Originally Posted by browna
Bottom line I think that most, even those that don't mind him or care either way, can agree that doing play by play is not something that comes natural for Kerr.
He's well prepared, has all sorts of stories and interesting tidbits and stats. That's what he's good at, and that's why he did so well on radio. He's tried to use all that preparation and those stats that to get himself through the games, but often at the expense of a disjointed call of the game or missing things.
It does seem this year that he's toned down the quantity of info, though maybe not the times he uses it; about 3 times before the third period even started, he dropped the info about the last 3 times the Flames played CLB there were shootouts.
But the play by play is all over the place still. The intonation and inflection in his voice doesn't seem to match the game, the buildup of plays isnt matched by the buildup in his words, the goal calls are all over the map, and the OT one last night is over the top considering the situations and knowing Kerr's personality, seemingly a bit of the case of trying too hard to manufacture emotion.
As a sidebar, I never minded Simmer under Loubardias, but he's either been told, or figures he has to help the rookie Kerr out, and is talking more to help him out...and more isnt better, especially when its just repeating himself or recycling the same phrases or applying the same cliches for numerous situations.
Sure, Kerr is learning what works and what doesn't and is trying to get better. However, this isn't the time/place/situation to be having to try and learn something that doesn't come natural to you, when there are any number of more natural play by play callers out there, including the last two the Flames used, that this comes more natural to them. There are 36-40 jobs as play by play guy in the NHL, its not the training ground to learn the craft.
And, none of this is his fault. For whatever reason they decided to turf Loubardias, they did...Kerr applied or got approached to do it, and someone made the decision to go with him, and he's done his best he can in the situation, heck, I'd do it and try to learn on the go if they asked me...but it just isn't something that comes natural to him and IMO that's not the most polished product the Flames are putting out as a brand to the fans who have to listen to that for 50+ games, or for Kerr (though I won't speak for him) to be in that situation where he's over his head.
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