Ron McLean - is it time to retire?

[Vedder]

Originally Posted by habernac

People who still campaign for Cherry are the same losers yelling “thy Son’s!” during the national anthem.

And Ron advocated for him to be greatest Canadian, well after a lot of his controversies.

Don was problematic and past his expiry date, but Ron was his biggest fan until it wasn’t convenient anymore. He’s a self serving weasel who thinks he the heartbeat of Canadian hockey.

[Calgary]

Originally Posted by habernac

People who still campaign for Cherry are the same losers yelling “thy Son’s!” during the national anthem.

Bigots!

[Rejean31]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I am no Cherry fan or apologist, but it seems absurd to me that Ron was kept on and then brought back to host the HNIC.



I enjoy historical tidbits of hockey, but when it comes from Ron, it seems like it is a terrible-tasting medication that I am forced to swallow, rather than a pleasant piece of candy. I think he detracts from the panel. Say what you will about George Stroumbolopoulos, but I felt that the panel were showed more personality and were more engaging. Ron makes it too much about Ron IMO, and hurries the panelists along, only to wax profoundly about some barely connected dot that maybe 5 people on the planet want to hear about.


I also do think that being the host of a nation-wide show, you need to be more aware of how much you bring up teams over others. Yes, McDavid is arguably the most offensively gifted player on the planet right now, but there are other superstars I would love to hear from as well that actually played on a certain night, but we have to listen to McDavid's previous games the night before. I get that you want to pump up superstars and talk about them, but McDavid is not the ONLY superstar in hockey.


I used to smoke and quit some years ago. I do remember that I would feel rushed to smoke and hurry back to listen to the panel. Now? I wash my dishes, or do a clean up, or whatever it is that I do and usually miss the panel now. I don't bother to watch it, unless I have absolutely nothing else to do, and even then I usually have it on the background while looking up something else on my phone.
They should have been more patient with Strombo to make HNIC his own, or they should have went with someone else. I don't know who they should replace him with. I know David Amber is being groomed for the job, but I haven't really enjoyed him much either, even though I really thought I would. I am having a difficult time imagining who should sit in that chair, and I can't really think of any. There are many personalities that are well spoken and that I do enjoy listening to, but they would make for better panelists than host. I can't really think of someone who would make a great host. I am sure there are many that would, at least if they are given some rope, but I can't think of any.



I think for too long, he simply detracts from HNIC instead of adding to it.

I think Andi Petrillo would have been a great host for HNIC.

[Buff]

I refuse to watch when Ron McLean is on TV. I'll watch the game if the Flames are playing and change the channel during intermissions. He's well past his prime.


I remember when he was cut by CBC way back in 2002 or so and Don stuck up for him and they reversed their decision to cut him. Kinda wish Don didn't have his back. I used to like him all those years ago though, he's just no longer likeable.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Cherry has never apologized in the years since
He’s had every opportunity
The issue is he’s a bigot and has always been one

In fact, I think Cherry refused to apologize and that's why he lost his job.

[stamps]

Originally Posted by Buff

I refuse to watch when Ron McLean is on TV. I'll watch the game if the Flames are playing and change the channel during intermissions. He's well past his prime.


I remember when he was cut by CBC way back in 2002 or so and Don stuck up for him and they reversed their decision to cut him. Kinda wish Don didn't have his back. I used to like him all those years ago though, he's just no longer likeable.

I mute the whole game including the play by play except when Ryan Leslie has his panel on between periods .. I do not get as worked up .... life is too short to be subjecting yourself to mental abuse that can be avoided and prevented ... it truly works for me.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I am no Cherry fan or apologist, but it seems absurd to me that Ron was kept on and then brought back to host the HNIC.



I enjoy historical tidbits of hockey, but when it comes from Ron, it seems like it is a terrible-tasting medication that I am forced to swallow, rather than a pleasant piece of candy. I think he detracts from the panel. Say what you will about George Stroumbolopoulos, but I felt that the panel were showed more personality and were more engaging. Ron makes it too much about Ron IMO, and hurries the panelists along, only to wax profoundly about some barely connected dot that maybe 5 people on the planet want to hear about.


