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Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Joe Buck hates Mom, Baseball, Apple Pie. Loves the Bachelorette.

Y’know how every postseason in game chatter I am one of the few people who defend Joe Buck?

That ends now after I read this Awful Announcing post.

I’m borderline furious this morning and not just because I have to mention Colin Cowherd. Joe Buck was on ESPN Radio this morning, and you can’t make this stuff up, said he doesn’t enjoy Baseball anymore and chooses to watch the Bachlorette over nightly Sports telecasts during the week.

...
Without going off my rocker I just want to point out that this is the reason why everyone is upset with a lot of broadcasters in Sports. You have the coolest damn job in the World in Sports Fans eyes, and while you’re supposed to be serving as the voice of the fans, you act like you’re above the game. This is the main reason why Joe Buck and his kind are probably the worst thing for Sports. Buck wants to be a Hollywood star and doesn’t have time for the Sport that brought him to the dance. Well his father brought him to the dance in the family station wagon, but Baseball is ultimately who he’s partying with. You get my point.

Tip of the hat to the now Leitchless Deadspin.

Gamingboy Posted: July 02, 2008 at 07:33 PM | 56 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: announcers, cardinals, obituaries, television

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1. Rich Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:05 PM (#2840535)

Joe Buck hates Mom, Baseball, Apple Pie.

And the Yankees. Just sayin'.

2. Famous Original Joe C Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:07 PM (#2840537)

And the Yankees. Just sayin'.

*Rolls eyes*

3. TVerik Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:08 PM (#2840538)

I don't have a problem with this. While my Yankee fandom runs deep, I don't care much at all for the other sports, and have never watched a full game for which I wasn't paid in any save MLB, NFL, and NBA. And I work at a job that a lot of sports fans would really enjoy.

If Buck does his research (and I have not heard too much criticism about his familiarity with his subject on the air), I think he can pay not too much attention to the league in his spare time if he chooses.

4. Cowboy Popup Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:09 PM (#2840539)

I used to like Buck, but it's clear listening to him that he has no interest in the game any more. His announcing has gotten noticeably worse and it's unbearable to watch he and McCarver do a game together. I haven't watched the NFL in a couple of years, so I can't say if that's limited to baseball. Hopefully Fox either gets those two out of the booth or even better, does not re-up it's bid for baseball next time around.

5. TVerik Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:12 PM (#2840544)

I don't think FOX will be a serious player for MLB when the contract is up. But I've been wrong on this stuff before.

6. Dunn Deal Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:14 PM (#2840547)

Let's not forget the way Joe Buck handled the Randy Moss incident at Lambeau field with class, dignity, and grace.

I would be harder on him, but McCarver is just as annoying. It's like Fox is trying to avoid having one focal point for negativity, so they make sure that both announcers are lame.

7. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:19 PM (#2840548)

ABC, with its cross promotion with ESPN, seems like a natural landing spot for MLB. I am sick of Fox so I might just be wish casting here. I'd take Miller/Morgan over Buck/McCarver any day of the freakin week. Also, a World Series that doesn't feature an interview with a character from a beer commercial or endless shots of the cast of 24 enjoying the game! would be nice.

8. Charter Member of the Jesus Melendez Fanclub Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:22 PM (#2840551)

Right Now!

9. Charter Member of the Jesus Melendez Fanclub Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:23 PM (#2840555)

Jeannie Zelasko

10. Charter Member of the Jesus Melendez Fanclub Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:23 PM (#2840557)

closeups of Kevin Appier's neck

11. Charter Member of the Jesus Melendez Fanclub Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:23 PM (#2840559)

Without Fox, you may lose all of that

12. Rich Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:26 PM (#2840562)

*Rolls eyes*

Yeah, maybe it's just McCarver...

Buck is far more tolerable doing NY Giant games.

13. The District Attorney Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:27 PM (#2840563)

Joe Buck was on ESPN Radio this morning, and... said he doesn’t enjoy Baseball anymore

He won't need to worry about Channel Loonie or Toonie any time soon.

14. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:27 PM (#2840564)

Who will adopt Scooter the talking baseball? Do YOU have enough love in your heart?

15. Greg Franklin Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:28 PM (#2840567)

Also, a World Series that doesn't feature an interview with a character from a beer commercial or endless shots of the cast of 24 enjoying the game! would be nice.

Back when ABC was covering baseball, they were notorious for this "coverage." NBC might have been a little better in this regard.

16. Cowboy Popup Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:34 PM (#2840571)

Back when ABC was covering baseball, they were notorious for this "coverage."

Does ABC even have TV Shows any more? I don't watch much network TV other than 30 Rock so I genuinely don't know, but they're pretty much limited to Lost aren't they?

17. Dolf Lucky Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:37 PM (#2840574)

I was under the impression that ESPN's TV cameras were attached to a 150 mile long cord, anchored in Bristol, CT. Have I been misinformed?

18. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:43 PM (#2840580)

Desperate Housewives is on ABC, er, so I hear.

19. Bad Doctor Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:52 PM (#2840587)

Does ABC even have TV Shows any more? I don't watch much network TV other than 30 Rock so I genuinely don't know, but they're pretty much limited to Lost aren't they?

I was wondering the same thing the other day. Most of my knowledge of current primetime TV comes from seeing commercials during weekend sports viewing. For all the sports I watch, it's MLB, NFL, some NHL, some PGA, maybe some tennis ... not an NBA guy, and I can't get much into college football because that would just eliminate any productive time on autumn weekends. So I haven't seen any ads for ABC primetime shows in quite some time. (Oh, and I DVR Lost, so no commercials there.)

I did happen upon that Wipeout abomination the other day, only to watch it long enough to realize it was not worth watching ever. And I'm sure According to Jim is still on ... it's like primetime TV's answer to the cockroach surviving nuclear holocaust.

20. Cooperstown Schtick Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:56 PM (#2840590)

After 4,000 games viewed side-by-side with Tim McCarver, Joe Buck now hates baseball. This is surprising why?

21. flournoy Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:07 PM (#2840596)

I guess if Joe Buck doesn't like baseball anymore, he could stop announcing baseball games and find something else to do. Any objections?

22. The Good Face Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:14 PM (#2840601)

I don't care that Joe Buck isn't interested in baseball. I care deeply that Joe Buck is a craptastic baseball announcer.

23. Cris E Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:26 PM (#2840614)

I have some days off coming up so I'm feeling pretty Firday right now.

Buck is far more tolerable doing NY Giant games.
I wonder how McCarver would sound doing football.

Who will adopt Scooter the talking baseball? Do YOU have enough love in your heart?
Scooter would go "live" on a "farm" "upstate" with his "friend" Peter Puck.

I don't think FOX will be a serious player for MLB when the contract is up.
Who will? And what'll be going up for bid? Will they try to require the broadcast of anything more than the post-season? When is that contract up?

24. Boileryard Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:35 PM (#2840622)

I wish it was possible to choose the audio feed for a TV broadcast without having to jump through some elaborate hoops in order to do so. Often I'd prefer to listen to one of the radio feeds from a game instead the TV broadcasters assigned to it, but the radio broadcast is seldom synchronized with the TV broadcast these days, and using a DVR to synch up the TV with the radio or internet feed can be tricky.

This would be a nice addition for future incarnations of Extra Innings.

25. Boileryard Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:36 PM (#2840625)

I don't think FOX will be a serious player for MLB when the contract is up.

Who will? And what'll be going up for bid? Will they try to require the broadcast of anything more than the post-season? When is that contract up?

The end of the 2013 season.

26. Dr Love Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:45 PM (#2840634)

NBC might have been a little better in this regard.

They put Pierre McGuire in like a 3 foot box, which is a good thing, but then they let him talk, which is a bad thing.

27. The Bones McCoy of THT Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:51 PM (#2840641)

After 4,000 games viewed side-by-side with Tim McCarver, Joe Buck now hates baseball. This is surprising why?

And we have a winnah!

Best Regards

John

28. jwb Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:51 PM (#2840642)

Desperate Housewives is on ABC, er, so I hear.

Then we can have that long awaited meet up of Evan and Eva Longoria! Um, assuming the Rays get a national TV date. Or Evan gets traded to New York or Boston.

I've always pictured a retirement community for aging advertising icons. Zippy the Postman ######## about the mail service in his rocker on the front porch, Reddy Kilowatt taking the Esso Tiger and the Sinclair Dinosaur for their afternoon walk, etc. The Keebler Elves can take Scooter to the park and play some ball. Or beat him with cudgels until his cover falls off, depending on your perspective.

29. Alberto Gilardino Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:51 PM (#2840643)

The thing I don't get is when do you get so stupid that you don't know when to shut up and what not to talk about in public. Seriously, senility? lost brain cells? What happens?

30. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:59 PM (#2840648)

Go crazy folks!

31. Hurdle's Heroes (SuperBaes) Posted: July 02, 2008 at 10:09 PM (#2840659)

Who will adopt Scooter the talking baseball? Do YOU have enough love in your heart?

God, I hate Scooter. And that's not blasphemy; it's an actual prayer.

32. Jimmy P Posted: July 02, 2008 at 10:59 PM (#2840686)

said he doesn’t enjoy Baseball anymore and chooses to watch the Bachlorette over nightly Sports telecasts during the week.

If this were the NBA, David Stern would be on the phone demanding that Joe Buck not announce games anymore if he doesn't want to prepare for them. Since MLB's commissioner is a spineless wimp who wavers to public opinion, nothing will happen here.

33. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: July 02, 2008 at 11:10 PM (#2840694)

On this season's Bachelorette, there were a professional football player and a professional basketball player. Buck isn't kidding that he doesn't care for baseball. Even the girlie shows he watches exclude baseballists.

34. SacBunt Posted: July 02, 2008 at 11:10 PM (#2840695)

To be a voice of dissent, I can see the value in some emotional distance from the sport you're covering. That is to say, I had a piano teacher who said he made a conscious effort not to get excited playing in concert, and found audiences responded more enthusiastically than when he did get "caught up."

EDIT: yeah, what TVerik said in post 3.

35. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: July 02, 2008 at 11:33 PM (#2840716)

I seem to be getting alot of Dick Stockton on Fox this year.

36. shoewizard Posted: July 02, 2008 at 11:41 PM (#2840731)

He's right. The games are too long.

Now I guess someone will say I don't love baseball because I express that sentiment. But watching those 4 hour AL playoff games was like watching the Bataan Death March.

37. Voros McCracken, Human Shield Posted: July 03, 2008 at 12:02 AM (#2840769)

I've said it before, but sports announcing is archaic. It's a holdover from the days of radio when you actually needed them to follow the action. I've watched hundreds of soccer games in foreign languages and have had little problem following what's going on. On the rare occassions where something happens that I can't figure out an explanation, without exception the English language announcers are also stumped.

The problem is if you hit the mute button, you lose all of the ambient noise from the stadium which I can NOT live without.

What I'd like is an option to keep the ambient noise while still being able to mute the non stop babbling the announcers are doing, often about things unrelated to the game (in a recent Cubs/Sox game we were treated to half an inning of babble about the Texas Rangers and the AL West).

38. Repoz

Posted: July 03, 2008 at 12:05 AM (#2840775)

I seem to be getting alot of Dick Stockton on Fox this year.

Stockton is the most unprepared announcer I've ever heard...especially the time when I uhh, accidently knocked his papers off his table at the Meadowlands.

39. Perros Posted: July 03, 2008 at 12:15 AM (#2840790)

One of the networks ran a football game or two back in the late '70's without any announcers, just ambient noise.

40. cardsfanboy

Posted: July 03, 2008 at 12:19 AM (#2840801)

What I'd like is an option to keep the ambient noise while still being able to mute the non stop babbling the announcers are doing

right now at this minute, the cardinals game is doing exactly that. I guess they are having a problem in the booth but the rest of the sound is coming in.

41. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: July 03, 2008 at 01:29 AM (#2841022)

I love listening to the Cubs radio feed from mlbradio and receiving the ambient crowd noise between innings rather than commercials.

42. greenback

Posted: July 03, 2008 at 02:00 AM (#2841092)

What I'd like is an option to keep the ambient noise while still being able to mute the non stop babbling the announcers are doing, often about things unrelated to the game (in a recent Cubs/Sox game we were treated to half an inning of babble about the Texas Rangers and the AL West).

I wish they'd give us this option on mlb.tv. I can't see why that would be so difficult.

43. TVerik Posted: July 03, 2008 at 03:17 AM (#2841435)

The way that audio is mixed, a "mix-minus", which is what is being proposed here (a feed with no announcers but including all crowd noise, as well as animation noises, music, and other stuff) is contractually obligated, as a matter of fact.

Most of the MLB games are broadcast internationally by talent who is not physically at the game. These guys sit in voice-over booths in the broadcast area and pretend like they're at the game. The only way to get this done at all is to have a mix-minus from site.

44. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: July 03, 2008 at 03:26 AM (#2841475)

One of the networks ran a football game or two back in the late '70's without any announcers, just ambient noise.

Close. Early 1980s, Jets-Dolphins game on NBC. It obviously wasn't deemed much of a success.

45. jwb Posted: July 03, 2008 at 03:36 AM (#2841509)

right now at this minute, the cardinals game is doing exactly that. I guess they are having a problem in the booth but the rest of the sound is coming in.

Lucky you! The ChiSox had technical difficulties this evening and I got a 3/4 green screen.

46. Lazzeri Posted: July 03, 2008 at 04:22 AM (#2841663)

God damn it, I ####### hate that stupid ##### Jeanne Zelasko.

47. SouthSideRyan Posted: July 03, 2008 at 04:58 AM (#2841768)

Top of my head Dick Stockton in the past year has said:

Derrek Lee was traded to the Rangers in '06, and was great for them.

Adolfo Soriano is the Cubs leadoff hitter.

48. Benji Posted: July 03, 2008 at 05:44 AM (#2841817)

That's almost as good as Keith Hernandez (with Cohen agreeing) informing us that Tony Armas, Sr preceded Dewey Evans as Red Sox RF.

