tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post1511703548081445535..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: My review of the All-Star GameBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22944035751466845812010-07-19T10:47:38.726-07:002010-07-19T10:47:38.726-07:00You could change Buck and fans would still hate wh...You could change Buck and fans would still hate who's in there. There's maybe two broadcasters that come along every 50 years that everyone universally likes. If Fox listened to the fans, they'd be firing broadcasters every week. Buck is ok, just sounds likes like he's on quaaludes; McCarver finalized his geezer status as a sagging drone who needs to go. A southern drawl warbling through endless statistics ain't a good combination.<br /><br />Steinbrennar thing is a catch-22. If Fox made no acknowledgement of it, they'd be ripped. If they make one at all, the George haters will piss on it. So goes life. I could care less about 'brennar but he re-defined the sports franchise and was a part of baseball. Give 'em two minutes.<br /><br />Red carpet/athlete interviews are the most irrelevant thing in media, yet they're still around. Here, let's ask some out of breath player how he feels about that game-winning hit. Let's ask this actress who she's wearing. Put yourself in the spot of the hapless interviewer trying to ask something beyond that. It's easy to look stupid.John Allen Hillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47312097269314301342010-07-15T08:05:15.016-07:002010-07-15T08:05:15.016-07:00What year was this? Any year...
"I really t...What year was this? Any year...<br /><br />"I really think I can help this ballclub."<br /><br />"All we can do is take one game at a time."<br /><br />"We'll just go out and play and see what happens."Raynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71061497494218864042010-07-15T05:58:34.735-07:002010-07-15T05:58:34.735-07:00I watch every single interview with an athlete thr...I watch every single interview with an athlete through my fingers, wincing with each question. Especially if it's done 'in the moment'. <br /><br />It can be as gut-wrenchingly uncomfortable as Samantha Harris interviewing...well..anyone. <br /><br />Usually, the athlete will try to sound intelligent by starting his sentence with "I'll tell ya' what.."<br /><br />or he'll make an attempt at being funny - then, without getting ANY laughs, segue with a "...but, uh, no, ya' know..." - and then actually answer the question with the usual patter. <br /><br />and, MK...<br /><br />Joe Buck is hated more because McCarver, despite being irrelevant, doesn't think he's better than the game he's covering.Mr. Snrubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13343511203178580690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78245283913865208042010-07-14T21:17:55.384-07:002010-07-14T21:17:55.384-07:00I agree Vin and Jon Miller are the best. Buck is ...I agree Vin and Jon Miller are the best. Buck is OK, but somebody needs to get McCarver to retire.. like twenty years ago.<br /><br />Did anyone else notice the audio and visual weren't in synch the last half of the game on Fox? Hard to enjoy the game with that.Raynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6384556600403332152010-07-14T20:53:22.584-07:002010-07-14T20:53:22.584-07:00I thought I was the only one who finds Berman insu...I thought I was the only one who finds Berman insufferable. True, he came up w/some good nicknames, but that's it. Were A-Rod and Girardi feuding? Will they be feuding tomorrow? One can only hope. What's with Votto? He can't check his mad-dog at the door for an All-star game, he has to continue to hate all Cubs? What a 2-bit, classless piece of garbage he is. I'd gladly boycott any future TV games that includes the Reds, but there aren't any, are there? They may be in 1st place - that's a mirage - but nobody wants to watch them (outside of Cincinnati).Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300021275090146448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28933411920384613652010-07-14T19:09:56.548-07:002010-07-14T19:09:56.548-07:00Hey Ken,
If I want to ask a question, should I ju...Hey Ken,<br /><br />If I want to ask a question, should I just do it here? I suppose that, in itself, is a question. so here's another -- can you talk more about the specifics of the business relationship between you and your writing partner? Stuff like, if you write and sell a script on your own, do you share in the profits with him?<br /><br />Thanks!!just some guy trying to writehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404386659136188555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66811234991307088282010-07-14T18:07:17.315-07:002010-07-14T18:07:17.315-07:00I loved Chris "Keep the Home Fires" Berm...I loved Chris "Keep the Home Fires" Berman as a sports reporter on ESPN and some of his player nicknames are priceless. Can't stand Buck and McCarver. I can't believe Fox can't find two announcers in the entire US better than the jackasses they use now.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6233223121844026742010-07-14T16:59:49.373-07:002010-07-14T16:59:49.373-07:00Good baseball announcers take us through the inher...Good baseball announcers take us through the inherent narrative each baseball game uniquely provides. Bad baseball announcers force their over prepared narrative onto the game. Buck and McCarver are the standard bearers for the latter. Witness their yacking over a stolen base during last night's game among countless other examples.