Go Home

It must be fun to be Buck, Troy and McCarver

Buck-Tim_f7b10.jpg

I think we could find better use for the United States Marshals Service, don't you?

A federal government lawyer who moonlighted as a statistician for Fox Sports improperly arranged for United States Marshals Service (USMS) deputies to drive broadcasters Troy Aikman and Joe Buck to the 2008 Super Bowl and lead motorcades for Buck and Tim McCarver during the 2007 World Series, according to a blistering report by the Department of Justice's inspector general. Lawyer Joseph Band, who works in the USMS's Office of General Counsel, violated government ethics rules by arranging the transportation by armed federal marshals, according to the January 9 IG report, excerpts of which you'll find below. In October 2007, Band improperly arranged for USMS escorts from Fenway Park for McCarver and Buck after Games 1 and 2 of the World Series. In January 2008, Band set up a USMS escort to the Tampa airport for Aikman and Buck after the sportscasters called an NFL playoff game.

And, on the morning of the 2008 Super Bowl in Arizona, the attorney also arranged for a USMS deputy to pick up Aikman and Buck at their hotel and drive the pair to University of Phoenix Stadium. After the game, a deputy drove Aikman to his hotel and escorted Buck to the airport. While federal prosecutors declined to press criminal charges against the 68-year-old Band, the IG's findings have been provided to USMS brass for "appropriate action." In an IG interview, the marshal who chauffeured Aikman and Buck at the Super Bowl recalled telling a colleague afterwards that he thought "the whole thing was silly" and "an inappropriate use of his time." Usually, federal marshals hunt fugitives, guard federal judges, courts, and protected witnesses, and transport prisoners.

I know that it would be tempting to accept an escort from the USMS, but the FOX dudes should have had better judgement.

Share This Post

Link To This Post


45 Comments
Sierra Matt's picture

Hell, they're sportscasters, they probably didn't know any better.

The attorney, on the other hand, did know better and needs to be punished.

Shadowgm's picture

... one of the biggest sports events on national television, and there's no budget for drivers to take the on-air talent to and from their hotel?

I'd say this violates most companies' business conduct statements, but I'm not sure FOX has any standards in that regard ...

I'm pretty sure this violates more then "ethics rules"! I think there's actually a LAW against it.

Mattand's picture

It's HUGE.

bobbquackenbush's picture

I think he's up for the alien leader in the remake of, "This Island Earth".

Shadowgm's picture

Spot on, Bob!

Christopher di Spirito's picture

I'm a huge baseball fan. But anytime the MLB broadcasts a game on FOX, I usually skip it.

The reason?

Joe Buck.

He's so arrogant and he hates the Yankees and knows nothing about the game, scoring, or strategy, that I just want to punch him.

The only reason he's where he is today is due to the fact his daddy was a famous broadcaster.

LegallyBlonde's picture

Buck not only hates the Yankees -- it's any NY team. Not that the Giants didn't play badly this past Sunday but Buck and Aikman couls not muster one positive thing to say about the Giants from the opening kickoff. The game would have been better if they both shut their pieholes (the game would have been MUCH better though if the Giants actually showed up to play!)

Christopher di Spirito's picture

He said he dislikes announcing MLB games. Visit the Yankees site and read the comments people leave about him. He's less popular than Bush.

LeftandLeft's picture

They have totally fucked up baseball with their pathetic, rich guy "I'll out spend everyone, every year" bullshit...and they don't win shit! It's boring.

jimbo92107's picture

"I know that it would be tempting to accept an escort from the USMS, but the FOX dudes should have had better judgement."

If a US marshal showed up at my door and told me to get into his car, we were going for a ride, I'd do it. Those guys have guns!

Bitter Bud Hussein's picture

With FOX news being what it is, I'm not too surprised FOX sports now finds itself in a shit storm.

And I agree Chris - whenever FOX does baseball I refuse to watch. I've missed the last several World Series but enjoyed them much more on the radio.


Before enlightenment - chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment - chop wood, carry water.

DevilDog21's picture

...and send Fox Sports and the dumb-shit lawyer the bill. Case closed.

ysbaddaden's picture

"I know that it would be tempting to accept an escort from the USMS, but the FOX dudes should have had better judgement."

Is that an attempt at a ha-ha?


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

ysbaddaden's picture
)O(

I understant that FAUX reporter, Gerardo Rivera, required an escort out of Iraq for giving away troop movements to the enemies.


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

Samson-'s picture

hey... i thought fox had their own security service?

ysbaddaden's picture
)O(

No, it's just the San Francisco chapter of the Hell's Angels.


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

Big Boppa's picture

this is what o'loofah means when he threatens to call Fox Security. Dig deeper and you might find that Murdoch has a Secret Service guard too.


I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so.....

jnratliff's picture

In an IG interview, the marshal who chauffeured Aikman and Buck at the Super Bowl recalled telling a colleague afterwards that he thought "the whole thing was silly" and "an inappropriate use of his time." Usually, federal marshals hunt fugitives, guard federal judges, courts, and protected witnesses, and transport prisoners.

I know that it would be tempting to accept an escort from the USMS, but the FOX dudes should have had better judgement.

