Lucky Bastard: My Life, My Dad, and the Things I'm Not Allowed to Say on TV by @Buck #bookreview
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  • N. N. Light
    • Mar 14, 2018
    • 3 min read

Lucky Bastard: My Life, My Dad, and the Things I'm Not Allowed to Say on TV by @Buck #bookreview


Title: Lucky Bastard: My Life, My Dad, and the Things I'm Not Allowed to Say on TV

Author: Joe Buck

Genre: Memoir, Sports, Broadcasting

Book Blurb:

In this New York Times bestselling memoir, the announcer of the biggest sporting events in the country—including the 2017 Super Bowl and this century's most-watched, historic, Chicago Cubs–winning World Series—reveals why he is one lucky bastard.

Sports fans see Joe Buck everywhere: broadcasting one of the biggest games in the NFL every week, calling the World Series every year, announcing the Super Bowl every three years. They know his father, Jack Buck, is a broadcasting legend and that he was beloved in his adopted hometown of St. Louis.

Yet they have no idea who Joe really is. Or how he got here. They don’t know how he almost blew his career. They haven’t read his funniest and most embarrassing stories or heard about his interactions with the biggest sports stars of this era.

They don’t know how hard he can laugh at himself—or that he thinks some of his critics have a point. And they don’t know what it was really like to grow up in his father’s shadow. Joe and Jack were best friends, but it wasn’t that simple. Jack, the voice of the St. Louis Cardinals for almost fifty years, helped Joe get his broadcasting start at eighteen. But Joe had to prove himself, first as a minor league radio announcer and then on local TV, national TV with ESPN, and then finally on FOX. He now has a successful, Emmy-winning career, but only after a lot of dues-paying, learning, and pretty damn entertaining mistakes that are recounted in this book.

In his memoir, Joe takes us through his life on and off the field. He shares the lessons he learned from his father, the errors he made along the way, and the personal mountain he climbed and conquered, all of which have truly made him a Lucky Bastard.

My Review:

If you’re a sports fan, you’ve heard of Joe Buck. He’s on FOX’s number one crew for both football and baseball and he’s everywhere. You either love him, hate him or you’re like me and deeply respect the guy.

Joe Buck is the son of St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Broadcaster Jack Buck. His path to success hasn’t been easy and he works his tail off, harder than most I think. The reason? He’s Jack’s kid and while most everyone thinks he got his start because of his dad, in all reality, it was his mum.

In this memoir, Joe Buck takes off the gloves and censors, sharing his life (both ups and downs) with humorous one-liners one minute and private moments the next. He talks about his dad and what it was like to grow up in the limelight. He talks about his success and downfalls in broadcasting and his obsession for hair plugs. He talks about insecurities, his crumbling marriage and saying good-bye to his beloved father on his deathbed. This is Joe Buck uncensored and I loved every page!

Listen, I didn’t know what to expect from this memoir but the preconceptions I’ve had for Buck have gone out the window. Sure, he’s mega famous but he has to put on his pants on, just like me. Lucky Bastard is a treasure for any sports fan because Buck peels back the curtain and shows what really takes place behind the scenes. Brilliant!

If you’re a baseball fan, you’ll love this inside look into one of the most-admired and hardest-working broadcasters in the biz. If you’re a football fan, you’ll love the stories Buck shares.

A must read that is addictive, funny and heartwarming all at the same time.

Disclaimer: I received a hardcover as a gift.

Favorite Character/Quote: “If they think I’m being foolish, so what? They’ll get over it.”

My Rating: 5+ stars

Buy it now:

Author Biography:

Joe Buck grew up in St. Louis, where he still lives. He has two daughters, Natalie and Trudy, and is married to fellow sportscaster Michelle Beisner.

Social Media Links:

Reviewed by: Mrs. N

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