A new contender for worst broadcaster of all time (Leah Hextall)

[Chips]

Funny because she's Canadian

Did she call names nationally then? I thought she had a different role at the national level primarily

 

[Lays]

I'm convinced every one bitching about the "pitch" of Hextall's voice is using shitty speakers

You’re straight up lying to yourself if you think either of these goal calls sound good. I find it funny people are defending her still considering she got in based of nepotism which everyone complains about but hey I guess an awful female commentator in a non -traditional role outweighs that.

 

[Boy Hedican]

bad commentators are bad commentators. lets not give anyone a pass because of their identity. everyone is judged the same. thats equality. this catering to identity shit just gives excuses for poor performances. its very binary to me, you either are good at it or your not. She is not. Kevin Weeks also sucks as the color guy (in before the puns) and it has nothing to do with his skin color. He's great for other analysis, terrible at color commentary.

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

You’re straight up lying to yourself if you think either of these goal calls sound good.

Sounds fine to me. You know opinions are subjective, right? There are even people who think death metal sounds good.

I find it funny people are defending her still considering she got in based of nepotism which everyone complains about but hey I guess an awful female commentator in a non -traditional role outweighs that.

nepotism?

I didn't know her grandfather worked for, or funded, her employer?

Let me guess, Brady Tkachuk is just in the NHL because of nepotism too.

 

[Eggtimer]

Sounds fine to me. You know opinions are subjective, right? There are even people who think death metal sounds good.



nepotism?

I didn't know her grandfather worked for, or funded, her employer?

Let me guess, Brady Tkachuk is just in the NHL because of nepotism too.

Sorry bud , not buying the “ sounds fine to me thing . Unless you are into the whole self torture thing / pain is good, then I can maybe understand you saying it’s fine.

 

[ArchAngel55]

It doesn't seem like it's natural to her. Like she's forcing it or trying too hard.

 

[Anomie2029]

I have no problems with her calling.

I'll take her over Jack Edwards, Bret Hedican, etc.

 

[King'sPawn]

I just can't understand what it is she actually said after Getzlaf.

"ShakfkoejdbakwoekSCORES!"

This is my biggest gripe. She's unintelligible when she's excited.

 

[abo9]

It doesn't seem like it's natural to her. Like she's forcing it or trying too hard.

Sounds like it to me as well, but isn't that expected to start? Most announcers I've heard have been there for YEARS, I'm sure it takes a couple years to get comfortable.

 

[Oilslick941611]

It doesn't seem like it's natural to her. Like she's forcing it or trying too hard.

It’s practice. She has no experience. It will probably come to her. But she went from broadcasting to being a pbp commentator. It’s a huge jump and it shows. I personally feel putting someone with no experience in the spotlight like they have done here does more bad than good. She definitely needs some time on the farm team before she’s ready for the big leagues.

 

[Celtic Note]

I'm all for women empowerment but it has to be off merit and not because she is a woman, which is clearly not what ESPN did with Leah Haxtall because she is a disaster. I can't believe there's no thread on just her yet, that Kings-Stars OT was legit great and she ruined it. Would rather listen to Jack Edwards mispronounce Kulikov's name on a loop clockwork orange style than listen to that. How can you introduce a casual when that's the broadcast they'll be listening to? Also the audio was comically off (this is not her fault). Total peewee production.

Between this and the girl in NHL 22 in the drop in menu who you just cannot shut off, they're losing consumers here lol...

Was her partner any better? It was the monotone crew.

 

[ThePsychicSaw]

Solid contribution. Brief, yet pointless.

Look inward.

Pointlessness stemmed from your original comment. Please tell me you can see this irony

 

[Reaser]

Certain people are going to defend her no matter what. Not because they actually believe she's good or anything.

Take the voice out of it and she's still objectively terrible. Doesn't know players names so will just say "him" or "number [x]", confuses teams, confuses which players are on what teams, etc.

As for "these are her first few games, she'll get better" she's already done hockey pbp. She's previously been horrible during the college hockey tournament. With the same mistakes of not knowing players and being way behind the play. Earlier this year she also famously didn't know what period/overtime it was and messed up the call/her moment to make a memorable call in a legendary (longest game in NCAA tourney history) game. Instead, she botched it; "in the eighth overtime" (note: 5OT and wasn't the first time during that game that she didn't know what period or what overtime the game was in) then goes silent because she doesn't know what's going on: (start video at the 14:45 mark)

 

[Strangle]

But why?
Why must we force women into non-traditional roles?
I've yet to hear a female sports broadcaster that I want to hear again. Actually, the women who does NBA is very good, can't remember her name.
There is a female that does college football that puts on a Harry Caray style voice is absolutely cringe worthy.

The answer to this question:

Why must we force women into non-traditional roles?

Is that equity has become the new goal, replacing equality

I don’t have an opinion on the broadcaster, but that’s the answer to that particular question.

 

[HiggsBroson]

You can think she’s awful without being sexist. Some like her and it seems most don’t. It’s cool that she’s a woman broadcaster. It attracts more to the game. Inspiring to some little girls who hopefully become lifelong fans and supporters of the game. But on the negative side she rushes her words and her excited pitch are overbearing at important parts of the game. I’m sure even the greats who called this game took time to work on their delivery and cadence so I won’t write her off just yet, but I agree it’s a rough start.

 

[Shockmaster]

Does anyone know if she did any practicing during the preseason? In other sports they do that with the PBP and commentators, they just don't air it and only use it for teaching/evaluation.

I would hope she wasn't just thrown into games with no practice.

 

[Tak7]

You’re straight up lying to yourself if you think either of these goal calls sound good. I find it funny people are defending her still considering she got in based of nepotism which everyone complains about but hey I guess an awful female commentator in a non -traditional role outweighs that.

Sounds AWFUL when getting excited / scoring a goal.

Commentary isn't bad, but that super pitch word salad thing after goals go in? Really, really bad.

Hopefully that's something that she can work on with some coaching and experience

 

[93gilmour93]

She sounds like nails on a chalkboard and when I’m looking for a game to watch if I hear her calling a game I’m definitely turning the channel to find another one.

 

[Lays]

Sounds fine to me. You know opinions are subjective, right? There are even people who think death metal sounds good.



nepotism?

I didn't know her grandfather worked for, or funded, her employer?

Let me guess, Brady Tkachuk is just in the NHL because of nepotism too.

Lol. If her last name wasn’t Hextall she wouldn’t be working this job. And Brady Tkachuk is actually good at was he does. You’re in the minority here when it comes to liking her voice.

 

[ClydeLee]

Rick Jeannerette, the Buffalo guy is far worse with that by a big bit.

 

[TheOtherOne]

This thread reminds me of the last time a new male announcer was kinda bad and someone on hfboards made a thread calling him the worst broadcaster of all time and it was such a hot topic it got 370 replies.

 

[Rschmitz]

Cassie Campbell?

Yeah, I'd say she's worse than Cassie Campbell.

Again, though, I'd still take her over Dave "Nails on a Chalkboard" Mishkin any day.

LOL, have you ever listened to Mishkin cast a game or are you basing that off of a 3 second goal call?

 

[Bandit]

Look inward.

Pointlessness stemmed from your original comment. Please tell me you can see this irony

People in broadcasting use vocal coaches all the time. Sorry you’re ignorant about the human voice, but I’m not gonna be the one to explain it to you. Enjoy the dark.

 

[93gilmour93]

Turning on the tv and hearing Leah Hextall

 

[PlayersLtd]

DaveArt ok, the subjectivity argument works. But defending Leah Hextall, really?