FOX Sports’ Joe Buck made some headlines earlier in the week when he told Colin Cowherd about how, in the past, he might have had someone get him the biggest beer at baseball stadiums to sip occasionally during broadcasts, a reminder that he was having fun calling a sporting event and not “refueling an F-16 in midflight.”
He also mentioned having a drink with Troy Aikman in the booth a while back. To me and others, it was hardly a big deal. It’s great that Buck has some fun on broadcasts and keeps things loose. Remember, he’s told us about checking his phone while on the air, or writing something funny on his board of stats and facts (we’ll get to that in a minute) to get himself to relax.
But Buck took to Twitter on Wednesday night to clarify exactly what he meant:
I don't tweet much anymore, but I feel compelled to send a few about this dumb drinking in the booth story that is complete clickbait. Also, me giving it more attention is moronic on my part, but so what?
— Joe Buck (@Buck) February 18, 2021
My bosses at FOX have not said a word to me about it. They know how dedicated I/we are, and how hard we work and how much we care about EVERY WORD that comes out of our mouths. Most of all they trust us. For those three hours and through all the prep NOTHING is more important.
— Joe Buck (@Buck) February 18, 2021
My only regret with anything I said on Colin's pod was mentioning @TroyAikman Nobody has more integrity or works harder than him and I am blessed to call him one of my best friends on the planet. We have fun with what we do and back then I started this trend in baseball and..
— Joe Buck (@Buck) February 18, 2021
when I went back to football I told him I had the beer in my line of sight as a visual reminder and took a sip from time to time – to be loose and to remember to enjoy it. I have a tendency to get stressed and try to be perfect calling a game – as impossible as that may be.
— Joe Buck (@Buck) February 18, 2021
As I said with @ColinCowherd it wasn't there to be consumed, it was there as more of a visual reminder that the world wouldn't end if I made a mistake. It was symbolic and one of MANY things I would use, like texting with my wife and kids or calling my mom at half – just to chill
— Joe Buck (@Buck) February 18, 2021
Troy had zero to do with it. I am an open book – sometimes to a fault, but I just really don't like hiding anything (see: hair transplants or battling depression and anxiety). But when a https://t.co/iOlRh5cMwJ headline writer says I said I had 1 or 2 drinks during a game??
— Joe Buck (@Buck) February 18, 2021
well it is just another reminder that journalism is indeed dying and clickbait rules the day. Please listen to the podcast starting at the 5 minute mark and let me know where I said that. I didn't. I am 51, not 15. I believe I am old enough to understand what a drink is.
— Joe Buck (@Buck) February 18, 2021
sometimes knowing over 100 million people are on the other end of what comes out of my brain and mouth can be stressful. I have not done the trick in about four years, but I am not saying I wouldn't again. Here is a pic of a corner of my board for SUPER BOWL 54. pic.twitter.com/vGUDlQoCtl
— Joe Buck (@Buck) February 18, 2021
It is simple but it works for me. Let me know when you do a live event for a big audience and see what helps you get through the day and be your best – then share the info with me. I may use that too.
— Joe Buck (@Buck) February 18, 2021
By the way tomorrow on my podcast with Oliver Hudson called Daddy Issues I reveal something I just did that blows a beer in the booth out of the water. Now THAT is called a tease… pic.twitter.com/zavaNJRRMa
— Joe Buck (@Buck) February 18, 2021
So there you go. There was the Super Bowl board message to himself to have fun, the reminders that nobody’s perfect, and that calling any game — especially one that the world is watching — can be stressful.
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