Fox sportscasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman were apparently caught on hot mic mocking a military flyover ahead of an NFL game on Sunday.
Roll the tape: Buck and Aikman derided the mustering of four A-10 jets for the Green Bay Packers-Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup as a waste of taxpayer money.
- Their exchange was not heard on the broadcast but was captured on a satellite feed, according to the Forth Worth Star-Telegram.
- The Defector sports blog on Monday posted the footage to Twitter, where it has been viewed 2 million times.
In the video, Aikman, a Hall of Fame former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, seemed to fault President Donald Trump for what he deemed the unnecessary flyover.
- “That’s a lot of jet fuel just to do a little flyover,” he said.
- “That’s your hard-earned money and your tax dollars at work,” Buck added sarcastically.
- “That stuff ain’t happening with Kamala-Biden ticket. I’ll tell you that right, partner,” Aikman said, referring to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California.
The reaction: Some left-leaning commentators, including the Defector blogger who broke the story, were surprised to discover that Buck and Aikman shared their views.
Lis Power of Media Matters for America tweeted that “expensive flyovers” are “illogical,” especially when Raymond James Stadium in Tampa is mostly empty due to the NFL’s coronavirus protocols.
But many conservative Twitter users — already fed up with the NFL’s embrace of Black Lives Matter activism — were disgusted with the announcers.
“Could the @NFL and Democrats be MORE unlikable and unAmerican?” asked Jenna Ellis, a Trump campaign legal adviser .
“Both Of You Are A Disgrace. #Pathetic,” said Code of Vets, a charity for military veterans, tagging Buck and Aikman.
“Hey [Troy Aikman] You didn’t have a problem with military flyovers over your 27th Superbowl game! You had a big smile on your face! So now you think it is a waste and a joke? You are a weak spineless sell out to the nation! What a disgrace!” the account added in a followup tweet.
Neither Buck, Aikman or the NFL have commented on the controversy.
MAGA?: Critics of military flyovers have long decried the beloved displays as jingoistic, environmentally destructive and — at $60,000 an hour or more — wasteful.
- But military officials have argued flyovers are in the national interest, noting the time and cost come out of existing budgets.
Under Trump, the Pentagon in Mach 2018 lifted limits on flyovers at stadiums, including for NFL and MLB games.
- “Flyovers are a way for the U.S. Air Force to showcase the capabilities of our aircraft while at the same time inspire a future generation,” Air Force spokeswoman Jennifer Bentley told Stars and Stripes at the time.
- “We are increasing the number of events eligible for support to assist with recruiting efforts and in telling the Air Force story.”
