Rob Kerr

[Wormius]

I find it a bit sad when HNIC shows Flames games and their PBP is exceptional, especially considering that they don't call Flames games all that often.

[superfarmer]

Better be careful. All this Kerr negativity might prompt Sportsnet to fire him

[Brick]

Bring back Loubardias!

[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by Wormius

^^ Rick Ball the former Kelowna radio guy who did sports news?

that's on the ball.... i'm rick ball

yup - same guy

i've really enjoyed rick ball on the cbc broadcasts.

[mikeecho]

Kerr was on the Toronto version of HC at Noon on Halloween and I firmly believe that the analytical role is where he thrives.

As PBP, he has to put on the cheesy happy guy facade and say stupid stuff like "the program says Berra is 6'5", but he was as tall as a mountain on that save" schtick.

On HC at noon, he was blunt, thoughtful and bang on with his analysis. He even got into it with Doug Maclean. Maclean was ribbing him with some question like, when are you gonna get you haircut and Kerr responded by saying he was gonna dress like Doug for Halloween and go around telling everyone what a good job he did in Colombus. Maclean was irritated and it was great.

This is where Rob thrives. Where he can have his own pinion and an avenue to share it. Just like when he used to run the afternoon show and did miles more on it than anyone has since.

[Corral]

Sportsnet should drop PBP on the broadcast, improve the sound quality of the action on the ice, and just have Kerr do the analysis when play stops. With big screens and HD, i'm starting to wonder whether PBP in hockey really serves any purpose. I find even the best in the business just tell me what I've already seen.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by Corral

Sportsnet should drop PBP on the broadcast, improve the sound quality of the action on the ice, and just have Kerr do the analysis when play stops. With big screens and HD, i'm starting to wonder whether PBP in hockey really serves any purpose. I find even the best in the business just tell me what I've already seen.

I have to disagree. PBP is huge. It's kind of like the soul of hockey. I know you can see the action on the television. But hockey broadcasting comes from the golden age of radio. It's a beautiful memory of an older time.

I grew up in the prairies and so there was a lot of driving around. I can't tell you how many times I listened to Peter Maher deliver a broadcast that was half poetry, half magic, and half edge of your car seat excitement. We are talking about a man who could deliver three halves into one whole, here. A legend.

I hear the words "He shoots-" and I hold my breath and grip the cushion for the split second before the words "HE SCORES!" at which point I explode with excitement of every time I've ever walked to the rink and laced up my skates, every time I've yelled those very words playing street hockey outside my parents home, every memory of my favorite game, my favorite sport, my chosen religion, rushing back like a lightning bolt.

If you take away "He Shoots-- He Scores!" then you take away the soul of hockey.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by mikeecho

Kerr was on the Toronto version of HC at Noon on Halloween and I firmly believe that the analytical role is where he thrives.

As PBP, he has to put on the cheesy happy guy facade and say stupid stuff like "the program says Berra is 6'5", but he was as tall as a mountain on that save" schtick.

On HC at noon, he was blunt, thoughtful and bang on with his analysis. He even got into it with Doug Maclean. Maclean was ribbing him with some question like, when are you gonna get you haircut and Kerr responded by saying he was gonna dress like Doug for Halloween and go around telling everyone what a good job he did in Colombus. Maclean was irritated and it was great.

This is where Rob thrives. Where he can have his own pinion and an avenue to share it. Just like when he used to run the afternoon show and did miles more on it than anyone has since.

I could not agree more. Great post.

Rob Kerr is the good guy alter-ego of Eric Francis. Like that guy from Misfits who can split in two.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

I have to disagree. PBP is huge. It's kind of like the soul of hockey. I know you can see the action on the television. But hockey broadcasting comes from the golden age of radio. It's a beautiful memory of an older time.

I grew up in the prairies and so there was a lot of driving around. I can't tell you how many times I listened to Peter Maher deliver a broadcast that was half poetry, half magic, and half edge of your car seat excitement. We are talking about a man who could deliver three halves into one whole, here. A legend.

I hear the words "He shoots-" and I hold my breath and grip the cushion for the split second before the words "HE SCORES!" at which point I explode with excitement of every time I've ever walked to the rink and laced up my skates, every time I've yelled those very words playing street hockey outside my parents home, every memory of my favorite game, my favorite sport, my chosen religion, rushing back like a lightning bolt.

If you take away "He Shoots-- He Scores!" then you take away the soul of hockey.

Someone get Shia Labeouf and Disney on the phone. We need Michael Bay to direct the next Mighty Ducks movie.

[Corral]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

I have to disagree. PBP is huge. It's kind of like the soul of hockey. I know you can see the action on the television. But hockey broadcasting comes from the golden age of radio. It's a beautiful memory of an older time.

