Mark Grant, The Cycle, And The Call I Can't Unhear

It's been nearly a week since "The Cycle". The moment of the season. I've watched the clip of the triple at least 50 times and it makes me smile every time Matt Kemp reaches third base.

Last night, I was sitting in my room playing Madden 15 and saying "Go, go!" as I ran for a touchdown and a thought occurred to me about the cycle. More importantly, it was the call of the triple on Fox Sports San Diego that got me wondering about something.

Is Mark Grant doing an ad for Toyota San Diego in the middle of the call?

For those of us that watch the broadcasts or listen to radio here in San Diego, it's pretty hard not to hear the Toyota San Diego ads very often. Their ads usually consist of a "Toyota San Diego...GO GO GO" then at the end, they drop that last "GO" and replace it with a "GOTTA GO".

The video below only has the ending in it.

They talk about the cars or the sale and then at the end:

Toyota San Diego...GO GO...GOTTA GO!

When you listen to Mark Grant as he's calling the triple in the clip, he says

"GO GO.....GO..........GOTTA GO."

Was this a typical "Mudcat" call where the words are just coming out due to the excitement of the situation? Or does it sound like an ad for Toyota San Diego in the middle of not only the most important moment of the season, but one of the most important moments in San Diego Padres history?

I'm not saying that Mark Grant saw this as an opportunity to make some money by using Toyota San Diego's jingle words during his call. Not at all. But that "Gotta Go" at the end is what got me thinking that it was like an ad. The perfect ad. One that could be made with that call for years to come.

On the other hand, I myself am someone who talks and talks...and talks. There are times that I quote movies or songs for no reason other than to entertain. And having listened to Mark Grant for over 15 years, I know the way he calls the games. I'm sure that he was adding a little bit of entertainment to a moment we've been waiting our whole lives for by throwing in a catchphrase we'd all get. But, was this the right time to add a phrase synonymous with an advertiser? In a call that will be around for a long, long time.

Or am I just hearing what I want to hear? That the similarities are there, but they were all just part of an organic expression of excitement. That there was no plan to throw in a Toyota San Diego inspired "Gotta Go" and that it just happened.  I hope I didn't ruin the call by making you all think about Toyota San Diego now.

You know, it's a slow news day and all.

Gotta go.