Bell makes Sweeping Cuts - Dan O'Toole and Natasha Staniszewski among them

[sleepingmoose]

Originally Posted by Zach

Could not stand Sekeres but I did like the other shows. Time for Don Taylor to bring back Sports Page!

I always assumed that only people from the lower mainland liked Don Taylor, but maybe I'm just in the minority. He annoyed the heck out of me when he used to host the late Sportsnet highlights - the only thing I liked when when he pissed off David Pratt, who was just terrible.

[Beatle17]

Sports talk on radio was so much better when the hosts discussed sports, local and national, and weren't always spouting their own opinions as fact, cough cough Pinder. The experts or insiders on TV and radio have been so far off on just about every major story that they really have no more insight than a lot of people on these boards that live and watch hockey all the time.

[SportsJunky]

Hey Fan960, go pick up some real talent.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Strombo was terrible as a sports host and I love almost everything the guy has ever done other than HNIC.

Ron Maclean, as much as people don't like some of his opinions, is a far superior host in almost every way to what Strombo brought to the table.

I dont think he was nearly as bad as you make him out to be and, I'm the opposite. I thought Strombo was a hipster doofus with a raging Hab fan-fetish which annoyed the hell out of me.

I still think he'd have been a great host.

Ron Maclean is a joke. I know he is a 'Canadian Icon' but its insulting to the point where you can see through that sheer facade and realize you're being sold a stereotypical bill of goods.

He is so fake its aggravating.

[bluejays]

I have no idea where the gate for Ron Maclean is coming from. The guy during his heyday contract dispute got the public to side with him more so because CBC made the decision to do away with tradition all of a sudden (which he represented). It was the right storm and he wanted his job back understandably as the rug was pulled out. Certainly tax payer money could be better off but he’s not a bad guy to listen to, minus his Canadiana schtick. In recent years he’s humbled out more as he’s aging and he’s not combative with a single person anymore.

[Toonage]

I like how many people were put off that Strombo was so young, and he was in his 40s was he not?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont think he was nearly as bad as you make him out to be and, I'm the opposite. I thought Strombo was a hipster doofus with a raging Hab fan-fetish which annoyed the hell out of me.

I still think he'd have been a great host.

Ron Maclean is a joke. I know he is a 'Canadian Icon' but its insulting to the point where you can see through that sheer facade and realize you're being sold a stereotypical bill of goods.

He is so fake its aggravating.

This is actually just unhealthy and weird hatred. You didn't address any actual shortcomings with Ron and just hate him for "reasons".

He's not a "canadian icon", he's a TV host who is good at what he does. He has some warts, like all personalities, but overall he's extremely talented.

Sheer facade? Insulting? It's such over the top hateful language that I honestly can't tell if you're making fun of Maclean haters or not because it all sounds like a parody of how silly people sound when they personally hate someone that they've never met and who doesn't even know they exist.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I like how many people were put off that Strombo was so young, and he was in his 40s was he not?

I would say that he was 'young' in terms of the Job.

He was essentially asked, halfway through his career, to take on a very difficult task, and I thought he did it quite well.

Only for the CBC to run back home crying for Momma Maclean.

Someone should be legally allowed to bludgeon Ron Maclean to death with a book of his own crappy 'faux-Canadiana' poetry.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I like how many people were put off that Strombo was so young, and he was in his 40s was he not?

CBC made the mistake of being brash with their change. It should have been eased in but they were cowboy in their mission and it didn’t come off well. Strombo eventually got the short end, but he was a sitting duck because of how they managed the transition.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

This is actually just unhealthy and weird hatred. You didn't address any actual shortcomings with Ron and just hate him for "reasons".

He's not a "canadian icon", he's a TV host who is good at what he does. He has some warts, like all personalities, but overall he's extremely talented.

Sheer facade? Insulting? It's such over the top hateful language that I honestly can't tell if you're making fun of Maclean haters or not because it all sounds like a parody of how silly people sound when they personally hate someone that they've never met and who doesn't even know they exist.

Oh. This next post is going to age well then...

[Erick Estrada]

I can't stand Ron MacLean. I would rather listen to Eric Francis and I don't like listening to Eric Francis.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Another thing is this: the hockey coverage in this country is completely saturated. It’s all hockey all the time. I guess the companies have their internal metrics guiding their content but as a sports fan, not simply a hockey fan, it’s inadequate. The over reliance of hockey news to generate ratings has a limit, and seeing Darren Dreger etc drone on and on about hockey gets old. I like hearing about baseball, soccer, basketball, football.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Don't like Ron MacLean either. I find his diatribes to be insincere, superficial and fortune-cookie-esque, and when he involves himself in actual substantive hockey discussions (thankfully more rarely lately) he tends to not know what the hell he's talking about. Often he just jumps in to defend the league or excuse a terrible job being done by a referee. My general conclusion is that I couldn't care less what he thinks about whatever is under discussion and would rather he just leave the analysis to Elliotte and company.

Wish they'd just give the ball to Jeff Marek. He has his flaws too but at least his quirkyness is kind of endearing, and he's an excellent host in the sense of setting up the panelists to provide the content they're there to provide without interfering with them.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Hey Fan960, go pick up some real talent.

First our team, now our media?!


Can you guys just stop.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

First our team, now our media?!


Can you guys just stop.

No. This is the way.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

...Wish they'd just give the ball to Jeff Marek. He has his flaws too but at least his quirkyness is kind of endearing, and he's an excellent host in the sense of setting up the panelists to provide the content they're there to provide without interfering with them.

I could get behind this. Jeff Marek is great.

Also, (I have mentioned this a few times already because I think it's neat,) Marek's kids are named "TJ" and "Brodie."

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

And yet when Sportsnet was retooling they brought in Strombo, who asked the experts questions and sat back to let them answer. He didn't make the show about him but a lot of people raised a stink because he was too hipster, wore suits that were too tight etc., and pushed until the brought the dinosaur, backstabbing Ron MacLean back.

Sportsnet pre-game and intermissions are impossible to watch. I have watched Ron MacLean since his CKRD days in Red Deer and he was an obnoxious dick even back in the 70's.

It wasn't his suits. He sucked as a hockey guy. He had many cringe moments, one off the top of my head when he tried to make Seanahan a thing.

CHL said it right. Marek is quirky, but he's a great host with tons of facets to his character, and is also a hockey guy. Duthie, same deal.

Why is this a Strombo discussion anyway? Guys (and gal) who were great and talented got turfed because of corporate greed.

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Marek is quirky, but he's a great host with tons of facets to his character, and is also a hockey guy. Duthie, same deal.

These guys aren't in the same stratosphere. Duthie is a great host. Marek is a younger version of McLean, but his wordy musings are less about poetry and Canadiana and more focused on weirdly attributed philosophical speakings.


"Ya know Friedge, it was Chaucer who once said patience is a conquering virtue so with that, let's kick off the 31 Thoughts Podcast." OOF!!

[The Yen Man]

I like David Amber in the host role. It really is time for them to put Ron to the pastures. Should have booted him along with Cherry when they had the chance.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I like David Amber in the host role. It really is time for them to put Ron to the pastures. Should have booted him along with Cherry when they had the chance.

Amber is good. He doesnt have much in the way of reporting, but as a host I think he has what it takes.