Joe Buck needs a Diaper Change

I love the game of baseball.  In fact, I guess you could call it my first true love.  Before the pre-adolescent distraction of the cute girl in the first row or the teenage obsessions for any girl who filled out her tight sweater, there was baseball.  Jumping on my bicycle in the morning with my baseball mitt on the handlebars and an old wooden ash bat tucked under my arm, I would race to the baseball field to meet up with the rest of the fellas.

With dew still on the grass and our PF-Flyers getting soaked up to our knee high white socks, we tossed the ball around.  Oblivious to anything else that might have interrupted our summer agenda.  Even vacations with the family seemed to be a punishment if we were not going to a place that had a baseball field.

Through the ugliness of the game that I love, there is still a way to see through the muck and the poop and appreciate the pureness of America’s Pastime.  Nine against nine and if you don’t have enough then you make up your own rules.  PITCHERS MOUND IS OUT FOR FIRST…HIT THE BALL TO THE RIGHT OF SECOND BASE AND YOU’RE OUT…INVISIBLE RUNNERS ADVANCE THE SAME NUMBER OF BASES AS THE BATTER!!!  Draw a  box on a brick wall and play Pitcher-Hitter.  Bounce a rubber ball off the wall or the steps and draw lines for singles, doubles, triples and home runs.  Get two throwers and a base-runner and play “Pickle”.  And if you’re all alone you can just throw the ball as high up in the air and make “Unbelievable Catches” by diving on the ground to catch the ball.

Something tells me that Major League Baseball announcer Joe Buck was never one to do these things.  Being brought up by hall of fame broadcaster Jack Buck, Joe had access to so much more than the true baseball fan ever dreamed of.  I can only imagine young Joe Buck taking a walk through the St. Louis Cardinals locker room with his dad.  Meeting some of the greatest baseball players ever.  I can only imagine young Joe Buck getting on a team plane with his dad and jet-setting around the country to all the National League cities and stadiums.  Talk about having a slice of MY HEAVEN…Joe Buck could have been the target of my envy.

However, this morning…I am not envious of Joe Buck.  If anything, I feel sad for this ungrateful man who rode his daddy’s coat tails right into the announcers box.  What an opportunity he had to embrace the greatness of the game of baseball and he squandered it.

Now announcing a sports event would probably not rank among the hardest things to do but I know that it may not be as easy as it seems.  I do not find Joe Buck to be any better or any worse than others.  However, at times I feel that Buck tries to over emphasize the importance of his opinion.

A few years back, Buck started to announce NFL games for FUX.  Buck was covering a Minnesota Vikings game and Randy Moss was once again in the fish bowl.  After scoring a touchdown, Moss emulated taking a deuce in the end zone and then also emulated wiping his behind on the goal post.  As Joe Buck announced what was happening one would have thought that Moss had just pulled out a shotgun and killed the referee.  He exclaimed that Moss’ actions were “the MOST DISGUSTING thing he had EVER SEEN!!!”  Then he went on for the next 5-10 minutes of the broadcast apologizing to the viewing audience for having to WITNESS such a lewd and disgusting display by Moss.

OKAY JOE…maybe you over reacted just a little bit?

Then in this past Super Bowl, Buck was handed the duties of broadcasting the most widely watched sporting event on the planet.  The Patriots and Giants gave us an OUTSTANDING game filled with great plays, tight defense and chess like moves by the coaches.  Buck would have left me feeling that I was watching a game of jump rope by the kids down the street.  Then, in the fourth quarter, Giants tight end David Tyree made a few catches that were absolutely tremendous.  One of the receptions was on third and long and Tyree pinned the ball against his helmet while being hit.  Then he was able to maintain control of the ball as he was hauled to the turf.  A truly amazing Super Bowl moment.  Once again Buck yawned his way through the play as if he were checking his watch for dinner time.

Yesterday, Joe Buck was on ESPiN radio with Colin Cowherd who was complaining about the week in sports.  Buck admitted to not even enjoying the games that he covers and grumbling about the length of ball games.  Buck said that he doesn’t watch sports when he’s not working and would rather watch “The Bachelorette” than a baseball game.  Buck also said that he does absolutely no preparation for the games that he announces.

So let’s get this strait.  He has a great job that pays him seven figures per year.  He got the job because his daddy did the job.  He does absolutely no preparation and spends no extra time getting ready to do his job.  He obviously doesn’t like his job because he watches reality television rather than the sport that pays his salary.  He claims that the 3 hours that he spends in the booth is “boring” and the games don’t interest him.

Tell ya what BUCK-O…get out of the booth and go find a job that actually requires skill and a bit of hard work.  If you don’t want to do that then PLEASE, stop your whiny little bitch attitude, do your job, keep your personal opinions to yourself and STFU!!!