I also do think that being the host of a nation-wide show, you need to be more aware of how much you bring up teams over others. Yes, McDavid is arguably the most offensively gifted player on the planet right now, but there are other superstars I would love to hear from as well that actually played on a certain night, but we have to listen to McDavid's previous games the night before. I get that you want to pump up superstars and talk about them, but McDavid is not the ONLY superstar in hockey.


I used to smoke and quit some years ago. I do remember that I would feel rushed to smoke and hurry back to listen to the panel. Now? I wash my dishes, or do a clean up, or whatever it is that I do and usually miss the panel now. I don't bother to watch it, unless I have absolutely nothing else to do, and even then I usually have it on the background while looking up something else on my phone.
They should have been more patient with Strombo to make HNIC his own, or they should have went with someone else. I don't know who they should replace him with. I know David Amber is being groomed for the job, but I haven't really enjoyed him much either, even though I really thought I would. I am having a difficult time imagining who should sit in that chair, and I can't really think of any. There are many personalities that are well spoken and that I do enjoy listening to, but they would make for better panelists than host. I can't really think of someone who would make a great host. I am sure there are many that would, at least if they are given some rope, but I can't think of any.



I think for too long, he simply detracts from HNIC instead of adding to it.

Preach....

Given that I don't get to watch any Colorado-centric programming almost ever, I'd REALLY like to hear/see more about Calgary native Cale Makar.

Even if it was with half the regularity that they bring up McDavid, I'd be a lot happier with the coverage at HNIC.

It's so constrained to the couple of Canadian teams they're high on (TOR, EDM, VAN before their spiral) and a very small handful of stars that we have an inordinately large volume of content around, which consequently means most of it are nothingburger stories that only hardcore Oiler fans would actually find any value in.

Sportsnet is so poor and doesn't take its immense responsibility of catering to a nation (along with all of its teams, and representation on teams south of the border) nearly seriously enough.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Those that think he betrayed him feel that way because of what he said on the days following and that he didn’t go to bat for him
It’s not how I feel

The thing is that Ron knew Don better than anyone. All those years prior to the incident, he knew Cherry's beliefs on the topics of immigrants and foreign players, etc. Maybe some of the younger people don't remember but Cherry used to rail on Europeans. He called Alpo Suhonen dog food when he was a Jets assistant coach. Didn't want women in locker rooms after games, didn't even like the french as he threw them under the bus at times. Called out Burke for having too many American born players on the Leafs. Ron MacLean knew what Cherry was all about and he continued for decades to sit beside him as best buds on and off the show. If Cherry's a bigot as you say what does that say for his buddy Ron?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The thing is that Ron knew Don better than anyone. All those years prior to the incident, he knew Cherry's beliefs on the topics of immigrants and foreign players, etc. Maybe some of the younger people don't remember but Cherry used to rail on Europeans. He called Alpo Suhonen dog food when he was a Jets assistant coach. Didn't want women in locker rooms after games, didn't even like the french as he threw them under the bus at times. Called out Burke for having too many American born players on the Leafs. Ron MacLean knew what Cherry was all about and he continued for decades to sit beside him as best buds on and off the show. If Cherry's a bigot as you say what does that say for his buddy Ron?

Agreed. Ron would sit there and let it happen (as did the CBC producers). I don't have much respect for him.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Agreed. Ron would sit there and let it happen (as did the CBC producers). I don't have much respect for him.

That extends to Rogers who are guilty of keeping him in air far past his expiry date. I personally feel it's time to put that era of HNIC behind us and that includes Ron MacLean. Clearly he's going to be part of HNIC in the last season of the Rogers deal but it would be pretty disappointing if he was part of any NHL broadcasting after that.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

That extends to Rogers who are guilty of keeping him in air far past his expiry date. I personally feel it's time to put that era of HNIC behind us and that includes Ron MacLean. Clearly he's going to be part of HNIC in the last season of the Rogers deal but it would be pretty disappointing if he was part of any NHL broadcasting after that.

Part of this is that there is oodles of young talent that could handle the role that he is blocking. At some point in your career you want to give the next generation a chance. Unless your ego is so massive that you don't care about that type of thing.

