Nov. 3, 2009
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| Courtesy photo |
| Fox Sports’ Joe Buck wraps up the school’s fall Speaker Series with a talk Nov. 10. The talk is free and open to the public. |
His talk is at 7 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood, and is free and open to the public.
Buck is a six-time Emmy Award-winner who handles lead play-by-play duties for Fox Sports’ coverage of Major League Baseball and the National Football League.
“Especially with the recent opening of the National Sports Journalism Center, it was a good time to highlight sports journalism in the Speaker Series,” said School of Journalism Communications Director Beth Moellers, adding that Buck’s appearance is especially timely coming off the World Series. “This adds a new angle for our students.”
Buck’s career path may inspire journalism students. His broadcasting career began in 1989, while he was a telecommunications undergraduate at IU. That year, he called play-by-play for the Louisville Redbirds of the American Association, a minor league affiliate of the Cardinals, and was a reporter for ESPN’s coverage of the Triple-A All-Star Game.
In 1994, he was the youngest announcer to call a full slate of NFL games on network television. Before that, he was a radio and television announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1991 to 2007.
Buck, who serves as a board member for the NSJC, is the son of the late broadcasting legend Jack Buck, whose career spanned parts of six decades. They are the only father and son to each call the Super Bowl on network television.
“I think his visit is going to be, in a lot of ways, a very personal conversation on his reflecting back on his IU days,” said Tim Franklin, director of IU’s National Sports Journalism Center at IUPUI, in a phone interview. “But also, what it’s been like, growing up with a broadcast legend and icon father, and growing into an icon himself.”
Franklin, who will conduct an onstage Q&A with Buck during the event, anticipates that Buck’s insights are not just limited to a sports crowd, but will hit home with a wide range of students and audiences.
“Joe is not just considered one of the premiere sports casters in the country,” said Franklin,” he’s also widely respected as one of the top broadcasters period.”
Prior to his talk, which will be taped to air on the Big Ten Network, Buck will appear at Nick’s at 5:30 p.m. to support a fundraiser for the Bloomington Press Club’s scholarship fund. Tax-deductible tickets are $50, available by contact member Sherry Rouse by e-mail or phone at (812) 855-1024.
