Troy Aikman and Joe Buck perfectly slam flyovers amid COVID-19 pandemic on hot mic
Military jets have been flying over sporting events as part of the national anthem for years.
It is quite the tradition, whether it’s at the Super Bowl or a random game in a small college town on a Saturday afternoon, one that fans have grown to love and expect over time.
Yet with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing teams to play games in empty or near-empty stadiums, putting on a big pregame display with a flyover doesn’t make much sense.
Fox broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman pointed out just how much of a waste flyovers have become this year on Sunday afternoon, though they didn’t mean to be heard.
Buck, Aikman slam flyovers ahead of Bucs-Packers
Aikman and Buck were heard on a hot mic ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ dominant 38-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday bashing the flyover that had just taken place.
As Raymond James Stadium in Tampa is allowing just 25 percent fan capacity, the two longtime announcers didn’t understand why a flyover was happening at all.
Even Joe Buck and Troy Aikman find pregame flyovers to be a little much these days: https://t.co/0IZL6GhmZy pic.twitter.com/G4EpB3SYtN
— Defector (@DefectorMedia) October 19, 2020
Aikman: “That’s a lot of jet fuel just to do a little flyover.”
Buck: “That’s your hard-earned money and your tax dollars at work.”
Aikman: “That stuff ain’t happening with [a] Kamala-Biden ticket, I’ll tell you that right now partner.”
Aikman addressed the comments on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon, too.
I love a flyover but It was odd to see one over a mostly empty stadium but I am an unwavering patriot that loves this country, has always respected our flag, supported the men and women in the armed forces as well as those in uniform who serve & protect and for anyone to suggest
— Troy Aikman (@TroyAikman) October 20, 2020
otherwise doesn’t know me, my beliefs or what I have stood for my entire life.🇺🇸
— Troy Aikman (@TroyAikman) October 20, 2020
It’s unclear how much the flyover on Sunday cost or who specifically paid for it. However The Washington Post reported earlier this year that flying a squadron of fighter jets in a ceremonial fashion like that costs at least $60,000 per hour — which is a lot of money to pay for something that very few people will actually see.
Aikman and Buck don’t see the value in that.
More from Yahoo Sports: