"Take that Calgary Puck!" — SN960 and Calgary sports media discussion

[SutterBrother]

Originally Posted by zukes

Oh man, as a kid, listening to the games on radio falling asleep, the hot stove lounge afterwards if I was alert enough to survive the game. There was a restaurant commercial that was always on with a memorable jingle that....this worn down brain just can't remember.

Japanese Village Hawesome! Hawesome! Hawesome!

Dial 2-73-73-73. Pizzza 73! The Pizza's onnnnnnn.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

He's tapped in sometimes (probably because of incessant pestering) but dim. Always fishing for hot takes to throw off the good vibes of the intermission panel and in the papers. Firmly in the owners pockets.

Players/people I admire are put off by him and I trust their instinct.

Gaudreau and his family didn't like Francis. He did however like and welcome guys like Leslie. That speaks volumes. I trust the instincts of good people.

Francis seems slimy, attention seeking and doesn't have much insight to add about the team and games themselves that the casual fan can't figure out on their own. The most interesting thing he adds is what he's heard through the grapevine. Not sure that's always a positive. You can tell that he's a guy who can't keep a secret and will sell out whatever info to provide a scoop.

He pisses off players and has stories of being confronted by former Flames for good reason.

Good for him doing his "thing" consistently this year. Doesn't make me like it any more.

Well you've shown you don't understand how being an insider works. Not a CP insider, a real one.

You don't get an exclusive interview with arguably the biggest trade chip in the NHL this season, a guy who's about to make north of $55 million on a retirement deal, when all you do is piss players off.

He also isn't paid to analyse Zayne's breakout pass or how efficiently they enter the zone on a power play, he's not an Xs and Os guy. He reports on the players, coaches and management of the club and I think he does a very good job of it.

Clearly he has ruffled feathers over the years but he has also cultivated many sources, just like any good journalist has done since the invention of the printing press.

Absolutely fine to dislike him, but you're really grasping at straws here.

[hixxes]

Francis does good work. I get that he can be controversial at times, but that comes with the territory of being a columnist or whatever you want to call him.

He's also a good dude who does a lot for the community.

I should add, bummer for Flames fans that Wes has moved on but it sounds like a positive for him.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by zukes

Oh man, as a kid, listening to the games on radio falling asleep, the hot stove lounge afterwards if I was alert enough to survive the game. There was a restaurant commercial that was always on with a memorable jingle that....this worn down brain just can't remember.

I was the same with the newspaper every morning, any hockey highlights I could find on TV, I remember thinking of the possibilities of TSN when it launched. The craziest was our local community centre had a bar/lounge upstairs with satellite TV. My parents knew on a bad weather Saturday they could go have afternoon drinks and have them find an afternoon Devils or Islanders or Rangers or Flyers game that I otherwise would never have seen and I'd be entertained for almost 3 hours.

"meet you at the pickle! Pied Pickle"?

I had the same experience. Only a third of Flames games on TV, so I'd go to bed and listen to the third period, then the Henderson hockey talk show afterwards.

[Bingo]

I don't agree with everything Francis says or writes, but I think he's pretty solid at his job.

And more entertaining between periods than most.

Steinberg has been a great add for between periods as well.

[Steve's Stick]

Originally Posted by hixxes

Francis does good work. I get that he can be controversial at times, but that comes with the territory of being a columnist or whatever you want to call him.

He's also a good dude who does a lot for the community.

I should add, bummer for Flames fans that Wes has moved on but it sounds like a positive for him.

Francis is opportunistic and self-serving. Rarely insightful.

We had Duhatschek for twenty years and there are few that reach that quality. There have also been some other capable reporters over the years (off the top of my head): Maki, Sportak, Cruickshank, Gilbertson.

Francis is ultimately not bad when compared to what other market's have. And his opportunism does serve to occasionally get the Flames some national attention.

[cam_calderon]

Not every reporter is going to be like Duhatschek, just like not every Flames player is going to be Iginla or Gaudreau. If that's the bar for reporters, when intelligent and talented people can earn a factor of 5 or maybe 10 in other, more stable industries, I think you're gonna be disappointed.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Francis has his warts but also does some good things in the community. There have been some really good people covering the Flames over the years. I guess my issue is that somehow of all he's the last man standing. We all know why, and it's not because he was better or more deserving than the others.

His mother probably helped get him in the door. But there's no way the guy keeps his job for 30 years just because his mom was a bigwig in the industry. I know several former journalists who worked at the Sun and Herald, and Francis is well-liked and respected in the industry.

The biggest factor in longevity in the newspaper industry today is whether you're willing to work for a salary comparable to what a supervisor at Best Buy earns.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

He's tapped in sometimes (probably because of incessant pestering) but dim. Always fishing for hot takes to throw off the good vibes of the intermission panel and in the papers. Firmly in the owners pockets.

Players/people I admire are put off by him and I trust their instinct.

Gaudreau and his family didn't like Francis. He did however like and welcome guys like Leslie. That speaks volumes. I trust the instincts of good people.

Francis seems slimy, attention seeking and doesn't have much insight to add about the team and games themselves that the casual fan can't figure out on their own. The most interesting thing he adds is what he's heard through the grapevine. Not sure that's always a positive. You can tell that he's a guy who can't keep a secret and will sell out whatever info to provide a scoop.

