Flames Radio

[bettman]

Wouldn't it make some sense if Rob Kerr worked with Peter Maher? Maybe if Peter winds it down in 2-3 years, Kerr should work with him. Do Colour for now. Maybe a few games here and there. Then when Peter retires (what is he now 68?) Kerr would step right in. Probably announcing all 82 games beats what he's doing now. Just thinking. What does everyone else think?

[bettman]

I mean since Mike Rogers retired.

[transplant99]

No...color men need to be former players/coaches at a minimum. Thats what made Rogers so good, is that he knew the technicalities of the game and used that knowledge to try and explain aspects to the listeners.

Kerr is a pbp guy, and thats about it.

[N-E-B]

Rob Kerr is awful. I will refuse to listen to a game of he is calling it. I already have to watch most games muted since we signed a stupid deal with a lousy tv station who is seemingly incapable of hiring someone good for Flames games.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by transplant99

No...color men need to be former players/coaches at a minimum. Thats what made Rogers so good, is that he knew the technicalities of the game and used that knowledge to try and explain aspects to the listeners.

Kerr is a pbp guy, and thats about it.

If someone is knowledgeable, entertaining and can bring additional insight to the conversation then I really do not care if they were a former player, coach or janitor. If the position is pigeon-holed into requiring that former player/coach status then we won't necessarily get the best possible guy to replace Mike Rogers.

Now, having said that, I do not really believe Kerr is the best guy available. He is good enough for now, especially doing the TV PBP as it is easier to do that than Radio PBP but I am hoping that someone else will emerge and start getting groomed by Maher to take over the throne when Maher finally retires.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by transplant99

No...color men need to be former players/coaches at a minimum. Thats what made Rogers so good, is that he knew the technicalities of the game and used that knowledge to try and explain aspects to the listeners.

Kerr is a pbp guy, and thats about it.

Eh Charlier Simmer is the most useless color guy I've ever heard. Kristin Hallett could do a better job

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Wolven

If someone is knowledgeable, entertaining and can bring additional insight to the conversation then I really do not care if they were a former player, coach or janitor. If the position is pigeon-holed into requiring that former player/coach status then we won't necessarily get the best possible guy to replace Mike Rogers.

Now, having said that, I do not really believe Kerr is the best guy available. He is good enough for now, especially doing the TV PBP as it is easier to do that than Radio PBP but I am hoping that someone else will emerge and start getting groomed by Maher to take over the throne when Maher finally retires.

Except that unless they were heavily involved in the game, on the ice, they wont have that insight...period.

So past players and coaches...who else could have that?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by saillias

Eh Charlier Simmer is the most useless color guy I've ever heard. Kristin Hallett could do a better job

And she is a former player.

[SofaProfessor]

I always felt like if Conroy wanted to do broadcasting, he would be a great colour commentator.

[Gallick]

Originally Posted by saillias

Eh Charlier Simmer is the most useless color guy I've ever heard. Kristin Hallett could do a better job

Yeah, Simmer seems like a great guy - would love to meet him - but he really doesn't contribute much to the broadcast. He spends most of his time recapping the play or repeating himself or things that Rob Kerr says.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Except that unless they were heavily involved in the game, on the ice, they wont have that insight...period.

So past players and coaches...who else could have that?

If it is someone who stays tapped into the current pulse of the game and is able to provide information that I otherwise might not have known, then I don't care if the insight is from an insider's point of view. I wouild rather have a well-spoken and entertaining "super-fan" than a former player that mumbles his way through a broadcast trying to incorporate his "insight" to the game.

I also think the value in grooming an heir to Maher outweighs the need to have that special insight.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Wolven

If it is someone who stays tapped into the current pulse of the game and is able to provide information that I otherwise might not have known, then I don't care if the insight is from an insider's point of view. I wouild rather have a well-spoken and entertaining "super-fan" than a former player that mumbles his way through a broadcast trying to incorporate his "insight" to the game.

