Olivia Harlan Decker, has discovered that Ballard's actions were inappropriate.
The wife of NBA player Sam Decker, daughter of legendary broadcaster Kevin Harlan and NBA player, said the Ballad incident was being blown away disproportionately.
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Bally Reporter Wiley Ballard, left, interviewing Atlanta Braves' Ozzy Albys after a match against the Cleveland Guardians at Trust Park in Atlanta on April 26, 2024. (Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images)
Some of those critical of Ballard's actions made me wonder what would happen if a female sideline reporter did what Ballard did.
Harlan Decker said from his experience.
“People who are angry at Braves reporters asking for girls' phone numbers are insane! “It doesn't undermine the game or the season. It brightens up.
Efforts to get the phone number of a female Braves side job reporter sparks controversial online debate
“I was a team reporter, but the season is long. The producer is always looking for something different/memorable. I'm looking for ways to get fans involved and show human interest around the game. Most of these interviews are good for him because of their sense of humor and rolling.
“If anyone can show an example of a woman being fired to something similar, you have an argument,” she explained. “Until then… you can't just say,” the woman would have been fired for this.
Bally Sports Reporter Wiley Ballard, left, interviewing Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II after a match against the Texas Rangers at Trust Park, April 20, 2024 in Atlanta. (Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images)
“The real thing about early season baseball games on regional/team broadcasts
Ballard said during the live segment, he wanted the broadcast booth to get the phone numbers for the two women.
“I'm seriously dead, they're saying in my ears now,” Ballard aired while talking to both the broadcast booth and the woman about the phone number. “She doesn't believe me because she thinks you guys are making this up. I'm going to use it in the future. It's actually a pretty good move. I'm supposed to think about it this year.”
The segment was quickly cancelled on social media, but the heated debate began with people who thought the same way as Harlan Decker.
According to one X account, the segment presented “an insane double standard in sports,” while another went deeper with rebuttals.
“This is ridiculous, the stupidest rage. Anger for others when they don't know the complete interaction or how they felt about it. I don't know what was said and done before and after the segment,” the post said.
Olivia Harlan Dekker is taking part in an “unstopped” screening at Cineworld Leicester Square in London on November 5th, 2024. (Mike Marsland/Getty Images for Prime Video)
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Danis Reck, a reporter for the Arizona Cardinals team, also gave her ideas.
“Are we still going to ask women in sports if they're working to date athletes? We can all agree how inappropriate and troublesome this is.
Harlan Dekker is an NFL reporter and host of Sky Sports and Westwood One Sports.
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