It’s Time We Properly Acknowledge That Mike Breen’s ‘Way Off’ Is One of the Best Sports Broadcaster Catchphrases of All Time

Also in today’s Traina Thoughts: NBA ‘Mean Tweets,’ Joey Votto makes a TikTok with a fan, anniversary of the second-spitter incident and more.

1. Sports fans know the most popular broadcaster catchphrases of all time. Whether it’s Marv Albert’s “YES!, Keith Jackson’s “Whoa, Nellie,” John Madden’s “BOOM!” or even things like Jim Nantz’s “Hello, friends” or Brent Musburger’s “You are looking LIVE,” every sports fan has their favorites.

ABC/ESPN’s Mike Breen has also created an iconic catchphrase with “BANG!” on clutch 3-pointers.

However, Breen deserves to be acknowledged for another catchphrase that’s just as iconic.

I’ll put Breen’s “way off” on terrible shots up there with any other catchphrase in sports history.

Mike Breen’s “waaay off” should be just as popular as Mike Breen’s “Bang!”

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) June 9, 2022

The way Breen says so much with just two words, six total letters, is impressive. The tone is perfect. The shock is there. The disgust is evident.

And the second-hand embarrassment viewers feel for the player who gets the “way off” treatment is real.

Breen is as professional as any broadcaster in sports media. He’s also known as one of the nicest people in the industry. So he would never intentionally be disrespectful. But when he hits a shooter with a “way off,” it’s hard not to interpret that as, “Holy cow, can you believe how pathetic that shot was?”

Mike Breen’s “way off” gets more and more disrespectful over the years lmao

— Justin (@JustinKDesigns) June 11, 2022

Mike Breen’s “way off” is so lowkey mean and I love it

— Alex Symoñds (@AlexASymonds) June 14, 2022

The “way off” movement has picked up steam on social media over the past couple of years.

Many viewers took note of it again Monday night during the Warriors’ Game 5 win over the Celtics.

lmao. Breen's "Way off!" never fails, man

— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) June 14, 2022

The Mike Breen “Way off” might have “BANG” against the ropes

— Dub (@WMsDiary) June 14, 2022

Breen laughing as he says "Way off!" is the ultimate sign of you taking a horrible shot. #NBAFinals

— Ben (@ben_hamin12) June 14, 2022

Mike Breen’s “WAY OFF” is like a knife through the heart in a close game 😭

— Ryan Johnson (@RyannJ3) June 14, 2022

mike breen way off is the funniest thing on earth

— mavs 2025 champs 🇲🇽 (@77ForMVP) June 14, 2022

This is also another reason to acknowledge the greatness of the “way off” catchphrase: It makes for some truly hilarious tweets.

Nothing hurts more than hearing Mike Breen say “Way Off” when your team needs a bucket down the stretch.

— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) June 11, 2022

The way Mike Breen says “way off!” will have you questioning your entire basketball skill set

— Jasmine (@JasmineLWatkins) May 26, 2022

would you rather be naked in front of all your co workers OR miss a jump shot and Mike Breen calls it “way off!”

— Rohan Nadkarni (@RohanNadkarni) June 5, 2021

Mike Breen as a Spelling Bee judge saying “WAY OFF” after a 9-year old misspells the word vegetable

— Seton Hall Student (@sacketology) June 14, 2022

imagine you’re at the bar with mike breen you see a beautiful woman across the room you work up the courage to walk over and talk to her you give it your best go but it doesn’t work out she shoots you down and then you hear breen back on the other side of the room shout “way off”

— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) June 5, 2021

After Jaylen Brown air balled that 3 and Mike Breen hit him with the “way off” I knew the game was over. Your team doesn’t recover from a “way off” 😂

— Bo the Blessed (@AnAhchNamedBo) June 11, 2022

“WAY OFF!” - Mike Breen https://t.co/kG1QouQvNk

— John 🇪🇨 (@boston_george87) June 14, 2022

Traina Thoughts salutes Mike Breen and “way off” as one of the greatest sports catchphrases ever created.

2. Jimmy Kimmel presented a brand-new NBA-edition of “Mean Tweets” on Monday.

3. Reds first baseman Joey Votto spotted a young fan holding up a sign before Monday’s game that read, “Joey Votto, Will You Make a TikTok With Me?” So Joey Votto made a TikTok video with the young fan.

Ask for a TikTok with @JoeyVotto, and you shall receive a TikTok with Joey Votto.@JimDayTV has the griddy details. pic.twitter.com/OvUwScrFe5

— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) June 14, 2022

4. Tom Brady's latest social media production is a direct shot at Peyton Manning.

5. It seems that all the attention the LIV controversy has gotten ended up helping the PGA last weekend.

PGA Tour really flexed its TV muscle as LIV Golf started last weekend.

CBS drew the most-watched final round of the RBC Canadian Open in 22 years (2.78 million viewers) for Rory McIlroy's win.

— Austin Karp (@AustinKarp) June 14, 2022

6. This week’s SI Media Podcast features a conversation on the latest sports media news with The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis. Among the topics covered:

• What went wrong between Drew Brees and NBC
• Is a mainstream NFL outlet ready to take a chance on Pat McAfee?
• ABC/ESPN’s NBA Finals studio show
• Is LeBron getting a podcast?
• Overuse of “breaking news” banners on TV

Following the conversation with Curtis, Sal Licata from WFAN/SNY in New York joins me our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week, we do a deep dive into Kevin Durant’s response to Sal on Twitter and saying that sports talk radio “makes him nauseous.”

You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: Big anniversary today. Let Newman set it up for us: 

"June 14, 1987, Mets-Phillies. We're enjoying a beautiful afternoon in the right field stands when a crucial Hernandez error opens the door to a five-run Phillies ninth. Cost the Mets the game."

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.