Covering 2: Derek Jeter dominates Fox's All-Star Game broadcast
American League All-Star Derek Jeter of the Yankees takes the field for batting practice prior to the 85th MLB All-Star Game at Target Field on July 15, 2014 in Minneapolis. Credit: Getty Images / Elsa
Fox planned all along to make Derek Jeter the featured attraction of its All-Star Game coverage, so it came as no surprise that talk of old No. 2 consumed almost the entirety of its pregame coverage before player introductions.
But Jeter had some drama of his own in store. With Joe Buck staying silent while fans and players greeted Jeter's first at-bat Tuesday night -- and even after he faced his first pitch -- a heckler could be heard twice chanting "over-rated.''
Seconds later, Jeter rapped a double to rightfield.
It was just the kind of moment the network had hoped for from the Yankees shortstop, even though he did decline Fox's invitation to wear a microphone during the game.
(A mic near home plate overheard him congratulating NL catcher Jonathan Lucroy before Jeter's first at-bat.)
Jeter's second hit to the opposite field, in the third inning, gave the announcers more time -- and more reason -- to gush, especially about his famous Jeterian swing.
Fox's booth announcers conducted an interview with Jeter from the dugout that lasted through the entire top of the sixth inning, including after a pitching change and commercial break.
Fox began its pregame show with Buck doing a bit in which he toured the AL clubhouse introducing players, finally stopping at Jeter's locker. Jeter dismissed him with, "We've got a game to play, bro.''
The network followed with a piece in which Billy Crystal, Spike Lee, Cal Ripken, Jr., Joe Namath, Rudy Giuliani, Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan paid tribute. Said Crystal: "Derek Jeter is baseball, in the purest sense of the word.''
Kevin Burkhardt then promised a revealing interview of Jeter by Harold Reynolds, who proceeded to conduct a typically unrevealing Jeter interview.
The highlight of the Jeter-fest was video from the clubhouse in which he addressed his teammates, telling them among other things, "Remember every time you put your uniform on, because trust me, it goes quickly.''
Earlier Fox Sports 1 got the Jeter ball rolling during its three-hour "America's Pregame,'' presenting its first feature on No. 2 six minutes into the show. Later it came back with two more, including a video of Jeter over an essay by the actor Michael Rapaport.
One highlight showed Phil Rizzuto calling Jeter's first home run in 1996, Rizzuto's final season as a TV announcer.
