Sports Media with Richard Deitsch

Joe Buck wants to work at ESPN forever

·50 min·5 clips
Joe Buck says he's calling a Dodgers-Mets game because he's bored and misses the excitement.
Richard Deitsch interviews Joe Buck, the voice of ESPN's Monday Night Football, about his return to baseball broadcasting for a Dodgers-Mets game on Jackie Robinson Day. Buck reveals he took the assignment out of boredom and excitement, marking his first baseball game since 2021. He discusses the challenge of working with two analysts, Ron Darling and Orel Hershiser, in the pitch-clock era. Buck explains his preparation process, using resources like Sports Scan to catch up on team news, similar to early-season NFL research. He reflects on the changing media landscape, noting the difficulty for fans to access games across multiple platforms like Netflix, Peacock, and Apple TV. The conversation shifts to ESPN's upcoming Super Bowl broadcast, with Buck expressing enthusiasm but no added pressure. Buck addresses his contract situation, stating he hopes to remain at ESPN for the rest of his career. He shares a personal story about calling a Blues goal on FanDuel Sports Network and his passion for hockey as a fan. Buck offers advice on handling social media criticism, recommending removing Twitter from phones to maintain professionalism. He praises Jason Benetti as one of baseball's best broadcasters, highlighting Benetti's humor and adaptability. The episode concludes with Deitsch promoting past episodes and acknowledging his former producer Patrick Antonetti after layoffs.

As heard by us

Joe Buck's ESPN role anchors a clear, timely conversation about fragmented baseball viewing and changing fan habits.

Joe Buck's ESPN role gives this Sports Media Podcast episode a clear center. As ESPN's Monday Night Football voice and a veteran of 24 World Series broadcasts, he brings a broadcaster's authority to a fan's problem: baseball is harder to follow when games are scattered across…

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Want Joe Buck's view on why finding a baseball game can feel like a small modern ritual?

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