<br /><br />As for Steinbrenner/ Seinfeld, read today's Maureen Dowd column in the NYTimes - the increasingly insufferable MoDo.cbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84360035486019530072010-07-14T15:29:20.795-07:002010-07-14T15:29:20.795-07:00Things we should get rid of: All Star Games, espe...Things we should get rid of: All Star Games, especially on Fox TV, along with "exhibition" games, indoor football and baseball stadiums, astro turf and soccer on Amercian TV.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52477911651712492202010-07-14T14:27:33.450-07:002010-07-14T14:27:33.450-07:00Just let Joe Buck do the whole thing on his own. K...Just let Joe Buck do the whole thing on his own. Ken Rosenthal seems like he’s about to wet his pants in fear of being on camera and Chris Rose, with his under rehearsed spontaneity (I know, but if he were any good spontaneity would come without rehearsal) is just plain annoying. Geez I’d rather hear Ross Porter with the minor league report.<br /><br />bAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10368231496885723602010-07-14T12:56:51.344-07:002010-07-14T12:56:51.344-07:00Hi Ken~ I have a Friday question. The passing of G...Hi Ken~ I have a Friday question. The passing of George Steinbrenner got me thinking about the great fun the Seinfeld writers had caricaturing him. I'm wondering what kind of permission or release is required, if any, to incorporate real-life characters into a sitcom. In the Seinfeld case, I suspect the writers would have needed permission from the Yankees organization to use their name, logo, etc. But would the same be true for an individual like Mr. Steinbrenner?<br />Thanks.Somersbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03171162269200885559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77879667952990197942010-07-14T12:22:32.286-07:002010-07-14T12:22:32.286-07:00I always thought the best way to deal with Tim McC...I always thought the best way to deal with Tim McCarver would be to put him in a locked room with Dan Dierdorf and Bill Walton and see which one of them could talk the other two to death with his inane chatter. I might add Joe Buck to that mix, if only to see if he could make the other three yawn each other to death...<br /><br />No doubt Joe Girardi was thinking to the future when he held A-Rod out last night, in order to allow him to rest up for that critical series against the Royals next week...<br /><br />I imagine the short moment of silence in tribute to George Steinbrenner required the MLB honchos to rethink their pre-game ceremonies which might have been more appropriately tailored to the particular character of SoCal... For instance, instead of having a formation of F/A-18s fly over the stadium before the game, they might have had a fleet of jets owned by a Colombian drug cartel loaded with nose candy zip through the sky just as the crowd was settling back into its seats -- which naturally would have brought them right to their feet again... And instead of fireworks, every home run that was hit would automatically trigger a high-speed police chase on the 57 freeway... <br /><br />BTW, Ken, your blog today made the front page of the Huffpost...Tom Quigleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959628996361620134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49283819651316386112010-07-14T11:54:35.714-07:002010-07-14T11:54:35.714-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Tom Quigleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959628996361620134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60435941837078238012010-07-14T11:54:17.114-07:002010-07-14T11:54:17.114-07:00I definitely don't care for Joe Buck, but I...I definitely don't care for Joe Buck, but I'm kinda surprised to see all this hate for him and only tangential hate for McCarver. McCarver just randomly says things that he feels like saying at the time and pretends that there's some sort of evidence for them. And usually they're idiotic.<br /><br />Please let Costas or Jon Miller do national games. And no Joe Morgan.mknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9777624168570189172010-07-14T11:46:15.196-07:002010-07-14T11:46:15.196-07:00I can't read this - it's all in American!
...I can't read this - it's all in American!<br /><br />WV = equall - a bit more equal.blogwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07362291687463326731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12511724033857533182010-07-14T11:36:48.453-07:002010-07-14T11:36:48.453-07:00I think some vuvuzelas would have helped.I think some vuvuzelas would have helped.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28659453479053764622010-07-14T10:36:20.418-07:002010-07-14T10:36:20.418-07:00Joe Buck is not a great sports announcer, but he d...Joe Buck is not a great sports announcer, but he does a very good job in filling three hours (or more) of airtime, and as proof of that, one need only listen to some home team 'casts on MLB Extra Innings or football radiocasts. FOX asks him to do 3-1/2 hours of exhibition (preseason) football, and I dare say he does a fine job. <br /><br />Would I prefer someone else do baseball? Absolutely. But short of Jon Miller (and Vin), I don't know there's anyone else out there.<br /><br />Having a better broadcast partner or partners would help Joe immensely.<br /><br />Really disappointed in the Glee actresses performance last night. I know that she's not the best singer on the cast, but if FOX wanted to promote the show, she might not have been the best of the second tier choices. I understand why they chose her, but wonder if they aren't rethinking that decision this morning.<br /><br />Joe Buck is on with the Sklar Brothers right now. It's hard not to like him.LAprGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14962540256606877202010-07-14T09:31:59.883-07:002010-07-14T09:31:59.883-07:00Game 7 at Wrigley!