I grew up in the prairies and so there was a lot of driving around. I can't tell you how many times I listened to Peter Maher deliver a broadcast that was half poetry, half magic, and half edge of your car seat excitement. We are talking about a man who could deliver three halves into one whole, here. A legend.

I hear the words "He shoots-" and I hold my breath and grip the cushion for the split second before the words "HE SCORES!" at which point I explode with excitement of every time I've ever walked to the rink and laced up my skates, every time I've yelled those very words playing street hockey outside my parents home, every memory of my favorite game, my favorite sport, my chosen religion, rushing back like a lightning bolt.

If you take away "He Shoots-- He Scores!" then you take away the soul of hockey.

The golden age was black & white TV with low quality resolution and distant cameras and player jerseys with no names. In my view, PBP added a lot to the broadcast then, but not today.

My comments weren't directed to radio.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by Corral

The golden age was black & white TV with low quality resolution and distant cameras and player jerseys with no names. In my view, PBP added a lot to the broadcast then, but not today.

My comments weren't directed to radio.

I know you weren't directing your comments at radio, I'm making the argument that they are intertwined, and that for me, the PBP adds something really quite special.

Also, I often forget that most people don't know hockey as well as we (CP) do. I'll make statistical shout outs or call a penalty before the announcer/PBP does, and my girlfriend is astonished. For me it's like an echo, but for most people learning the game or that didn't grow up with it, a lot of the info really helps them understand what the heck is going on out there at break neck speed..

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

I grew up in the prairies and so there was a lot of driving around. I can't tell you how many times I listened to Peter Maher deliver a broadcast that was half poetry, half magic, and half edge of your car seat excitement.

PBP would be a requirement for radio broadcasts for obvious reasons.

[The Yen Man]

I don't understand, I thought there'd be a "fricking" in the thread title somewhere.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Meh, Rob isn't the best pbp guy but he knows hockey and his love of the game is always evident, all in all I can live with him.

If I was going to complain about someone on the Sportsnet broadcasting team it wouldn't be Mr. Kerr, no, it would most definitely have to be Mr. Simmer. I hate to rag on the guy as he seems like an extremely nice man, but by god does he bring nothing to the telecast. Rob seems to have much more insight then he does with regards to the in's and outs of the game, Charley's comments are always the same, canned cookie cutter responses he trots out every game. His voice is monotone and boring and for some reason he never wants to relate to his own experience as a player, you'd never even know the guy even played in the league if Rob wasn't always mentioning him being a part of the "famous triple crown line".

It would be nice if they could get a younger ex-player to take over in that role, someone with some personality and someone who has an intimate understand of how the game is played today, not how it was played 30 years ago. And if that guy happened to be an ex-Flame, I wouldn't mind that either. Although I'm guessing it's easier said then done to get a even somewhat well known ex-player for the kind of $$ Sportsnet is likely paying.

Captured my thoughts about Simmer precisely.

Sometimes it seems like Kerr is doing his own color by accident, then Simmer realizes he hasn't spoken for a while so he adds a brainless comment just to keep protocol.

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by mikeecho

Kerr was on the Toronto version of HC at Noon on Halloween and I firmly believe that the analytical role is where he thrives.

This is where Rob thrives. Where he can have his own opinion and an avenue to share it. Just like when he used to run the afternoon show and did miles more on it than anyone has since.

^Also think this is a great post.

What about Loubo as the PBP and Kerr as the colour? It'd be awkward to switch his role at this point, but I'd see it as kind of a tag-team approach...and their interplay would be fun.

At very least, it'd be more entertaining than hearing "Sonomex Simmer" mis-pronounce names every game...

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by saillias

Captured my thoughts about Simmer precisely.

Sometimes it seems like Kerr is doing his own color by accident, then Simmer realizes he hasn't spoken for a while so he adds a brainless comment just to keep protocol.

I'm not entirely convinced Simmer still works for the Flames.

I think Kerr just presses a button when he needs to take a breath and it plays one of 25 random generic Simmer "insights".

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by drewtastic

What about Loubo as the PBP and Kerr as the colour?

[The Yen Man]

It's really too bad they put Kerr as a PBP guy rather than leave him on the radio. I think he's a fantastic interviewer, and provides a lot of insight. I always enjoy his interviews with Bettman.

Heck, I think Ryan Pinder would probably do a better job as a PBP guy than Kerr. I haven't heard too many of his Heat broadcasts so I may be way off base, but his voice seems more suited for PBP than Kerr's. Maybe they should see if they can switch the two around somehow.

[CliffFletcher]

PBP isn't about describing what's happening on the ice/field. It's about giving emotional texture to the action. The best PBP elevates a game beyond a visual spectacle and conjures up a story.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

PBP isn't about describing what's happening on the ice/field. It's about giving emotional texture to the action. The best PBP elevates a game beyond a visual spectacle and conjures up a story.