49. Matt Waters Posted: July 03, 2008 at 06:47 AM (#2841836)

DUUUUHHHHHH ILIKE FOOTBALL IT ON ONCE A WEEK DUUHHHHH [picks lice out of hair, clubs self in the face with stick]

50. Halofan Posted: July 03, 2008 at 08:11 AM (#2841843)

Joe, her father is the district attorney.

51. Padraic Posted: July 03, 2008 at 08:57 AM (#2841848)

I agree with the post way up there by The Good Face that Buck's biggest problem is that he is a bad announcer, not that he hates baseball. I imagine that Al Michaels doesn't open up a six-pack and watch Sportscenter (or the Bacherlorette) every night, but he has a great voice and is a professional.

The problem with Buck is that he thinks he is somehow exemplary of the casual irony and distance of the current generation (see the self-mocking Bud ads) but this kind of thing has no place in baseball announcing. That's why I love Miller, because he is just goofy, genuine, and lacks the pose of disdain that Buck likes to affect. Miller's corny act may be as affected as Buck, but corny sincerity (even affected sincerity) is what the game is all about. Buck approaches baseball like hipsters approach pop culture or FOX News announcers approach politics: they hate it and they think they understand it, but really they are just too unsophisticated to do anything other than mock it.

52. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: July 03, 2008 at 10:11 AM (#2841854)

The problem with Buck is that he thinks he is somehow exemplary of the casual irony and distance of the current generation (see the self-mocking Bud ads) but this kind of thing has no place in baseball announcing. That's why I love Miller, because he is just goofy, genuine, and lacks the pose of disdain that Buck likes to affect. Miller's corny act may be as affected as Buck, but corny sincerity (even affected sincerity) is what the game is all about. Buck approaches baseball like hipsters approach pop culture or FOX News announcers approach politics: they hate it and they think they understand it, but really they are just too unsophisticated to do anything other than mock it.

This is true up to a point, but it's not exclusively a generational phenomenon. Howard Cosell embodied this attitude more than any announcer in history, and if he were alive today he'd be 90. But at least Cosell was something of an original, whereas his real damage was in the number of second and third generation imitators who adapted his posturing, but without his talent or occasional flashes of moral seriousness.

And I agree, give me the knowledge, enthusiasm and dry wit of Jon Miller, or the knowledge and professionalism Al Michaels any day of the week. Or even the knowledge and opinionted commentary of Bob Costas, because at least with Costas you have someone who's willing to defend his opinions with something more than one liners, and who underneath an occasional bit of surface cynicism obviously loves and respects the sports he covers. His sort of sophistication is the real thing, as opposed to the casual and self-referential posturing that poses as sophistication far too often.

53. Flynn Posted: July 03, 2008 at 10:18 AM (#2841855)

The problem with Buck is that he thinks he is somehow exemplary of the casual irony and distance of the current generation (see the self-mocking Bud ads) but this kind of thing has no place in baseball announcing.

Except Buck is almost 40 and looks like a dweeb. He isn't part of this current generation.

Vin Scully doesn't watch baseball unless he's at the game, but Vin's been doing this for sixty years. Buck isn't even 40 and is already bored? Go find another job, #######.

54. Padraic Posted: July 03, 2008 at 10:26 AM (#2841856)

Except Buck is almost 40 and looks like a dweeb. He isn't part of this current generation.

Exactly, but he still refuses to do anything as uncool as, say, get excited. If he just embraced his dorkdom and acted like Miller or Cohen, his job of covering baseball might actually be...fun.

55. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: July 03, 2008 at 12:14 PM (#2841872)

The problem with Buck is that he thinks he is somehow exemplary of the casual irony and distance of the current generation (see the self-mocking Bud ads) but this kind of thing has no place in baseball announcing.

I don't get this at all. If it's one thing the internet has exposed is that young people care passionately about a lot of things. You can argue whether they care about the "right" things, but they do care. That James Dean style of disaffection has always been the exemplar of cool in the media, it's not a construction of the current generation.

Joe Buck sucks because he sucks. Bill King--god how I miss him!--was the coolest cat around and he was not shy about expressing his knowledge of and enthusiasm for the things he loved, including baseball, ballet and wine. His coolness, in fact, crossed all generational lines. He also had an excellent moustache.

56. villageidiom Posted: July 03, 2008 at 12:23 PM (#2841875)

Close. Early 1980s, Jets-Dolphins game on NBC. It obviously wasn't deemed much of a success.

Based on present day, it's hard to imagine anything combining the Jets, the Dolphins, and NBC being a success.

Or even the knowledge and opinionted commentary of Bob Costas, because at least with Costas you have someone who's willing to defend his opinions with something more than one liners, and who underneath an occasional bit of surface cynicism obviously loves and respects the sports he covers.

I'm sure Sean McDonough is available.

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Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Joe Buck hates Mom, Baseball, Apple Pie. Loves the Bachelorette.

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