He pisses off players and has stories of being confronted by former Flames for good reason.

Good for him doing his "thing" consistently this year. Doesn't make me like it any more.

Can you provide evidence that the Gaudreau's didn't like him?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

His mother probably helped get him in the door. But there's no way the guy keeps his job for 30 years just because his mom was a bigwig in the industry. I know several former journalists who worked at the Sun and Herald, and Francis is well-liked and respected in the industry.

The biggest factor in longevity in the newspaper industry today is whether you're willing to work for a salary comparable to what a supervisor at Best Buy earns.

What Eric has done well is he has diversified his role. So he's not just being paid to write his columns: he's got his spots on 960, he's got his spot on Flames telecasts. And he has other interests. Not sure what he's involved with but for instance at one point he was one of the owners of The Beltliner restaurant.

The guy has always hustled. He was doing the morning gig on Jack for years, while still covering the Flames full time.

A lot of people are leaving media because, to your point, it's just really hard to make enough money at it. You've gotta have multiple things on the go to make it work.

[SutterBrother]

Francis earned my respect with his community work.

[Super-Rye]

I was never a Francis fan back in the day. He always came across as someone looking to stir the pot. I think the height of this was was Sutter was in charge the first time around. It was clear Francis and Sutter didn't get along and some of that personal stuff seemed to bleed through on both sides.

However, I feel like over the years he's calmed down his approach a bit. He still plays devil's advocate a bit, which is fair and comes with the territory, but he does a better job of taking a more reasoned and balanced approach IMO.

Francis today is a much better journalist than Francis 20 years ago. I always appreciate when people show they are capable of growth and being better. So kudos to him for that.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Francis is basically the last guy covering the team consistently. His work this year with the Maloney and Andersson stuff was strong
I’m curious what exactly people have a problem with?

I think he is a good person with a good heart and does nice things for the community.

He is a mediocre writer of average intelligence.

His mom got him a leg up in journalism - most have to toil in small towns before getting a break in the big city.

[hixxes]

Originally Posted by Super-Rye

I was never a Francis fan back in the day. He always came across as someone looking to stir the pot. I think the height of this was was Sutter was in charge the first time around. It was clear Francis and Sutter didn't get along and some of that personal stuff seemed to bleed through on both sides.

However, I feel like over the years he's calmed down his approach a bit. He still plays devil's advocate a bit, which is fair and comes with the territory, but he does a better job of taking a more reasoned and balanced approach IMO.

Francis today is a much better journalist than Francis 20 years ago. I always appreciate when people show they are capable of growth and being better. So kudos to him for that.

Agreed on all accounts.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

A lot of people are leaving media because, to your point, it's just really hard to make enough money at it. You've gotta have multiple things on the go to make it work.

Nah…the ones who have long-term columns make well north of $100K plus benefits…it’s the younger ones who don’t make squat. (Source: a number of clients over the years.)

The mid-older ones tend to leave more because of demands from employers and pure burnout. It’s a sh*tshow in Canadian media now. Rogers and Postmedia are both awful employers, CBC is broke and the indies have no space in the room.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I thought Francis was the biggest hack in sports journalism for a long time, and I still stand behind that opinion. He was a click-bait manipulator posting 'outrage' at times, making stuff up at times and then contradicting himself. I loathed him and wouldn't give him a single click after a while of realizing that complaining about him was actually supporting his work.


However, I also think he has VASTLY improved and I now consider him to be an actual journalist. Not sure how it happened - or if it will last - but he is fairly good now. Just solid, honest reporting. I haven't clicked on many of his articles, but from what people post here and from what I read, I not only have zero issues with Francis now, but I think - now that Wes is gone - he is 'the' voice now when it comes to sports journalism for Calgary, and in particular, the Flames. Hopefully it lasts, and he ends up being more like Eric D and Wes G - I make time for articles like those. Fair, intelligent, and honest. That's all I ask from journalists and the media in general (which is becoming increasingly rarer, unfortunately). I am surprised Francis has shifted to this area, but I am 100% in support of it.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by troutman

I think he is a good person with a good heart and does nice things for the community.

He is a mediocre writer of average intelligence.

His mom got him a leg up in journalism - most have to toil in small towns before getting a break in the big city.

A lot of people benefit from familial relationships to start their career.
Is your premise, that 3 decades later, that's why he continues to be employed?
If not, then who cares.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

A lot of people benefit from familial relationships to start their career.
Is your premise, that 3 decades later, that's why he continues to be employed?
If not, then who cares.

I know people that worked in places like Swift Current, and had to leave the profession due to poor income. More talented people.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by troutman

I know people that worked in places like Swift Current, and had to leave the profession due to poor income. More talented people.

How many years of reporting and editing experience do you have that qualifies you to evaluate journalistic talent?

Nepotism certainly gets you in the door, but you can't hang on for decades based on mummy's help alone. Ryan Pike is reading this, care to weigh in?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by troutman

I know people that worked in places like Swift Current, and had to leave the profession due to poor income. More talented people.

Sure. But that's not the point. The point is, 30 years later, do you think it matters? Maybe his mom got his foot in the door, but I bet there a lot of people who leveraged relationships to start and advance their careers. And I don't think it would be the reason he's been able to sustain a successful career for so long.

If he was bad at his job, he wouldn't have his job.