Can we replace Eric Francis on Sportsnet? Please?

[InglewoodFan]

Originally Posted by JBR

I’ve found that blocking Francis on Twitter and turning the channel/station or hitting mute when he’s in TV to be very therapeutic.

Highly recommended. I’m not missing much at all.

Yep, they even helpfully let you know that "coming up after this commercial, Eric Francis". I just flip away for a few minutes. Which is kind of a shame since I like Matt Stajan.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Jim Gaudreau

Who is Jim Gaudreau?

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Bruce was anti-Darryl Sutter and during the end of his tenure covering the Flames would always incorporate subtle snipes at Darryl in his NHL articles. As the years went on I lost confidence in Darryl the GM maybe earlier than most posters so maybe that's what where it came from? Maybe I'm not remembering properly but I don't recall it bothering me that much if people thought I was him. The only reason I called that poster Eric as it was maybe the first time in the history of this forum I had seen anyone come to Francis's defense so passionately. I honestly never realized he had any fans.

LOL, Flashbacks. The difference is Dowbiggin was so anti-Sutter we were thinking something personal had to have happened. He was relentless.

[Ducay]

I'd suffer through an entire broadcast of Eric Francis (including him as PBP and CC) over CCP.

She's a below average CC at best, and the push for diversity all but means she is guaranteed to continue broadcasts 24/7.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Ooooh....stay up all night to come up with that? Where is the burn cream??

It is brutal take to claim he is Francis just because you disagree. Thought you were better than that, but clearly not.

1/10 on the rebuttal there. Time stamp shows exactly 2 minutes.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Who is Jim Gaudreau?

As in most families, John's less talented brother.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I'd suffer through an entire broadcast of Eric Francis (including him as PBP and CC) over CCP.

I suspect that you are the only one.

She's a below average CC at best, and the push for diversity all but means she is guaranteed to continue broadcasts 24/7.

I think I agree with Bingo on this: Cassie Campbell is a very good analyst, but not great at doing the in-game colour. But these things don't tend to bother me much.

I will also say I agree with GioforPM about his preference for Francis over Dowbiggen, and mostly because of his distinction as a great civic citizen, and from numerous very positive reports from people who have had in-person contact with him. For the number of times I find myself rolling my eyes, or sighing deeply in response to something Francis says, he really does seem like a quality human.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Yamer

As in most families, John's less talented brother.

Do you mean Matthew Gaudreau? As far as I know Johnny has only one brother, no?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

If I recall there was also a poster on HF that I think quite possible WAS Bruce (Bicycle Bruce I think) and people maybe thought you were that poster.

Never made an HF account ever. I do understand though why some may have confused me with him though as to me Bruce was always kind of that wet blanket writer that dwelled on the negatives. I am one of those fans that's heavily invested in my sports teams and get a little emotional and get sucked into the accompanying highs and lows and the Flames have had a lot of lows so.... I try better now to take a step back as I don't really post much in game threads and if I don't have anything good to say I try not to be a we blanket in a positive discussion but I get why some posters didn't like me then and maybe now. I'll probably never be a glass half full guy but I have been trying to be a better version of who I am.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I suspect that you are the only one.


I think I agree with Bingo on this: Cassie Campbell is a very good analyst, but not great at doing the in-game colour. But these things don't tend to bother me much.

I will also say I agree with GioforPM about his preference for Francis over Dowbiggen, and mostly because of his distinction as a great civic citizen, and from numerous very positive reports from people who have had in-person contact with him. For the number of times I find myself rolling my eyes, or sighing deeply in response to something Francis says, he really does seem like a quality human.

Dowbiggen always seemed to me to be a guy who wanted to be Duhatchek but didn’t have the chops. Francis is just who he is.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I suspect that you are the only one.


I think I agree with Bingo on this: Cassie Campbell is a very good analyst, but not great at doing the in-game colour. But these things don't tend to bother me much.

I will also say I agree with GioforPM about his preference for Francis over Dowbiggen, and mostly because of his distinction as a great civic citizen, and from numerous very positive reports from people who have had in-person contact with him. For the number of times I find myself rolling my eyes, or sighing deeply in response to something Francis says, he really does seem like a quality human.

This how I feel about Hrudey.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Do you mean Matthew Gaudreau? As far as I know Johnny has only one brother, no?

Tried to go with the flat Belushi reference and it looks like it dribbled foul.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by JTech780

This how I feel about Hrudey.

I can see why you would think that. You are right that Hrudey does not really add any insight to the game, and for me that's okay—I have been watching hockey long enough that I don't really need it. But what I do like about Hrudey is his chemistry with Rick Ball. It's outstanding, and I suspect that I would not appreciate him nearly as much with another play-by-play caller.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Yamer

Tried to go with the flat Belushi reference and it looks like it dribbled foul.

