Add Jon Hamm to the list of celebrities who can somehow seamlessly parachute into an NHL game broadcast and provide excellent commentary.
The noted St. Louis sports fan was at the Blues’ road game against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, and he popped by the FOX Sports broadcast for a mid-game interview. While chatting about Hamm’s athletic skills — he said he’s “pretty good at baseball” — and his apparent inability to skate, the actor just happened to be talking in the moments leading up to Blues’ winger Ivan Barbashev’s goal.
Turns out, Hamm is a total natural at calling goals and impressively (and quickly) transitioned from talking about his own struggles on the ice to taking over the play-by-play as Barbashev scored against Kings goalie Jonathan Quick.
“It is a very challenging thing for me to get out on the ice, but I do love it. I love skating, I love this play right now and I love that goal. How about it? Come on! Ivan Barbashev. Fourth line contributing so hard. God, he’s a spark plug.”
It’s like the Mad Men actor has been providing play-by-play and hockey commentary all his life.
After Barbashev got the assist from Sammy Blais and Mackenzie MacEachern — St. Louis won, 4-0 — Hamm continued to share his knowledge and love for hockey, which makes us think he should join Blues broadcasts more often.
Last year, Hamm joined Wayne Gretzky for a conversation about hockey, and the actor told a story about when he was bartending in St. Louis back in the day. He said players like Brett Hull, Kelly Chase and Brendan Shanahan would show up for a drink and “light it up and have a good time.”
Gretzky asked Hamm when he goes to a Blues-Kings game, who’s he cheering for, and Hamm went with his hometown team without flinching. And then the hockey GOAT followed that up by asking about Hamm wearing the same Blues hat and scarf to every game he goes to.
Hamm said:
“I do have sort of a uniform. If I’m going to a game and the Blues are playing, I will wear Blues gear. If I’m going to a game and the Blues aren’t playing, I will wear generic NHL gear because I don’t want to rep anybody but my team.”
Earlier this year, Snoop Dogg joined the broadcast for the Kings’ game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he delighted everyone with his spectacular commentary and analysis.
