Vikings Owner Red McCombs Once Demanded Fox Take Joe Buck Off His Team’s Broadcasts
Joe Buck has upset plenty of people in his time at Fox, from angry social media viewers to the Minnesota Vikings football team.
Buck’s commentary often blends brutal honesty with snark, depending on what is happening in front of him. The Vikings didn’t enjoy comments that Buck made on a broadcast, enough to where former owner Red McCombs demanded that Fox keep Buck far away from his football team’s games.
Joe Buck has had a legendary broadcasting career at Fox
Joe Buck is one game away from completing another season as the lead voice on Fox Sports’ NFL coverage.
Buck has held that role since 2002, when he replaced the legendary Pat Summerall. Buck had previously worked as a regional play-by-play announcer from 1994-97 and again during the 2001 season.
Beginning in 2002, Fox paired Buck with Troy Aikman, the former Dallas Cowboys star quarterback. That duo works with sideline reporter Erin Andrews each week, and they also welcomed former ESPN reporter Tom Rinaldi beginning with the 2020-21 NFL playoffs.
The duo of Buck and Aikman have called six Super Bowls together.
When he isn’t calling touchdowns, Joe Buck has worked every World Series since 2000. Buck spent many years as the St. Louis Cardinals’ television voice before he focused full-time on his Fox Sports duties.
Buck upset Minnesota Vikings fans after a Randy Moss touchdown
One of Joe Buck’s most famous — and controversial — calls came in January 2005.
While with Troy Aikman and Cris Collinsworth, Buck called a wild-card round matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers.
Early in the fourth quarter, Vikings star receiver Randy Moss hauled in a 34-yard touchdown catch from Daunte Culpepper, then pretended to pull down his pants and “moon” Packers fans.
As Collinsworth pointed out Moss’ celebration, Buck instantly ripped the All-Pro wideout.
“That is a disgusting act by Randy Moss, and it’s unfortunate that we had that on our air live. That is disgusting by Randy Moss.”
Minnesota held on and won, 31-17, but the situation involving Buck and the Vikings was far from over.
Vikings owner Red McCombs demanded Fox reprimand Joe Buck
Vikings fans weren’t the only ones in Minnesota who were extremely displeased with Joe Buck’s criticism regarding Randy Moss.
According to ESPN, Vikings owner Red McCombs contacted Fox and requested the network remove Buck from calling the Vikings’ next game. McCombs said he believed Buck’s comments “suggested a prejudice that surpassed objective reporting.”
Dan Bell, a Fox spokesperson, instantly threw cold water on McCombs’ request.
“We hope Mr. McCombs enjoys Joe’s play-by-play call Sunday, because he’ll be in the booth.”
Buck joined Aikman and Collinsworth, along with sideline reporters Pam Oliver and Chris Myers, in Philadelphia a week later for the Vikings-Eagles matchup.
Donovan McNabb and the Eagles took down the Vikings, 27-14, and later defeated Michael Vick’s Atlanta Falcons in the NFC championship game.
Tom Brady and the Patriots defeated the Eagles, 24-21, in Super Bowl 39. Buck and friends called that game, which marked the Patriots’ third championship in the Bill Belichick era.
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