I admit it...

[Eli]

I've gradually gone from utterly abhorring Joe Buck to actually liking him.

Agreed. He's good at his job.

[SKO]

I've gradually gone from utterly abhorring Joe Buck to actually liking him.

Agreed. He's good at his job.

Same. He admitted he used to undersell big moments/plays because he was trying to emulate guys like Pat Summerall but he doesn't have that voice or gravitas and once he started to allow his own enthusiasm to show he really does a great job. I could have done w a lot less Lester Pick off Narrative last postseason but I think that was probably more a production note than a Buck issue

[CBStew]

I've gradually gone from utterly abhorring Joe Buck to actually liking him.

Agreed. He's good at his job.

Same. He admitted he used to undersell big moments/plays because he was trying to emulate guys like Pat Summerall but he doesn't have that voice or gravitas and once he started to allow his own enthusiasm to show he really does a great job. I could have done w a lot less Lester Pick off Narrative last postseason but I think that was probably more a production note than a Buck issue

The fact that there is suddenly so much pro-Joe Buck propaganda on Desipio makes me think that the Russians have hacked this thread.

[Canadouche]

I've gradually gone from utterly abhorring Joe Buck to actually liking him.

Agreed. He's good at his job.

Same. He admitted he used to undersell big moments/plays because he was trying to emulate guys like Pat Summerall but he doesn't have that voice or gravitas and once he started to allow his own enthusiasm to show he really does a great job. I could have done w a lot less Lester Pick off Narrative last postseason but I think that was probably more a production note than a Buck issue

The fact that there is suddenly so much pro-Joe Buck propaganda on Desipio makes me think that the Russians have hacked this thread.

Joe, he is good comrade. At first, I think, his commentary leave me feeling sour, like farts after Golubsky. But now, I realize, he good, like Kvas after a long day. I like this Joe Buck!

[CBStew]

I've gradually gone from utterly abhorring Joe Buck to actually liking him.

Agreed. He's good at his job.

Same. He admitted he used to undersell big moments/plays because he was trying to emulate guys like Pat Summerall but he doesn't have that voice or gravitas and once he started to allow his own enthusiasm to show he really does a great job. I could have done w a lot less Lester Pick off Narrative last postseason but I think that was probably more a production note than a Buck issue

The fact that there is suddenly so much pro-Joe Buck propaganda on Desipio makes me think that the Russians have hacked this thread.

Joe, he is good comrade. At first, I think, his commentary leave me feeling sour, like farts after Golubsky. But now, I realize, he good, like Kvas after a long day. I like this Joe Buck!

Da!

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

I've gradually gone from utterly abhorring Joe Buck to actually liking him.

Agreed. He's good at his job.

Same. He admitted he used to undersell big moments/plays because he was trying to emulate guys like Pat Summerall but he doesn't have that voice or gravitas and once he started to allow his own enthusiasm to show he really does a great job. I could have done w a lot less Lester Pick off Narrative last postseason but I think that was probably more a production note than a Buck issue

I'm not even treading into his technique but that's an interesting observation.   I mean, he's still a smarmy cockbag but there's something about how he seems to acknowledge this and almost plays it up now. Compared to the other Sons of Nepotism like Chip Caray (who is absolutely not human) and tHom Brenneman (who will never not take himself too seriously) there's an air of self-awareness about Buck these days that offsets his general smarminess and I don't find him nearly as objectionable as I once did.

[SKO]

I've gradually gone from utterly abhorring Joe Buck to actually liking him.

Agreed. He's good at his job.

Same. He admitted he used to undersell big moments/plays because he was trying to emulate guys like Pat Summerall but he doesn't have that voice or gravitas and once he started to allow his own enthusiasm to show he really does a great job. I could have done w a lot less Lester Pick off Narrative last postseason but I think that was probably more a production note than a Buck issue

I'm not even treading into his technique but that's an interesting observation.   I mean, he's still a smarmy cockbag but there's something about how he seems to acknowledge this and almost plays it up now. Compared to the other Sons of Nepotism like Chip Caray (who is absolutely not human) and tHom Brenneman (who will never not take himself too seriously) there's an air of self-awareness about Buck these days that offsets his general smarminess and I don't find him nearly as objectionable as I once did.

He is extremely self-aware and cracks a lot of jokes about it (at one point his twitter bio included the line "I hate your favorite team", which I appreciated). I've also read before where, unlike our friend Chip, he kind of admits to getting his start by being Jack Buck's son and how hard he worked to differentiate himself and also take on basically every job he was offered to prove he was a hard worker and not just getting by on his name. He seems like a decent enough dude and I think he's good at his job.

[CBStew]

I've gradually gone from utterly abhorring Joe Buck to actually liking him.

Agreed. He's good at his job.

Same. He admitted he used to undersell big moments/plays because he was trying to emulate guys like Pat Summerall but he doesn't have that voice or gravitas and once he started to allow his own enthusiasm to show he really does a great job. I could have done w a lot less Lester Pick off Narrative last postseason but I think that was probably more a production note than a Buck issue

I'm not even treading into his technique but that's an interesting observation.   I mean, he's still a smarmy cockbag but there's something about how he seems to acknowledge this and almost plays it up now. Compared to the other Sons of Nepotism like Chip Caray (who is absolutely not human) and tHom Brenneman (who will never not take himself too seriously) there's an air of self-awareness about Buck these days that offsets his general smarminess and I don't find him nearly as objectionable as I once did.