In 2110, perhaps<i>Game 7 at Wrigley!</i><br /><br />In 2110, perhapsDJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28827044013081050082010-07-14T09:04:10.687-07:002010-07-14T09:04:10.687-07:00I would describe Joe Buck as he once famously said...I would describe Joe Buck as he once famously said (before doing Budweiser ads and a really BAD talk show on HBO), "that was disgusting and I am sorry you had to see that."<br /><br />And, c'mon, make Byrd at least the co-MVP: FOX couldn't stop showing him and his smarts and hustle. Lets not forget the big walk he drew (if such things can be big in an ASG).<br /><br />Game 7 at Wrigley!Dan Serafininoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19221676720718329492010-07-14T08:54:12.447-07:002010-07-14T08:54:12.447-07:00In Joe Torre's interview about his former owne...In Joe Torre's interview about his former owner (on Countdown with Keith), he made the most telling comment of all.Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11312383241126505862010-07-14T08:36:08.364-07:002010-07-14T08:36:08.364-07:00I will dispute Yatesy this far by paraphrasing som...I will dispute Yatesy this far by paraphrasing something Skip Caray said about his career: Joe Buck may have gotten into the business because of his father, but all of his father's help wouldn't have enabled him to keep his job. Also, I don't think Buck roots openly for anyone but the Cardinals (I could hear it in his voice when he talked about Pujols)--it's that I don't think he cares. He has indeed said he finds baseball boring, and he's more interested in finding cutesy things to say on his own or with McCarver. In fact, the team of Buck and McCarver is a key reason that I don't watch a major Fox baseball telecast unless the Dodgers are involved. So, in terms of his being a smug jackass, I am totally with Yatesy. Fox thinks it's winning with someone younger and "hip" because Fox still has no love or affinity for baseball.<br /><br />I would like to echo Ken's praise for Derek Jeter. His request demonstrates his appreciation for the history of his sport and team, and his class. I also would say that the Yankees owner was, like most of us, a complicated person--not just a mere caricature. But I would like to invoke Red Smith (and even throw in that his full name was Walter Wellesley Smith, and his editor once said Red was the greatest sportswriter ever to have two women's colleges in his name), who used to refer to George Michael Steinbrenner III by a shorter moniker: George III. For a history major like me, that said it all.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90340824060363561492010-07-14T08:29:01.566-07:002010-07-14T08:29:01.566-07:00George Lazenby is Bond. Or at least the only Bond...George Lazenby is Bond. Or at least the only Bond with anything remotely resembling a dramatic arc.<br /><br /><br />Baseball question for you: How many Montreal Expos will end up in the HoF (as Expos)? Already have Carter and Dawson; Raines should be next, and then who else? Guerrero?Not George Lazenbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18088835746737593352010-07-14T08:26:25.661-07:002010-07-14T08:26:25.661-07:00The revisionist are saying that they wish Steinbre...The revisionist are saying that they wish Steinbrenner had bought the Seattle Mariners. Steinbrenner would have moved them to Tampa quicker than you could blink.Mike Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447874605833321732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79245414634150079802010-07-14T08:11:33.345-07:002010-07-14T08:11:33.345-07:00How ironic to have a moment of "silence"...How ironic to have a moment of "silence" for George Steinbrenner.Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01903304074342225627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8744164864945647022010-07-14T07:41:24.369-07:002010-07-14T07:41:24.369-07:00Joe Buck is seriously a scourge on baseball, organ...Joe Buck is seriously a scourge on baseball, organized sports and professional announcing. The only reason he even has a job is because of his father (who is probably rolling over in his cardinals logo embossed casket anyway). He has even said that he finds baseball boring, which makes me wonder why he even does it. Oh, right, because he has some kind of blackmail material on someone in the higherups at Fox to keep him in a cushy job. <br /><br />Seriously, the guy has no impartiality in him. When the Giants won the Superbowl, he was outwardly rooting for the other team (and I say this as a Giants Hater). When the Phillies won the World Series, he was outwardly disappointed with his very flat "and the Phillies win the World Series". Like he was so disappointed that he was going to go have a beer and drown his disappointment. Nevermind that the last game was split in half because of our dipshit commissioner, or that it was the first WS win since 1980 (I had waited forever, I was in kindergarten in '80!). And you know, if Tampa Bay had won, I'd want him to be excited announcing it for them as well. <br /><br />Along with being smug and a jackass, he is the worst announcer out there, and teaming him with McCarver is a big reason why people don't watch baseball on Fox. <br /><br />I say be a homer if you are the guy attached to a certain team, but as a national broadcaster, be impartial and don't be a jerk.yatesyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12182600767679971390noreply@blogger.com