[News] Jim Hughson: Canucks Homer?

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Burner

Did you know Horvats first name is Bo?

really?!

hmmm... I could have sworn is was "Big", based on Hughson's commentary...

or maybe that was a Freudian slip... not that there's anything wrong with that...

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by AC

Hmm, maybe Bob Cole had an off series when he called Pittsburgh/Columbus.

He was missing close in breakaway chances entirely, not even recognizing they happened. It was very sad to hear.

I completely agree with your assessment. He goes into full on ramble mode, not recognizing many players, missing key events, and getting into the middle of a call with no idea how to wrap it up.

[asmoboba]

I don't understand the Hughson criticism. He doesn't sound biased at all toward the Canucks, and as others have noted, I actually think he and Simpson have sounded a lot more excited about guys like Bennett and Gaudreau than anyone on the Van roster.

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by asmoboba

I don't understand the Hughson criticism. He doesn't sound biased at all toward the Canucks, and as others have noted, I actually think he and Simpson have sounded a lot more excited about guys like Bennett and Gaudreau than anyone on the Van roster.

It seems like he favours whoever has home ice.

In Vancouver we get to see him talk about "Legend Lack and his Dad"

In Calgary "Here comes Ferland" "Sam Bennett the 18 year old"

[Flame On]

Oh man I can't stand it. The worst thing is he seems to have infected Simpson with his partisanship too to a degree.
Its bad because he's competent and I like his style and flow, he just likes to get down on his knees to that team a little too much.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by asmoboba

I don't understand the Hughson criticism. He doesn't sound biased at all toward the Canucks, and as others have noted, I actually think he and Simpson have sounded a lot more excited about guys like Bennett and Gaudreau than anyone on the Van roster.

He was absolutely atrocious in Games 1 and 2, and if I had to guess, was over compensating for it in Game 3.

[Street Pharmacist]

I don't hear it so bad. It's there, but not enough to make a difference to my enjoyment of the game. Really strange thing to focus on

[Travis Munroe]

Reading the canuck forum and they feel as though he is a homer towards Calgary



I think I notice it most with
A) The almost slap your knee sigh when the canucks miss a scoring chance but it was a great defensive play when the flames miss
B) Pay attention to the names he uses to call the game. If the cycle is in our zone it is all canuck names however when it is in the canucks zone its 50/50

[corporatejay]

In his defense. If the camera cuts to Eddie Lack's dad, what the hell is he supposed to say? Blame the producer for that.

[curves2000]

Although Hughson is probably a Canucks homer and it shows once in a while, that's ok! Sometimes myself and other fans forget that people who work in sports either on the broadcasting side or on the team side are fans too.

Everybody grows up cheering for a team and I don't think it would be as easy as I think it would be to try and remain neutral.

I do find that Calgary Flames media is pretty good though unlike their cousins in Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver.

[topfiverecords]

Hughson and Simpson haved called all 3 from a Vancouver angle. In game 3 it was always comments about how the Canucks are down, and never from the perspective that the Flames are up. Or constant talk about what the Canucks need to do to come back, and never what the Flames can do to put it away.

[Hanna Sniper]

I pretty much see it as you call what you know, if you do 70 broadcast of a team there no chance that you can go into the 71st game and call an unbiased telecast.. it's only natural that when two players battle for a puck and being a commentator that needs to speak and call the game without thinking that the player's name he calls out is the one he's seen play for the last 70 games.

You build a knowledge base of a full season when calling the same team over and over and although you may be a great commentator turning off that "paid to call the game for a team" hat and "call the game for the nation" hat is hard to do when you knowledge base of the two teams are vastly different.

One the advantages of Cole was he was ignorant to both teams because he would basically call the Leafs and once playoffs started he was no longer calling the leafs

The way they should really do it is have the colour guy be from the other team that called them all year this way you bring in the full history of both teams...

A great example was game 2 when the flames were behind by two goals and Hughson was pretty much closing out the game, if Hrudey was there he would be commenting how the Flames the Canucks just where they want them because he's seen and said it all year long like a running joke.

[topfiverecords]

Shorthouse and Garrett did the Canucks regional games this year. Hughson was on national games.

[Hanna Sniper]

Then a Homer it is

[ScorchyScorch]

Originally Posted by asmoboba

I don't understand the Hughson criticism. He doesn't sound biased at all toward the Canucks, and as others have noted, I actually think he and Simpson have sounded a lot more excited about guys like Bennett and Gaudreau than anyone on the Van roster.

seriously? they've HARDLY even spoken about Gaudreau. Hughson makes his plays sound unimpressive. no pulse while Johnny was dangling around canucks d-men to keep plays alive last game. In super vague fashion Hughson called him an "exciting player" at one point last game which was I think his first real individual compliment to him all series. he's by far the most "exciting" player on either team. zero mention of Monahan or his season, even though that was probably warranted in the first game or two. but can't believe they'd rather rave about Horvat than a 20 year old center that just broke 30 goals.

they like Bennett now after a few games of impressive play but in game one same thing, he made some huge plays and got little excitement from Hughson and no mention from Simpson.

[N-E-B]

I think my emotion as a fan has a lot to do with how I perceive him. If the Flames are winning I don't think he's too bad. When the Flames are losing I am so angry that any praise the Canucks get from him sets me off. Game 2 was a disgrace though. The legend of Lack crap and the gushing over his dad was pathetic.

[FusionX]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

"Henrik.....to Daniel......SLAP PASS!"

Ugh, I'm not sure why this particularly quote but when I read your post, it was literally Hughson's voice in my head saying it. I feel so violated.

[mhsyyc]

So what everyone is saying is that Hughson's Corsi number is high compared to Bob Cole right?

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Burner

Did you know Horvats first name is Bo?

I was surprised to discover we have a prospect who goes by Ty Wotherspoon.

Cris huet was always a bad one. He also had the nerve to call Luongo 'Bobby Lou' incessantly at one point. When he called Brodie 'Thomas James', I knew I would not have a peaceful series.

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

Or mute...

Yeah, but the sound of the game itself is still pretty fun to listen too. The way you describe it is like going to the game live and wearing sound cancelling headphones...