With Costas Gone, The HBO Door Opens For Joe Buck
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Rumors abound! With Costas on his way to the MLB Network full-time, there is a vacancy at HBO Sports, and there's someone who's been looking for a coosh hosting job out there. That person is Joe Buck, who has failed in recent attempts to get a talk show, and the NY Daily News is saying he might be the heir apparent to the HBO gig....
After losing Bob Costas to the MLB Network, no one at HBO Sports looked to pass the buck. Instead HBO may be looking to acquire one - Joe Buck, that is.My first reaction, as with any Buck news, is to cringe. But this actually could be a blessing in disguise. The more and more shows that Costas starting hosting, the less and less play-by-play he actually did. I also rarely watched Costas Now, so the prospect of having Buck as far away from games as possible, is certainly appealing.
The history of HBO Sports provides evidence its boss, Ross Greenburg, likes to hire high profile network talent. Seven years ago he brought in Costas ("Costas Now") and before that Bryant Gumbel ("Real Sports").
Buck, Fox's marquee play-by-play man (MLB, NFL) looms large as the next guy Greenburg may try to snare to fill the void left by Costas. Also, it's no secret Buck shot a pilot for his own Fox variety show. That project was put on hold. That leaves Buck out there looking for something else to do.
It seems like HBO is a good fit. HBO Sports will move quickly on finding a show to replace "Costas Now." The network may make an announcement as soon as Thursday.
Again, this is just a rumor, but a boy can dream, right?
With Bob Costas gone to MLB Network, HBO may eye Joe Buck (NY Daily News)
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"On this week's 'The Big Buck,' we'll catch up with Bob Guiney, one of my favorites from 'The Bachelorette.' Tim McCarver will swear up a storm about Manny Ramirez. We'll also have our 'Stay Classy' award winner for a despicable act on or off the playing field. That's 'The Big Buck,' HBO, 10 pm Eastern, right before Real Sex."
I don't know if this is the right place, but I just want to say that Hannah Storm NAILED her Joe Torre interview. Larry King was a snoozefest, Francesa was a brown-noser, Russo was a bore, and even Letterman's interview with Torre sucked. Kudos to Hannah Storm.
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Not really interested in Buck. I love Real Sports because love or hate Gumbel they report on things that sting the major sport sponsors (Nike, Pepsi, etc.)
Costas was not allowed to do Real Sports because of his NBC duties not allowing him to bite the hand that feeds them and Buck will be in the same boat.
But a rather would have Costas than Buck on a talk show - Buck is a swarmy, self-centered tool.
AA, the reason why Costas stoped doing play-by-play is becasue NBC lsot the rights to the NBA, MLB. It had nothing to do with his HBO hosting duties.
Joey Buck might actually be better hosting a Costas Now-type show than doing play-by-play.