Joe Buck Is "Really Disappointed" in Rams Owner Stan Kroenke

Joe Buck was a guest on St. Louis Fox 2’s Sports Final with Martin Kilcoyne over the weekend, and the play-by-play broadcaster had some harsh words about Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who has apparently made the decision to attempt relocating the franchise to Los Angeles. After discussing the Cardinals, talked turned to the Rams around the 3:40-mark.

“I’ve heard from people in the league that I respect, who have power within the league, that it’s just a matter of time. That Stan Kroenke’s plan is to go to [Los Angeles],” said Buck, as transcribed by insidestl.com. “I’m really disappointed in Stan Kroenke. I don’t know how you’re an NFL owner in a city like this with the kind of sports fans we have here and you’re as invisible as this man has been. I think any smart person steps back and says ‘well he’s keeping his options open.’ Otherwise at some point you step out front, hoping you’re going to get support from fans here and say ‘we’re going to do our darndest to keep the Rams in St. Louis.’ That’s never been said, he’s never seen, he’s not around town. I think clearly his objective as a shrewd business man is to cash in in LA, whatever that’s going to cost him. A lot has to happen for a franchise to move. It would be crushing to me if we lost an NFL franchise for a second time. This city’s too good for that. It’s not a reflection on the city or the fans. In this case I think it’s a reflection of the ownership that really is not invested in keeping the team here.”

Through the occasionally deceptive television screen, it hasn’t seemed like Rams fans have been especially passionate over the past decade or so, but then that could also be a chicken-or-the-egg thing with the way the team’s been managed. Nevertheless, Buck deserves credit for calling it like he sees it and putting an NFL owner on blast as he announces games with a league broadcast partner.