PBP is one of the hardest, most unfairly scrutinized jobs in the world. Especially when you fill the shoes of a Hall of Famer that's called a few thousand games.
Of course, it's his chosen profession, but it's a shame that he gets so much flack for being average. You can count the great PBP guys out there with both hands.
I like Wills' call. His segments on the Fan are pretty weak though. He never really offers much insight and usually just repeats stuff that the main crew has already discussed, be it morning show, Hockey Central or Flames @ Five.
I remember Peter making pretty bold and insightful predictions that often ended up coming true. For an example, Stamkos' injury prior to the 2014 olympics seemed to be healing quickly, but Maher didn't buy the supposed healing progress that had been made. He predicted that Stamkos wouldn't play in the Olympics. Just one of many examples.
Maybe over the years, Willis will capitalize on his experience by making insightful opinions like Maher did.
When Pete would start a broadcast, he knew how to set a stage. Wills is reading a phone book.
When he's actually calling the play, he's alright. When he talks to Loubardias, it's awful. When he talks to anyone, it's awful. Without exaggeration, I have never heard Derek Wills say anything insightful. He might parrot back other things other hosts having said on air earlier, but he does not possess original thoughts. If he does, he's awful at articulating them. He has an awful radio personality. Which is kind of a problem for a radio pBp man.
Rick and Kelly make you feel like they're right there in the bar with you. They feel like friends. Peter Maher felt like a family member. Good, not even great, just good announcers invite you to experience the game.
I don't feel anything except irritation when I listen to Derek Wills call hockey games.
There are 70 podunk towns with major junior franchises where Wills can be average at best. This is the NHL.
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ever muted the sound and tried to call the game (come on now I know you have)
####s hard
To quote Bob Hartley, the NHL is not a developmental league.
Again, his calls are technically fine. He gets the names right, he's not too far behind the play. The problem is he's boring and unlikeable. And I don't know how a man in his 40s changes those shortcomings
Last edited by GreenLantern2814; 03-04-2016 at 01:14 PM.
What really made me doubt Wills' insight was his take on Mason Raymond going through waivers. He was saying Mason Raymond making big money is a good thing, because it means most likely he won't be picked up on waivers, and can clear and go down to the farm, which is a good thing for the Flames. That way, Flames have the option of bringing up a vet should they need it down the road.
Are you kidding me? I like a bit of homerism in my pbp guys, but that's just way over the top. I think Kerr and Boomer both bit their tongues rather than make Wills feel foolish.
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What really made me doubt Wills' insight was his take on Mason Raymond going through waivers. He was saying Mason Raymond making big money is a good thing, because it means most likely he won't be picked up on waivers, and can clear and go down to the farm, which is a good thing for the Flames. That way, Flames have the option of bringing up a vet should they need it down the road.
Are you kidding me? I like a bit of homerism in my pbp guys, but that's just way over the top. I think Kerr and Boomer both bit their tongues rather than make Wills feel foolish.
No one thing means anything, but he does #### like this every day and it is unlistenable. I never once turned off a Peter Maher segment before it started.
Conversely, I can count on one hand the number of Wills bumps I've heard front to back. Not the only one who can make this claim, I guarantee it.
If we're being honest, Peter Maher's morning segments weren't particularly insightful either, especially at the tail and of his career. He wasn't exactly Elliotte Friedman... but the man called a hell of a game. Which is what Wills needs to focus on too.
I don't think all is lost. For me, I think Wills needs to do the following:
1) Just call the play without the forced theatrics, and stop drawing out the goal calls. I can't help think of this guy whenever he does it.
2) Turn down the homerism. You really get the sense that he was a Flames hire as much as a Sportsnet one. I'm sure he's just trying to do what's asked of him, but he just comes across as a bit of a shill.
Do those two things, and I think he can be solid.
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Wills really needs to do a speaking course. His inflection is horrible at times. Emphasizing the wrong part of a word makes him sound like he's severely constipated.
He doesn't seem to throw back to Rhett and Boomer in the morning as much any more. After the "what do you guys think" was happening every day they started responding with "crickets"
He will also never be the insider that Pete was. Loubo seems to be the one in the know between those two when it comes to the local players.
If we're being honest, Peter Maher's morning segments weren't particularly insightful either, especially at the tail and of his career. He wasn't exactly Elliotte Friedman... but the man called a hell of a game. Which is what Wills needs to focus on too.
I don't think all is lost. For me, I think Wills needs to do the following:
1) Just call the play without the forced theatrics, and stop drawing out the goal calls. I can't help think of this guy whenever he does it.
2) Turn down the homerism. You really get the sense that he was a Flames hire as much as a Sportsnet one. I'm sure he's just trying to do what's asked of him, but he just comes across as a bit of a shill.
Do those two things, and I think he can be solid.
I never needed or wanted Peter Maher to be some trade breaking supersleuth or league insider. I wanted a great radio guest who knew everything that of note and insignificance that ever happened to the Calgary Flames. I wanted to hear the joy and passion that came through the radio when Pete was on.
Maybe more than anything, I enjoyed the genuine admiration and respect his peers have for him. If anyone gets the sense the other Fan guys respect or admire Derek Wills, I would be curious to know why. Visualizing the hosts silently wearing the same pained expression as me is Half the reason the Wills segments are so hard to take. And they are.
Last edited by GreenLantern2814; 03-04-2016 at 03:53 PM.
Maher didn't say anything "insider" on his segments either, but he just had a way of delivering the company line that made you listen (even though I didn't expect anything). Wills is just terrible - as cited above...
I like Wills play calling for the most part but sometimes he goes on and on about some useless fact while the play is going on. He almost misses goals constantly.
I like Wills play calling for the most part but sometimes he goes on and on about some useless fact while the play is going on. He almost misses goals constantly.
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How about the typical "he shoots, he scOOOOres"
God that gets annoying after every single goal.
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Was listening to Fan960 the other day when Nakladal scored and it took him a good 3 seconds after you could hear the goal being scored and the crowd noise for him to finally say "shooooots annnnnnnndddddddd heeeeeeee scooorrrrrrressssss"
Derek Wills drives me crazy with a weird, off-time delay at the tail end of every build-up call.
"Gaudreau... over to Monahan. He shooooooots.... and heeeee...........SCORES!"
and while he's dragging out "shoooots... and heeeee" you can clearly hear crowd noises indicating something's happened but you're left hanging on his dawn out delay.
Obviously when he's calling a home game the crowd gives it away, but away broadcasts when there's just gasps it really makes me feel anxious and a step behind.
Haha didn't even read this post before I made my above post. So damn annoying.
Wills isn't bad, but he isn't Maher. There's no contest there.
No he's actually real bad. Like I don't think you could be any worse. Honestly when you make me miss Peter Loubardias you must be terrible. He has zero insight and honestly half the time I wonder if he even knows the NHL and its rules or just the game in general. I don't know his background but I bet it's not hockey related at all, he's awful.
No he's actually real bad. Like I don't think you could be any worse. Honestly when you make me miss Peter Loubardias you must be terrible. He has zero insight and honestly half the time I wonder if he even knows the NHL and its rules or just the game in general. I don't know his background but I bet it's not hockey related at all, he's awful.
Loubardias calls a good game. He's a good broadcaster. He actually had to call a few moments of the game last night and I was stunned how much more enjoyable it was.