[username]

So for those calling Ron a weasel, what would you expect him to do? Leave with Don and then what? The guy was probably 50 at the time and couldn't retire, what would you do if you were in his position? It's not like there's a lot of other work out there for a 55ish year old hockey host.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by username

So for those calling Ron a weasel, what would you expect him to do? Leave with Don and then what? The guy was probably 50 at the time and couldn't retire, what would you do if you were in his position? It's not like there's a lot of other work out there for a 55ish year old hockey host.

I don't really care. He easily could retire or semi retire unless he really f'd up his finances.

At the time of the firing he was 59 I believe.

And I don't think he should have defended Don. Don was in the wrong. The mistake Ron made was not intervening during the actual broadcast.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Part of this is that there is oodles of young talent that could handle the role that he is blocking. At some point in your career you want to give the next generation a chance. Unless your ego is so massive that you don't care about that type of thing.

Lol his Ego is that big to do the right thing, he is the guy that will hang on right until the bitter end.

They should have kept on going with Strombo, but all the old hockey heads got upset with his skinny pants and fitted suits.

EE made a good point and so did you, he just sat there and let Cherry be a bigot and smiled and kept asking him more questions. Says a lot about the guy.

[BigT112]

Sportsnet got it right when the replaced him back in 2013. Say what you will about Strombo, but the show was fresh and interesting to watch back then. I remember when the Flames were the Comeback Kids in 2014 and Sportsnet had a sit-down show with Strombo and the panel after all the postgame stuff/After Hours was over (I know Friedman and Kypreos were on that panel) and it was a fantastic show. It was really fun to watch after a Flames playoff win. You could tell it was off the cuff and the guys were actually enjoying themselves. Maybe Strombo wasn't the long term solution but it was something new, fresh and exciting.

Then some curmudgeon's complained, someone panicked, and here came Ron to "save" the day. The Sportsnet product has suffered ever since. But I'm sure someone out there enjoys all the pontificating and the endless Ron's Poems segments.

[butterfly]

Does anyone who watches hockey actually like Ron MacLean? Even any of you Oiler fans?

He was good in the 1990s slipping in a pun at the end of Coach's Corner. I doubt anyone wants to hear the poetry and dated Canadiana now. If he was a Calgary fan we would all be cringing if he forced the Flames into every topic when they aren't even playing.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Does anyone who watches hockey actually like Ron MacLean? Even any of you Oiler fans?

He was good in the 1990s slipping in a pun at the end of Coach's Corner. I doubt anyone wants to hear the poetry and dated Canadiana now. If he was a Calgary fan we would all be cringing if he forced the Flames into every topic when they aren't even playing.

I think he was good for "Hometown Hockey' - that Canadiana history fit there, in a manner that wasn't awkward. Bringing that to HNIC regularly makes it annoying more than insightful.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Part of this is that there is oodles of young talent that could handle the role that he is blocking. At some point in your career you want to give the next generation a chance. Unless your ego is so massive that you don't care about that type of thing.

I don’t see how it’s about ego. At least not automatically. That could be one of the factors. It could also be that he enjoys his work and he’s the best person for the job.

There are no shortage of sports TV personality and commentators who are well into their 50s/60s/70s. And as long as they’re still good at what they do why can’t they keep doing it?

Was Peter Maher an egotistical maniac or did he just really like calling flames games? I think he stepped outside at the right time, maybe even a few years too late.

I don’t particularly like Ron. But it’s not like he’s no longer mentally or physical capable of doing the job. And it’s quite likely Rogers sees him as the most qualified person for the job.

[Paulie Walnuts]

It's also funny they want to cater to a younger audience and get more fans so they can the guy who can relate to them the most and go back to someone telling us stories from 1950 how he used to shovel snow for Ralph Klien.

They should look at the NBA.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by username

So for those calling Ron a weasel, what would you expect him to do? Leave with Don and then what? The guy was probably 50 at the time and couldn't retire, what would you do if you were in his position? It's not like there's a lot of other work out there for a 55ish year old hockey host.

He was less than 6 months from his 60th birthday and has been hosting HNIC since he was 26. He could have done what a lot of 60 year-olds dream of doing... retire.