He is extremely self-aware and cracks a lot of jokes about it (at one point his twitter bio included the line "I hate your favorite team", which I appreciated). I've also read before where, unlike our friend Chip, he kind of admits to getting his start by being Jack Buck's son and how hard he worked to differentiate himself and also take on basically every job he was offered to prove he was a hard worker and not just getting by on his name. He seems like a decent enough dude and I think he's good at his job.

Howard Cossell.  Cossell was the epitome of the broadcaster who made the event about him.  At first I resented that.  Then, when I realized that was his schtick, I was in on the gag and thought that it was entertaining.   Howard was a gasbag, but that was his mealticket.  People loved to hate Howard, and so he cried all the way to the bank.  Whether it was his nasal voice or his toupee, he didn't care, as long as you spelled his name right.

[CBStew]

I've gradually gone from utterly abhorring Joe Buck to actually liking him.

Agreed. He's good at his job.

Same. He admitted he used to undersell big moments/plays because he was trying to emulate guys like Pat Summerall but he doesn't have that voice or gravitas and once he started to allow his own enthusiasm to show he really does a great job. I could have done w a lot less Lester Pick off Narrative last postseason but I think that was probably more a production note than a Buck issue

I'm not even treading into his technique but that's an interesting observation.   I mean, he's still a smarmy cockbag but there's something about how he seems to acknowledge this and almost plays it up now. Compared to the other Sons of Nepotism like Chip Caray (who is absolutely not human) and tHom Brenneman (who will never not take himself too seriously) there's an air of self-awareness about Buck these days that offsets his general smarminess and I don't find him nearly as objectionable as I once did.

He is extremely self-aware and cracks a lot of jokes about it (at one point his twitter bio included the line "I hate your favorite team", which I appreciated). I've also read before where, unlike our friend Chip, he kind of admits to getting his start by being Jack Buck's son and how hard he worked to differentiate himself and also take on basically every job he was offered to prove he was a hard worker and not just getting by on his name. He seems like a decent enough dude and I think he's good at his job.

Howard Cossell.  Cossell was the epitome of the broadcaster who made the event about him.  At first I resented that.  Then, when I realized that was his schtick, I was in on the gag and thought that it was entertaining.   Howard was a gasbag, but that was his mealticket.  People loved to hate Howard, and so he cried all the way to the bank.  Whether it was his nasal voice or his toupee, he didn't care, as long as you spelled his name right.

P.S.  I did a terrific Cosell imitation.  But then you probably did too.  Howard probably loved the attention he got that way.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

I've gradually gone from utterly abhorring Joe Buck to actually liking him.

Agreed. He's good at his job.

Same. He admitted he used to undersell big moments/plays because he was trying to emulate guys like Pat Summerall but he doesn't have that voice or gravitas and once he started to allow his own enthusiasm to show he really does a great job. I could have done w a lot less Lester Pick off Narrative last postseason but I think that was probably more a production note than a Buck issue

I'm not even treading into his technique but that's an interesting observation.   I mean, he's still a smarmy cockbag but there's something about how he seems to acknowledge this and almost plays it up now. Compared to the other Sons of Nepotism like Chip Caray (who is absolutely not human) and tHom Brenneman (who will never not take himself too seriously) there's an air of self-awareness about Buck these days that offsets his general smarminess and I don't find him nearly as objectionable as I once did.

He is extremely self-aware and cracks a lot of jokes about it (at one point his twitter bio included the line "I hate your favorite team", which I appreciated). I've also read before where, unlike our friend Chip, he kind of admits to getting his start by being Jack Buck's son and how hard he worked to differentiate himself and also take on basically every job he was offered to prove he was a hard worker and not just getting by on his name. He seems like a decent enough dude and I think he's good at his job.

Howard Cossell.  Cossell was the epitome of the broadcaster who made the event about him.  At first I resented that.  Then, when I realized that was his schtick, I was in on the gag and thought that it was entertaining.   Howard was a gasbag, but that was his mealticket.  People loved to hate Howard, and so he cried all the way to the bank.  Whether it was his nasal voice or his toupee, he didn't care, as long as you spelled his name right.

P.S.  I did a terrific Cosell imitation.  But then you probably did too.  Howard probably loved the attention he got that way.

In fact, there's a good chance that nobody in sports media has had their delivery emulated more by all living humans over the age of 42.

[Quality Start Machine]

I've gradually gone from utterly abhorring Joe Buck to actually liking him.

Agreed. He's good at his job.

