One of the unintended consequences of #CoronaSZN is the cancellation of professional sports. For the last two weeks, leagues in North America and around the world have put their respective seasons on hold. As a result, play-by-play announcers are being placed out of work while they wait out the quarantine. This week, the Internet has been treating us to Mike “Doc” Emrick and Joe Buck doing play-by-play of the most mundane tasks. From attaching windshield wipers to marble races, these play-by-play announcers are getting their reps in during #CoronaSZN.
“Doc” Emrick and Joe Buck in: “Quarantine Calls.”
Doc Emrick
Here’s NBC Sports’ Mike “Doc” Emrick, the Voice of American Hockey, giving us some play-by-play of his mechanic replacing his windshield wipers.
The Doc Emrick windshield wiper play-by-play we didn’t know we needed!
— #HockeyWeekNBC (@NHLonNBCSports) March 23, 2020
AMAZING. ? pic.twitter.com/FRvuDwkliJ
I could watch that all day long.
This wasn’t his first go-around at narrating everyday things: during an HBO Real Sports segment in 2015, he narrates his dogs running around the yard (at the 12:05 mark). Emrick can make ANYTHING interesting.
Joe Buck
Fox Sports’ Joe Buck decided to join in on the fun this week with this tweet including him doing play-by-play of his wife and son.
— Joe Buck (@Buck) March 22, 2020
Like him or not, this is a really cool thing he’s doing in exchange for charity pledges.
What are some of the highlights so far?
He gives play-by-play of ESPN’s Mina Kimes playing fetch with her puppers, Scraps.
Here we go…first up is @minakimes and a half-eaten football. Please reply and tag with the charity that you are donating to!!! More to come! pic.twitter.com/q8BuYuutbr
— Joe Buck (@Buck) March 24, 2020
(We don’t get to see Kimes’ throwing form, I’m certain she has a quick release.)
This clip is Joe commentating some backyard (or in this case, front yard) football:
This one might make @patriots fans a bit sad…although Brady wishes he had these moves. @Brogan1197 tag your charity and take care of those boys, I might be seeing them on a Sunday one day! pic.twitter.com/bROi7PPwDE
— Joe Buck (@Buck) March 24, 2020
(Let me say that if my dad recorded my brothers and I playing football in the yard and sent it to the legendary Dick Enberg to do play-by-play, my life would be made.)
And here’s Buck doing play-by-play of a dad with a Dikembe Mutombo-like rejection of his toddler.
Watch out Breen…if @foxsports ever gets @NBA, I'm getting ready. @AdamHoge, tag a charity and then maybe order your kid a present to make him feel better after this one ?. pic.twitter.com/WJMGnrmBsa
— Joe Buck (@Buck) March 24, 2020
(Oh yeah. That kid is gonna need therapy.)
Last, but not least, is Buck doing play-by-play on a marble race.
This an an ancient one from like last week. @jellesmarbles blew up the internet with this gem and informs us the blue marble is named Comet and the yellow one is Pollo Loco. That said – I did my best. My smallish brain went from “marbles” to “balls” midway thru – old habits. pic.twitter.com/DsaGuHhli6
— Joe Buck (@Buck) March 24, 2020
(Suck on those limes, Kentucky Derby!)
I hope that announcers other than Emrick and Buck get in on these “Quarantine Calls.” (You’re up, Kevin Harlan!) I’m definitely going to try to get in on the action and get an ordinary event narrated while donating to a good cause. It’s a fun thing to have in exchange for having play-by-play on my boring life!
We’ve got more good stuff to read at Belly Up Sports during #CoronaSZN! Comment on my article below or hit me up on Twitter: @WhoIsRyanMcC.
