I've always secretly suspected that Fox has been slowly trying to destroy baseball telecasts since they took over the playoff broadcasts a few years ago. Their lead broadcast team of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver is full of trite cliches and hollow statements that never offer any actual insight. Their radar gun bursts into flames. The in-game graphics beep and sing like crazy for no particular reason. Sometimes there are robots. And yet, I put up with all of it. Until now. Starting with last night's "unscripted" conversation between Royce Clayton and Coco Crisp about the free taco giveaway (you can call it unscripted all you want, but why else would ROYCE CLAYTON be mic'd up?) I think Buck and McCarver have talked more about the free tacos than baseball. They replayed the conversation tonight, they celebrated in the booth when Jacoby Ellsbury stole a base, they played ANOTHER conversation between Clayton and Ellsbury with Clayton urging Ellsbury to steal a base for America, and they interviewed Taco Bell's creepy COO. His empty eyes bored a hole into the camera and my Fox-addled soul. Not only that, Jub-Jub asked the Stepford-COO about giving away "Millions of dollars of free tacos." Try tens of thousands of dollars of free tacos, maybe.
Maybe I could forgive all this if it happened last night, but this is a one-run game with Colorado desperately playing to avoid a two-game deficit against a fantastic Red Sox team. Veteran Curt Schilling and rookie Ubaldo Jiminez pitched their hearts out. This game has everything anyone watching could possibly want. And yet, Fox gives us tacos. I feel like I'm going to be sick, which, incidentally, is usually how I feel after I eat Taco Bell. Ugh.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-25-2007 @ 11:12PM
George B Vieto said...
Fox Sports and ESPN have turned their sports telecasts into the WWE wrestling shows. Silly entertainment.
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10-26-2007 @ 12:27AM
emeador said...
I am so sick of Joe Buck and his foolish comments on Derek Jeters cologne who cares the Yankees are notplaying in the world series
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10-26-2007 @ 1:34AM
JKlicious99 said...
Yo quiero Taco Bell!!
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10-26-2007 @ 1:35AM
jeanbean0762 said...
Hey Pat Lackey, I hate tacos. You can have mine.
that is like yuk food.
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10-26-2007 @ 4:30AM
Gates said...
I called two Taco Bells in Indiana and neither had heard of the give-a-way. Taco better get its employees informed.
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10-26-2007 @ 7:54AM
J.Weeder said...
Pat Lackey I could not agree with you more!!The whole thing was turned into 1 long Taco(gas)Bell commercial,interrupted by some really good baseball,what a shame the guys in the both can't appreciate it..Their nonsensical graphics just added to the confusion that McCarver & Buck was spewing forth.....Taco Bell=Taco hell!!!!
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10-26-2007 @ 7:44AM
j makoujy said...
I've LONG been a Buck and McCarver hater....I turn the sound off because they are so pathetic. Can't stand to listen to one more cliche.
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10-26-2007 @ 7:49AM
M.B. said...
You called two taco bells?!?
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10-26-2007 @ 8:13AM
Karen said...
I have never cared for Joe Buck and Tim McCarver calling any game! They are poor commentators and I also turn the sound off and watch the game. I am surprised FOX keeps them....Lets get some people in there that know the sport and can add some sense to the game. This is ridiculous.
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10-26-2007 @ 9:05AM
Beat Visitor said...
Is it at all schadenfreudistic of me to think about the possible E. Coli in those billions of free tacos being given away next Tuesday?
Just asking,
http://BeatVisitor.com
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10-26-2007 @ 10:23AM
Alan said...
TIM McCARVER HAS SHOWN SIGNS OF SENILITY FOR SUCH A LONG TIME THAT IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO SAY IF IT IS A NATURAL STATE OR IF HE IS THAT IGNORANT.
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TACO BELL IS THE GREASE PIT OF AMERICA AND I GIVE UP MY RIGHTS TO A FREE TACO WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE.
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10-26-2007 @ 11:34AM
mbb said...
HORRIBLE COVERAGE--Turning fans' home-made signes into car ads--tacky as ever--never misses an opportunity to get a commercial in--GREED
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10-26-2007 @ 10:52AM
Mark said...
Is it just my imagination, or are strato-cumulus clouds most prevelant in springtime?
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10-26-2007 @ 10:53AM
Taco Bell Sux said...
Who cares? Taco Bell sux anyway. I won't go there for free tacos, unless they were wrapped inside of $100 bills!
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10-26-2007 @ 10:55AM
GO SOX said...
I am disgusted by the so-called commentary on FOX in the World Series. During the first game, when Boston was up 11-1, they continued to talk about what a great team the Rockies were and how the pitcher was finding his groove. Were we watching the same game? I don't think I heard them say anything positive about the Red Sox the entire game. Give me Jerry and Don!! Fans (for every team/every game) should be able to hear the commentators that have taken them through the season.
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10-26-2007 @ 10:58AM
Open Door Richard said...
and the Taco Bell actor is like SOOOOOO GAY. Not that there's anything wrong with that!
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10-26-2007 @ 11:07AM
Dana said...
First of all, I didn't think FOX should of had the air rights to the World Series in the first place. It would have been better if one of the networks (namely ABC) still did the coverage. And then....all that silly Taco Bell talk- more game coverage and less time hawking merchandise please. America gets plenty of time for commercials on any other program- major events like the World Series should have minimum commercial coverage. I know, the advertisers have paid dearly for the air time, but this whole Taco Bell theme was going too far.
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10-26-2007 @ 11:24AM
Frank Thomas said...
Taco Bell is not good for weight loss says http://www.lookcut.com
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10-26-2007 @ 11:41AM
Rick said...
Ironic, Jacoby Ellsbury's home town does not even have a Taco Bell.
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10-26-2007 @ 11:59AM
JOSEPHHUERTA said...
SPORT COMENTATORS SHOULD BE CALLING THE GAME AS IT IS BEING PLAYED. NO NEED FOR PERSONAL ADLIB OF THEIR PRSONAL LIFE OR WHEN THEY PLAYED AND IF THEY PLAYED. TOO MANY COMMERCIALS. I AM GLAD I CAN TURN THEM OFF AND WATCH THE GAME. COMMERCIALS GIVES ME TIME TO GO TO THE HEAD (BATHROOM), TO GET MY DIET PEPSI. HOPE ABC, CBS, OR NBC COVER SPORTS. IN FACT ONE SO CALLED SPORT ANNOUNCER (CHANNEL 7 IN DENVER, CO. COMMENTED THAT IF IT WAS QUIET ONE CAN HEAR PAUL REVEERE RIDE BY. WHAT AN ASS HOLE.
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