amag
11-21-2002, 08:22 PM
Job description for Cards broadcaster upsets Joe Buck
By Dan Caesar
Of the Post-Dispatch
11/20/2002 09:39 PM
Joe Buck said KMOX officials are going to be disappointed if they expect Wayne Hagin to immediately fill the wide array of roles for which they were advertising. And he is irritated by the wording.
The job in the Cardinals broadcast booth opened because Buck's father, legendary Cards broadcaster Jack Buck, died last summer after spending 47 seasons broadcasting the Redbirds. Hagin was hired for the position on Tuesday. The ad said, in essence, the search committee was seeking another Jack Buck.
"If it was meant as a compliment to my dad that's one thing," said Joe Buck, who is the lead baseball and football announcer for the Fox network and also does a few local Cards telecasts. "But it came across as something that is ludicrous. I can't think of anybody in the country who would live up to what they said, other than one guy in LA," longtime Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully.
The hiring was the responsibility of Cardinals Radio Network flagship station KMOX (1120 AM). Its ad seeking candidates said, in part, "You are big in your community. People come to hear you speak. You are recognized by people on the street. You love to make people laugh and you can move them with your stories. You have friends in prominent positions in the sports community and the community in general. They socialize with you and you can talk with them and have fun with them on the air.
"You don't consider yourself a sports journalist, but a broadcaster, toastmaster and celebrity. You are respected by owners, players and management. You are happy where you are. But this is the opportunity of a lifetime."
That describes Jack Buck. But not Hagin - at least not yet in St. Louis, although he knows Cards manager Tony La Russa, coach Dave McKay, general manager Walt Jocketty and others through previous jobs covering teams for which they worked.
Buck said he wasn't taking a swipe at Hagin, and in fact said his father would have been glad to be followed by a person such as Hagin.
"My dad really liked Wayne," Buck said. "He's just a great guy."
Buck emphasized that anyone thinking that Hagin can pick up at the spot his father left is way off base.
"It took my dad years to grow into all of that," Buck said. "It's not something someone can come into cold and be. How can they realistically think there is anybody who could step into that? They grow into the job, they grow into St. Louis. That happens over time. It's not just how you call a game, not how you call balls and strikes. It's also how you fit into the community, it's that you live here. It's a 365-days-a-year job. It's not just the baseball season."
KMOX operations director Tom Langmyer, who wrote the ad, said he merely was looking for someone to possess as many of the qualities as possible.
"Nobody has them all, but when you find a guy like Wayne you have a head start," Langmyer said. "You're putting yourself a step ahead. But certainly it's a growing process."
Hagin said he realizes that. And he has a track record of going the extra step.
"Community involvement, a commitment to the area, are very important to me," said Hagin, who with his wife has been active in civic endeavors in Denver, including the D.A.R.E. anti-drug program and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
By Dan Caesar
Of the Post-Dispatch
11/20/2002 09:39 PM
Joe Buck said KMOX officials are going to be disappointed if they expect Wayne Hagin to immediately fill the wide array of roles for which they were advertising. And he is irritated by the wording.
The job in the Cardinals broadcast booth opened because Buck's father, legendary Cards broadcaster Jack Buck, died last summer after spending 47 seasons broadcasting the Redbirds. Hagin was hired for the position on Tuesday. The ad said, in essence, the search committee was seeking another Jack Buck.
"If it was meant as a compliment to my dad that's one thing," said Joe Buck, who is the lead baseball and football announcer for the Fox network and also does a few local Cards telecasts. "But it came across as something that is ludicrous. I can't think of anybody in the country who would live up to what they said, other than one guy in LA," longtime Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully.
The hiring was the responsibility of Cardinals Radio Network flagship station KMOX (1120 AM). Its ad seeking candidates said, in part, "You are big in your community. People come to hear you speak. You are recognized by people on the street. You love to make people laugh and you can move them with your stories. You have friends in prominent positions in the sports community and the community in general. They socialize with you and you can talk with them and have fun with them on the air.
"You don't consider yourself a sports journalist, but a broadcaster, toastmaster and celebrity. You are respected by owners, players and management. You are happy where you are. But this is the opportunity of a lifetime."
That describes Jack Buck. But not Hagin - at least not yet in St. Louis, although he knows Cards manager Tony La Russa, coach Dave McKay, general manager Walt Jocketty and others through previous jobs covering teams for which they worked.
Buck said he wasn't taking a swipe at Hagin, and in fact said his father would have been glad to be followed by a person such as Hagin.
"My dad really liked Wayne," Buck said. "He's just a great guy."
Buck emphasized that anyone thinking that Hagin can pick up at the spot his father left is way off base.
"It took my dad years to grow into all of that," Buck said. "It's not something someone can come into cold and be. How can they realistically think there is anybody who could step into that? They grow into the job, they grow into St. Louis. That happens over time. It's not just how you call a game, not how you call balls and strikes. It's also how you fit into the community, it's that you live here. It's a 365-days-a-year job. It's not just the baseball season."
KMOX operations director Tom Langmyer, who wrote the ad, said he merely was looking for someone to possess as many of the qualities as possible.
"Nobody has them all, but when you find a guy like Wayne you have a head start," Langmyer said. "You're putting yourself a step ahead. But certainly it's a growing process."
Hagin said he realizes that. And he has a track record of going the extra step.
"Community involvement, a commitment to the area, are very important to me," said Hagin, who with his wife has been active in civic endeavors in Denver, including the D.A.R.E. anti-drug program and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.