Is Joe Buck seriously the worst #1 announcer for a major TV network package - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 10-22-2016, 01:34 AM

I feel like a lot of the vitriol directed at Buck is residual criticism from the mid-2000s when Buck was actually the worst national broadcaster in sports. I don't know who got into his ear around 2003-04, but Buck out of nowhere became so subdued and so constrained in his calls that it actively took away from the game.

A huge issue with Buck is that nothing about his presentation feels human. There's no stories (not that we need an overload of them, just SOME kind of connection), little heart or warmth, just very robotic recitation. It's really off putting, especially in a sport like baseball where human connection and storytelling are so, so important.

There's a video floating around YouTube that shows the final outs of the World Series since the late 1980s, and Buck's calls went from appropriately boisterous for the culmination of the season and the crowning of a champion to an almost dour affair. And although I've never heard it since the night of the game itself, his most notorious undersell was the David Tyree helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII. From about 2003 through 2009, Buck actually was the worst, but since then he's been average to slightly above average.

Buck still actively takes away from exciting football games. He doesn't emote. He isn't invested into the action like Al Michaels or Dick Enberg or pretty much any other play by play guy, who all call the action better than him. He just yells one word and continues on his way. "Pass......CAUGHT!" "Over the MIDDLE!" All just canned calls. And they're BAD calls. He's not even describing what is happening. Just saying a pass is caught is the absolute bare minimum. And what is so special about the middle? He tries to fill in afterwards what happened or what players they're trying to get involved, but he's PAINFULLY slow at knowing players and being descriptive in-play.

mets82 · 10-22-2016, 02:58 PM

I never thought Buck was that bad. I think his problem was he had vocal problems which made his voice subdued. But I don't mind him.

TMC · 10-24-2016, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mets82

I never thought Buck was that bad. I think his problem was he had vocal problems which made his voice subdued. But I don't mind him.

Vocal problems which only accord due to his addition to hair plugs!

TMC · 10-29-2016, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mets82

I never thought Buck was that bad. I think his problem was he had vocal problems which made his voice subdued. But I don't mind him.

The big fundamental issue w/ Joe Buck is that he's very mechanical in his commentary. What I mean is that while he's serviceable and can "get the job done", he otherwise exhibits little warmth, gravitas or natural charisma. He's just a very A-B-C and D announcer and there's little that you can really get out of him. I also think that Joe Buck can rub people the wrong way because of the simple perception (whether or not its fair is up for debate) that he's smarmy and smug.

10-22-2016, 02:58 PM	#2
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,060	I never thought Buck was that bad. I think his problem was he had vocal problems which made his voice subdued. But I don't mind him.
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10-22-2016, 01:34 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 127,507	Is Joe Buck seriously the worst #1 announcer for a major TV network package I feel like a lot of the vitriol directed at Buck is residual criticism from the mid-2000s when Buck was actually the worst national broadcaster in sports. I don't know who got into his ear around 2003-04, but Buck out of nowhere became so subdued and so constrained in his calls that it actively took away from the game. A huge issue with Buck is that nothing about his presentation feels human. There's no stories (not that we need an overload of them, just SOME kind of connection), little heart or warmth, just very robotic recitation. It's really off putting, especially in a sport like baseball where human connection and storytelling are so, so important. There's a video floating around YouTube that shows the final outs of the World Series since the late 1980s, and Buck's calls went from appropriately boisterous for the culmination of the season and the crowning of a champion to an almost dour affair. And although I've never heard it since the night of the game itself, his most notorious undersell was the David Tyree helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII. From about 2003 through 2009, Buck actually was the worst, but since then he's been average to slightly above average. Buck still actively takes away from exciting football games. He doesn't emote. He isn't invested into the action like Al Michaels or Dick Enberg or pretty much any other play by play guy, who all call the action better than him. He just yells one word and continues on his way. "Pass......CAUGHT!" "Over the MIDDLE!" All just canned calls. And they're BAD calls. He's not even describing what is happening. Just saying a pass is caught is the absolute bare minimum. And what is so special about the middle? He tries to fill in afterwards what happened or what players they're trying to get involved, but he's PAINFULLY slow at knowing players and being descriptive in-play.