Super Bowl Sunday: Joe Buck Has a Pulse!

              I would be lying to you if I said I was excited that Joe Buck was broadcasting Super Bowl XLV.  As I’ve mentioned before, the man has failed to rise to the occasion multiple times throughout his career, and with one of the most anticipated Super Bowls of all-time on our hands yesterday, I was certain he would find a way to ruin this moment as well.  I was so confident he would botch big calls that I wanted to get in my car, drive to Vegas and find the prop bet for his broadcasting errors, and put all my money on the over.  He was brutal in his last Super Bowl, and there was no reason to think he would be much better this week.  I must say, however, I was pleasantly surprised with his performance. 

            Buck has had a tendency to be a “dead fish” at times.  His job as a national announcer is to not show bias to either team on the field, but in his efforts to maintain neutrality, he often loses sight of the significance of some moments (The Tyree catch in Super Bowl XLII being his most heinous offense).  I have never been fond of Buck, but I have to tip the cap to him for yesterday’s performance.  The guy stepped him.  While we can nitpick some of the little things (he describes every single pass the exact same way: it’s either “over the middle!” or “(QB’s Name THROWS”…that’s literally the only two ways he describes a pass. mix it up a little Joe.  Please.) the area where he is most often criticized was where he thrived.  Every touchdown seemed exciting through his voice.  He finally seemed like he wanted to be broadcasting the most exciting game in the world.  He finally appeared to have a pulse!  Every time somebody got into the end zone, Buck’s voice had a noticeable crescendo.  He finally acted the way we have wanted our play-by-play to act during the Super Bowl.  He also nailed the final call when he went with “The Lombardi Trophy is headed back home.”  Great call.  I hope this is a turning point for Buck.  We have to deal with him every Sunday of the NFL season and every third Super Bowl Sunday.  Fortunately for us, every three years might be more bearable because Joe Buck has found his pulse!