Hahaha. Wow. I hilariously missed that one.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I can see why you would think that. You are right that Hrudey does not really add any insight to the game, and for me that's okay—I have been watching hockey long enough that I don't really need it. But what I do like about Hrudey is his chemistry with Rick Ball. It's outstanding, and I suspect that I would not appreciate him nearly as much with another play-by-play caller.

This is how I feel about the “color” role in general for hockey. Maybe not because I know everything but because so few of them are great at actual insight. It would help if they are at the game in person because you just can’t get the full picture on TV. Who missed their assignment? Who didn’t cover for a pinching D? Who made a lazy line change? Who blew the zone? Who cut away from a potential board battle? Who made up ground coming back into their zone? These are things you can’t always see on TV but hardly any color people dig into this.

But for this reason I’m fine with Cassie. She offers no less insight than most others else and I don’t find her style annoying.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

This is how I feel about the “color” role in general for hockey. Maybe not because I know everything but because so few of them are great at actual insight. It would help if they are at the game in person because you just can’t get the full picture on TV. Who missed their assignment? Who didn’t cover for a pinching D? Who made a lazy line change? Who blew the zone? Who cut away from a potential board battle? Who made up ground coming back into their zone? These are things you can’t always see on TV but hardly any color people dig into this.

But for this reason I’m fine with Cassie. She offers no less insight than most others else and I don’t find her style annoying.

It’s definitely got to be tough for road games to get the normal insight as they are calling games off of the TV, and not sitting above the rink, seeing things the cameras don’t capture

Here is something I have been wondering

Does anybody know exactly what Ball and Hrudey have to look at while they are working? Do they have multiple camera views with the main one being broadcast highlighted? Or just the broadcast view?

[Flamenspiel]

Originally Posted by stone hands

he doesnt provide a different point of view, he deliberately champions the opposite of whatever makes sense in order to farm clicks


the interplay with pider was great because he called him out for lying, it wasnt because they had this meeting of minds on some kind of hockey issue. hes playing a wwe heel character


whats the point of an insider who makes unsubstantiated claims and is given credence to their baseless opinions because they insinuate insider knowledge? just have a segment on the show where you read stupid tweets, it would have as much substance and entertainment value

I guess it’s not that important to me, and calling him out for lying(who knows if it’s true, it could be that he did not want to reveal the source)is interesting. I think there were people who wanted the PBP guy fired as well last year because he disagreed with Pinder. There are others who hate Cathy Campbell and some who think Pinder is arrogant. Is this important? No, and no one is perfect.

By the way I liked Dowbiggin, a journalist who got the scoop on what a scumbag Eagleson was. In fact I was one of the ones who was called out as a potential Dowbiggin when I defended him.

This is all more of this culture of entitlement. People can and should criticize, but calling for firing the guy or replacing him with another “yes man” is just so much hot air. Although I am not a fan of Toronto, Francis would be popular there because everyone is so contrary, he would be just one of many.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Who is Jim Gaudreau?

I believe he's Guy's brother.

[stone hands]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

I guess it’s not that important to me, and calling him out for lying(who knows if it’s true, it could be that he did not want to reveal the source)is interesting. I think there were people who wanted the PBP guy fired as well last year because he disagreed with Pinder. There are others who hate Cathy Campbell and some who think Pinder is arrogant. Is this important? No, and no one is perfect.

By the way I liked Dowbiggin, a journalist who got the scoop on what a scumbag Eagleson was. This is all more of this culture of entitlement. People can and should criticize, but calling for firing the guy is just so much hot air.

not sure what the bolded part of this had to do with the post being quoted but disagreeing with ryan pinder shouldn't be a fireable offense, i agree


my point was that it was "entertaining" radio for the wrong reasons. if everyone just called francis out for making things up to cause a controversy then that is all his hits would be. thats not what what I would like to see in one of the few people granted access as an insider into the hockey team i follow. i want actual news and stuff garnered from having a relationship with the players borne out of being given exclusive access to them. i dont want an insider whos entire game plan is to try and frame an argument in the most divisive way possible to garner negative reactions that doesnt require access to said players and more than likely negatively affects his ability to gain insider information

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

I guess it’s not that important to me, and calling him out for lying(who knows if it’s true, it could be that he did not want to reveal the source)is interesting. I think there were people who wanted the PBP guy fired as well last year because he disagreed with Pinder. There are others who hate Cathy Campbell and some who think Pinder is arrogant. Is this important? No, and no one is perfect.

By the way I liked Dowbiggin, a journalist who got the scoop on what a scumbag Eagleson was. In fact I was one of the ones who was called out as a potential Dowbiggin when I defended him.

This is all more of this culture of entitlement. People can and should criticize, but calling for firing the guy or replacing him with another “yes man” is just so much hot air. Although I am not a fan of Toronto, Francis would be popular there because everyone is so contrary, he would be just one of many.

Who is that?