Joe Buck leaving Fox

bosox188

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Jan 11, 2008
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This makes me quite sad actually, I've come to really like Buck doing weekly baseball games and the playoffs. I associate his voice with big games. I'd love if ESPN would let him do Sunday Night Baseball too, and I'd hope their round of the playoffs as well. But it'll suck not to have him for the LCS/World Series. I don't care much about Monday Night Football, it would be a shame if that's all he plans on doing.
 

Cellar-Door

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Aug 1, 2006
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Joe Buck is a guy who used to be pretty bad, then was mediocre but people still hated him, now he's.... above average at least.
 

wiffleballhero

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Mar 28, 2009
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In the simulacrum
MNF has long suffered, in my mind, from a weird sense of it not being big time anymore. Howard Cosell was not walking through that door. So maybe this move will help change the feel of that game. I've regularly thought the 4 pm Sunday games were more compelling matchups for a national audience, and MNF rarely, if ever, seems to rival the Sunday night game.

I, too, have grown to find Buck to be OK. Fine even. Better than most. There is a circle of hell though in which one is trapped for eternity watching him do the call for a Yankees old timers game.
 

gtg807y

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Dec 31, 2006
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I wonder if Buck will call the Masters and PGA Championship for early rounds that ESPN has. I wouldn't mind it as long as Scott Van Pelt still has a big role. He's fantastic for golf.
 

Marciano490

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Nov 4, 2007
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I simultaneously dislike Buck but appreciate him for being one of the best out there. It seems like there should be many more great announcers, but maybe it’s a tougher job than one would think.
 

jtn46

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Oct 10, 2004
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This makes me quite sad actually, I've come to really like Buck doing weekly baseball games and the playoffs. I associate his voice with big games. I'd love if ESPN would let him do Sunday Night Baseball too, and I'd hope their round of the playoffs as well. But it'll suck not to have him for the LCS/World Series. I don't care much about Monday Night Football, it would be a shame if that's all he plans on doing.
There’s something to that, he’s been at it so long it feels like a big game if I hear him calling baseball. He at least knew to shut up and let a huge moment speak for itself.

What bothers me about Buck, and he’s not alone, in fact I think it’s his influence, is he is always talking about this controversy or that one, he is doing sports talk-radio while he is doing PBP. It’s such a contrast to Vin Scully who managed to rarely delve into controversy and still found interesting things to talk about.
 

Rusty13

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Nov 3, 2007
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I would love it if Fox could in response "trade" with ESPN for Sean McDonough to be Buck's MLB PBP replacement. I feel like anything else will likely be a downgrade.
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
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I wonder if Buck will call the Masters and PGA Championship for early rounds that ESPN has. I wouldn't mind it as long as Scott Van Pelt still has a big role. He's fantastic for golf.
Nitpick but ESPN is just the delivery channel for the first two rounds of the Masters. They literally have nothing to do with the broadcast. ANGC runs the production and uses CBS' talent. That's why its Nantz and Faldo for 4-days.

They do have early rounds of the PGA and Open.
 

gtg807y

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Dec 31, 2006
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That’s true, but I think the Masters uses a few ESPN people for Thursday and Friday. Like SVP in Butler Cabin and I know Rinaldi used to do interviews, but he’s no longer with ESPN.

SVP definitely did play by play for the PGA and it was very well received.
 

ifmanis5

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Sep 29, 2007
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Semi-related, Big Al looks to be in at Amazon with Herby.
View: https://twitter.com/AndrewMarchand/status/1502425080969797638

MORE NEWS: Kirk Herbstreit officially joining Amazon as Thursday Night Football analyst, The Post has learned. https://nypost.com/2022/03/11/kirk-herbstreit-joining-amazon-as-thursday-night-football-analyst/?utm_source=twitter_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20buttons… via @nypostsports
NEWS: I'm told Al Michaels is now at the half yard line with Amazon, according to sources. I think he will end up there.
 

j-man

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Dec 19, 2012
3,649
Arkansas
I wonder if Buck will call the Masters and PGA Championship for early rounds that ESPN has. I wouldn't mind it as long as Scott Van Pelt still has a big role. He's fantastic for golf.
van peit is the only reason i watch sportcenter and as a kid that was all i watched buck wife also works for espn doing the mnf feature story
 

j-man

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Dec 19, 2012
3,649
Arkansas
I would love it if Fox could in response "trade" with ESPN for Sean McDonough to be Buck's MLB PBP replacement. I feel like anything else will likely be a downgrade.
i like Orsillo. or melanle newman balt play by play radio person also ron darling wouild be a great get for playoffs
 

Stevie1der

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Jan 6, 2009
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Buck and Aikman might very well raise the profile of MNF, but there’s only so much glory that can be restored if the big networks keep getting the superior national games.
 

CaptainLaddie

dj paul pfieffer
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Sep 6, 2004
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where the darn libs live
Buck and Aikman might very well raise the profile of MNF, but there’s only so much glory that can be restored if the big networks keep getting the superior national games.
They need to give ESPN the right to swap games like NBC does. I know it's Sunday vs Monday, but it's really that simple. No one gives a shit about a Jags / Texans game in December.
 

JimD

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Nov 29, 2001
8,681
Joe Davis or Kenny Albert with Smoltz as color guy would be my guess for the World Series going forward.
Richard Deitsch's latest column on The Athletic notes that multiple sources expect Davis to be Buck's replacement in the Fox MLB booth.
 

Van Everyman

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Apr 30, 2009
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Agreed. I had been wondering what Buck’s motivation was, given that he won’t be calling any more World Series. Here’s what Deitsch says:

Having interviewed Buck many times over the years, I’ve learned his interests extend beyond play by play. (He’s guest-hosted “Jeopardy!” and did an interview show once for HBO.) Part of his ESPN deal is going to afford him the opportunity to be an executive producer in content areas of interest. Buck wants to be part of ESPN+ programming. So, as an example, Buck could executive produce a documentary or docu-series on an era of baseball or an athlete who interests him. (It’s very possible Buck might front one of those series, but I’m told he’ll be doing things where his role is strictly behind-the-scenes and on the production side.) I would not expect Buck to be part of any ESPN car wash (where people come to Bristol, Ct. and appear on a thousand shows), but one-offs on SportsCenter or other high-profile spots are definitely possible. Industry sources say Buck’s total compensation package at ESPN will land around the $75 million range over five years.
He also gets to work alongside his wife, which is kind of interesting.