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Joe Buck critical of Rams owner Stan Kroenke over L.A. rumors

Sports announcers typically stay away from pointed commentary about team owners — especially ones in Joe Buck's position. But the longtime Fox Sports broadcaster and St. Louis native didn't pull any punches during an appearance with Martin Kilcoyne on St. Louis' Fox 2 Sunday when the topic of Rams owner Stan Kroenke came up.

As transcribed by insidestl.com:

"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]," Buck told Kilcoyne. "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."

The 67-year-old Kroenke, who is nicknamed "Silent Stan," had no response to Buck's critical words. The Walmart heir billionaire has a controlling interest in several other professional sports franchises, including the NBA's Denver Nuggets, the NHL's Colorado Avalanche and Arsenal of the English Premier League. Kroenke purchased a 60-acre plot of land in Inglewood, Calif. earlier this year near the now-defunct Hollywood Park horse track and the Los Angeles Forum.

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