A lot of people on the internet hate Joe Buck. I’m not one of those people. 
Because I grew up in Texas, I am a big Troy Aikman fan. I like Joe Buck by association. Plus, unless a sports broadcaster never stops talking, I usually have a favorable opinion of them. Ergo, I picked up this audiobook. I was looking for a light, fun listen for my work drives. Lucky Bastard delivered.
Joe Buck was born in 1969 to beloved St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck and Carole Lintzenich, an entertainer. Notably, Carole was not Mrs. Buck at the time. (Hence, the title.) Joe’s dad ended up leaving his then-wife and children in favor of Joe and Carole, which set up a decades-long bundle of strained relationships.
For whatever reason, Jack Buck took to bringing his young son Joe Buck to ballparks, especially in St. Louis. Joe Brew up around famous ballplayers, and even took part in some late-night casino runs with Jack. They had a special relationship, and that comes through in the affection that Joe has in his voice when speaking of his father.
That being said, while Joe Buck followed in his father’s footsteps into broadcasting, he also dealt with a lot of…wake from his father’s personality and actions. His half-siblings understandably resented him. Sports fans assumed he was a nepo baby. He always had a thing about not belonging or fitting in. He is more vulnerable about that than I would have expected.
Buck is also forthright, albeit diplomatic, about his divorce from the mother of his children. Buck grew up with Jon Hamm and Paul Rudd, and at one point got invited to hang out at a Hollywood party with Christina Applegate. He is a big Christina Applegate guy. Nothing ever happened between them, but Buck was obviously infatuated with the smart, gorgeous Applegate. That made him realize how unhappy he was in his marriage. He also randomly became close friends with Kate Hudson (fellow nepo baby/divorcee, as he points out).
He is also very open about how his multiple hair transplants led to him almost permanently losing his voice (due to intubation), and what a professional mess that was. Hair transplants sound rough. I’ll just shave my head until they invent a magic hair growth pill.
Overall, this was an enjoyable listen, even for a casual Buckethead (Joe Buck fan nickname I just made up).
3.75/5, rounded up because it’s not mediocre.
This spot takes the Play spot on my CBR17 Bingo card, because it’s about sports. (Go, me!)