I also think the value in grooming an heir to Maher outweighs the need to have that special insight.

To have insight to the game...you must be inside the game. That much is pretty obvious.

As for grooming an heir to Maher, that would never be a color analyst anyhow. I cant think of a single instance where a color guy has gone on and become a pbp guy...two entirely different sets of abilities and talents required for each. I could be wrong but i simply dont ever remember anyone doing that...maybe in the NFL or MLB...maybe?

[FlamingHomer]

If anyone has listened to the Hitmen play by play, Brad Curle would have to be next in line for Peter's job. I think he does a great job.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by FlamingHomer

If anyone has listened to the Hitmen play by play, Brad Curle would have to be next in line for Peter's job. I think he does a great job.

Agreed that Curle is very good...but i think he will be long gone to better opportunities long before PM is ready to call it quits.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by transplant99

To have insight to the game...you must be inside the game. That much is pretty obvious.

As for grooming an heir to Maher, that would never be a color analyst anyhow. I cant think of a single instance where a color guy has gone on and become a pbp guy...two entirely different sets of abilities and talents required for each. I could be wrong but i simply dont ever remember anyone doing that...maybe in the NFL or MLB...maybe?

Buck Martinez used to be TSN's color guy for the Jays, than worked at ESPN as a colr guy and is now the play by play guy. I think Alan Ashby also does some play by play which is unusual for former players. Although Baseball is a very slow paced game, so the play by play guy has to be more of a talker, than a play caller with all the pauses.

I don't know what the gigs pay, but I would guess that being on TV would be the more coveted job than doing radio broadcasts. Mind you radio would seem better job security. Ultimately though I think Curle would seem a good bet to move in when Maher leaves. But when the job opens up, I would think there would be a lot of interested parties applying. Those gigs don't come available often.

[puckluck2]

I think Charlie Simmer does a good job. Only thing is his voice is pretty boring but he does a great job explaining the game IMO.

[metroneck]

Man, I though I was worried about life after Iggy. I can't even begin to imagine after PM...

It's been 33 years. Listening to Peter call the games are some of my oldest memories.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by transplant99

To have insight to the game...you must be inside the game. That much is pretty obvious.

That is a pretty shallow understanding of the word.

INSIGHT
Noun
- The capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing.
- An understanding of this kind: "new insights into the behavior of whales".

Synonyms
understanding - perspicacity - intuition

Nothing in there implies that an individual has to have personal experience (ie. playing NHL hockey) in order to have gained an understanding of the game. A former player/coach would have a very specific insight from a player/coach point of view but that does not mean they are the only ones to have insight of the game.

I appreciate the rigid thinking that "this is how it has already been done so this is how it must continue to be done" but with the rebuild and everything else going on around the Flames, I am feeling a bit more open minded than that. If we can find a good radio personality that happens to know a lot about hockey and can make the broadcast more entertaining then I don't care if they have first hand experience as an NHL player.

Originally Posted by transplant99

As for grooming an heir to Maher, that would never be a color analyst anyhow. I cant think of a single instance where a color guy has gone on and become a pbp guy...two entirely different sets of abilities and talents required for each. I could be wrong but i simply dont ever remember anyone doing that...maybe in the NFL or MLB...maybe?

I've never paid much attention to the roles of PBP vs. Color analyst. I certainly never thought that if you did one you could never be the other. All I do know is that Peter Maher has some really big shoes to fill and I would rather ease in the new guy than have PM retire one summer and leave us all feeling dazed and confused listening to some strange new voice.

[clancy]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

I think Charlie Simmer does a good job. Only thing is his voice is pretty boring but he does a great job explaining the game IMO.

Do not agree. I think he is very weak. Starts every statement with " again..." even if it is the first time the topic has been brought up.

Have heard he is a genuinely great person. Just not a good colour man.

[clancy]

Scoop. Heard Brent Krahn may be a candidate to replace Mike Rogers.