Thread: Another reason why I hate Gary Bettman

I just think McGuire has a funny quality to him, intentional or not. He's also extremely knowledgeable and spot on with his observations.

Originally Posted by NastiMarvasti

NBC has shown every single playoff game this year. ESPN would not have done the same. I have no complaints other than the fact that Gary Thorne doesn't do the games instead of Doc.

Gary Thorne was the best. I've been thinking of him a lot too while listening to these NBC jerks.

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

Yes, your point about color vs calling the game is valid...where we disagree is on Maguire's aggravating to entertaining ratio. In my opinion he comes off as an unapologetic fanboy of certain players to the point of working them into the conversation when they aren't even playing. It's like he could be interviewing...let's use Luongo(since that is your team)...here's a hypothetical sample,

Maguire: 'Good game so far Loo, you really weathered the storm in that second period'

Luongo: 'Yeah, the Coyotes really came at us hard and a few of those shots I didn't even get to see...'

Maguire: 'yeah, so what do you think Sidney Crosby is doing for mother's day?'


It's an over the top example...but not ridiculously so.

Even if that scenario happened exactly, it only takes about 20 seconds of a 2.5 hour broadcast. I get WHY people might not like Pierre, but he is a well connected and knowledgable guy. I don't have to watch a lot of him each year, but he is a weekly visitor on local sports radio. He isn't the typical boring interview an that's why I like him. The NHL is full of nobodies that will always be local guys because that is all they bring. We have John Garrett. He is a lovable, harmless homer. Our radio guys, colour anyway, are terrible. It's Dave Tomlinson, ever heard of him? Not sure I had, but for the first year or 2 of his sports radio show here he was always introduced as "ex-NHLer Dave Tomlinson". He is awful, and maybe that's why I like Pierre even when I hate Pierre. It's a bit like Jack Edwards syndrome, that guy is a homer imbecile ex-soccer player. Without a doubt, the biggest joke in the business but my god is he entertaining. Must stop drunken rambling.



Maybe you just don't like Sid?

Originally Posted by gradin

Even if that scenario happened exactly, it only takes about 20 seconds of a 2.5 hour broadcast. I get WHY people might not like Pierre, but he is a well connected and knowledgable guy. I don't have to watch a lot of him each year, but he is a weekly visitor on local sports radio. He isn't the typical boring interview an that's why I like him. The NHL is full of nobodies that will always be local guys because that is all they bring. We have John Garrett. He is a lovable, harmless homer. Our radio guys, colour anyway, are terrible. It's Dave Tomlinson, ever heard of him? Not sure I had, but for the first year or 2 of his sports radio show here he was always introduced as "ex-NHLer Dave Tomlinson". He is awful, and maybe that's why I like Pierre even when I hate Pierre. It's a bit like Jack Edwards syndrome, that guy is a homer imbecile ex-soccer player. Without a doubt, the biggest joke in the business but my god is he entertaining. Must stop drunken rambling.



Maybe you just don't like Sid?

Guilty as charged. But see, even in your defense of him you admit he's annoying. Can we just agree he is a polarizing figure and split the difference? Part of my frustration stems from the fact that NBC tends to highlight the same 6 or 7 teams so Maguire's manlove of these same teams is like the icing on the cake(if the cake is a pile of poop and the icing is slightly less consistent poop). Funny stuff about Jack Edwards there. He used to do Sunday mornings on ESPN waaaaaay back in the day and he tended towards longish mullet hair and seemed like he was only there because nobody else wanted to get up that early.

By the way...in defense of Doc, when he used to do the regular season for my Devils I found him one of the most knowledgable, easy to listen to guys I had ever had the privelege to enjoy. And he was. Now that I don't have his more sedate regular call, his 'let's put on a show' play-by-play for the big team broadcasts is more obvious and it's easier to see the complaint. He does tend to pump up his call for NBC and it is semi-grating. So I am willing to concede that. But as far as I am concerned Doc and Chico(where to start, such a loveable mess) are the be all and end all of teams. It's a personal preference.

Here is a good article on ESPN and hockey.

Puck Daddy | Sports Blog - Yahoo! Sports

Originally Posted by NastiMarvasti

no complaints other than the fact that Gary Thorne doesn't do the games

I still remember his call on Brett Hull's game winning goal in the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals. Dallas Stars at Buffalo Sabres, game 6, and if I remember correctly Hull scored the goal in triple overtime. That call, to me, is my second favorite call of all time. The 1980 "Miracle" call being the number one, obviously.

Originally Posted by Pucker25

NBC Sports is part of my basic package on Time Warner...maybe Dish is the problem, not Bettman

Same here. The only thing I pay extra for is the NHL Network.

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

Guilty as charged. But see, even in your defense of him you admit he's annoying. Can we just agree he is a polarizing figure and split the difference?.

I don't think I'd say polarizing. It seems as though pretty much EVERY guy in hockey play by play has a faction of haters for some reason or another. The reason usually is a notion that they like the other team more than yours. I hear it all the time from Alberta fans.

But I will accept a 60/40 split.

fair enough.