Same. He admitted he used to undersell big moments/plays because he was trying to emulate guys like Pat Summerall but he doesn't have that voice or gravitas and once he started to allow his own enthusiasm to show he really does a great job. I could have done w a lot less Lester Pick off Narrative last postseason but I think that was probably more a production note than a Buck issue

I'm not even treading into his technique but that's an interesting observation.   I mean, he's still a smarmy cockbag but there's something about how he seems to acknowledge this and almost plays it up now. Compared to the other Sons of Nepotism like Chip Caray (who is absolutely not human) and tHom Brenneman (who will never not take himself too seriously) there's an air of self-awareness about Buck these days that offsets his general smarminess and I don't find him nearly as objectionable as I once did.

He is extremely self-aware and cracks a lot of jokes about it (at one point his twitter bio included the line "I hate your favorite team", which I appreciated). I've also read before where, unlike our friend Chip, he kind of admits to getting his start by being Jack Buck's son and how hard he worked to differentiate himself and also take on basically every job he was offered to prove he was a hard worker and not just getting by on his name. He seems like a decent enough dude and I think he's good at his job.

Howard Cossell.  Cossell was the epitome of the broadcaster who made the event about him.  At first I resented that.  Then, when I realized that was his schtick, I was in on the gag and thought that it was entertaining.   Howard was a gasbag, but that was his mealticket.  People loved to hate Howard, and so he cried all the way to the bank.  Whether it was his nasal voice or his toupee, he didn't care, as long as you spelled his name right.

Cosell and Ali might be the best comedy duo of all time.

[Oleg]

Howard Cossell.  Cossell was the epitome of the broadcaster who made the event about him.  At first I resented that.  Then, when I realized that was his schtick, I was in on the gag and thought that it was entertaining.   Howard was a gasbag, but that was his mealticket.  People loved to hate Howard, and so he cried all the way to the bank.  Whether it was his nasal voice or his toupee, he didn't care, as long as you spelled his name right.

Interesting.  Like gonzo sportscasting.

[Quality Start Machine]

Howard Cossell.  Cossell was the epitome of the broadcaster who made the event about him.  At first I resented that.  Then, when I realized that was his schtick, I was in on the gag and thought that it was entertaining.   Howard was a gasbag, but that was his mealticket.  People loved to hate Howard, and so he cried all the way to the bank.  Whether it was his nasal voice or his toupee, he didn't care, as long as you spelled his name right.

Interesting.  Like gonzo sportscasting.

Howard was also a Social Justice Warrior long before that became construed somehow as being bad.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Howard Cossell.  Cossell was the epitome of the broadcaster who made the event about him.  At first I resented that.  Then, when I realized that was his schtick, I was in on the gag and thought that it was entertaining.   Howard was a gasbag, but that was his mealticket.  People loved to hate Howard, and so he cried all the way to the bank.  Whether it was his nasal voice or his toupee, he didn't care, as long as you spelled his name right.

Interesting.  Like gonzo sportscasting.

Howard was also a Social Justice Warrior long before that became construed somehow as being bad.

This conversation got me to re-thinking Cosell and I read his Wiki entry to further remind me of his life and times and it made me wonder why there hasn't been a biopic of his life and times, considering he's been dead for over 20 years.  In the right hands, it would be quite a film.

Consider that Cosell started out in life very traditionally (if still exceptionally).  A Brooklyn-bred grandson of a rabbi, Cosell earned a B.A. in English at NYU before earning a law degree at the same.  He enlisted in the Army right after passing the bar in '41, and after the war practiced a lot of union law (hi Stew!) for close to a decade.  It was his representation of the New York Little league which presented the opportunity for him to cross into sports in 1953 and that's when his life's trajectory went bonkers.  Sports media was not the same either.

Most of us are familiar with the arc of his career, and his star shining brightest from about '65 to '75 when he truly forged his iconic status, his bantering with Ali, his basically having earned the credit as a trailblazer in defending non-athletes' primacy in sports commentary and analysis (and, conversely, his loathing of ex-jocks just assuming the role), but viewing his life as a whole makes it even more fascinating.

And that includes what a prick he often was (and to be fear, his assholishness was probably part of what drove him to be so successful) and, specifically, what a mean, sad, bitter prick he really became in the last 10 yeas of his life.  I remember hearing an interview with Bob Costas--who at the time, in 1994/1995 was not really known for his hot takes-- absolutely incinerating Cosell-as-a-person shortly before he died (I could not find the interview on the Interwebs, although this Conan O'Brien interview had a couple good Cosell stories).  Again, though, taken as a whole, his life would make a helluva picture.

[Quality Start Machine]

Howard Cossell.  Cossell was the epitome of the broadcaster who made the event about him.  At first I resented that.  Then, when I realized that was his schtick, I was in on the gag and thought that it was entertaining.   Howard was a gasbag, but that was his mealticket.  People loved to hate Howard, and so he cried all the way to the bank.  Whether it was his nasal voice or his toupee, he didn't care, as long as you spelled his name right.

Interesting.  Like gonzo sportscasting.

Howard was also a Social Justice Warrior long before that became construed somehow as being bad.

This conversation got me to re-thinking Cosell and I read his Wiki entry to further remind me of his life and times and it made me wonder why there hasn't been a biopic of his life and times, considering he's been dead for over 20 years.  In the right hands, it would be quite a film.

There's an HBO documenary called "Telling It Like It Is", it's on YouTube.