Now with all your experience with fox and republicans just when have you seen either use good judgement?
I mean we were attacked by alqeadea and the republicans attacked Iraq. No alqeadea in Iraq at the time, we might as well of attacked canada or mexico.

Good judgement and republican are two words that can never be used together!

Kathy in St. Louis's picture

another was to a game tells me that these guys called in a favor. You know how sports jock wannabes are. This lawyer probably kissed up to these guys just to say that they are friends of his. Bet they would have missed a plane or been late for a game so they initiated the contact.

But, alas, we’re talking about FOX here.

ysbaddaden's picture
)O(

When are they gonna start a baseball game with:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-maqwmBG4qE


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

upchuck's picture

This scandal seems a lot more boring than the other scandals. I have decided to spice it up with unsubstantiated rumors.

1st. There was a male prostitute involved.
2nd The prostitute was posing as sportscaster.
3rd Rove ordered the Federal Marshals to cover up the scandal.
4th An innocent man was sent to prison over trumped up charges to cover up the scandal.
5th The government lawyer had ties to KBR and was a former lawyer for Enron.
6th The Federal Marshal that picked the sportcasters up was a key figure from Iran-Contra.
7th The sportscasters were paid money by the CIA to write fake sports stories that were supportive of the invasion of Iraq.

I'm running out of unsubstantiated rumors so feel free to add.

ConcernedCanuck's picture
8th

the real issue is, that that that, gays wanna get married!

That Mick Piobr's picture

But the bicycle pump is still missing.

ysbaddaden's picture
)O(

A male prostitute Federal Marshall with ties to KBR was prescription hopping, and paid money to the CIA for Oxycontin and Viagra.


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

pinkobait's picture

wait for it....................."I'm with the Band".


"To me, truth is not some vague, foggy notion. Truth is real. And,
at the same time, unreal. Fiction and fact and everything in between,
plus some things I can't remember, all rolled into one big "thing."
This is truth, to me. "

-Jack Handy

ysbaddaden's picture
)O(

Diabolus est Deus Inversus

ThunderMonkey's picture

Don't dis Troy... the poor boy is from Oklahoma, played for the Cowboys and had more concussions than anyone can care to count. No one ever accused him of being smart.

It's not like they're supposed to know they can't accept such offers. Good grief and they work for FOX. It's not like that place is a bastion of intelligence.

"Some day Bobby, you'll find your Troy Aikman." — Hank Hill to his son on the exaltedness of Cowboys' quarterbacks.


"When are we going to stop trying to tell elected officials what to do. Our job is to spend the taxpayers' money the best way we can." -- Tommy Watkins, Justice of the Peace, Crawford County, Arkansas

upchuck's picture

This is where we grasp at straws and try to blame this scandal on the democrats, the Clinton's and Obama. I will go first.

Obama went to a political rally with a guy that has a cousin that has an aunt that is muslim; she is neighbors to a guy that drove through the same town that Bill Clinton gave a speech in. The Democrats want to raise your taxes.

This is why this whole thing is the fault of Bill Clinton, the House Democrats, Barrack Obama, and the welfare bums.

bobbquackenbush's picture

This wouldn't have even been reported three months ago. Makes me all tingly in my guttsywhats thinking about the tales to come.

upchuck's picture

A lot of government employees are going to be ratting out their bosses just to get rid of all the douchebags that the Bushies appointed or promoted to positions of power.

bobbquackenbush's picture

Imagine what will be coming out now that people learn that the Justice Department no longer has to kiss Bushes dimpled bottom any more.

Kathy in St. Louis's picture

and we love the Bucks here. His father was a fantastic community guy. So is Joe. A National Treasure to be protected by the Federal Marshall Service? Not so much....The lawyer should lose his job for this and there should be reimbursement involved...from him, Buck, Aikman and McCarver. This is total BS.

CFAmick's picture

we'd live in a great nation.

bobbquackenbush's picture

We live in a great country, its just that some of the people are a little questionable.

Amen to that brother


Radix Omnium Malorum Avaritia

Shadowgm's picture

This just confirms that we don't have a government, we have the empire of Rupert Murdoch.

rowz's picture

Buck is just plain dull and McCarver uses 1960's baseball thinking to analyze baseball in the 21st century. And I fear they are The Supreme Court of Baseball Broadcasters and we may be stuck with them for their lifetime.

Slaw's picture

...and everyone outside of New England hates both the Yankees and the Red Sox. Take away their allowances and see how competitive they'd be if they had to stock their teams from their own farm systems.

Slaw's picture

Come on! Sure, Buck is a self-important blowhard, but McCarver is King Ignoramus. He's great at spouting inconsequential statistics ("He's batting .243 against left-handers in night games during a full moon".) McCarver has no understanding of valid statistics.

Come to think of it, they both do belong on Fox. Both love to hear themselves talk regardless of how stupid they sound.

Tax the Rich's picture

They should have locked Aikman up in the hotel closet. That guy NEVER ever shuts up! And he says some of the dumbest shit ever.


Rush Limbaugh is what a smart person thinks a stupid bigot sounds like.

Andy K's picture

Sims might be the worst ever- at least of the "#1 booth" analysts. I daresay Sims would suck as badly if he was covering a Houston @ Cincinatti game. Bad. Yeccch!

Around our house we call Joe & Troy

Buck & Suck

Comments are closed on this entry